Another top-prospect draft list: 2012

by steve_z on Sep 22, 2011 10:42 AM EDT

Matt Garrioch of MLB Bonus Baby authored this ranking. The following are his first 25:

1. Kevin Gausman, RHP, Louisianna State
2. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)
3. Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State
4. Nick Williams, OF, Ball (Galveston, Texas)
5. Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)
6. Michael Zunino, C, Florida
7. Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
8. Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga.
9. Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS, Lake Charles, La.
10. Carlos Correa, SS, Santa Isabel PR PR Baseball Academy
11. Stryker Trahan, C, Acadiana HS, Lafayette, FL
12. David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS, Pelham, Ala.
13. Jesse Winker, OF, Olympia HS, Windemere, Fla.
14. Rio Ruiz , 3B, Bishop Amat (CA) HS
15. Jesmuel Valentin Diaz, SS, Manati PR Puerto Rico Baseball Academy
16. Byron Buxton, OF, Appling Co, GA
17. Clate Schmidt, RHP, Acworth GA Allatoona
18. Hunter Virant, LHP, Camariollo (Calif.) HS
19. Lance McCullers, RHP, Jesuit HS, Tampa
20. Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern
21. Courtney Hawkins, OF, Corpus Christi Carroll HS
22. Trey Williams, 3B, Valencia, Saugus, CA
23. Kenny Diekroeger, SS, Stanford
24. Jake Barrett, RHP, Arizona State
25. Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Comments

Billy Williams looks like

a Josh Bell clone

That would be my choice.

by BadAndy on Sep 22, 2011 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

Are you referring to Trey or Nick Williams?

The organization needs hitting. Both supposedly can hit. One’s a RH, one’s a LH. Bell was a nice get for the second round. Hopefully, the Pirates can follow that pick with another first round hitting prospect.

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 22, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

If Billy Williams is still on the board

we gotta take him.

by Garrett122 on Sep 22, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'd pass

He’d probably sell you out to Darth Vader in order the help out his vapor trade.

by Wizard of Woz on Sep 22, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

“I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.”

by Vlad on Sep 22, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

This guy could hit a lick

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 22, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Quite possibly the sweetest swing

I ever saw.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Sep 22, 2011 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I vote for Strawberry on that one...

by NastyNate82 on Sep 22, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

i'll vote for Griffey Jr or Will Clark

by white angus on Sep 22, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

SS

Gotta take one of those SS, Marrero but he’ll prob be gone, but Cecchini and Correa look legit as well. They are all excellent fielders and can all stay at SS most likely. Correa interests me the most, he’s 6’3" 180 now so he could fill out and have his offense match his defensive ability but also has the best chance to out grow the position but he’s really quick and most likely could stay there. He’d be my guy where we are predicted to pick at this point.

by SteelCity G on Sep 22, 2011 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

I prefer

Diekroeger. Look for him to have a good year and shoot back up draft boards.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Sep 22, 2011 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Three guys in the middle of list are excellent, Trahan, Dahl and Winker. If a pitcher is taken hope it is Appel but don’t think he drops down far enough for the pirates

by Skipperron on Sep 22, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

A lot of scouts aren’t too excited about this draft.

Hey, a little bit o’ luck. We get a lower draft position than normal, and we don’t get penalized for it!

Thank you Ned Colletti.

by ryebr3ad on Sep 22, 2011 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

if Appel is available, you take him

i cant believe hes that low on someones list.

by white angus on Sep 22, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

a pitcher out of Stanford

what could go wrong!?

by BurgherKing on Sep 22, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

its a myth

like santa claus, deities, smizik’s hairline…

by white angus on Sep 22, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

my comment was tongue in cheek

although, only partly

by BurgherKing on Sep 22, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

my comment was dead serious

but i knew yours wasnt… >:-D

by white angus on Sep 22, 2011 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm serious about it.

I would never take a Stanford pitcher in the first round. I don’t care how healthy he is, what he throws, any of that. The school’s track record is just terrible, and they’re always top-dollar signs.

by Vlad on Sep 22, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you feel that way about their hitters as well?

From his chats, it seems Klaw has some unkind things to say about the bats that have come out of that school as well. Dammit…shouldn’t they be, ya know…smart?

by NastyNate82 on Sep 22, 2011 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you feel that way about their hitters as well?

