2012 MLB Mock Draft: May Edition

The draft is under two weeks away and with that, we are really starting to get an idea of where players may be going and an idea of which players teams are interested in. This is our third mock draft and you can view the other two here. Look forward to a few more mocks as the draft approaches, including a mock of the supplemental round. Enjoy.

1. Astros (Mike): Byron Buxton (OF – Georgia HS): Rumors are going around that guys higher up in the Astros organization want a college pitcher, but at this point none of the college arms have really separated themselves from the pack. With that, Buxton is possibly the most talented player available and I think he would be a great pick as the best player available. He would instantly add a potential superstar into the Astros organization as they make the shift into theAL next year.
2. Twins (Jonathan): Kevin Gausman (RHP –LouisianaState) The Twins have consistently been linked to a pitcher so that is where I will go with this pick. Gausman has ace potential with a fastball that has been clocked at 99 mph, a potentially plus change-up, and a breaking ball that can be above-average. He has an ideal frame and could move fast through Minnesota’s system. I really want to take Mike Zunino here but pitcher really seems to be the way they are leaning.
3. Mariners (M): Mike Zunino (C – Florida) This is a very very hard pick me as I love the potential that Correa has to offer, but I have to go Zunino here. He is the complete package as a catching prospect and is not far from the bigs. He doesn’t have as high of a ceiling compared to Correa but he is much more of a sure thing. He would fit in nicely with the current crop of pitching prospects that the Mariners have.
4. Orioles (J): Carlos Correa (SS – Puerto Rico HS) I think he can stick at SS but if he has to move to 3B, which many believe he will, his bat will easily play there and his glove could be plus. A future left-side of Correa and Manny Machado could be very exciting.
5. Royals (M): Mark Appel (RHP – Stanford) The Royals wanted a pitcher last year but after their top four guys went in the first four picks, they went with the best player available in Bubba Starling. Well here they have two very good college arms available in Appel and Kyle Zimmer but I think they go Appel. He hasn’t quite shown the consistency that people want but his stuff is just too good to pass up here. Zimmer was a very close second choice for this pick.
6. Cubs (J): Albert Almora (OF – Florida HS) I had the Cubs taking Correa in each of our last two Mocks but he very well could be gone at this point. The Cubs will likely take the best player with the highest ceiling and that might be Almora. He is a plus defender in center with that chance to develop into a 5-tool player and has been climbing draft boards like crazy of late.
7. Padres (M): Lucas Giolito (RHP – California HS) I think the Padres will be drafting for the BPA available and here that is Giolito. As we all know, he was earning first pick consideration before a minor elbow injury in March. He has begun to throw again and once scouts get a look at him, Giolito could very easily go higher in the draft. The righty has some of the highest potential in the draft with a plus fastball that has touched triple digits with two potential plus pitches in his power curve and changeup.
8. Pirates (J): Deven Marrero (SS –ArizonaState) The Pirates might be tempted to add another arm like Zimmer or Fried to their system here but I am sticking with my pick from the last Mock. I wrote in the first mock that the Pirates would love forMarrero to drop here and he has in this mock and the last one.Marrero is a plus defender at short and has an above-average hit tool and plays the game the right way. He should be up when the likes of Gerrit Cole, Starling Marte, Robbie Grossman, and Kyle McPherson are ready with Jameson Taillon right behind. Fills a void in the organization without reaching.
9. Marlins (M): Max Fried (LHP – California HS) Last year the Marlins took a prep arm in Jose Fernandez with their first pick and I think thy take another one here. Fried is possibly the best left-handed pitcher in the entire draft and shows great polish for a prep arm. He has a plus fastball that sits in the mid to lower 90s with a plus curve to go with. He has front of the rotation potential and I think the Marlins would love a guy like him here.
10. Rockies (J): Michael Wacha (RHP – Texas A&M) I have taken a pitcher in this spot in each of our past two Mocks and I am not changing from my last pick of Wacha. Hard to pass on an arm that can reach 97 mph and also has a plus change-up and durable size. David Dahl was also a consideration here thanks to his athleticism and tools as well as Kyle Zimmer but late injury woes made me lean towards Wacha who also has the stuff to survive Coors.
11. Athletics (M): Courney Hawkins (3B – Texas HS) The A’s could use an impact bat in the system and Hawkins fills this void and is one of the best players available here. He has plus raw power, fantastic bat speed, and good speed for his size. He has a cannon of an arm and if 3B doesn’t work out, he would be a good fit in right field. I also considered Kyle Zimmer and David Dahl for this pick but the potential that Hawkins brings was too much to pass up.
12. Mets (J): Gavin Cecchini (SS – Louisiana HS) I spoke to a team scout who said Cecchini absolutely can stay at shortstop but he does not have his brother’s, Garin Cecchini, potential with the bat. He does have the ability to hit for average but the power is not quite there. The Mets would love if Almora or Hawkins fell here but I still think Cecchini has a lot of upside and the Mets would be happy to take him at 12.
13. White Sox (M): Lance McCullers (RHP – Florida HS) There were questions going into the season on whether or not McCullers would stick as a starter long term but there seems to be more of a consensus now among scouts that he can stick as a starter and as a result his stock has been rising. I think he is a great high upside pick for the White Sox who desperately need some high ceiling talent in the system.
14. Reds (J): Kyle Zimmer (RHP -San Francisco) Even with his velocity down and some lingering hamstring problems the Reds cannot pass him up here. Mikey wrote about Zimmer’s climbing draft status at the start of the college baseball season when he was relatively unknown. He has a great frame and some of the best stuff in the draft when he is healthy. The Reds are said to be linked to college arms.
