2012 MLB Draft Prospects: Lesser Known Players Ready to Blossom

The MLB draft is always full of well-known talent, but sometimes it's the lesser known players that end up having the more productive careers.

The same figures to happen after this draft, although it's still entirely too early to tell.

High-profile players like Mark Appel, Carlos Correa, Mike Zunino and Byron Buxton have all had the media attached to them for several weeks now. They have been given most of the attention due to their high upside and great talent.

Several other players that were either taken in the first round or left out of the draft's first day also have great talent. They only difference is that, while the media was busy paying attention to the aforementioned players, these guys were performing and producing with nobody watching.

Keon Barnum, No. 48 (Chicago White Sox)

Keon Barnum was taken in the supplemental first round with the No. 48 pick by the Chicago White Sox. He's from King High School in Florida and has a commitment to the University of Miami.

Barnum has a ridiculous build for a kid fresh out of high school. He stands 6'4" and weighs 220 pounds. Because he's still so young, he could even put on some more weight before he makes it to the majors.

A first baseman, Barnum hits and throws lefty. His defense isn't what's to marvel at here, though. His power is incredible.

Barnum possess 70-grade power, the most of any prep player in the draft. Because of his size and the fact that he's left-handed, some scouts have compared him to Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The only downside to Barnum's game right now is that he sometimes has the tendency to cast his hands around the ball, causing him to rollover on hittable fastballs. As he grows into his body, this should become less of an issue.

Hitting off-speed pitches has also been an issue for Barnum. To be successful in the majors, he'll need to learn how to recognize pitches a bit earlier.

All in all, this is a solid pick for the White Sox. By the time Barnum is ready, the team may be looking to replace Paul Konerko at first base. He'll likely be retired by then.

Travis Jankowski, No. 44 (San Diego Padres)

Many analysts projected Travis Jankowski to go in the late-first round. He instead fell to the No. 44 overall pick to the San Diego Padres.

Jankowski is a much lesser known player than most in this year's draft. He wasn't heavily recruited out of high school, so he decided to go play ball for SUNY Stony Brook. As such, he did not get the media attention that he likely deserved.

Last summer, he won the Cape Cod League's MVP award. He led the league in hits (57), runs scored (31) and triples (seven). He did all this while hitting .329, good enough for sixth in the league.

Jankowski is a left-handed hitting center fielder that has the speed and bat to be a top-of-the-order hitter at any level.

He doesn't possess much power at this point, but he will likely grow into his 6'3" frame in the future. Power always comes later, anyway.

He has plus-speed that makes him a threat every time he steps on the basepaths. That speed also helps him in center field, as he has the range to track down most fly balls.

Currently, he projects to play like Scott Podsednik or Brett Gardner. If his power develops, the sky is the limit for Jankowski.

Kevin Plawecki, No. 35 (New York Mets)

Kevin Plawecki is a 6'1", 200 pound catcher from Purdue University. He is a catcher that the Mets feel that they can develop and turn into an everyday contributor.

While there's nothing flashy about Plawecki, he has solid tools that suggest that he will make it in the big show.

He is a very solid defender that possesses a strong, accurate throwing arm, while also being a great signal caller behind the plate. It's clear that he was always one or two steps ahead of the hitters he was catching behind.

He has a very short, compact swing that results in mostly line drives. It also results in ridiculously low strikeout totals—he struck out just eight times in 223 at-bats last season.

Even if his power never develops, he could work quickly through the Mets' system. His short stroke and ability to call a good game both show that he's more ready for the majors than most catchers in this draft, so we could realistically see him in the orange and blue within the next two seasons.

The Mets are currently lacking a solid everyday catcher, and they may have found themselves one in the supplemental draft on Monday night.

Brett Mooneyham, Not drafted on Monday night

Brett Mooneyham, a left-hander from Stanford University, doesn't get the attention he deserves because his teammate, Mark Appel, is one of the best prospects in the 2012 draft class.

Appel, who went No. 8 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates, is still garnering most of the attention.

Mooneyham is a redshirt junior that sat out all of last season with a finger injury. This past spring, he posted a 3.32 ERA and 5-3 record over nine starts. He struck out 67 batters in just 57 innings.

He has the ideal body for a pitcher, standing 6'5" and weighing around 235 pounds. Despite his large frame, he has a very smooth delivery that doesn't have many holes in it.

His fastball has been clocked as high as 94 mph, though it routinely sits between 89 and 91 mph.

Aside from his fastball, Mooneyham possesses an above-average slider and an above-average changeup.

That being said, his control and command currently profile as average at best. More innings pitched could change that, but for now, he will go through stretches during games where he just can't find the plate.

He projects as either a second or third round pick, so it's likely that he'll be taken at some point on Tuesday.

Currently, he profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but could potentially work his way up to being more of a No. 3 type guy.