2012 MLB Mock Draft: Best Five-Tool Athletes in Class

Since most of the players in the 2012 MLB draft are still raw talents with a lot of work left to do before reaching the majors, a term you will hear thrown around a lot during the process is tools. If a player has plenty of tools, teams are going to have interest.

These are usually prospects with the skills to just about do everything a team could ask for on the field, but they still need more time to develop that ability. With that in mind, here's a full first-round mock draft featuring three players that can become five-tool players.

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

The Astros have plenty of holes to fill at the major league level, so the first pick should be used on somebody who can advance through the system quick like Appel.

2. Minnesota Twins (63-99): Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU

A power pitcher with plenty of upside if his other pitches develop, Gausman should eventually be an ace. He'll love pitching in Minnesota's big park.

3. Seattle Mariners (67-95): Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County High School (Ga.)

There isn't a more complete player in the draft than Buxton. He can hit, field and run with the potential to get exponentially better over time. There's still a chance he could ascend to the top spot if Houston is willing to wait on its first pick instead of picking a more polished player.

Right now, Buxton's best attribute is speed. He can fly, which helps him leg on infield hits and gives him ample range in the outfield. Over time he should develop more of a power stroke as he fills out his frame and becomes more mature at the plate.

The Mariners' offense doesn't give fans much to get excited about, but drafting Buxton will at least send the message that brighter days are ahead.

4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93): Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

Few players have been able to improve their draft stock more than Correa. A shortstop who can swing the bat like him is difficult to ignore.

5. Kansas City Royals (71-91): Mike Zunino, C, Florida

It's not easy to find a catcher with the ability to handle a pitching staff while also being a big threat at the plate. Zunino fits the bill.

6. Chicago Cubs (71-91): Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy HS (Fla.)

The Cubs have some nice pieces on their roster, like Starlin Castro and Bryan LaHair, but still don't have enough offensive firepower to become a threat in the NL Central. They need to keep developing young talent to fill holes.

Almora still needs plenty of experience before he's ready to help the big club, but his potential is obvious. He's a plus defender with good speed and baseball instincts. He has shown good doubles power, which should eventually become home run pop as he adds strength.

He's a project player, but the Cubs can afford to wait for him to reach his peak and won't attempt to rush him along. That's the type of environment he needs to succeed.

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

An elbow injury will have teams looking at him for longer than most prospects, but he's worthy of being a top-10 pitcher if everything checks out.

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

Marrero has a strong defensive base that teams will fall in love with, and his bat should eventually catch up to make him a well-rounded player.

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

The Marlins have done a nice job of building a team that's capable of competing in one of the league's toughest divisions, where you can never have enough pitching.

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

Since he still has room to grow and add more power to his frame, Fried could eventually hit the upper 90s with his fastball, turning him into a top-tier starter.

11. Oakland Athletics (74-88): Courtney Hawkins, RF, Carroll HS (Texas)

The Athletics added Yoenis Cespedes in the offseason. Hawkins has similar power potential, but he'll need a while in the minors to develop it.

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

Cecchini hasn't received as much hype as the two shortstops taken inside the top 10. That said, he's got plenty of tools and should eventually develop into a solid all-around player. It's just going to take some time and patience.

He can hit the ball to all fields effectively, mostly with line-drive power right now. Those drives should eventually start going over the fence. He also has good speed and plays some of the most consistent defense in the entire class.

The Mets lost Jose Reyes, so it's time to start thinking about the future at shortstop. Cecchini appears to be a player that can fill that void in a big way in a few years.

13. Chicago White Sox (79-83): Richie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson

Shaffer has always stood out because he's able to hit the ball a country mile when he connects. Needs to become more consistent, however.

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

Cincinnati could use more pitching depth in its system. There aren't any players with clear ace potential left, but Stratton could slide nicely into a No. 3 spot eventually.

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

Even though he has experience as a starter, Stroman projects best as a closer moving forward and should be able to reach the Indians quickly.

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

A left-hander with a picture-perfect delivery, Heaney doesn't have amazing potential, but he's a safe pick for the rising Nationals.

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

One of the most intriguing players in the first round, Smoral could end up getting drafted well before the Blue Jays are on the clock.

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

McCullers has a great arm that will make it tough for the Dodgers to pass on him even though it's tough to predict his career path.

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

The Cardinals would be getting good value if Wacha falls to them. He's one of the draft class's most underrated players as it stands now.

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

A future center fielder and lead-off hitter, Davis still has a lot of developing to do before he's ready to take the league by storm.

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

The Braves like to take local players from Georgia, so Lucas Sims could be a possibility here. But Gallo has plenty of power and would be a better pick.

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

Virant has a good foundation and being a lefty will help his stock. Doesn't project as anything more than a mid-rotation starter, though.

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

The Cardinals are quietly one of the best organizations in sports. Taking Sims would be a perfect example of maximizing value in the draft.

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

Boston doesn't have any glaring needs in its system that can get filled with this pick, so taking a chance on Kelly makes sense.

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

A player who will eventually find a niche at the major league level, Fontana and the Rays are one of the best matches in the entire round.

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

Slowly, but surely, the Diamondbacks have built a strong, young rotation. Johnson needs some seasoning but should provide even more depth.

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

Once Piscotty bulks up to better fit the third-base mold, his power should emerge. That makes him a solid selection this deep in Round 1.

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

Russell will need more time in the minor leagues than the shortstops drafted earlier, but he still has a lot of upside at a weak position.

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

The Rangers have the most complete team in all of baseball, which allows them to take a flier on a player with a lot of potential in Eflin.

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

Jorge Posada held down the fort behind the plate for so long that it was easy to take him for granted. The Yankees need to find their next reliable catcher.

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

Even though Seager will need to improve his power to become a third basemen, he's shown enough to warrant sneaking into the first round.