2012 MLB Mock Draft: High School Prospects Peaking at Perfect Time

High school prospects in the Major League Baseball draft always draw the widest variety of opinions. You love the package of tools they have, but there is a lot more risk involved with them for a number of reasons. 

With an overall weak class this year, the high-upside high school stars are going to make or break the way history views this draft. 

Here is a look at our latest mock draft, focusing on high school players who are peaking at the right time. 

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

Appel has the stuff to be a No. 2 starter at the next level. He just has to iron out some mechanical flaws that make his fastball easy to read. 

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

Buxton is still the best athlete available in this class, but sentiment seems to be waning slightly on him as the draft approaches. Still, it is hard to argue with someone who has All-Star upside. 

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

In a draft with virtually no depth at catcher, Zunino is as close to a sure thing as there is. 

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

A better choice to go No. 1 overall than Appel. Gausman dominated the best conference in the country and improved his stuff across the board. 

5. Kansas City Royals (71-91): Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

No player has seen his stock rise more in recent weeks than Correa. Once thought to be a potential top-10 pick, he is making a strong case to be the top player taken. It probably won't happen for him, but the possibility is there. 

Correa has one of the best bats in this class, with power and bat speed. He also has a good understanding of reading pitches right now, which only increases the level of excitement surrounding him. 

As long as the Royals decide to keep up their philosophy of going after the best player available, Correa should be an easy choice. 

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

Another high school stud who is getting a lot of late hype, Almora doesn't have the ceiling of Buxton, but is more likely to reach his full potential. 

A natural center fielder with range and a good arm, Almora is going to be a very good defender. He reads the bat off the ball and covers a lot of ground. 

His bat is not too shabby, with an advanced approach and present power that will increase as his body matures. 

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

If Giolito had no health questions at all, he would be the No. 1 pick. Unfortunately, the sprained elbow is going to keep him from sniffing the top spot. 

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

Marrero's glove is his calling card, there are just questions about the bat that make you wonder what his ceiling really is. 

9. Miami Marlins (72-90): Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (Calif.) 

With Giolito out for most the high school season, Fried has gotten all the hype as the top high school pitcher available. It helps that he is left-handed and has plenty of projection left, as well as a low-90s fastball and hard curveball he has a good feel for. 

It would be surprising at this point to see Fried around when the Marlins make their pick. If he is, there is little doubt they would try to grab him. 

10. Colorado Rockies (73-89): Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco 

With Zimmer losing velocity as the season went on, his stock has taken a tumble. He could be a sleeper if he can get it back, though it is alarming to see a top prospect go from throwing in the mid-90s to 89-91. 

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

Everyone loves Hawkins' bat speed and power potential. The questions come when talking about how much contact he will make to show off his power. 

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

As long as Cecchini's bat progresses as expected, he should be an average big league shortstop.

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

In a class filled with very few college hitters, Shaffer is the best of the bunch. He has bat speed, power, a strong arm and range at third base. 

14. Cincinnati Reds (79-83): Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

Likely a reliever due to his lack of height, Stroman has some of the best stuff in this class. He is already polished enough to step into a big league bullpen the day he signs and hold his own. 

15. Cleveland Indians (80-82): Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State

Heaney is more solid than spectacular as a pro prospect, with a solid arsenal of pitches and a clean delivery. 

16. Washington Nationals (80-81): Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State 

Stratton has made great strides with his command and control this season, pushing him into the first-round mix. 

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

Smoral has not been able to pitch this season due to a stress fracture in his foot. Still, it is hard to argue with a 6'8" left-handed starter who can throw in the low- to mid-90s. 

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

Winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year award is only going to help your stock this close to the draft, so McCullers has a lot going for him right now. 

Some doubts about his delivery have led some to worry whether he will make it as a starter. He has made adjustments this season to get much cleaner to the plate, increasing his value so close to the draft. 

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

A low-risk college arm like Wacha is going to attract a lot of attention, even if his stuff—with the exception of his changeup—doesn't overwhelm you. 

20. San Francisco Giants (86-76): Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP, Bishop Gorman HS (Nev.) 

Gallo has the power and arm to be a prolific right fielder in the pros, but he doesn't make enough contact right now to show off his skills. 

21. Atlanta Braves (89-73): D.J. Davis, OF, Stone HS (Miss.)

An exciting athlete with amazing speed, Davis is getting some buzz late in the process for his ability to turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples. He slaps at the ball and lets his legs take over. 

His defense in center field has to improve—specifically, his ability to read the bat off the ball—in order to profile out there. If he has to move to left field, his stock is going to take a hit since he doesn't have the power for the position. 

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

Virant's projection should carry him into the first round, even though he is not generating a lot of huge buzz prior to the draft. 

23. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Nolan Fontana, SS, Florida 

With Fontana, the Cardinals are getting another solid up-the-middle college player who can work through the minors quickly, like they got with Kolten Wong last year. Fontana's hit tool isn't as good or advanced as Wong's, though. 

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

Kelly's big power is going to have a lot of teams drooling over him. He has a terrific arm and should have no problem being a third baseman in pro ball. 

25. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71): Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (Ga.) 

Sims has a quality fastball right now, with plenty of projection left. His biggest key to success will be developing a consistent breaking ball. 

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

Johnson has had a forearm strain that kept him out of action, but his power fastball-curveball combination will make him appealing in the back of the first round. 

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

An advanced bat with more power than he has shown, Piscotty should take off away from the shackles of Stanford's coaching staff. 

28. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Clint Coulter, C, Union HS (Wash.)

While he may not hit for much average, Coulter does have good power and has a good, strong frame to handle the workload required for catching. 

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

Eflin is one of the most intriguing arms in the high school ranks. His velocity has been up all year and there is still more to come. He has more polish than he is given credit for, with good command. 

Given the way that his stock has been climbing all season, it would be a shock to see him even get to the Rangers with the 29th pick. 

30. New York Yankees (97-65): Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (Fla.)

If Russell had a more consistent swing and a shot to stay at shortstop, he would go in the top half of the first round. As it stands, he will have to "settle" for playing with the Yankees and all the expectations that come with it. 

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

Seager's strong defensive prowess earns him high marks, but the potential hidden in his bat is what could get him into the back half of the first round. 

*Compensation from Los Angeles Angels for Albert Pujols

**Compensation for failing to sign 2011 first-round pick Tyler Beede

***Compensation from Detroit for Prince Fielder

****Compensation from Philadelphia for Jonathan Papelbon

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