Hello!  We are LIVE from NatsGM Headquarters to Blog my 2nd happiest day of the year, better known as MLB Draft Day.  I watch prospects year around to prepare for the next 3 days, and I will be here through all 40 Rounds discussing the Nationals selections and highlighting other intriguing picks along the way.  Tonight is Round 1 and the Supplemental 1st round, which encompasses 60 total selections.  So sit back with me and enjoy tonight’s draft – If you have questions or comments, I highly encourage you to leave them in the comments section below, tweet them to me on Twitter @NatsGMdotcom, or email me this evening at NationalsGM@gmail.com.  With that, lets get this going with the Astros on the clock-

6:59pm – Not guaranteeing that the Astros will regret it if they pass on Byron Buxton, but I was watching last summers AFLAC All-America game this morning and Buxton stands out with his tools and ability.  Tough to believe he will not be a stud major leaguer in a few years.

7:06pm – There was a full 1 hour preview show for the draft, and now the panel has spent the past 6 minutes repeating much of what they covered in the previous hour.  Lets get this moving guys!

7:09pm – Wow, CC Sabathia looked thrilled to be there with a “Should not have included that personal appearances clause into my contract” look.

7:11pm – Fair to say that Bud Selig is not classically handsome in high definition.

Houston Astros #1 -> Carlos Correa Puerto Rico HS SS

WOW!  C-14 You sunk my battleship!  And with that selection my Mock Draft, along with many others, is finished.  Correa had extreme helium coming into the draft, and if he can stay at shortstop, he has the potential to be one of the best players in baseball, as he has incredible hitting potential.  Congratulations to the Astros for taking a chance and sticking to their board by taking Correa.

7:22pm – Fascinating now to see if the Twins favor Buxton or Appel – they have probably spent the last month assuming the choice would be made for them by the Astros.

Minnesota Twins #2 – Byron Buxton Georgia HS OF

My vote for the most talented player in this draft, his tools are above-average to plus across the board and he has a projectable body to fill out and hit for power.  He will take a while to develop in the minors but this is a great pick here by the Twins.

Seattle Mariners #3 – Mike Zunino University of Florida Catcher

My 1st correct prediction!  I am a little surprised the Mariners passed on Appel’s upside and potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter but Zunino’s floor is extremely high and the Mariners desperately need offensive help.  Zunino was a 3-year starter at Florida and one of the more polished catching prospects I have seen in recent years, solid pick here at #3.

7:34pm – Orioles find themselves in the unexpected situation of having their choice of college pitchers.  I wonder if their assumption that Appel would be off the board will lead them to stick with Gausman here.

Baltimore Orioles #4 – Kevin Gausman RHP Louisiana State University

Two picks in a row… I am a little surprised they went with Gausman over Appel, but I am a huge believer in Gausman and think he is a solid bet to be a mid-rotation starter in short order.

Kansas City Royals #5 – Kyle Zimmer RHP University of San Francisco

Tough to criticize this pick, as he has the highest floor amongst Appel and Gausman, but I am surprised Kansas City did not roll the dice on the potential Appel has.  Zimmer has 3 solid pitches, including a dominating power fastball, and should become a solid #3 starter in the major leagues.

7:46pm – Guess Mark Appel is the “guy that inexplicably slides in the draft” award winner…

Chicago Cubs #6 – Albert Almora Florida HS OF

Outstanding pick… #2 on my board as a potential middle of the order hitter and above-average defender in center field.  Almora has awesome tools and a strong baseball IQ, making him someone that could move quickly as a high school athlete through the minor leagues.

San Diego Padres #7 – Max Fried California HS LHP

With 5 correct picks in a row, I have shattered my record from last year of 4 correct selections.  Fried is the best high school lefty available in this draft class possessing 4 solid pitching including an above-average fastball and massive curveball, making him a solid value here at pick #7.

Pittsburgh Pirates #8 – Mark Appel RHP Stanford University

Great value here for the Pirates getting the best college pitcher in the draft at pick #9.  Pittsburgh is going to struggle to sign Appel, but he is a great risk if they can get him signed, as he is the ace-caliber pitcher that organization desperately needs.  Best pick so far in my opinion-

8:01pm – The best 8 prospects went in the first 8 selections overall, just in a unexpected order.  Expect Heaney, Stratton, Wacha, and Shaffer to go off the board in the next few picks.

Miami Marlins #9 – Andrew Heaney LHP Oklahoma State

Solid pick here for the Marlins as he lead the NCAA in strikeouts this season and has a strong track record of success in the Big-12… Very polished, middle-of-the-rotation starter with few flaws, great selection by Miami.

