2012 MLB Mock Draft: Project Players with Huge Potential

While many professional sports league drafts feature players taken who are ready to make an immediate impact, the MLB draft is quite different.

While the elite college players may get a sniff of the major leagues in a year or two, the vast majority of the picks won't be playing for a big club until four or five years down the line.

That is especially true of high school players.

It may seem like a bad move taking a high school prospect in some instances, since it takes them so long to develop. It's important to nab the best available talent, though, and high schoolers can often pay off down the line.

Along with a full, first-round mock draft, here is a breakdown of project high school draftees. They may take a long time to come into their own, but have massive potential to thrive in Major League Baseball one day.

1. Houston Astros (56-106): Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

There has been plenty of discussion with regards to who the Astros should take first overall, but Appel is the best arm in the draft. The Astros are very thin at pitcher.

2. Minnesota Twins (63-99): Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County High School (Ga.)

Every team goes into the draft looking for a player with a specific set of tools, but there are very few who can do it all. One such player is outfielder Byron Buxton of Appling County High School in Georgia.

Buxton is the top high school prospect in the draft, and he may even be the best all-around prospect period. He can get the job done in a multitude of ways.

Buxton hits for average and power, he can field his position, he has a rifle for an arm and he can run like the wind. Buxton is the definition of a five-tool player and he could be a cornerstone for any franchise in the league down the line.

The issue, however, is that Buxton is still very young. He will need plenty of seasoning before he is ready for the big time.

One team that will be willing to wait is the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins obviously need help as soon as they can get it, but Buxton is so talented that they'll wait as long as it takes for him to be MLB-ready. If Buxton is able to reach his full potential, then he is a Matt Kemp-esque player.

That thought has plenty of teams salivating, and it will be enough for Minnesota to grab him.

3. Seattle Mariners (67-95): Mike Zunino, C, Florida

The Mariners have Jesus Montero at catcher, but his long-term future may be at first or designated hitter. They will take the ultra-talented Zunino as their eventual stalwart behind the plate.

4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93): Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU

Baltimore has some intriguing arms in the system, but Gausman is a big-time power pitcher who would give the Orioles a lot of options moving forward.

5. Kansas City Royals (71-91): Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy HS (Fla.)

Like Buxton, Albert Almora of Mater Academy in Florida is yet another high-upside center fielder that has a lot of teams talking.

Almora is similar to Buxton in that he does a lot of things well, but he isn't as proficient in every category. Almora's best trait is his defense.

In today's world of advanced statistics, defense may be valued more than ever, particularly in center field. 

While Almora's defense may be ready for the big leagues right now, the rest of his game still has to develop. He is very good at getting on base and has good speed, but he can still improve in both areas.

It is clear that he has some pop in his bat but, like most younger players, he is going to need some time in the minors to refine that.

Perhaps no team has compiled a more impressive plethora of offensive talent in recent years than the Kansas City Royals. Guys like Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas are already in the majors, so they wouldn't hesitate to take Almora in an effort to groom him for the future.

The Royals are a very patient franchise, and they'll have to be with Almora.

6. Chicago Cubs (71-91):  Richie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson

There are very few players in this year's draft with as much pure power as Shaffer. If he can harness it, then he may become the star the Cubs desperately need.

7. San Diego Padres (71-91): Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)

Giolito doesn't come without risk as he is coming off an elbow injury. But, the 6'6" power pitcher has too much upside for the Padres to ignore at No. 7.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (72-90): Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

Marrero is another player who is great defensively but has some work to do at the plate. However, he has a good mix of on-base ability and speed for the Pirates.

9. Miami Marlins (72-90): Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco

Miami would love to add another plus arm to its minor league system, and Zimmer is a big pitcher with strikeout stuff and a good breaking ball. He'll fit in nicely.

10. Colorado Rockies (73-89): Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.)

Whenever a pitcher is able to hit the mid-90s with his fastball and has a good breaking ball to boot, he is bound to draw some interest in the draft.

Add to that the fact that he is a lefty, and you have something special.

That is the case with southpaw Max Fried of Harvard-Westlake High School in California. Fried can do it all on the mound and, since quality lefties don't grow on trees, he will be in high demand.

At 6'4" Fried has the potential to become even more powerful—he packs just 170 pounds onto his frame. If Fried can add another 30 pounds to that, there is no reason why he can't throw in the upper 90s while maintaining his great breaking stuff.

