2012 MLB Draft Picks: Breaking Down Best Value Selections of First Round

Even though there weren't many major surprises in the opening round of the MLB draft on Monday, a few players stayed on the board longer than most people anticipated. It allowed the teams that eventually drafted them to get excellent value.

Let's take a look at the three best value picks of the first round. It will take a couple years before these selections pay off, but they add another talented piece to the system and should eventually make a big impact at the major league level.

No. 8 Pittsburgh Pirates: Mark Appel

Appel was in the mix to get drafted with the top overall pick, but once the Houston Astros decided to pass on him, he started falling like a rock. He ended up with the Pirates, which is a good fit given the team's need for pitching.

The Stanford product has a great fastball that tops out in the high-90s and has improved his changeup to keep hitters off balance. He also features a slider, but it still needs a little work in the minors before it becomes a true out pitch.

While it's taken a lot longer than most Pirates fans hoped, the franchise has finally started to show signs of becoming a playoff contender once again in the coming years. Appel will be a big piece of the rotation that ends the drought.

No. 16 Washington Nationals: Lucas Giolito

The Nationals are taking a big chance on Giolito. He was an elite prospect before an elbow injury sidelined him, and that's not something a team ever wants to hear about a young pitcher. That said, the upside is enormous as well.

Prior to the injury, Giolito was already showcasing three pitches that were well beyond the usual development curve for high school pitches. His fastball set up a nasty curveball and a good changeup, and he could use them all in any count.

Nobody knows where he'll be once he gets back to full strength, but if it's anywhere near the point he was before the injury, this pick will be a steal for the Nationals. For a team that's already got a lot of talented young pitchers, it was worth a chance.

No. 24 Boston Red Sox: Deven Marrero

Marrero still has some work to do at the plate; there's no doubt about that. But when you combine his tremendous defensive ability with the glimpses of potential he has shown with the bat, the Red Sox were right to jump on him late in the round.

The Arizona State star has all the tools to become one of the best fielding shortstops in the game. He has great range, a cannon for an arm and should only continue to improve with experience. That alone is worth the No. 24 pick.

His defense also makes it a low-risk pick for the Red Sox. They can allow him to move through the system at a steady pace as he improves with the bat, and the worst-case scenario would be him becoming a valuable depth player.