With the MLB draft set to get started today, it's a good time to take a look at some first-round predictions.
Better late than never.
The Major League Baseball draft, even more than other sports' drafts, is incredibly hard to predict. Because teams have deep minor league systems, it's almost impossible to predict which direction they will go.
Even in the first round.
With that being said, here's a look at my attempt at predicting the unpredictable first round of the MLB draft.
1. Houston Astros (56-106): Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
Appel has been terrific this season for Stanford, compiling a 2.37 ERA and compiling 116 strikeouts in just 110 innings.
The Astros need immediate help, and Appel is a tremendous pitcher who has the chance giving Houston major-league help very soon.
2. Minnesota Twins (63-99): Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County High School (GA)
Buxton is a high-risk, high-reward player, but it will be hard for the Twins to pass on someone this talented.
He's still just 18 years old, and he'll take a while to make it to the majors, but passing up a potential five-tool player is just something you don't do. Minnesota will take the chance.
3. Seattle Mariners (67-95): Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy
It's hard to predict what position a team will target, but the Mariners make it a little easier. With Danny Hultzen, James Paxton, and Taijuan Walker sitting in Double-A, Seattle has loads of pitching talent ready to hit the majors soon.
That means they will likely go after a hitter, and that means Carlos Correa, the exciting young shortstop, will be the pick at No. 3.
Not only does Correa possess the speed and throwing power to stay at the shortstop position, he projects as a big-time hitter.
Mlbdraftinsider.com rates his power as a potential 60, and that's impressive for a shortstop. He has the size at 6'4," and it looks like he'll give the Mariners the powerful young bat they are looking for.
Seattle has shortstop Nick Franklin in the minors, and while Franklin looks solid, it will be hard to not draft Correa, who will remind Mariners fans of young Alex Rodriguez.
4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93): Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU
Gausman has been terrific for the Tigers this season, going 11-1 with a 2.72 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 115 innings.
He has a great fastball to go along with a solid slider and changeup. The Orioles can go a number of different directions here, but Gausman is someone who can contribute right away
5. Kansas City Royals (71-91): Mike Zunino, C, Florida
Even though there is more talent at the position than usual, finding an elite catcher is not an easy task in the major leagues.
Zunino, who hit .313 and smashed 17 homers for Florida this season, is a smart pick for the Royals.
6. Chicago Cubs (71-91): Albert Almora, OF, Marion Christian Academy (FL)
Almora is young and won't contribute for a while, but the Cubs need to improve a middle-of-the-pack farm system.
The young outfielder has a rocket arm and tremendous power at the plate. If he continues to improve his ability to get on base, he will be a stud in a couple of years.
7. San Diego Padres (71-91): Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake (CA)
The Padres have incredible depth in their farm system, so they can afford to take on a high-ceiling player who is still far away from the majors.
Giolito, who is just 17 years old, is already 6'6" and 240 pounds. He has a menacing fastball and a knee-buckling curve.
He is a scary-talented prospect.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (72-90): Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State
Marrero was disappointing at the plate this year, hitting just .268 with an on-base percentage of .366.
Still, there is no denying the talent this kid has both from a patience-at-the-plate standpoint and in the field.
9. Miami Marlins (72-90): Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco
Most people have Zimmer higher than this, but No. 9 overall is nothing to complain about. There is no way he'll fall out of the top 10.
Zimmer is big, athletic, and his fastball and curveball are both plus pitches. He'll give the Marlins a terrific piece for their future rotation.
10. Colorado Rockies (73-89): Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
The high-schooler still needs to add some bulk to his 6'4", 180-pound frame, but he has a fantastic curveball to go along with elite command.
As far as high school pitchers go, Fried is about as polished as you'll find.
11. Oakland Athletics (74-88): Richie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson
I had Courtney Hawkins at this spot for a while, but it would be against Billy Beane's style to draft a player out of high school.
Instead, the A's will go with Richie Shaffer, who drew 63 works and had an on-base percentage of .483 for Clemson.
12. New York Mets (77-85): Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (LA)
Cecchini is currently a defensive shortstop, but he has the speed and tools to eventually be an on-base machine in the future.
At 6'0", 175 pounds, he could eventually develop a little bit of power, too.
13. Chicago White Sox (79-83): Courtney Hawkins, RF, Carroll HS (TX)
Hawkins has the frame (6'3", 215 pounds) and athleticism to one day develop into the prototypical five-tool player.
The White Sox will roll the dice with this high-ceiling outfielder.
14. Cincinnati Reds (79-83): Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke
Stroman is the definition of a strikeout pitcher. En route to putting up a 2.39 ERA for Duke this season, he racked up 136 strikeouts in just 98 innings. That's about 12.5 per nine innings pitched.
The junior is a good choice for the Reds.
15. Cleveland Indians (80-82): Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State
Talk about an impressive year.