Their track record with hitters isn’t great, either, but I think the pitching busts are both more numerous and higher profile.

by Vlad on Sep 22, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotcha

Sickels had posts earlier this years on the pitchers drafted from major programs (Stanford, UNC, LSU, etc.) and what their success rate was like. Since Mussina in 1990, the only guys to pitch a decent amount in the bigs were Rick Helling and Jeremy Guthrie.

by NastyNate82 on Sep 22, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Although some of those programs aren't too hot either

Rice…lots of those guys get hurt. And UNC, during that time (about 20 years) their best guys were Paul Shuey and Daniel Bard.

by NastyNate82 on Sep 22, 2011 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe college pitchers are riskier than prep pitchers?

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 23, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree

But the point I’m making is that I don’t think you shouldn’t have a black and white rule as far as not taking a player/pitcher from a particular school.

by NastyNate82 on Sep 23, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I've seen both Williams mocked in the top 5

or at least the top 10, while he has Trey at #22.

I at least give this guy props for having the balls to think for himself…now if he knows what he’s talking about?

by insane_sanity on Sep 22, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm reading it as

this is what he thinks the list will be come draft day. Let’s face it, last year at this time the only thing we knew was Rendon, Purke, and Cole were potential number ones. There was no mention of Bubba Startling, Danny Hultzen, or Francisco Lindor for instance. No one thought Purke would drop out of the first round. Maybe this is just a projection after injuries, down years, etc take their toll? At least, that’s how I am reading it.

by PuncSpeedChunk on Sep 22, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I kind of took it to mean right now...

As he said “a lot will change in the 9 months.”

by NastyNate82 on Sep 24, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

How often do two high-first-round prospects in the same draft class come from the same high school, as Giolito and Fried apparently do? Seems pretty unlikely.

Also, for teams in H-W’s section, the prospect of facing them in a playoff series this coming year must be nothing short of terrifying.

Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.

ARE YOU F#$%ING KIDDING ME!!!! ADAMS!!! JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST YOU HAD 24 SQUARE FEET AND YOU MISSED IT ALL!! - OlenWhitaker

Certified Grabbo Lover, though only by accident.

Total Internet Points: 9001

by wg1of5 on Sep 22, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

It is unlikely but...

Harvard-Westlake is a private school in the LA area so it’s not like these two grew up across the street from each other in rural Idaho. Fried just transferred there this year, I think because the baseball program was cut at his school.

by Drufan11 on Sep 23, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

McCullers is a probably a reliever from what I hear. He’s going to fall, and I hope NH makes him next year’s Stetson Allie/Matt Purke.

No jinx no jinx no jinx.

by Suffering Buc on Sep 22, 2011 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

McCullers allegedly has one thing in common with Bryce Harper

A 30 personality.

20 personality — Rush Limbaugh
10 personality — Hitler
0 personality — Satan

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 22, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

i thought all 3 of those were the same "person"

by white angus on Sep 22, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah

Satan>Hitler>Limbaugh

with > defined as more evil, despicable, scummy.

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 22, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

i think Satan is getting the worst of this one

especially since he doesnt exist. harsh, dude.

by white angus on Sep 22, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Especially since even if he did exist, biiblical evidence does not paint Lucifer as all that bad of a guy.

by thecheeseisblue on Sep 23, 2011 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

biblical and evidence should never be used together in a sentence

by white angus on Sep 23, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha

you’re funny.. and offensive…

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Sep 23, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

opinions vary

by white angus on Sep 25, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Satan is a symbol of the evil human beings are able to or want to commit, He doesn’t need to exist.

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 23, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

man is more evil than satan could ever imagine

by white angus on Sep 23, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

We invented that symbol...

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 23, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

and everything else in that book too

by white angus on Sep 25, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I think

the stuff is overblown on Harper’s makeup. If the Bucs passed on a Harper type of talent because of his “personality” I’d be…a tad upset.

by NastyNate82 on Sep 22, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Harper was/is a special case

He has/had too much talent to pass over.

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 23, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

like Milton Bradley

by Mr. E on Sep 25, 2011 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Kinda

I’m trying to remember a player who was or should become a superstar and who was also a known prick. Ty Cobb comes to mind, but it’s a bit much to compare a prospect like Harper to one of the greatest players to ever play the game. On the other hand, the two share this one relationship — being a talented player and a known prick (or arrogant SOB or a Prince of Ego or…).

s.zielinski

by steve_z on Sep 25, 2011 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions