2012 MLB Draft Grades: Complete Grades for Day 2

As the third day of the 2012 MLB draft is set to begin today, teams continue to make tough calls on prospects they believe will be able to help them in the future.

The first day of the draft featured high-profile prospects. On the second day, teams started adding depth to their farm system. After 14 Rounds on Day 2, some teams did a great job of finding talent. Other teams did not do so well.

With the MLB draft, it’s difficult to judge prospects at this point. Some have enormous potential while others may not even sign with their teams.

Based on potential, here is a list of how every MLB team did on Day 2. 

Arizona Diamondbacks

On Day 2, Arizona took two catchers after taking one with their first-round pick. With Miguel Montero at catcher for the Diamondbacks, it is tough to see more than one of these picks having an impact for Arizona.

Fifth-round pick Ronnie Freeman could be a good hitter in the major leagues, but he needs to work on his defense flaws. His arm behind the plate will hurt his chances to be a great catcher and perhaps keep him from staying in the major leagues. Offensively, he should be able to succeed and hit for average with decent power.

In the third round, the Diamondbacks selected local prospect Jake Barrett, a right-handed pitcher out of Arizona State. Barrett moved back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen in college but looks to be a potential closer as a professional. His stuff, including a hard fastball, is good enough to be a successful closer.

Jacob Lamb, a third baseman out of the University of Washington, is a good pick in the sixth round. He put up good offensive numbers in college and proved to be durable by only missing three games at Washington.

Overall, Arizona went with some average prospects but grabbed a future closer and a couple of good hitters. If first-round pick Stryker Trahan, a catcher out of high school, makes it to the big leagues. Freeman may need to move to first base. A middle-of-the-order with Trahan and Freeman could be very dangerous in the future.

Grade: C+

Atlanta Braves

The Braves loaded up on pitchers and catchers on Day 2.

Alex Wood, a pitcher out of the University of Georgia has the potential to be a great prospect. Left-handed pitchers are great to have, and Wood could be dominant if he works on his off-speed pitches. His fastball reaches the mid-90s, but his curveball and changeup need to develop in the minor leagues.

The Braves took catcher Bryan De La Rosa in the third round, and he has the potential to be Brian McCann’s successor. He has a quick swing and has tremendous presence behind the plate. His defensive abilities are one of his greatest strengths.

Out of all of the Braves’ picks so far, Kent State’s left-hander David Starn, a seventh-round pick, may be the closest to reaching the big leagues. The Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year does not have overpowering stuff but has excellent command of his pitches with the ability to change speeds.

Atlanta knows how to scout pitchers, and they selected some good ones in this year’s draft. Out of the four catchers they selected on Day 2, De La Rosa appears to have the biggest upside. A very good day for the Braves may result in a bright future.

Grade: A-

Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore used Day 2 to enhance their pitching depth. When they picked position players, they made the picks count.

Fourth-round pick Christian Walker could be a good hitter for the Orioles in a few years. He hits for average with some power and rarely strikes out. He will be limited to playing first base, but his bat should allow him to be a good pick. He knows how to win after playing for two national titles at South Carolina.

Michigan State’s Torsten Boss may be the Orioles’ sleeper in this draft. Not a high pick, the eighth-round pick needs to develop as an outfielder (originally a third baseman in college). Boss is not much of a power threat but can hit for average and use his speed on the bases.

The Orioles did a good job of addressing their pitching needs, but the hitters they selected may have the biggest impact on their future.

Grade: B+

Boston Red sox

In recent years, Boston has relied more on their farm system than in year’s past. Their lack of pitching this year had the Red Sox focus on pitchers on Day 2. Boston’s first eight picks of the second day addressed their pitching needs.

The Red Sox selected high school pitcher Jamie Callahan in the second round. Callahan has a bright future as a starter with a mid-90s fastball with a 12-6 curveball. The right-hander will need to work on his changeup in the minor leagues, but the Red Sox may have found a great prospect.

Boston also selected several pitchers with strong arms. Austin Maddox, who taken with at No. 118, has a good fastball and commands it well. He will need to work on his secondary pitches to be an effective professional pitcher.

