Draft Retrospective: Toolsy 2012 picks excite in debuts

By jseiner24

With the 2013 MLB Draft starting Thursday, we thought we’d take the next few days to run down how some of the more intriguing picks out of the top rounds from the last few Drafts have fared. On Monday, we looked at 2009. On Tuesday, we looked at 2010. On Wednesday, it was 2011.

Finally, we close with 2012.

The 2012 Draft may be remembered for a single player — perhaps toolsy top picks Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton, perhaps polished pitchers Kevin Gausman and Michael Wacha — but for now it’s primarily remembered as the first Draft with a hard slotting system. That system made signability a priority in the early rounds and led to plenty of strategy by MLB clubs. Still, a Draft is mostly about players, an influx of exciting new talent, and this Draft has certainly delivered that, even if it’s just been a year since the selection of the 53 below.

1. Carlos Correa, Houston (Class A Quad Cities): The first Puerto Rican to go №1 overall has made a strong full-season debut. After some April struggles, the shortstop broke out in May, displaying an array of tools and surprising some with a tremendous aptitude for drawing walks.
2. Byron Buxton, Minnesota (Class A Cedar Rapids): Many thought Buxton should have been the №1 selection in the 2012 Draft, and this year, he’s displayed the skills those believers saw. The Baxley, Ga., native has five-tool potential while dominating the Midwest League.
3. Mike Zunino, Seattle (Triple-A Tacoma)
4. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore (Double-A Bowie): Gausman has already made his Major League debut, allowing 11 earned runs in nine innings over two starts. He posted a 3.60 ERA in five starts in 2012 and had pitched equally well so far at Double-A in 2013. He could be a fixture in the Orioles’ rotation in short order.

Byron Buxton has emerged as one of the game’s top prospects. (Jeff Murwin)

1. Kyle Zimmer, Kansas City (Class A Advanced Wilmington)
2. Albert Almora, Chicago Cubs (Class A Kane County): Almora didn’t make his 2013 debut until May 22 but came out the gate like a Triple Crown candidate. he hit .519 in his first seven games with a 1.270 OPS.
3. Max Fried, San Diego (Class A Fort Wayne): He grew up studying Sandy Koufax, which is pretty cool.
4. Mark Appel, Pittsburgh (Did not sign, returned to Stanford): He’s expected to get drafted very early in Thursday’s first round.
5. Andrew Heaney, Miami (Class A Advanced Jupiter)
6. David Dahl, Colorado (Class A Asheville): Dahl posted a 1.048 OPS with 12 steals in 67 Pioneer League games in 2012 and headed into 2013 looking like a major candidate to rise up prospect charts. Instead, he’s dealt with off-field issues, lackluster performance and then a torn hamstring that’s kept him on the disabled list since May 7.
7. Addison Russell, Oakland (Class A Advanced Stockton)
8. Gavin Cecchini, New York Mets (Has not played in 2013)
9. Courtney Hawkins, Chicago White Sox (Class A Advanced Winston-Salem)
10. Nick Travieso, Cincinnati (Class A Dayton)
11. Tyler Naquin, Cleveland (Class A Advanced Carolina)
12. Lucas Giolito, Washington (Has not played in 2013): Giolito may see some action at the end of 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last September. The right-hander looked like a potential №1 pick coming out of LA’s Harvard-Westlake High School, but his stock dropped when he had arm problems his senior year. He made just one start with the Gulf Coast League Nationals before packing up for the season, eventually ending up on the surgeon’s table.
13. D.J. Davis, Toronto (Has not played in 2013)
14. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers (Class A Great Lakes)
15. Michael Wacha, St. Louis (MLB Cardinals): Wacha made his MLB debut on May 30, allowing an earned run on two hits over seven innings with six strikeouts. He dominated Triple-A prior to that, posting a 2.05 ERA in nine starts.
16. Chris Stratton, San Francisco (Class A Augusta)
17. Lucas Sims, Atlanta (Class A Rome)
18. Marcus Stroman, Toronto (Double-A New Hampshire)
19. James Ramsey, St. Louis (Double-A Springfield): The Florida State product destroyed Class A Advanced pitching in the Florida State League, posting a 1.038 OPS in 18 games before being promoted to Springfield, where he’s had more of a challenge.
20. Deven Marrero, Boston (Class A Advanced Salem)
21. Richie Shaffer, Tampa Bay (Class A Advanced Charlotte)
22. Stryker Trahan, Arizona (Has not played in 2013)
23. Clint Coulter, Milwaukee (Class A Wisconsin)
24. Victor Roache, Milwaukee (Class A Wisconsin)
25. Lewis Brinson, Texas (Class A Hickory)
26. Ty Hensley, New York Yankees (Has not played in 2013)
27. Brian Johnson, Boston (Class A Greenville)

