2012 MLB Draft Picks: Pirates and Teams Who Made Smart 1st Round Picks

The teams that don't take risks in the MLB Draft and instead make the smart pick are the franchises that usually end up finding star players.

This is especially true when looking at drafting pitchers in the top half of the first round. Taking risks when drafting pitchers can have severe consequences going forward.

Let's look at three teams that made smart first-round picks on pitchers.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates desperately needed to add a legitimate starter in this draft, and they were lucky enough to draft the best pitcher in college baseball this season in Mark Appel from Stanford.

Appel was predicted by many, myself included, to go No. 1 to the Houston Astros, but the Pirates were smart to take him at No. 8.

When Appel is a star pitcher at the MLB level, the Pirates will be glad they took a power pitcher who is reliable.

Expect the Stanford star to also have extra motivation to succeed because of the seven teams that passed on him.

Kansas City Royals

Kyle Zimmer out of San Francisco is the perfect right-handed pitcher for a Kansas City Royals team that needs more starter depth in its organization.

At 6'3" and 210 pounds, Zimmer can be the intimidating pitcher that the Royals need to improve in a weak AL Central division.

Expect Zimmer to be a star at the MLB level for the Royals in the near future.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals need to get younger in their starting rotation at the MLB level, and they helped that process by selecting Texas A&M star Mike Wacha with the 19th pick in the first round of the draft.

If Wacha turns out to be a future star, which he certainly could, the Cardinals will be contenders in the National League for many years.

The Cardinals develop pitchers very well, and playing in a real baseball town with a great tradition will help Wacha tremendously.