2012 MLB Mock Draft: Perfect Plays for Every MLB Team

Knowing who's going to develop into a superstar and who's going to be a bust is an impossible task when it comes to the MLB draft.

It's a long road from rookie ball to the majors, and there are plenty of opportunities for pitfalls along the way. The outfielder with the most potential might never see the light of the bigs and could get stuck in Triple-A for years because the major league club is deep at his position, and a prospect every scout said not to touch could end up being an MVP—look at Dustin Pedroia.

You just never know who's going to pan out and who isn't, but with that being said, it's still fun to try to predict the future. Here's a look at what could go down in the first round of the MLB draft, with a special emphasis on some of the top-rated prospects.

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

He's all you could ask for from a pitching prospect: He's 6'4", he's consistent and he has a terrific slider that he can throw for strikes. He's the consensus best pitcher available.

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

The draft-eligible LSU sophomore is another 6'4" righty with lots of life on his fastball, a decent breaking ball and a good changeup, but he does struggle a bit with his command.

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

It's always iffy to take a catcher this high in the draft, but the consensus among scouts is that Zunino is one—possibly the only one this year—who's worth it. 

For one thing, there's virtually no chance that Zunino will have to move away from catcher as he progresses through the minors, and that kind of longevity is very attractive to a team like the Mariners, which has had a lot of notorious trouble drafting solid catching prospects in the past. Plus, he shows the kind of power at the plate that essentially guarantees he'll remain an offensive threat.

This isn't the kind of player who's going to give you either offense or defense; he's a Matt Wieters-type who will give you both, and for that reason, he won't fall out of the top two or three spots.

4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93): Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County High School (Ga.)

This is a player who's rated as the best prospect available by a lot of pundits, and it's a distinction that's well-deserved.

He hasn't always been at the top of the watch-list when it comes to high school prospects, but after a spectacular showing at the East Coast Pro Showcase last summer, he's been on every team's radar and could easily go as the top selection this year. ESPN.com's David Auguste writes that Buxton has five-tool potential but that his speed is his main selling point—it's impossible to beat in the outfield and on the basepaths.

His ascent may have been rapid, but there isn't anyone as offensively and defensively prepared as he is to be a star.  

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

Correa is a shortstop who looks like a lock to remain at the position because of his above-average defense and his high offensive potential, too.

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

As a senior, Almora has the maturity and the experience to excel at the next level, and he has the kind of work ethic that is bound to help him reach his full potential.  

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

He's more of a wild card now than he was at the beginning of the season, when he suffered an elbow injury that kept him out for most of the season. His blazing fastball, however, is likely to be enough to keep him in the first round.

After Giolito famously threw his fastball at 100 mph early this spring, he strained his elbow shortly thereafter and, according to the LA Times, won't throw off the mound till after the draft. Given his potential, that's not likely to affect his draft position, but his signability might.

If teams get a good sense that he's not going to defect to UCLA, there's no way he falls out of the top 10. He could hit 91 mph as a 14-year-old and displays ridiculous accuracy and consistency for someone his age.

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

His defense is so good that it might be enough to keep him at shortstop for the long-term despite the fact that his swing and his pitch selection have proven to be a bit problematic.

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

One scout told the Los Angeles Times that Fried could be the best left-handed prospect to come out of Southern California in the last 10 years, and he might even go higher than teammate Giolito. 

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

He's never been drafted before, but he has four pitches that could develop into at least average offerings at the next level.

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

He can hit the 90 mph-mark when he pitches, but he's more likely to have a future as an outfielder because of his pop and his speed.

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

Cecchini can consistently make contact, and he has good speed and instincts on the basepaths. Plus, his brother was drafted in 2010 and is in the Red Sox organization, so his lineage is pretty solid, too.

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

He can hit the ball to essentially anywhere on the field, and he has the arm to develop into a solid third baseman as well as a right fielder.

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

He figures to be the top reliever taken in this year's draft and could move into a major-league role fairly efficiently because of his mid-90s fastball and his nasty curve.

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

He throws three pitches for strikes and he throws hard deep into games. His excellent curveball is just one more thing that ensures his place in the first round.

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

He switched from reliever to pitcher this year and saw a lot of success, and it gave him a chance to show off his four-pitch repertoire.

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

Smoral dropped on many a board because of a foot injury in April, but he's a very big (6'8") lefty with an above-average heater and a changeup he can throw for strikes.

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

He's the son of the seven-year major leaguer, and he has a fastball that hits the upper 90s, plus a slider that can be just as good. He's only this far down in the order because he needs to work on his command a bit.

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

Scouts have been impressed by his maturity and his willingness to work harder to get better, and while he has a decent fastball and breaking ball, he has an extremely impressive curve that will keep him in the first round.

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

He's more likely to develop as a third baseman rather than a pitcher because of his power and consistency at the plate.

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

The biggest thing Davis has going for him is his speed, which drastically boosts his potential both as a base-stealer and as an outfielder.

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

He currently boasts four pitches that could easily develop into major league-level pitches once his command improves, particularly his changeup. 

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

As a 5'11" shortstop, Fontana can't escape obvious comparisons to a player like Dustin Pedroia. Even if Fontana has to make the switch to second base, he still has the swing and the arm strength to be a worthwhile selection here. 

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

The Red Sox are more likely to go with Kelly as an infield prospect rather than a pitcher, mostly because his power at the plate is too foolish to waste. 

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

The Rays always have a good eye for elite pitching talent, and Sims—with his 94-mph heater and his above-average curve—fits their agenda perfectly.

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

Despite a forearm strain, Johnson shouldn't fall out of the first round, mostly because of a dangerous curveball. 

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

His big selling point is that he's very productive at the plate and hits for power, which is no surprise given the fact that he emerged from the Cape League with the batting title last summer. If he can already hit for power with a wood bat, he certainly projects well at the next level.

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

He's one of the only other catchers besides Zunino who's worth taking in the first round. Though his longevity behind the plate remains in question, he has an excellent work ethic and a lot of agility for a backstop.

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

As far as prep school pitchers go, he's one of the best. He can hit 95 mph with his heater and already has a good feel for a changeup that is only going to improve.

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

Though he isn't likely to stay at short given his build, he's still going to get a look from some team in the first round because of his power at the plate.

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

His offense continues to improve, and once he shows more aggression at the plate, he'll easily be one of the better infield prospects on this board.

*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