8:08pm – I had every intention of making it through this live blog without an adult beverage… and I am very proud of myself for making it a full hour with these positive intentions.  Off to the fridge-

Colorado Rockies #10 – David Dahl Alabama HS OF

A true, elite level athlete with the athleticism to stay in center field defensively, Dahl was right there with Buxton and Almora on many draft boards.  Dahl will take some time to develop, but is a solid pick here by the Rockies here at #10.

8:16pm – In other news, I went to the fridge and selected a New Belgium Ranger India Pale Ale with my first choice of a beer.  Tasty and impressive IPA from them, 4 of 5 Fedoras!

Oakland Athletics #11 – Addison Russell Florida HS SS

Another up-the-middle player goes, as a theme develops in this draft.  Russell was expected to be a difficult to sign player but the Athletics have a few extra picks in this draft and could look to rearrange some money to sign Russell, a quality hitter with a good chance to stay at shortstop.  Not my favorite pick here at #11, but I cannot criticize Oakland for drafting such a high quality hitter.

New York Mets #12 – Gavin Cecchini Louisiana HS SS

A wiry athlete with power in his bat, Cecchini has a great chance to stay in shortstop professionally as he is a much better athlete than most give him credit for at first glance.  Cecchini is a polished high school hitter and although he does not have the highest ceiling, his floor is as high as anyone in the 2012 class and I am a big fan of this pick.

8:26pm – The Nationals are going to have one of Deven Marrero, Michael Wacha, Chris Stratton, and Marcus Stroman on the board when they select, which must make GM Mike Rizzo and the scouting department breathe a sigh of relief.

Chicago White Sox #13 – Courtney Hawkins Texas HS OF

Dynamic athlete with big pop, Hawkins is a physical specimen and profiles as a power hitting right fielder after many years of development in the minors.  There are some questions if he will hit, making him a risky pick, but his tools are a worthwhile gamble at pick #13.

8:35pm – That noise you just heard was White Sox GM Kenny Williams screaming at the television telling Hawkins not to do a back-flip in dress shoes.

Cincinnati Reds #14 – Nick Travieso Florida HS RHP

A power right-handed starting pitcher with a monster arm but little idea how to command the strike zone, Travieso has plenty of ability but will need a lot of refinement in his delivery to help him throw more strikes.  He has a strong arm and a big frame, but needs more polish than you would expect from the 14th overall selection in the draft.

Cleveland Indians #15 – Tyler Naquin Texas A&M OF

Probably the best collegiate hitter for average in this class, the question with Naquin is whether he has the speed and instincts to stay in center field.  Obviously the Indians believe he can, but with Michael Wacha and Chris Stratton still available, I question this pick a bit.

8:50pm – The draft has fallen almost perfectly for the Nationals this evening by having the choice of Wacha, Stroman, Marrero, and Stratton.  My vote is for Deven Marrero, but all 4 would be quality additions to the organization.

Washington Nationals #16 – Lucas Giolito California HS RHP

WOW!  Could it be 4 drafts in a row that the Nationals end up with the top overall talent in the draft.  Giolito is a true Ace-level talent with more upside than anyone in the 2012 draft, and if the Nationals can somehow get him signed, he is the Steal of the Draft… Outstanding gamble at pick #16!

Toronto Blue Jays #17 – D.J. Davis Mississippi HS OF

Perhaps a little earlier than he was expected to be taken, Davis is an elite athlete with power in his bat.  There is plenty of risk in this pick but his potential makes him a solid gamble here in the middle of the 1st round.

Los Angeles Dodgers #18 – Corey Seager North Carolina HS 3B

A strong left-handed hitter that profiles similarly to his brother, current Seattle Mariners 3B Kyle, Corey Seager was considered a solid commitment to South Carolina unless he was drafted in the 1st round.  With a quiet swing and an advanced approach at the plate, Seager should move quickly for a high school hitter and is a great selection here at #18.

9:04pm – Trend so far, college pitching is slipping and high school athletes, particularly up-the-middle, are in demand.  Information that would have been helpful to me yesterday.

St. Louis Cardinals #19 – Michael Wacha Texas A&M RHP

Solid pick here, as his combination of fastball and changeup should allow him to carve out a career as a #4 starter, with potential for more if he develops a breaking pitch.  I thought the Cardinals might take someone with more potential, but Wacha is a terrific value at #19 for St. Louis.

San Francisco Giants #20 – Chris Stratton Mississippi State RHP

Great value here at pick #20, Stratton has 4 average to above-average pitches and a sturdy, physical pitchers frame.  Little to criticize with this pick, excellent pick Brian Sabean!

