MLB Draft 2012: Investing in High School Talent Is Wise Move by Brazen Teams

High school prospect used to have a negative connotation in the MLB draft. In 2008, a record-tying 21 collegiate players were taken in the first round.

But that is all changing, and it's a tribute to the teams that relentlessly scout younger prospects.

We've seen a number of high school prospects go on to have successful major league careers throughout the years.

Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2010 draft, is the latest example of a high school prospect going on to make a difference in the big leagues.

Three college pitchers went before Baltimore Orioles high school prospect Dylan Bundy in last year's draft, and it is Bundy who has created the most waves since. He was recently declared the No. 1 prospect in baseball by Keith Law of ESPN.

Make no mistake about it, there is plenty of risk involved when drafting a high school player. He could go to college instead, leaving you empty-handed, or simply not live up to his potential. High school players generally take more time to develop, and plenty can go wrong during that time.

But the teams that take big risks sometimes are handsomely rewarded, while the teams that settle for a "safe pick" oftentimes suffer.

For example, the Seattle Mariners took left-hander Danny Hultzen with the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft. Hultzen was considered one of those safe picks. He wasn't expected to be the next great thing, but he figured to be a dependable starter. In Law's latest prospect rankings, he ranked Hultzen No. 22 overall.

Now, No. 22 overall isn't bad by any means, but the fact of the matter is Hultzen was selected before Bundy and Bundy's potential came through.

There were a whopping 17 high school players taken in the first round of this year's draft. That's a far cry from 2008. It even started at the very beginning of the draft, when the Houston Astros shocked everyone and took Puerto Rico Baseball Academy shortstop Carlos Correa over Stanford right-hander Mark Appel with the No. 1 overall pick.

Major league teams are no longer scared to draft high school prospects. 

Why?

Because they are beginning to realize that high school prospects aren't as risky as they seem.

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