ESPN's TOP 50 for the 2012 Draft!

[BigAppleJak]

Good read...

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/stor...uxton-mike-zunino-top-50-2012-draft-prospects

Have a nice weekend!

 

[ballerskrip]

Insider article = fail

 

[hive17]

Insider article = fail

Not having insider=fail

 

[vwnut13]

Insider article = fail

Not having insider=fail

Paying for insider = fail

 

[hive17]

Insider article = fail

Not having insider=fail

Paying for insider = fail

Using $3 ESPN the Magazine subscription for free Insider = winning

 

[jeff550]

Insider article = fail

Not having insider=fail

Paying for insider = fail

Using $3 ESPN the Magazine subscription for free Insider = winning

paying to read stuff that can be found for free=Fail

 

[Topnotchsy]

Insider article = fail

Not having insider=fail

Paying for insider = fail

Using $3 ESPN the Magazine subscription for free Insider = winning

paying to read stuff that can be found for free=Fail

Not sure if you got his point (or maybe I am missing yours) but the idea is that a $3 subscription for a year of the mag gets you a free Insider subscription. Of course something went wrong with my account and I can't get Insider without calling them, and I'm not sure I'll ever get to that... ::facepalm::

 

[shayscards79]

Discoveries were made in this thread.

 

[mredsox89]

[quote="ballerskrip":6fjr023s]Insider article = fail

Not having insider=fail

Paying for insider = fail

Using $3 ESPN the Magazine subscription for free Insider = winning

paying to read stuff that can be found for free=Fail

Not sure if you got his point (or maybe I am missing yours) but the idea is that a $3 subscription for a year of the mag gets you a free Insider subscription. Of course something went wrong with my account and I can't get Insider without calling them, and I'm not sure I'll ever get to that... ::facepalm::[/quote:6fjr023s]

My insider account currently runs through 2018, lol. They actually charged my CC for the $35 a year or whatever. I called and complained because it clearly stated on the account that I had access. They removed the charge and just told me that it might happen every year but it was easy to take care of

 

[SydBarrett]

I guess my hopes of Buxton dropping to 3 are dashed.

I'll be expanding this list to 100 names in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, injuries and performance changes have altered the list enough since the last update that it was time for a fresh look.

One note: Missouri State's Pierce Johnson would have appeared on this list, but a forearm strain has knocked him out of the rotation and out of the top 50 until we get more information.


Big Board Bar

1
Byron Buxton
CF
6-1
175
H.S.

Analysis: There's a broad consensus around Buxton as the best player in this draft and a legitimate No. 1 overall pick, as he earns comparisons to a number of other players drafted in that top spot. He has all tools, an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale with an 80 arm (reportedly 95-98 mph off the mound last week) and big future power. But he's playing against poor high school competition in rural Georgia and has yet to homer this spring, so he's not without his risks.
2
Mike Zunino
C
6-2
215

Analysis: A true catcher who has an unorthodox style at the plate but hits, uses the whole field and has power is a pretty valuable commodity, and he carries less risk than the three high-upside pitchers ranked right behind him. Most scouts seem to think he doesn't get past Seattle at No. 3.

3
Mark Appel
RHP
6-5
215

Analysis: The stuff is there, and the results are better, but the lack of deception in his delivery combined with a habit of leaving pitches (especially his changeup) up in the zone make him more hittable than a guy with this stuff should be.

4
Kyle Zimmer
RHP
6-4
220

Analysis: Zimmer has less of a track record than Appel but as much velocity with a better present breaking ball. He's a former position player who fields his position well but isn't as advanced a pitcher as Appel is. His velocity was down in his last start, sitting 91 mph and topping out at 93, which bears watching this upcoming weekend.

5
Carlos Correa
SS
6-4
190

Analysis: On track to be the highest-drafted Puerto Rican player in history as an athletic 17-year-old who projects to hit and hit for power but probably ends up at third base in pro ball. For comparison, he has more offensive upside than Francisco Lindor, who was drafted with the eighth pick last year in a stronger crop. Correa's also a dark horse to go No. 1 overall.