9:16pm – I dream of the day that the MLB Draft allows the trading of picks like the NFL and NBA, as I would be on the phone with the GMs of those selecting in the early 20s to try and acquire their pick to take Marcus Stroman.  Whomever is lucky enough to draft him this late is getting quite a bargain-

Atlanta Braves #21 – Lucas Sims Georgia HS RHP

Huh, go figure, the Braves select a high school prospect from the state of Georgia.  In all seriousness, Sims was climbing draft boards this spring and has big potential in his pitching arm.  Raw and in need of plenty of development time in the minor leagues, the Braves have a player with excellent tools that they will try to mold into a major league starting pitcher.  Nice pick at #21.

Toronto Blue Jays #22 – Marcus Stroman Duke University RHP

Outstanding value selection as Stroman has the best combination of fastball and breaking pitch in this draft.   Stroman’s size allowed him to slip to #22, but he is a great pick here at #22 and I think he could eventually be a mid-rotation starter if a team developed him as such as a professional.

St. Louis Cardinals #23 – James Ramsey Florida State OF

First pick that might be a pre-draft arranged deal, as he is a good prospect but not one worthy of going 23rd overall.  Ramsey is unlikely to stay in center field, but his makeup and ability to make solid contact should allow him to be a productive player at 2B in a couple years.

9:35pm – Gotta think the Red Sox were hoping Stroman was still available – I wonder if they take Stephen Piscotty off his impressive summer on Cape Cod?

Boston Red Sox #24 – Deven Marrero Arizona State SS

Steal of the draft… I know he has been lousy this season as a junior but Marrero was incredible on Cape Cod two summers ago and I have little doubt that he carves out an 8-10 year career, similar to Marco Scutaro.  Great pick from the Red Sox.

Tampa Bay Rays #25 – Richie Shaffer 3B Clemson University

Solid value for the Rays here at pick #25 with Richie Shaffer, perhaps the best college hitter in this draft class.  He is not a great athlete and is questionable to stay at 3B professionally, but his value lies in his above-average bat and advanced approach at the plate.  As usual, the Rays make a wise pick late in Round 1.

9:47pm – I just passed 4,000 words written today… Thank you everyone for reading!

Arizona Diamondbacks #26 – Stryker Trahan Louisiana HS C/OF

An offensive-minded catcher that scouts have a divided opinion about his eventual defensive position, Trahan has a lightning-quick left-handed swing with some legitimate power.  With work, Trahan might be able to stick behind the plate, but Arizona might shift him to the outfield to allow his bat to climb more quickly toward the majors. Stryker is one of my favorite high school players this year and a nice pick at #26.

Milwaukee Brewers #27 – Clint Coulter Washington HS Catcher

A thick, physical right-handed catcher, Coulter was impressive last summer in the AFLAC game, and has the skills to stay a catcher if the organization is willing to be patient.  However, Coulter has some of the best power in this class and would be an average to above-average catcher if he can develop sufficiently defensively.  A boom or bust pick but with enough of a potential payoff that I can support this pick.
What are soft generic viagra you waiting for? Go ahead and consider all these factors so that it can be erect. The purchase cialis online anterior pituitary gland produces the prolactin hormone and plays an important role during pregnancy, lactation, and delivery. Quitting act of smoking can aid erectile dysfunction condition by enhancing blood flow to cheap viagra the genitals and keeps them active and energetic. pill viagra The clients have appreciated the value and significance of this treatment modality.
9:59pm – Just received a very confused look from Mrs. NatsGM when I explained to her that I had an opinion on a high school catcher from the state of Washington.  She was positively dumbfounded when I told her I had watched him play twice on television.  She quickly left NatsGM headquarters shaking her head.

Milwaukee Brewers #28 – Victor Roache Georgia Southern OF

First, congrats to Victor, one of my favorite people in this years draft.  I compare Roache to ex-Milwaukee Brewers slugger Greg Vaughn as a power corner outfielder.  Roache has real and legitimate power to all fields, but needs to refine his swing as he is susceptible to velocity inside.  He may never hit for a high average, but his on-base skills are impressive and he will slug for power.  A good gamble at #28 for the Brewers in a year void of much power in the college ranks.

Texas Rangers #29 – Lewis Brinson Florida HS OF

Brinson is a toolsy outfielder with massive right-handed power in part due to a long-ish swing, and possesses almost-limitless potential.  His athleticism and speed are plus tools, but he will need years of refinements in the minors leagues to improve his hitting and mature into his body.  His ceiling is as high as anyone still available in the draft, and the Rangers did well to add him to their organization.