Pitching is difficult to judge in a draft, but the Red Sox did their best to select pitchers with potential. Callahan should have no problem making it to the majors. The rest of the pitchers selected will have to develop in the minors for a few seasons.

Grade: C

Chicago Cubs

Theo Epstein had himself a great second day of the 2012 MLB draft. The Cubs focused on pitching and came away with good, young arms.

Duane Underwood’s potential has the Cubs looking forward to the future. The second-round pick has a tough fastball, a 12-6 curveball, and a sneaky changeup. His control issues may keep him from reaching the big leagues quickly. Like most high school pitchers, he will need work but has the potential to be a good major league pitcher. He's a great athlete and not just a pitcher.

A pitcher with two good strikeout pitchers is usually worth taking a chance on. The Cubs selected right-hander Trey Lang in the sixth round. His fastball reaches 96 mph, and he throws a hard slider. With only two great pitches, he will most likely be put into the bullpen.

The Cubs took some chances on high school pitchers on Day 2, but the potential of those picks is scary. If their pitchers develop in their system, the Cubs could have a great pitching staff in the future.

Grade: A-

Chicago White Sox

Chicago addressed their entire infield and pitching staff on Day 2.

They selected right-hander Chris Beck with their first pick of the second day. His mid-90s fastball, a cutter, and good off-speed pitches make Beck a promising prospect. If he lives up to his potential, he could turn into a good starting pitcher. 

With their fifth-round pick, the White Sox selected Nick Basto, a shortstop out of Archbishop McCarthy High School (FL). Basto provides solid defense in the middle of the infield. His bat needs to improve in the minors.   

The White Sox also picked up a closer in the eighth round when they selected Zach Isler out of the University of Cincinnati. He will need to work on his pitches but has a mid-90s fastball to work with.

Chicago made several good picks on Day 2 and should see results in a few years.

Grade: B+

Cincinnati Reds

After locking up their core players this year, the Reds looked to replenish their depleted farm system on Day 2.

Cincinnati got a steal in the second round when shortstop Tanner Rahier was still at the board when they selected. He started the draft ranked as one of the top shortstops in this year’s class and fell to the second round. He has good power and will fit in nicely at Great American Ball Park. He may need to change positions depending on the Reds’ needs, but he is a great prospect at this point.

University of Arizona third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean may get overlooked by many. He does not have incredible numbers, but he was a good all-around player in college. Mejias-Brean does not hit for power, but the Reds need more contact hitters. He has cut down his strikeouts considerably and puts the ball in play more.

With a young pitching staff, the Reds took a few pitchers early on but grabbed more as the day went on. Cincinnati focused on trying to get offensive players to fit their ballpark.

Grade: A-

Cleveland Indians

The Indians made some risky selections in the first two days of the draft.

Second-round pick Mitch Brown features a mid-90s fastball, a slurve, and a changeup. His pitches are not overpowering but could make him a good pitcher. He needs to overcome control issues as well. As a high school pitcher, this was a very risky pick.

Round 3 saw the Indians select right-hander Kieran Lovegrove out of high school. His fastball-slider combination can be effective, but he has command issues. His changeup is average but goes well with his two best pitches. He needs to work on his delivery, which may solve his control issues.

Cleveland took a chance on several high school players on Day 2. If the pitchers reach their potential, it could turn out to be a great draft. With high school pitchers, it is easy to miss on these picks.

Grade: C

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies took mostly collegiate players during Day 2 in hopes to avoid missing on those picks.

Their third-round pick, catcher Tom Murphy, looks like a good pick. He is a durable player and features great defensive abilities. Murphy’s offense is well-suited for Coors Field. He has a good power swing, and playing in Colorado should help him utilize his strength.

Left-handed outfielder Derek Jones was selected in the eighth-round by Colorado. Like Murphy, he has good power. Hitting from the left side of the plate will help him hit home runs in Colorado.

Offense is important to have when a team plays at Coors Field. The Rockies did a nice job of addressing their offense but grabbed enough impact starters.

Grade: C+

Detroit Tigers

With pick No. 91, the Tigers made their first selection of the 2012 MLB draft. They used their first two picks on high school players but selected college players with the rest of their picks on Day 2.