6
Kevin Gausman
RHP
6-4
185
LSU

Analysis: He's up to 99 mph on a pretty regular basis with an above-average changeup, but he's showing only a fringy curveball when he'd probably be better suited to throwing a slider.
7
Deven Marrero
SS
6-1
194
Zunino

Analysis: He's really struggling at the plate this year, not just in terms of results but he is showing a lack of effort that has the area scouts confused since Marrero's makeup was always one of his strengths. I still see a plus defender at short who'll hit for average and has a high probability of being a decent big leaguer. I've heard Pittsburgh at No. 8 might be his floor.
8
Albert Almora
OF
6-2
170
Harvard-Westlake

Analysis: One of the best defensive center fielders to come out of the high school ranks, Almora has great feel for hitting and a simple swing with the potential to hit for power in the future.
9
Max Fried
LHP
6-3
170

Analysis: Owner of perhaps the best left-handed curveball in the draft with a very competitive nature and good feel for pitching that helps him pitch above his grade-55 fastball.
10
Matt Smoral
LHP
6-8
225

Analysis: The Solon, Ohio, product is out for the spring after suffering a stress fracture in his foot while pitching on a makeshift mound on a football field a few weeks ago, but scouts have seen enough of his easy 60 fastball/60 slider combo that I think he'll go in the top-20 picks even without giving scouts more looks before June.
11
Lucas Giolito
RHP
6-6
230

Analysis: This one is tough, as Giolito is out with what appears to be the most minor of elbow injuries and should pitch again in some format before the draft. If he does and the plus-plus fastball is still there, he'll undergo a lot of scrutiny from team doctors but could sneak back into the top 10.
12
Richie Shaffer
3B
6-3
205

Analysis: No player has improved his stock more than Shaffer has this spring, showing improved defense at third and better feel for hitting to go with 60 raw power. He probably has the best bat speed in the draft, at least among college hitters.
13
Stephen Piscotty
3B
6-3
215
Owasso H.S.

Analysis: Piscotty's results haven't been great under Stanford's hit-by-numbers-and-don't-ever-pull-the-ball approach, but there's power in there once the shackles come off in pro ball. But he's not the defender at third that Shaffer is. Called "the perfect A's pick" by one national scout.
14
Gavin Cecchini
SS
6-1
180
Searcy H.S.

Analysis: Some scouts call him overrated; others call him a no-doubt top-15 guy. Where they agree is that he has a good chance to stay at shortstop and a very good chance to hit for average, making him relatively safe for a high school kid.
15
Zach Eflin
RHP
6-5
200

Analysis: I saw him on one of his best nights of the year, but even at 90 percent of that he's a clear first-rounder and has the size, delivery and demeanor of a big leaguer to go with the above-average fastball and changeup. Scrap the knuckle-curve in favor of a traditional curve or slider, and you have a potential No. 2 starter or more.
16
Michael Wacha
RHP
6-6
200
Farragut H.S.

Analysis: A very safe pick, just without the upside of the arms ahead of him. He will likely pitch in pro ball with a grade 50-55 fastball and a plus changeup, but the lack of an average breaking ball holds him back.
17
Hunter Virant
LHP
6-3
172

Analysis: Probably doesn't go quite this high, but I think he could be the next Tyler Skaggs, another projection lefty who didn't throw that hard in high school but gained velocity rapidly as his body matured.
18
Courtney Hawkins
OF
6-3
210

Analysis: He makes the hardest contact of anyone in this draft with above-average present power, but off-speed stuff gives him trouble, and he'll play right field in pro ball rather than center.
19
Andrew Heaney
LHP
6-2
174
Science Hill H.S.

Analysis: Heaney has emerged as the top college lefty in the draft, featuring a three-pitch mix with an above-average changeup and some funk in his delivery that adds to his deception.
20
Addison Russell
SS
6-1
210

Analysis: The Pace HS star has dropped about 20 pounds and improved his conditioning to the point he now "looks like a shortstop." He may not stay there long term, but would be a plus defender at third (if not better), and his bat would profile there as well.
21
Stryker Trahan
C
6-1
215

Analysis: His defense hasn't been as good this year as it was in the past, and he's struggled some at the plate. I think the defense can be fixed with better instruction, and there are some possible reasons behind his offensive slump, but he's not the slam dunk he appeared to be last summer and fall.
22
Joey Gallo
3B
6-5
220
Florida

Analysis: Scuffled badly at the USA Baseball tournament in Cary, N.C., two weeks ago, but this is the best raw power in the draft, and there's always the option of putting him on the mound, where he rivals Giolito for arm strength.
23
Marcus Stroman
RHP
5-8
185

Analysis: If he were 6-foot-1, he'd be a top-10 pick. That lack of fastball plane has a lot of scouts putting the 5-8 Stroman in the bullpen. I think he's a lot like Sonny Gray, who also could end up in the 'pen but has the weapons to start and should get the opportunity to do so.
24
Brian Johnson
LHP
6-3
235
Edison H.S.

