MLB Draft: Kolten Wong and 10 First Rounders No One is Talking About

With the MLB Draft rapidly approaching, hopeful draft prospects are beginning to wonder who will select them and when.

While some players are locks for the top ten, others fall into the fringe of the late first round.

The later players go in the first round, the more overlooked they become.

Fans want to know who the top ten players are, and who will become the next player headed to Cooperstown.

However, outside of the top ten lurks several talented players ready to contribute to a major league team someday.

Here are ten first round players who are being overlooked:

Kolten Wong, 2B, University of Hawaii

2011 statistics: .378 BA, 7 HR, 53 RBI, 23 SB

Kolten Wong lacks flash, but is a very safe pick for whoever decides to choose him.

He hits for solid contact and possesses average power. He has great plate discipline and he knows how to approach many different types of pitchers and pitches.

He possesses enough speed to steal a few bases and is also very tough to strikeout at the plate.

Defensively, Wong is a solid second baseman with above average range.

Wong is a solid competitor and he should rise through the minor leagues very quickly.

He is ready to play his position now, and should be a solid contributor for a major league team within the next two years.

Expect Wong to be selected in the mid to late first round.

George Springer, CF, UCONN

2011 statistics: .350 BA, 12 HR, 76 RBI

Five tool players do not come around all that often, and George Springer happens to fit that rare mold.

Constantly overlooked because of the presence of another five-tool player, Bubba Starling, Springer has the ability to be a big contributor for whoever selects him in the draft.

Springer may slide in the first round due to some holes in his swing, but he has great raw power.

In the outfield, Springer has an above average arm, and the speed to track balls down in the gap. He also possesses the arm to make runners think twice before they take that extra base.

Springer does have some kinks that need worked out at the dish, but look for Springer to rise through the minors quickly if he can work those out.

It can't be stated enough that five tool players do not come around all the time, so it is best to jump on them when they do.

Taylor Jungmann, P, University of Texas

2011 statistics: 13-1, 1.40 ERA, 5 CG, 119 K, .168 BAA

Taylor Jungmann gets overlooked due to the presence of several other great arms in this year's draft, but his statistics demand attention.

He has dominated his opposition with three power pitches, including a fastball that can touch 98 mph.

Jungmann lacks command of the strikezone, but he does have great control with all of his pitches.

He may not have the ceiling of Dylan Bundy or the high expectations of fellow collegian Gerrit Cole, but Jungmann has not had success without ability.

Standing 6'6'', Jungmann has the size to take on a large workload, despite having elbow surgery when he was in high school.

Jungmann will probably come off the board in the top half of the first round, and while he may not be as hyped as other big arms, he should not be overlooked.

Daniel Norris, P, Science Hill (Tenn.) High School

2011 statistics: 8-0, 1.96 ERA, 140 K

Daniel Norris is considered the top left-handed high school pitcher available.

He throws a three pitch mix, with his fastball sitting around 92 mph with some sink to it.

He has great makeup and although he is signed with Clemson for next season, does not present signability concerns.

Due to inconsistent mechanics, Norris may never be a top of the rotation starter but he has the potential to improve.

Whether he wins awards or just plays consistently, Norris' numbers should have people talking.

C.J. Cron, 1B, University of Utah

2011 statistics: .434 BA, 15 HR, 59 RBI

Cron may not be a flashy talent, but make no mistake about his ability at the plate.

With the ability to hit for both power and average, Cron should have people talking.

He has the ability to hit the ball all over the field and also draw walks with great plate discipline.

The corner infield positions are supposed to be power hitters at the major league level. If that is the case, then Cron is the guy to come off of the board. He is a natural hitter and will continue to improve as he develops.

His bat should get him selected in the middle of the first round, and could have him on a major league field before too long.

Mikie Mahtook, CF, LSU

2011 statistics: .383 BA, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 29 SB

Mahtook is an excellent athlete, and has put together a nice collegiate season at LSU.

He is a solid hitter that can hit the ball to all fields, and has average power.