Their second pick, Austin Schotts, has tremendous upside but may be tough to sign. He is committed to Oklahoma State, but the Tigers took a chance on him. He can hit for average and uses his great speed as a weapon. Schotts may need to change from a shortstop to an outfielder as a professional.

Second baseman Deon Travis was selected with pick No. 424. The former Florida State Seminole has the ability to hit for average but not much power. He does not have great potential but could be a good role player.

Detroit suffered from the lack of high picks in this year’s draft. Schotts has the most potential but may not be signed. If he’s signed, it improves this draft class. If not, there’s not much potential.

Grade: F

Houston Astros

Rebuilding will take some time in Houston, but they made some nice picks in the draft.

Third-round pick Brady Rodgers has the potential to be a very good pitcher. His repertoire includes an average fastball, a sharp slider, a changeup, and a 12-5 curveball. His pitches work well together, and he has great command of every pitch. 

Sixth-round pick Brett Phillips has raw potential. His defense in the outfield will make him a good prospect. He knows how to handle the bat and should become a good contact hitter.

With several strong arms selected, the Astros improved their pitching depth tremendously. If they had drafted one or two impact starting pitchers early, their draft would have easily been the best in all of baseball.

Grade: A-

Kansas City Royals

The Royals made good choices when they were on the board.

In the second round, Kansas City took Vanderbilt left-hander Sam Selman. With a mid-90s fastball, he needs to work on controlling his slider and changeup. He was able to strikeout hitters all year. Being left-handed makes this pick valuable. This pick was the Royals’ highlight of Day 2.

They drafted catcher Chad Johnson in the fifth round. As a hitter, he should be able to adjust to professional baseball. He hit for average in high school. The left-handed hitting catcher impressed teams with his power as well.

Kansas City did a good job of getting hitters and pitchers in this draft. They were able to draft impact starting pitchers and get some promising hitters.

Grade: A

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels also suffered from not picking until late in this draft. Their first pick, No. 114, was a good pick, and they took few risks by selecting only two high school players.

With their first pick, the Angels selected relief pitcher R.J. Alvarez. His fastball reaches 97 mph while he has trouble controlling his off-speed pitches. If he wants to be a good relief pitcher, he will need to work on his command issues.

Alvarez was a good pick, but the Angels did not have many other standout picks. Their position player picks likely will not have an impact on their team, but the relief pitchers they selected may end up working out.

Grade: D+

Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles made a nice fifth-round pick but not many other impact picks.

With the 176th overall pick, the Dodgers drafted Texas A&M pitcher Ross Stripling. With a good fastball-curveball combination, he may turn into a relief pitcher to make his way through the minor leagues quickly. He has a changeup, but it needs work. He is able to use his control to rack up the strikeouts and limit the walks.

Their Day 2 picks were not anything special after a pretty good first day. Overall, I would give them a C+ for the entire draft so far. However, I was not impressed by their second day selections.

Grade: D+

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins made a splash this offseason with their big moves. In the draft, they made a nice haul.

Their third-round pick, Kolby Copeland, has great potential. This center fielder is a good fielder with an above-average arm. He is a good all-around hitter at the plate. He may need to focus more on hitting for average rather than power at Marlins Park.

Drew Steckenrider, an eighth-round pick, has the makings of a good relief pitcher. He strikes out hitters while holding them to a low batting average. Walks are an issue for him, but he has the stuff to be a major league pitcher.

The Marlins already have a good core, especially in the infield. I liked the moves they made to address their pitching staff.

Grade: B+

Milwaukee Brewers

After losing Prince Fielder and potentially Zack Greinke this offseason, the Brewers needed to make their picks count. Unfortunately for them, they did not.

Damien Magnifico was drafted in the fifth round and was by far their best pick of Day 2. His fastball can reach 100 mph but does not have a pitch to complement it. His slider is nothing special. He has had arm issues in the past, which has to be worrisome for the Brewers. 

Outside of the Magnifico pick, which is a risky pick, there is not much to be excited about by the Brewer’s draft.

Grade: D

Minnesota Twins

After an excellent first round, the Twins made a great effort to improve their pitching. 