All of that is going to take some time, though, so Fried is a definite project.

The Colorado Rockies are always looking for good pitchers who can perform at altitude and Fried figures to translate well. He can keep the ball low in the zone, thanks to his 12-to-6 curveball, and induce ground-ball outs.

Fried won't be a factor for quite a few years, but he could develop into an ace.

11. Oakland Athletics (74-88): Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

Correa seems to be the definition of a boom-or-bust pick but, thanks to his vast power potential at the shortstop position, Billy Beane and the A's will bite.

12. New York Mets (77-85): Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (La.)

The Mets would love to find a long-term replacement for Jose Reyes. While it's going to take Cecchini a while to develop, he's a good contact hitter with plus speed.

13. Chicago White Sox (79-83): Courtney Hawkins, RF, Carroll HS (Texas)

Despite being a high schooler, Hawkins is already 6'3" and 210 pounds. He can absolutely crush the ball, so he should play well in the White Sox's home park one day.

14. Cincinnati Reds (79-83): Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State

The Reds are always looking for pitchers who can keep the ball in the park, as they play in a bandbox of sorts Stratton is a guy with a reputation for keeping hitters off balance.

15. Cleveland Indians (80-82): Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

Cleveland is performing well above expectations this season, but pitching is eventually going to haunt the Indians. They need to stock the system with an arm like Stroman's.

16. Washington Nationals (80-81): Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State

The Nationals may have the most young talent in baseball. While Stephen Strasburg is the unquestioned ace of the staff, Heaney could become a complementary lefty.

17. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (Ohio)

There are some conflicting thoughts on Smoral, but he is an intimidating presence on the mound at 6'8". He would be a nice upside pick for Toronto.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers (82-79): Lance McCullers, RHP, Jesuit HS (Fla.)

Aside from Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers don't have a ton of certainty in their rotation. Perhaps McCullers can become the No. 2 guy behind him one day.

19. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M

Wacha is a great example of a fastball-changeup pitcher. While he may not be a major power pitcher, the Cardinals have worked wonders with a lot less.

20. San Francisco Giants (86-76): D.J. Davis, OF, Stone HS (Miss.)

Davis may very well be the fastest prospect in the draft. Seeing as the Giants like playing low-scoring games, his speed could become an asset in the field and on the base paths.

21. Atlanta Braves (89-73): Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP, Bishop Gorman HS (Nev.)

In terms of pure power, Gallo is one of the top prospects in the class. While he has to improve hitting to contact, his ceiling is absolutely immense.

22. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Hunter Virant, LHP, Camarillo HS (Calif.)

Seeing as the Blue Jays have so much offensive talent, it would behoove them to take yet another promising starting pitcher in an effort to build a great future staff.

23. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (Ga.)

Like the Jays, I have the Cardinals taking a pitcher earlier in the round as well. With much of their current rotation aging, St. Louis needs to beef up in that regard.

24. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Carson Kelly, RHP/3B, Westview HS (Ore.)

While Kelly has potential as a pitcher, he appears to have more of a future as a position player. He has good pop and mans the hot corner better than most in the draft.

25. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71): Nolan Fontana, SS, Florida

The Rays don't have a lot to be excited about in the middle infield, but Fontana is a very promising shortstop who hits for average and runs well.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68): Pierce Johnson, RHP, Missouri State

Arizona has a nice stable of young pitchers with Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Wade Miley. Johnson could be yet another name to add to that list.

27. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford

Piscotty is a big, strong third baseman who doesn't have as steep of a learning curve as many of his counterparts. That should appeal quite a bit to the Brewers.

28. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (Fla.)

The Brewers have the potential to lock down the left side of their infield for many years with back-to-back picks, as Russell is a big shortstop with plenty of potential.

29. Texas Rangers (96-66): Zach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty HS (Fla.)

Texas has some good young pitchers like Yu Darvish and Neftali Feliz already in place. Eflin is a bigger guy who could be a starter or an explosive reliever at the next level.

30. New York Yankees (97-65): Clint Coulter, C, Union HS (Wash.)

The Yanks lost some catcher depth in their ill-fated trade of Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda, but they'll replenish it by selecting Coulter.

31. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Cabarrus HS (N.C.)

Seager is a good power hitter who can possibly play short or third. His natural, other-way stroke as a lefty will play well off the Green Monster.

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