MLB Draft

Many of the prospects in the upcoming 2012 First-Year Player Draft (June 4-6) will be selected to fill specific needs for their MLB teams.

With that said, I present this list of ideal targets for all 30 clubs.

Drafting according to need isn't the most popular method (top talents frequently get chosen first regardless of fit), but it's an avenue worth exploring.

The Major League Baseball draft is set to begin Monday, and there's still a lot for teams to figure out between now and then.

For starters, this year has no clear-cut, No. 1 overall pick, making it a crap shoot as to who will be selected with the top five picks.

But, just like everyone else, I've come up with pick-by-pick projections for every team in the draft for the first round.

While in some instances it will be similar to other people's mock drafts, there will also be a degree of difference with mine.

So, here's a look at my projections for the first round.

With the 2012 MLB draft fast approaching, now is a good time to take a look at some of the talented prospects available this year. While the draft may not be as strong as the 2011 draft, there is certainly talent to be had with the 21st pick. 

This article previews four players that may be around when it is time for the Atlanta Braves to make their pick. These players may or may not be selected by the front office, but they are guys that I feel would be a good fit for the organization.

Stanford ace right-hander Mark Appel is likely to be the first overall pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft for the Houston Astros next week.  I scouted Appel at Sunken Diamond back in March when Stanford hosted USC.

I sat behind home plate and charted each of his 113 pitches using the stadium radar gun.  Appel threw a complete game, allowing six hits, two walks, and two runs, while striking out seven.  He induced eleven grounders, eight flyballs and six line drives. 

When you throw a 97 MPH fastball, people pay attention.

Kyle Zimmer, a right-handed starting pitcher from San Francisco, throws gas and enters the MLB draft projected to go in the top-five picks.

Pretty incredibly considering he was a third baseman for the majority of his high school career and had logged just 21.1 innings on the mound heading into college.

The 2012 MLB Draft is loaded with top-tier talent when it comes to pitching, but few of the top prospects play in the field.

One of the lone exceptions is Mike Zunino, a junior catcher from the University of Florida who has the potential to become the next Joe Mauer.

As I mentioned in my first mock draft, the second installment would offer an expanded view of the first round, including the full supplemental round.

The job security for scores of general managers around Major League Baseball is in doubt right now, and one of the best ways to get off the hot seat is having a strong draft.

Every year there are players littered throughout the first round that are either the biggest bust this side of Justin Smoak or the next Hall of Famer.

Everyone has seen sports video games in which you can draft your own team from the entire player pool? Well, what would happen if all the current major and minor leaguers were placed into a pool and drafted by the league's 30 general managers? 

How would age come into play? How would they consider defensive prowess, off-the-field concerns, injury history or leadership reputation? How would players like David Ortiz or Jesus Montero be valued considering their probably DH status? Also, would teams be pressured to reach for fan favorites?

It’s been a rough week for the Tampa Bay Rays, and it’s only Tuesday.

Earlier today we learned that Evan Longoria could miss six to eight weeks after injuring his hamstring during an awkward slide on Monday night.