Analysis: Another very safe college arm, perhaps this year's Mike Minor, as a guy who could reach the majors quickly because of the quality of his off-speed stuff.
25
Chris Stratton
RHP
6-3
198

Analysis: There's some skepticism around a guy who posted nearly identically poor stat lines for two years, but Stratton is missing a ton of bats with an above-average slider and three other pitches to make him appealing as a potential starter.
26
Nolan Fontana
SS
5-11
190

Analysis: He gets dinged for his arm action -- it's a 50 arm, tops -- but he has great instincts at short and a compact, linear swing that will produce short line drives and, paired with his patient approach, will keep his OBP high.
27
Walker Weickel
RHP
6-6
205
HS

Analysis: He has disappointed this spring with a shorter stride and higher arm slot that have hurt his velocity and command. He could very easily end up at Miami now and be a top-10 pick in 2015.
28
Lucas Sims
RHP
6-2
195
Junipero Serra H.S.

Analysis: The Lawrenceville, Ga., product has a big matchup on April 10 against local power Parkview HS, which features top 100 prospect Matt Olson and potential first-rounder for next year Josh Hart. Sims works in the low-90s and does it very easily, with a very clean finish to his delivery.
29
David Dahl
CF
6-2
185

Analysis: Hasn't played up to expectations and recently strained a hip flexor, keeping him out of action for a few games, although he was expected back on Monday night.
30
Tyler Naquin
OF
6-2
175
Tustin H.S.

Analysis: One of the best outfield arms in the draft (Hawkins is another) with a stronger-than-expected hitting performance, although I'm still not entirely sold on his swing.
31
Wyatt Mathisen
C/SS
6-2
215

Analysis: Mathisen can hit but is playing short this year rather than catching, so he'll be something of a conversion project (although he has some catching experience) if any team wants to take him and maximize his value by putting him behind the plate.
32
Patrick Wisdom
3B
6-2
210

Analysis: He has recovered from a brutal start, showing more power in games as opposed to just in BP. An above-average defender at third with a 60 arm who has 25-homer potential should go somewhere in the late-first round.
33
Clint Coulter
C
6-3
215

Analysis: This Camas, Wash., product can hit, but needs a lot of work behind the plate. The next two weeks will be huge for him and the guy right behind him on this list, as there's a parade of directors and cross-checkers heading to the Northwest to see them.
34
Carson Kelly
RHP
6-2
200
Elander

Analysis: Kelly, who's from Portland, Ore., came out of the summer circuit as a pitching prospect in most clubs' eyes, but he has played well in both directions so far this spring and may now go out as a third baseman, with the fallback option of the mound always available to the club that drafts him.
35
Corey Seager
SS
6-3
190

Analysis: He's much more physical than his big league brother, Kyle, with more power potential, but he probably couldn't handle second like Kyle can and will have to move to third in pro ball.
36
Jeff Gelalich
OF
6-1
205

Analysis: Gelalich is toolsy for a college player, and the swing works with good hip rotation for power. Lack of performance prior to this year doesn't help his cause, but the shallow pool of college bats does.
37
Martin Agosta
RHP
6-1
178
Lovegrove

Analysis: Nothing exciting, just three average-or-better pitches and solid performance. But as a 6-foot right-hander who is not exactly a physical specimen, Agosta will find a lot of teams viewing him as a bullpen guy.
38
Alex Wood
LHP
6-4
220

Analysis: He has hit 94-96 from the left side with an above-average changeup but needs a better breaking ball to crack the first round. He missed the 2010 season following Tommy John surgery.
39
Mitch Nay
OF
6-3
195
Walker

Analysis: He's pressing visibly at the plate right now, but right-handed power like this is too scarce for him to last to the second round even without a good platform season.
40
Ty Buttrey
RHP
6-6
210

Analysis: Buttrey has run up boards recently by hitting 95 mph with one of the quickest pitching approaches scouts have ever seen, including a 70-minute complete game in front of several directors and cross-checkers about two weeks ago.
41
Lance McCullers
RHP
6-2
205