Defensively, Mahtook has an average arm and average range. However, his hustle helps him defensively to make up for most shortcomings.

Mahtook is another five tool player and although his ceiling may not be high, he can be a solid contributor at the major league level. His speed and ability to hit to all fields should keep him in the lineup, and fans will love his hard work and hustle.

Whoever decides to choose Mahtook is getting a great athlete and one people will soon be talking more about.

Robert Stephenson, P, Alhambra (Calif.) High School

2011 statistics: 8-4, 104 K

Dylan Bundy is the top high school arm available in this year's draft, but Robert Stephenson is not far behind.

With a fastball reaching 97 mph, Stephenson has the ability to overpower opposing hitters.

He also has great makeup and a pitcher's body, which allows him to have a higher ceiling than his numbers may initially suggest.

Stephenson probably will not go until late in the first round, but with his breaking ball and his changeup both having room to grow, look for Stephenson to contribute better than his draft position may suggest.

He may not have the elite arm of Bundy, but Stephenson will quickly show people that there are other high school arms worth paying attention to.

Joshua Bell, Corner Outfield, Jesuit College Prep (Texas)

2011 statistics: .548 BA, 13 HR, 17 SB, 1.054 SLG

Behind Bubba Starling, Josh Bell may be the best hitting prospect coming out of the high school ranks.

Bell, a switch hitter, can hit for both contact and power from either side of the plate. He is a true switch hitter who will create matchup problems for opposing managers and pitchers.

His fielding is nothing special, with an average arm and average speed. This lack of speed will most likely have him playing left or right field at the next level.

Regardless of his fielding ability though, Bell is a can't-miss bat who should come off the board in the mid to late first round.

Bell is considered a tough sign, considering his University of Texas commitment, but for the right price we could be seeing him somewhere in the minors this coming season.

Either way, expect to be seeing the name Josh Bell a lot in the future.

Javier Baez, SS, Arlington County (Fla.) High School

2011 statistics: .771 BA, 22 HR, 52 RBI, 20 2B, 3 K

While fellow high school shortstop Francisco Lindor will be taken before Javier Baez, that doesn't mean Baez does not have his share of ability.

There is some uncertainty as to where Baez projects in the field, but his bat makes him a very interesting prospect, as the above statistics show.

A good power hitter, Baez has great bat speed that helps to cover some holes in his swing.

Defensively, he has a solid arm and solid hands but he lacks the range needed to play shortstop. He could eventually move over to third base.

Baez may be a project and a player without a position, but his ability at the plate is hard to deny. His bat alone makes him a first round pick, and should wind up making a team very happy down the line.

Alex Meyer, P, University of Kentucky

2011 statistics: 7-5, 2.94 ERA, 110 K, 46 BB, .222 BAA

Alex Meyer, if nothing else, should intimidate opposing hitters with his lanky 6'9'' frame.

Luckily, Meyer has the talent to back that frame up.

Meyer combines a fastball that reaches the upper 90's, with a slider that reaches the upper 80's. These two pitches with some work could give Meyer a very formidable one-two punch at the next level.

Meyer really needs a third pitch to become a worthy starter at the major league level, and appears to have a changeup that could eventually become that third pitch.

If Meyer can develop the change of pace pitch successfully, and fill out his frame with more power, look for Meyer to be a name people remember.

Tyler Anderson, P, University of Oregon

2011 statistics: 8-3, 2.17 ERA, 114 K, 35 BB, .201 BAA

Tyler Anderson falls under the familiar category of high floor, low ceiling.

Anderson is a deceptive lefty who relies on movement and excellent command to get hitters out. He has a great changeup that will be his out pitch at the next level.

If a team is looking for their next Cy Young winner, Anderson may not be their guy. However, if a team wants a pitcher that can arrive quickly and contribute, Anderson is a great pick.

His ability to use two different breaking balls should help Anderson hear his name in the first round.

He will become known as a guy that knows how to pitch to different types of hitters.