15. Indians (M): Marcus Stroman (RHP – Duke) I don’t think Stroman slides any more and is picked up here by an Indians team who unloaded a few pitching prospects to theRockies in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal last year. The biggest issue people have with him is his size but the stuff is just so electric and more and more scouts are buying into him as a starter. He has one of the best fastballs in the entire draft sitting in the mid 90s and an absolutely devastating slider to go with.
16. Nationals (J): Andrew Heaney (LHP – Oklahoma State) The Nationals will likely take pitching here and Heaney is just as good as any left on the board. Heaney does not have the upside of the college arms above him but his probability of becoming a #3 starter is very high and he may not need long in the minors. He also has some projection left. Chris Stratton is also a candidate here.
17. Blue Jays (M): Nick Travieso (RHP – Florida HS) The Blue Jays have done a fantastic job drafting over the last few years, taking high ceiling high schoolers and as a result they now have one of the top systems in all of baseball. I think they go with a high upside prep arm here in Travieso. He has some of the best velocity in the draft, sitting in the mid to high 90s. He has an above average changeup and a slider that has greatly improved this year.
18. Dodgers (J): Richie Shaffer (3B – Clemson) I have no clue which direction the Dodgers are leaning but I have a feeling they may go with the best player left on the board, and that would be Shaffer. Shaffer’s stock has gone way up with his big time raw power thanks to incredible bat speed and his ability to stick at 3B. I could also see the Dodgers opting for an arm here.
19. Cardinals (M): Chris Stratton (RHP -MississippiState) The Cardinals have taken college guys pretty regularly in the first round and Stratton is one of the best arms available here. He has performed very well this spring and as a result, he has flown up draft boards. He has four quality pitches and the development of a great slider this spring has been huge for him. I don’t see him taking long to get to the bigs at all.
20. Giants (J): Ty Hensley (RHP – Oklahoma HS) Because it isSan Francisco I really want to take a college player here but Hensley has a plus fastball/curveball combo and some projection. Could also see Virant, Sims, Eflin, or any college arm go here. Also wouldn’t rule out Piscotty.
21. Braves (M): Addison Russell (SS – Florida HS) The Braves went pitching with last years first round pick but I think they go with a high ceiling bat here and Russell fits that mold. He has plus raw power and the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the field. There are questions that he might have to move to third base eventually but the bat is good enough to play there.
22. Blue Jays (J): Zach Eflin (RHP – Florida HS) Hard to day where they Jays will go since this is a compensatory pick but Eflin is a big kid at 6’5″ 200 pounds with a simple and repeatable delivery. He has a low-to-mid 90s fastball and plus change up although he needs a better breaking ball. His talent puts him in the 10-15 range but a tricep injury has made him miss some time. Eflin will fit in nicely with all ofToronto’s young pitching prospects.
23. Cardinals (M): Stephen Piscotty (3B- Cardinals) Piscotty is one of the best college bats available in the draft and I think the Cardinals, a team known for taking college players, take him here. He has the glove to stick at third and good offensive potential. His swing is sound and smooth and he has a good approach at the plate. It will be interesting to see how the power develops but he should hit for a good average regardless.
24. Red Sox (J): Matt Smoral (LHP – Ohio HS) There is too much talent in this kid for the Red Sox to pass up here. He is a big kid at 6’8” 225 pounds and can touch 95 mph and has great movement with his fastball and has a slider that flashes plus. He already has good control and, if healthy, could be a fast mover for a high school arm. D.J. Davis and Hunter Virant are a few guys I also like here
25. Rays (M): Carson Kelly (3B Oregon HS) The Rays have added a bunch of prep prospects from the northwest over the last few years and Kelly is one of the top guys available from that region this year. He is a two way player but I think he’s drafted because of the bat. He has great bat speed, potential plus power and should hit for a good average at the next level. The glove is solid and good enough to stick at third in the long run. Also considered D.J. Davis for the pick.
26. Diamondbacks (J): Clint Coulter (C – Washington HS) I honestly have no clue which directionArizona will go but with so much pitching in their system I feel they will go with the best position player and that could be Coulter. Coulter has huge power potential and a canon of an arm. He has a chance to stay behind the plate but his bat with play in RF or 3B if he is moved. I could see anyone from Rahier to Naquin to a prep arm going here.
27. Brewers (M): Victor Roache (OF -Georgia Southern) With back to back picks here, I think the Brewers take a chance with Roache. He has missed almost all of 2012 with a fractured wrist but when healthy, he has some of the best power in the entire draft. He wants to try and swing before the draft, and if he looks good, he could climb up draft boards. He has fantastic bat speed but the swing is still a little raw. I like the high ceiling pick here though for the Brewers.
28. Brewers (J): Stryker Trahan (C – Louisiana HS) This would be a steal if Trahan fell to the Brewers here. He possesses a plus arm and big power potential down the road. He is very athletic for a catcher and has the ability to stay behind the plate with some more coaching. I could also see Sims, Virant, Dahl, or any other upside pick going here.
29. Rangers (M): David Dahl (OF – Alabama HS) Dahl has seen his stock slide over the past few weeks but I think he would be a fantastic pick if he falls this far. He should eventually shift to right field but the left handed batter has five tool potential. He is a great athlete with big time offensive potential. He is would be a great high ceiling pick here at the end of the first round.
30. Yankees (J): D.J. Davis (OF – Mississippi HS) An extremely gifted athlete who has plenty of speed and double-digit power potential down the road and should have no problem sticking in center field. He does come with some risk but the upside is tremendous and the Yankees won’t let him fall to Boston with the next pick.
31. Red Sox (M): Joey Gallo (OF – Nevada HS) I don’t think the Red Sox can pass up on the plus plus power that Gallo brings to the table here despite the high risk that comes with. He has potential 80 power and if that doesn’t work out, he is a power arm on the mound, sitting in the mid to upper 90s. I also considered Corey Seager.