MLB Draft 2012: Will Brian Johnson or Pat Light Be the Better Prospect?

With the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft finally complete after three days and 40 rounds, it's time to analyze who selected who and which players will succeed going forward.

After selecting Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero with the 24th pick, the Boston Red Sox then selected two college pitchers: Florida's Brian Johnson with the 31st pick and Monmouth's Pat Light with the 37th pick.

According to the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham, Light is already close to signing with Boston. Even though it hasn't been reported that Johnson will forgo his senior season and sign, let's look at who will be the better prospect.

Why Brian Johnson Will Be Better

Pitching in the SEC gives Johnson a tremendous advantage over Light, who pitched in the Northeast Conference. Johnson went 8-4 for the Gators this season in 16 starts. He was tied for the team lead in innings pitched with 86 while striking out 68 and only walking 15.

His MLB.com scouting report thinks that he can be a middle of the rotation pitcher in the future and also notes how he has four pitches that he can throw for strikes. Being able to throw strikes with all of his pitches should really pay off going forward; he probably won't have to learn how to throw another pitch at the minor league level. 

He could possibly make it to the majors just because his off-speed stuff is so good, according to ESPN's scouting report (subscription required). If he can move through the minors this quickly, he will definitely be the better prospect.

Why Pat Light Will Be Better

Despite pitching in the Northeast Conference against weaker competition, Light could still overtake Johnson as the better prospect. He throws much harder than Johnson does and was the ace of the Monmouth staff. 

He's a very tall and durable pitcher who averaged over seven innings per start (101.1 IP, 14 starts), and is also more of a strikeout pitcher than Johnson. ESPN's and MLB.com's scouting reports on Light don't exactly agree on his out-pitch, the slider. ESPN says that he has a plus slider whereas MLB.com thinks that the slider is more slurvy and needs to be tightened up.

I'm not a scout or anything even close to it, but his pitches look pretty good to me. The question will end up being if he's a starting pitcher down the road or a reliever. Even as a reliever, his 90-plus fastball can make him the better prospect. 

Who Will Be Better?

Looking at both pitchers and their potential futures, I have to say that Brian Johnson will end up being the better prospect. Johnson has the better repertoire and will definitely be a starting pitcher. Light only has two good pitches and could eventually be a reliever.

Usually you see the better pitching prospects as starters instead of relievers. I'm not sure of the last time the Red Sox had a great relief pitching prospect. Daniel Bard, maybe? 

The competition that each has faced is clearly in favor of Johnson. Not to put down the Northeast, but pitching in the SEC puts you in much better position for the future.

In the end, Brian Johnson will end up being a better prospect than Pat Light.