J.T. Chargois was the best pick of Day 2 for Minnesota. The right-handed closer has a mid-90s fastball with movement and a good curveball. He occasionally struggles with his command but gets hitters to chase his pitches.

Right-handed pitchers Zach Jones, Tyler Duffey, Christian Powell and left-hander Andre Martinez were also taken early in the second day. 

The Twins did a good job of adding depth to their pitching. They have developed some good pitchers in recent years, so I trust how they used their picks.

Grade: B+

New York Mets

The Mets had an interesting second day of the draft. I was impressed with the position players they selected but not so much with the pitchers they selected.

Third baseman Matt Reynolds was selected with their first second-round pick. He has good power and can hit all over the field. At Citi Field, he will need to work on driving the ball to the gaps. He is also a good defender and could play some shortstop in the Mets’ system. 

Four picks later, the Mets selected Teddy Stankiewicz, a high school pitcher. High school pitchers are always risky, especially when they do not have a strong fastball. Stankiewicz uses his off-speed pitches to get hitters out instead of relying on a fastball. I do not see him becoming an above-average starting pitcher unless he improves his fastball.

Taking relief pitcher Matt Koch with 107th pick was a nice pick, but the Mets needed to get better pitchers than what they got.

 Grade: C

New York Yankees

Some people wonder if the Yankees even need to draft players. With an aging roster, this draft was crucial for them to get some good prospects.  

After trading away Jesus Montero in the offseason, the Yankees took catcher Peter O’Brien in the second round. O’Brien, like Montero, is a great offensive prospect. He does need to work on his defense, but his arm is above average. This pick was purely based on position need and the want for an offensive weapon.  

In the fourth round, the Yankees took Corey Black. Relatively unheard of, Black has a hard fastball with great movement. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is great. Depending on the Yankees’ rotation in a few years, he could be a valuable asset to their bullpen.

New York did surprisingly well for Day 2. They drafted both left-handed and right-handed pitchers to try to work through their system quickly.

Grade: B

Oakland A's

The A’s did a fantastic job of addressing their biggest need: offense.

With the 62nd overall pick, the A’s drafted catcher Bruce Maxwell. He won just about every award in his junior season Birmingham-Southern. He is a tremendous hitter, both for average and power. This pick helps the A’s and could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.

The A’s got two good pitchers early in the day.  Nolan Sanburn, a second-round selection, has a hard fastball to go with a big curveball. In the sixth round, Oakland selected Ohio University pitcher Seth Streich. He will most likely work as a reliever with a hard fastball and power slider.  

I loved the A’s picks. Only two of their first eight picks were pitchers, and they came away with some great prospects. Based on drafting what they needed, the A’s may have had the best first two days of the draft.

Grade: A+

Philadelphia Phillies

With injuries to many of their star players, the Phillies decided to get some young players in their system.

Their best pick on Day 2 was right-handed pitcher Alec Rash. Again, high school pitchers are always a risk. He has a mid-90s fastball with movement and a good slider. With the proper development, he could become a great pitcher.

I liked the Phillies strategy of not selecting too many players that play that same position. It will give them flexibility for the future. If Rash reaches his potential, he could be the Phillies’ best pick of the draft.

Grade: C+

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates were thrilled to draft Mark Appel with their first pick. Now they need to figure out a way to sign him. 

Day 2 did not feature nearly the same excitement for the Pirates. In the fifth round, Pittsburgh drafted Adrian Sampson. Sampson, a right-handed pitcher, has already had Tommy John surgery. That pick seems too risky for a team that has not won in a long time.

The Pirates drafted two catchers, Wyatt Mathisen and Jacob Stallings, early in the draft. Mathisen will be transitioning to catcher but is a good offensive player. On the other hand, Stallings is a great defensive catcher but needs to improve his offense. It will be interesting to see which catcher makes it to the majors first.

Like Oakland, Pittsburgh focused on trying to get better on offense. They did a good job of drafting good players. However, their picks do not appear to have as much potential as Oakland’s.

Grade: C+

San Diego Padres

Another team that needs offense is San Diego. The majority of their early picks were spent trying to get better on offense.