In 2012, Heaney went 8-2 with a 1.60 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 118.1 innings. He was named a First-Team All-American and will likely be rewarded with a top-15 pick.
16. Washington Nationals (80-81): Chris Stratton, RHP, Mississippi State
Stratton struck out 127 batters in 109 innings this season. He has quite possibly the best slider in the draft, and the Nationals will add to their impressive core of young pitchers.
17. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (OH)
Even though he missed a good part of the season due to injury, Smoral's talent will be too hard to pass up for the Jays.
18. Los Angeles Dodgers (82-79): Lance McCullers, RHP, Jesuit HS (FL)
McCullers' fastball and slider both project as plus pitches, while his change should also develop into a solid pitch.
He needs to improve his command, but the Dodgers could use a young stud pitcher.
19. *St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M
Simply put, Wacha is close to being MLB-ready.
His fastball and changeup are both impressive, and he can use his slider if necessary. Wacha also has sound mechanics and command.
In his junior season, Wacha put together a 9-1 record with a 2.06 ERA and 116 strikeouts compared to just 20 walks.
Wacha doesn't have the potential some of these other prospects do, but he's a smart, effective pitcher who will be able to get to the majors by 2013 or '14.
The Cards would do well to grab him here.
20. San Francisco Giants (86-76): Joey Gallo, 3B/RHP, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
The Giants need some power in their lineup, and Gallo is the definition of power.
As a mere high schooler, Gallo is already 6'4", 200 pounds and projects as an 80 in terms of power and 70 in terms of arm strength from third base.
It's hard to argue with that. The Giants should consider themselves lucky if they land this young stud.
21. Atlanta Braves (89-73): D.J. Davis, OF, Stone HS (MS)
Davis is absolutely lightning-quick.
He's only 6'0", 170, but his real worth will be covering a ton of ground in the outfield and stealing a slew of bases.
The Stone High School product is a future leadoff hitter.
22. **Toronto Blue Jays (81-81): Hunter Virant, LHP, Camarillo HS (CA)
Virant actually played as a switch-hitter in high school, but his real worth is as a lefty pitcher who has a great changeup and solid mechanics.
The Blue Jays have a young and developing team, so they can afford to roll the dice on a high schooler.
23. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72): Nolan Fontana, SS, Florida
After taking a starting pitcher with their first pick, the Cardinals will look to add a solid hitter at a premier position.
Fontana doesn't possess a ton of power, but he has fantastic defense (.976 fielding percentage) and can hit for average (.290, 45 walks to just 25 strikeouts).
24. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Carson Kelly, 3B, Westview HS (OR)
Kelly, who could potentially be drafted as a pitcher, has good size and a good arm at third base. The young kid possesses a lot of power and has all-important versatility that will make a him a first-round pick.
25. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71): Clint Coulter, C, Union HS (WA)
The big catcher out of Washington doesn't have much speed, but he has a solid arm behind the plate and projects to hit with some serious power.
Throw in the ability to hit for average, and Coulter is an enticing prospect for a catcher.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68): Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (FL)
Russell doesn't project to be elite in any one area, but he should be average to above-average both at the plate and in the field, where he can play third base or shorstop.
At 6'0", 214 pounds, Russell already has a good amount of muscle and should be able to progress through the minors rather quickly.
27. ***Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Carrabus HS (NC)
If Kyle Seager's little brother can hit anything like big bro, the Brewers will get a steal here.
Seager has great size (6'3", 205 pounds) and can hit for average. He also has solid power and speed.
28. Milwaukee Brewers (96-66): Zach Eflin, RHP, Hagerty HS (FL)
Eflin already has a plus-fastball that sits in the mid-90s to go along with a developing curveball and changeup.
He needs to improve his command and mechanics, but at 6-foot-5, Eflin has the chance to turn into a menacing pitcher.
29. Texas Rangers (96-66): Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (GA)
The Rangers have a slew of hitters and even some more talented ones down on the farm. Their pitchers aren't bad either, but they would be well served to improve the depth.
Enter Lucas Sims, who is a long way away from contributing but has top-notch potential.
30. New York Yankees (97-65): Pierce Johnson, RHP, Missouri State
The skinny righty had a tremendous 2012 for the Bears. He only finished 4-6, but it's hard to argue with a 2.53 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 99 innings.
He would be well served to add some weight, but Johnson is very close to being major-league ready.
For a Yankees squad that is so thin in the starting rotation, Johnson makes a lot of sense.
31. ****Boston Red Sox (90-72): Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford
Piscotty doesn't have tools that will make most scouts drool, but he's a solid player who can make a quick run to the major leagues.
The young third baseman hit.290 this season, but he had an on-base percentage of .405 and a slugging percentage of .463.
*Compensation from Los Angeles Angels for Albert Pujols
**Compensation for failing to sign 2011 first-round pick Tyler Beede
***Compensation from Detroit for Prince Fielder
****Compensation from Philadelphia for Jonathan Papelbon
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