2012 MLB Draft Results: College Stars Who Will Make Smooth Transitions to Pros

Several teams walked away from the 2012 Major League Baseball draft with college baseball stars who will turn into excellent professionals.

These players provide safer options for more than prep prospects, and most will get to the major leagues much quicker.

Here are four teams that improved their franchise by taking a college player in the first round.

Mike Zunino, C, Florida—Seattle Mariners, Pick No. 3

Mike Zunino is one of the best hitters in the draft, and his skills at the plate will ensure a quick run through the minor leagues.

Zunino had his best season last year as a sophomore when he hit .371 and won the SEC Player of the Year award.

He is also a solid defensive prospect, but his hitting is why he went so high in the draft, and it is why he will have a successful career in the majors.

No college prospect swings the bat quite as well as Zunino, and the Mariners did well to get a mature, talented player that can contribute to their team relatively quickly.

Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU—Baltimore Orioles, Pick No. 4

Kevin Gausman went to LSU as a very raw prospect, but he has improved rapidly during his time in Baton Rouge.

As a freshman, he went 5-6 with a 3.51 ERA. This season, as a sophomore, he improved his ERA to 2.72 and has dominated with an 11-1 record so far.

At 6’4” and 185 pounds, he has great size for a starting pitcher. His talent is now complemented by maturity and craftiness after a couple years of SEC baseball.

Gausman has proved to be a quick learner, and he will soak up plenty of knowledge while working his way through the Orioles farm system. Once he reaches the majors, he will be the complete package. 

Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford—Pittsburgh Pirates, Pick No. 8

This pick was the steal of the draft, and the Pirates were extremely lucky to get Mark Appel at No. 8 after many projected him to go No. 1 overall.

Appel is a big pitcher at 6’5” and 215 pounds. He brings plenty of power, and his fastball nears triple digits.

His production has been exceptional, and he has gone 10-1 this year with a 2.27 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 119 innings.

There just isn’t much not to like about his game. Concerns over how many innings he has pitched for Stanford and how much money Scott Boras will demand for his signing bonus may have caused him to slide, but he will still become a fantastic pitcher in the pros.

Tyler Naquin, OF, Texas A & M—Cleveland Indians, Pick No. 15

Tyler Naquin was the second college field-player taken in the draft behind Mike Zunino. He definitely has some holes in his game, but no outfielder has an arm like Naquin’s.

He has an absolute gun that will help him attract attention immediately in the minors.

He is also solid at the plate and hits for contact very well. As a sophomore, he led the nation with 104 hits. This season, he led the Aggies with a .380 average and 92 hits.

Naquin’s ability to get his bat on the ball will help him get to the majors, but his defense will make sure that he completes his climb. The outfielder already has one elite quality, and he will continue to build his game for a few seasons before turning into a productive MLB player.