In the second round, the Padres drafted outfielder Jeremy Baltz. His hitting should help him get through the minors quickly and make an impact. He can hit for power and average. Playing at PETCO Park may force him to hit for higher average rather than power. He lacks speed and does not play great defense, which is not a good combination in San Diego.

The Padres also picked up catcher Dane Phillips and Fernando Perez with their next two picks. These picks were clearly based on the need for offense. Both players can hit for average and help the Padres score runs in the future.

Another solid draft for a team that focused on needs rather than picking the best player available. If Baltz and Perez were better defenders, I would consider bumping their grade up even higher.

Grade: A-    

San Francisco Giants

The Giants, not a team known for scoring runs, continued their recent trend of taking pitchers early.

If they had not produced such good pitchers recently, I would question their strategy. They proved they can win with great pitching.

Martin Agosta was their best pick on Day 2. The right-hander has three good pitches to choose from and could be an impact player for the Giants. Left-handers Steven Okert, Stephen Johnson, and Joseph Kurrasch all were solid picks. Teams love to have extra left-handers in their system.

Overall, I would say the Giants did a good job. Their pitching potential is high, but they failed to take an impact hitter. They used one out of their first eight picks on a hitter.

Grade: B

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners also needed to go find some players to help on offense.

I love the strategy of picking three shortstops in the first seven picks. Shortstops are tough to find so not a bad idea to draft multiple promising prospects. Joe DeCarlo is the best all-around shortstop they picked, but the other two have their strengths. Chris Taylor is known for his defense while Timmy Lopes is a better offensive player.

I like Seattle’s thinking and going offense for the majority of their picks. In a few years, we may see this draft class leading the way for them.

Grade: A

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals turned their attention to pitching on Day 2.

They took a risk by trying to lure third baseman/pitcher Carson Kelly away from the University of Oregon. He is a phenomenal talent but may be hard to sign. The Cardinals see him as a third baseman but may have wasted a pick.

Corey Jones, a right-handed pitcher taken in the fifth round, looks to be a good pick for the Cardinals. His fastball gets up to 97 mph, and he has a big curveball. He has dealt with injuries in the past. It will be interesting to see if he is a starter or reliever for the Cardinals.

St. Louis saw they needed pitchers and took four between in the middle rounds. I do not like the pick of Kelly despite his talent. With a pick that high, it is tough to risk wasting a pick.

Grade: B

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays decided they had enough pitching and wanted to keep up with the offenses in the American League East.

Taking Spencer Edwards with the 88th pick was brilliant. He is a speedy shortstop with a great arm. He may try to add power to his hitting approach and become more versatile. The Rays found another speedster to develop in their system. He has some of the tools the Upton brothers have.

Their other picks of position players were good but did not compare to Edwards. This kid has the makings to be a star in the major leagues. He bumps their entire draft grade up a letter grade.

Grade: A

Texas Rangers

The Rangers had a productive Day 2 at the draft.

Jamie Jarmon and Nick Williams were two of their better picks, but they are both coming out of high school. Both are athletic and play center field. Jarmon is the safer pick, but Williams has the higher upside.

I would have liked to see the Rangers try to add some pitching through the draft. That being said, I liked their position player picks. If they lose Josh Hamilton this offseason, these picks would be valuable.

Grade: B+

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are an offensive team that needs help pitching.

Tyler Gonzales can bring the heat but needs to develop his slider before he becomes a great pitcher. Chase DeJong could be a good pitcher but lacks overpowering stuff. He throws a fastball that averages 90 mph and has a curveball. 

The Blue Jays needed to find a pitcher that was close to major league ready. Unfortunately, the players they drafted will take a while to get through the system.

Grade: C+

Washington Nationals

The Nationals did not have the luxury of the No. 1 pick this year.

While they were not able to get great players on Day 2, they picked up some good prospects. Outfielder Hayden Jennings looks like a promising offensive prospect. He hits for average while having some pop in his bat. The sixth-round pick would be the best pick of Day 2 if he signs with the team. Spencer Kieboom is not much of a hitter, but he is a great defensive catcher.

Washington has a good core at the major league level right now. They managed to grab a few players that could have an impact in a couple years.

Grade: C-