Mike Zunino has everything one would look for in a franchise catcher.
The 2012 draft is considerably weaker than the previous year’s event. That’s not to say the class isn’t without some incredibly talented players, both on the mound and at the plate. In terms of ceiling, this year’s top group of prospects rival that of 2011. However, what separates this year from last is the lack of depth. There were probably 50 or 60 players capable of being drafted in the first-round last June, whereas this year there appears to be around half that number. Without further ado, I present the top 30 prospects for the 2012 MLB Draft.
This list will be continuously updated throughout the year.
1. Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County HS (GA)
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco
3. Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rican Baseball Academy
4. Mike Zunino, C, Florida
5. Kevin Gausman, RHP, Louisiana State
6. Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
7. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
8. Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
9. Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (FL)
10. Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M
11. Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (LA)
12. Courtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll HS (TX)
13. Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State
14. David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL)
15. Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State
16. Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State
17. Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Jesuit Prep (FL)
18. Nick Travieso, RHP, Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL)
19. Travis Jankowski, OF, Stony Brook
20. Hunter Virant, LHP, Camarillo HS (CA)
21. Tyler Naquin, OF, Texas A&M
22. Richie Shaffer, 1B/3B, Clemson
23. Ty Hensley, RHP, Santa Fe HS (OK)
24. Marcus Stroma, RHP, Duke
25. Joey Gallo, 1B/OF, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
26. Alex Wood, LHP, Georgia
27. Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (FL)
28. Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Cabarrus HS (WA)
29) Walker Weickel, RHP, Olympia HS (FL)
30) Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern
MLB Draft Countdown 