MLB Draft 2012: First-Round Picks Sure to Be Busts

No draft in professional sports lacks the excitement or immediate impact of Major League Baseball's annual selection show, but it's still a day that can shape the future of any MLB franchise, for better or worse.

For every Joe Mauer there's an Elijah Dukes, and for every Derek Jeter there's a Matt Bush.

This year's draft is sure to produce at least a few MLB All-Stars, but it's also likely to produce players who will forever be considered busts to the teams that pick them.

Here's a few of those players likely to fall into the latter category. 

Mark Appel (RHP) Pittsburgh Pirates

Once considered the likely No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, Appel fell seven spots from that position, where he was selected with the No. 8 overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. His size and 98-MPH fastball might take him to the majors quicker than any other pitcher in this year's draft, but what will happen once he gets there?

Despite his 10-1 record in 2012, he gave up the second most runs on the Cardinal pitching staff (32) and suffered through a sophomore season in 2011 that saw him pitch to a 6-7 record and 3.02 ERA.

Obviously, scouts saw something with Appel that caused him to drop to the bottom of the draft's top 10, and to make matters worse, the Pirates aren't exactly the ideal team to join to help build his confidence. 

Tyler Naquin (OF) Cleveland Indians

The last time the Cleveland Indians used a first round pick on a player who went on to be an every day player or regular rotation pitcher for the Tribe was in 1998, when they selected C.C. Sabathia. That was 14 years ago, and with the team's selection of Tyler Naquin in yesterday's first round, it's a streak that will likely continue to a 15th year.

Naquin led the nation in hits in 2011, but as a power hitter in high school, Naquin never found a similar stroke in college, and that power's only going to be more difficult to find while going against professional pitching. Defensively, Naquin has a great arm but will need to improve his speed to be a major league center fielder, and that's not always something that can be improved naturally. 

Nick Travieso (RHP) Cincinnati Reds

Despite a 99-MPH fastball in his arsenal, the Reds' first round selection only pitched a total of 18 innings over the course of his senior year of high school. Granted, Travieso did pitch at national powerhouse, Archbishop McCarthy High School, but it's hard to imagine that a player who only saw two complete games throughout an entire season will be ready to make an impact at the major league level any time in the near future.

Lucas Sims (RHP) Atlanta Braves

Given their history and reputation, one would be hard-pressed to second guess any moves made by the Atlanta Braves when it comes to pitching, but that's exactly what their selection of Sims could cause some to do.

With the ability to get his fastball up to 97 MPH and a nice variety of pitches, the talent's all there with Sims but his stamina is already being questioned. Those questions are only going to intensify as he works his way through the minor leagues, and unless he converts to being a closer it's likely that those questions could turn into real problems for the Georgia native.

Clint Coulter (C) Milwaukee Brewers

At 6'3", 200 pounds, Coulter has the size you look for in a catcher, but not the arm strength. Add in the fact that he's slow and the Brewers may already have a problem with one of the compensation picks they received from the Tigers in exchange for Prince Fielder.

With the options of where he'll play in the field already limited by both his size, arm strength and speed (or lack thereof), one has to wonder if Coulter will ever find a place to call his own in the field, or even on a major league roster.