Supplemental Round

1. Jose Berrios, Minnesota (Class A Cedar Rapids): Through his first six starts, Berrios posted a 2.70 ERA with an outrageous 40-to-six strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33 1/3 innings.
2. Zach Eflin, San Diego (Class A Fort Wayne)
3. Daniel Robertson, Oakland (Class A Beloit)
4. Kevin Plawecki, New York Mets (Class A Savannah): Plawecki has drawn rave reviews from Sand Gnats coaches for his management of the team’s pitching staff, which is doubly impressive considering potential communication issues with several Latin hurlers on the staff. He’s been one of the league’s best hitters as he should be as a polished college draftee.
5. Stephen Piscotty, St. Louis (Class A Advanced Palm Beach)

Kevin Plawecki has impressed with his defensive intangibles. (Tracy Proffitt)

1. Pat Light, Boston (Class A Greenville)
2. Mitch Haniger, Milwaukee (Class A Advanced Brevard County): The center fielder posted a .909 OPS in 41 games with Class A Wisconsin before being promoted to the Florida State League, leaving behind Timber Rattler teammates Clint Coulter and Victor Roache — both first-round picks.
3. Joey Gallo, Texas (Class A Hickory): Folks thought Gallo would hit for power but might struggle in other aspects of his game, and that’s been exactly the case so far. Gallo had 13 home runs through 50 games and has showcased perhaps the greatest raw power in the Minor Leagues. He also hit just .211 in those games with 79 strikeouts in 180 at-bats.
4. Shane Watson, Philadelphia (Class A Lakewood)
5. Lance McCullers, Houston (Class A Quad Cities)
6. Luke Bard, Minnesota (Has not played in 2013 due to injury)
7. Pierce Johnson, Chicago Cubs (Class A Kane County): The Missouri State product has found success in the Midwest League, posting a 2.89 ERA through his first 10 starts with a 60-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
8. Travis Jankowski, San Diego (Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore)
9. Barrett Barnes, Pittsburgh (Class A West Virginia)
10. Eddie Butler, Colorado (Class A Advanced Modesto): Butler began in the South Atlantic League, where he posted a 1.66 ERA in nine starts. His stock has risen as much as any other prospect from last year’s Draft, though he’s hit a few bumps in the California League.
11. Matt Olson, Oakland (Class A Beloit)
12. Keon Barnum, Chicago White Sox (Has not played in 2013)
13. Jesse Winker, Cincinnati (Class A Dayton): The outfielder has done nothing but rake as a pro. He posted a .943 OPS in the Pioneer League in 2012 and is having similar success in the Midwest League, posting a .305 average and .921 OPS through 48 games.
14. Matt Smoral, Toronto (Has not played due to injury)
15. Jesmuel Valentin, Los Angeles Dodgers (Class A Great Lakes)
16. Patrick Wisdom, St. Louis (Class A Peoria)
17. Collin Wiles, Texas (Has not played in 2013)
18. Mitch Gueller, Philadelphia (Has not played in 2013)
19. Walker Weickel, San Diego (Class A Fort Wayne)
20. Paul Blackburn, Chicago Cubs (Has not played in 2013)
21. Jeff Gelalich, Cincinnati (Class A Dayton)
22. Mitch Nay, Toronto (Has not played in 2013)
23. Steve Bean, St. Louis (Has not played in 2013)
24. Tyler Gonzales, Toronto (Has not played in 2013)