2012 MLB Mock Draft: Ranking Best Power Hitting Position Players in Class

A home run is one of the most exciting plays in all of sports, and there are plenty of players in the upcoming MLB draft who can hit them. 

Every successful team needs a power hitter in the lineup. Some of the players with the ability to go deep will be among the most coveted prospects in the draft.

Here are my predictions for every first-round pick, highlighting the power hitters.

Note: These players are in italics.

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

The Astros won’t pass up a chance to add a pitcher like Appel to their staff. He’s got all the skills to be their ace in a few years.

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

Buxton is the ultimate upside pick. He is a little raw, but he is also an incredible athlete. He’s got five-tool player written all over him.

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

Zunino is a solid defensive prospect at catcher, but it is his bat that will cause him to go so high in the draft. 

He hit .371 with 19 homers as a junior in 2011, earning SEC Player of the Year honors. The Gator didn’t do quite as well this season, but he still went yard 16 times.

He is the type of player who can take a pitcher deep on any at-bat, and he is the top power hitter in the draft.

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

With two years of high-level college baseball on his résumé, Gausman will be ready for the majors fairly soon after being drafted. He’s been on fire as a sophomore and will be very solid in the pros.

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

Correa is 6’4” and 190 pounds, and he’s only 17 years old. When he grows into his body, he will be a monster.

He won’t be a shortstop for long with that kind of size, especially since he might not be done growing. His size makes him a great power-hitting prospect.

Zunino may the best power hitter in the draft right now, but don’t be surprised if that title goes to Correa in just a couple years.

6. Chicago Cubs (71-91): Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco

The Cubs need help just about everywhere, but they’ll settle for a prototypical power pitcher. At 6’3” and 185 pounds, he has the frame and the arm to blow hitters away.

7. San Diego Padres (71-91): Albert Almora, OF, Marion Christian Academy (FL)

Almora is the perfect power-hitting outfielder. His ESPN draft profile says the following about him:

"

His hands get very deep to maximize power and his bat speed and direct bat path allow him to get to the ball quickly and create backspin. These elements, along with his wiry strength and explosive hips, help Almora creates surprising power for his size that could produce 20-25 home runs annually, if not more.

"

He’s got the all the tools to terrorize pitchers in the pros. After a few years in the minors, this youngster is going to be a feared hitter.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (72-90): Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake (CA)

Giolito hits triple digits on his fastball, which will guarantee that he goes in the top 10. If the Pirates farm system can continue to develop him, he’ll be very dangerous one day.

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

Harvard-Westlake did an excellent recruiting job and will likely have two pitchers go very high in the draft. He may not throw as fast as his teammate, but he’s craftier and has better mechanics at this point.

10. Colorado Rockies (73-89): Courtney Hawkins, RF, Carroll HS (TX)

Hawkins looks like a power hitter at 6’2” and 210 pounds. 

His ability to absolutely mash the ball earned him the Texas Baseball Player of the Year award. He had a .412 average with 11 homers at the time of the award. 

He will need to mature as a hitter and swings too often when he shouldn’t, but he has the ability to explode on a pitch. His power gives him tremendous upside.

11. Oakland Athletics (74-88): Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

The A’s will be very pleased to see Marrero still available at this position. He is a great defensive prospect and is also very solid at the plate.

12. New York Mets (77-85): David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS

Dahl could be considered a poor man’s Byron Buxton. He is another five-tool player and a great athlete, but not quite the prodigy that Buxton is.

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

He has great size at 6’3” and 205 pounds, and with that size comes plenty of power. He has a .339 average with 10 home runs so far, and he finished last season with 13 homers. He plays both first and third base and is one of the better power-hitting infielders in the draft.

He’s solid defensively, but his bat is a huge plus.

14. Cincinnati Reds (79-83): Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)

He will definitely need time to develop after spending time at both third base and on the mound, but his ability to hit for power is among the best in the draft. 

He is huge at 6’5” and 220 pounds, which allows him to both pitch and hit with tremendous force. 

He prefers playing as a fielder, and as he matures, he will become one of the most feared long-ball hitters in the league.

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

Heaney is a solid lefty who has had a successful college career. He gives good value in the middle of the first round.

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

There will be no epic prospect for the Nats in the draft, but Stratton will do just fine. At 22, he’s got a lot of experience and should be ready for the majors fairly quickly.

17. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M

The run on pitchers will continue, and the Blue Jays will be glad to see the 6’6” power pitcher still available. He’s got very good speed on his fastball and should turn into a solid player.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers (82-79): Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (LA)

Cecchini is a talented fielder who could use some work at the plate. He is still a solid hitter, and his fielding will compensate for his batting while it improves.

19. *St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Ty Hensley, RHP, Sante Fe High School (OK)

Every team can use a 6’5” pitcher who throws in the 90s. If Hensley is available, the Cardinals won’t let him slide by.

20. San Francisco Giants (86-76): Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

The Giants did well for themselves the last time they gambled on a short pitcher with surprising power. Stroman has great stuff, even though it may not look like it from his stature.

21. Atlanta Braves (89-73): Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (FL)

Russell is a fantastic fielder who can develop into a solid hitter as well. He may not stay at shortstop, but his defensive skills will do him well at third base as well.

22. **Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Stryker Trahan, C, Acadania HS (LA)

After taking a pitcher earlier in the round, the Jays will want a player who can hit. Trahan can do just that. Even if he doesn’t work out at catcher, he’ll produce at the plate.

23. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): D.J. Davis, OF, Stone HS (MS) 

The Cardinals will also want to walk away from the first round with one pitcher and one field player. Davis will be a valuable addition with his elite speed.

24. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (OH)

Smoral is a giant at 6’8”, and his fastball is easily into the 90s. One only needs to take a look at him to know that he’s got the talent to be a productive pitcher.

25. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71): Carson Kelly, 3B, Westview HS (OR) 

He has a wicked fastball while on the mound, which means he has no problem zipping the ball across the diamond. He is also a solid hitter and will be a very good infielder in a few years.

25. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71): Zach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty HS (FL)

Eflin is yet another 6’5” pitcher who hits big numbers on the radar gun. A team can never have enough of these guys in its farm system. If Eflin takes well to teaching, he could be scary good.

26. Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68): Ty Buttrey, RHP, Providence HS (NC)

The big power pitchers will start to go fast at this point, and the Diamondbacks will do well for themselves by grabbing this prep prospect.

27. ***Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Tanner Rahier, SS, Palm Desert HS (CA)

This is the pick the Brewers received for losing Prince Fielder, so they’ll want to add a player who can hit. Rahier can do just that, whether he stays at shortstop or not.

28. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Pierce Johnson, RHP, Missouri State 

After nabbing a hitter, the Brewers will want a pitcher with their second consecutive pick. Johnson is sliding down draft board because of an injury, but if he stays healthy, he’ll give great value here.

29. Texas Rangers (96-66): Lewis Brinson, OF, Coral Springs HS (FL)

The Rangers have the most talented team in baseball, so they can afford to pick a project and wait for him to develop. Brinson has tremendous upside, and Texas will be happy to take a chance on him.

30. New York Yankees (97-65): Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford

The Stanford infielder is mature and should be ready for the majors shortly. He’ll look good in pinstripes.

31. ****Boston Red Sox (90-72): Clint Coulter, C, Union HS (WA)

Coulter is a good hitting prospect who may move around defensively. Regardless of where he ends up on defense, he’ll produce at the plate.

*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