Analysis: McCullers has done a lot to clean up his delivery and generate whatever plane he can from his shorter frame, so there's now a chance he could start in pro ball since he always had the three pitches but didn't have the feel or the downhill action to do it. Still most likely a reliever, but some team that believes he can start could take him in the late-first round.
42
Nick Travieso
RHP
6-3
210
Stony Brook

Analysis: Was 90-95 in front of a big crowd of scouts a few weeks ago, but there's a split camp on whether he's the dominant prep arm he showed in mid-March at a major tournament or just an arm strength guy who has the upside but is lower probability.
43
Kieran Lovegrove
RHP
6-4
180
TAMU

Analysis: Lovegrove remains a top prospect based on pure stuff with some projection, but he lacks present command and is more of a long-term play. The same applies to fellow SoCal right-hander Shane Watson.
44
Tanner Rahier
3B
6-2
205
Arkansas.

Analysis: He loads his hands a little deep but squares the ball up well with good rotational action for future power and a probable plus glove at third in the long run.
45
Kenny Diekroeger
2B
6-2
200
Roache

Analysis: Diekroeger has moved to second base, which helps his stock as scouts get to see him play the position he'll likely occupy in pro ball. I can't stand the way the Cardinal coaches have robbed him of his power and his flexibility at the plate, but I'll hold out hope that whatever team drafts him can undo the damage and get him back to where he was three years ago.
46
Travis Jankowski
OF
6-3
190
Jacksonville

Analysis: Has everyday center fielder upside and fourth outfielder downside. He's a fairly safe pick, given his performance in the Cape Cod League last summer, but he really should mash this spring against some of the worst competition in Division I.
47
Rio Ruiz
3B
6-2
195

Analysis: Ruiz wasn't playing that well before a blood clot in his neck that required hospitalization ended his spring. I thought he was a first-rounder coming into the year because he can really hit and should be fine at third, but the injury robs him of a chance to erase concerns about that slow start.
48
Pat Light
RHP
6-6
200
St. Edwards

Analysis: Light is up to 96 mph from a 6-6, 200-pound frame, and he has improved his secondary stuff this year and his overall approach, keeping the ball down (and in the park) while throwing more strikes.
49
Cory Jones
RHP
6-5
220
LSU

Analysis: This former Pepperdine pitcher (who is now at College of the Canyons) is sitting at 92-95 mph this year with a power breaking ball and much-improved command, thanks to a shorter arm stroke. Junior college players will be very appealing after the premium high school players start to say "no" to the Reinsdorf bonus plan: "You take less money, and we keep the rest!"
50
Will Brinson
OF
6-4
180
Winston

Analysis: Top-15 tools, but very, very crude right now. He did win the home run derby at the Under Armour Classic last August at Wrigley Field, but hitting in games isn't there yet. Was dubbed by one scout "the perfect Phillies draft," which fits quite well given his upside.

If I had to guess right now, I'd say the draft's first four picks go Buxton, Zimmer, Zunino, Appel, but if the Astros decide to pass on Buxton, the Twins could take him and push one of those college arms down to Kansas City at No. 5.

 

[SydBarrett]

Forgot this, "10 more names to know":

Rank Player Pos. School
-- Chris Melotakis LHP Northwestern State
-- Paul Blackburn RHP Heritage HS, Brentwood, Calif.
-- Steven Duggar CF Byrnes HS, Greenville, S.C.
-- Matt Olson 1B Parkview HS, Gwinnett, Ga.
-- James Marvel RHP Campolindo HS, Moraga, Calif.
-- Anthony Alford OF Petal HS, Petal, Miss.
-- Jamie Jarmon OF Indian River HS, Dagsboro, Del.
-- Alex Young LHP Carmel Catholic HS, Carmel, Ill.
-- Barrett Barnes OF Texas Tech
-- Brett Mooneyham LHP Stanford

 

[hive17]

Insider article = fail

Not having insider=fail

Paying for insider = fail

Using $3 ESPN the Magazine subscription for free Insider = winning

paying to read stuff that can be found for free=Fail

Selling some version of this issue every year for a profit on your subscription = winning

Anyone else want to lose an arguement to me tonight?

 

[beefycheddar]

Love seeing Heaney keep moving up. He is genuinely one of the best kids I have had the pleasure of working with in Falmouth. Performance wise, determination wise, and just over all make up for him is incredible.

[youtube:c0kxak8x]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJWiewiqdpg[/youtube:c0kxak8x]