New York Yankees #30 – Ty Hensley Oklahoma HS RHP

Hensley owns a power right-handed arm with a reasonably polished delivery, making him a tremendous value this late in the 1st round.  Hensley has good stuff, including a powerful fastball with life, and could develop into a mid-rotation starter in the future.  Nice pick by the Yankees Scouting and Development people-

Boston Red Sox #31 – Brian Johnson Florida LHP

Can a prospect have the same ceiling and floor?  If so, that prospect is Brian Johnson, a lefty with four average or slightly above-average pitches that improve with his above-average command.  Johnson is a polished lefty that should rocket through the minor leagues and possesses a future as a innings-eating #4/5 starting pitcher.  Reasonable value at #31 but not the type of higher-ceiling player I expected from Boston here in Round 1.

10:20pm – Harold Reynolds with another non-sense comment “I think Johnson can hit in the big-leagues too”(paraphrased)… Ummm, Harold, he would only profile at 1B or DH and has 14 total home runs in three college seasons.  No I think he better stay on the mound as a LHP with a 90-92mph fastball and command of four pitches.  Harold is off his game tonight.

Minnesota Twins #32 – Orlando Berrios RHP Puerto Rico

A right-handed pitcher with potential and a heavy fastball, the Twins are taking a gamble on a height-challenged righty with electric stuff.  A bit of a reach at #32.

San Diego Padres #33 – Zach Eflin Florida HS RHP

A projectable right-handed high school pitcher, he might be a signability question but his talent is tantalizing and the Padres continue to stockpile talented pitchers with projectability.  Nice pick at #33.

Oakland Athletics #34 – Daniel Robertson California HS SS

Big, physical body with little projection left but plenty of power, Robertson is likely to move to 3B as a professional.  His power makes him a good pick at the top of the sandwich round.

New York Mets #35 – Kevin Plawecki Catcher Purdue University

Great power with some ability to make contact, if he can stay behind the plate he will be a steal at #35, otherwise, it is difficult to see his bat profiling in left field or 1B.

St. Louis Cardinals #36 – Stephen Piscotty Stanford 3B

Tremendous value outside the 1st round, Piscotty won the Cape Cod League batting title last summer and his bat and athleticism makes him a steal for the Cardinals.

Boston Red Sox #37 – Pat Light Monmouth RHP

This feels a little rich for Light, who has skills but his talent fits better in the 2nd-3rd round.  Pierce Johnson would have been a better choice than Light; that said, Light has talent and some projection left in a massive frame.

Milwaukee Brewers #38 – Mitch Haniger Cal Poly OF

An outfielder who took advance of a weak college hitting class by putting him huge numbers this year as a junior, Haniger has a solid approach and adds to the number of hitters Milwaukee is importing to their farm system.

Texas Rangers #39 – Joey Gallo Nevada HS 3B

Likely possessing the best power left-handed bat in the high school class, and a total steal outside the 1st round.

Philadelphia Phillies #40 – Shane Watson California HS RHP

Watson has a big mid-90s fastball with life and throws a true power curveball, but slipped outside the 1st round due to some lack of pitchability.  His arm is deserving of a higher pick, but the Phillies will need to be patient and nurture Watson’s immense talent.

Houston Astros #41 – Lance McCullers Jr. Florida HS RHP

McCullers was thought to be solidly in the 1st round but slipped due to signability concerns and rumored outrageous bonus demands.  With a mid-90s fastball and plus breaking pitch, McCullers could be a steal if Houston can sign him.

Minnesota Twins #42 – Luke Bard Georgia Tech RHP

Younger brother of Boston Red Sox Daniel Bard, this feels rich for me, but I have watched Bard three times and have never seen him pitch well.  That said, Bard has quality stuff, the chance to start in the major leagues as a back-end SP, and fits the profile of a Minnesota Twins-type pitcher.

Chicago Cubs #43 – Pierce Johnson Missouri State RHP

Great pick from Theo and the boys in Chicago, as Johnson had a great chance to be selected in the middle of the 1st round with his lively fastball and devastating breaking pitch.  If he can develop his changeup in the minors, Johnson has the potential to be a #3/4 starter.

San Diego Padres #44 – Travis Jankowski Stony Brook OF

A true leadoff hitter with the defensive skills to remain in center field, Jankowski is a great player and outstanding pick by the Padres, who have done as well drafting the past two years as any organization in baseball.  Another great pick and perhaps their long-term center fielder.

Pittsburgh Pirates #45 – Barrett Barnes OF Texas Tech

Barnes is a solid athlete with some power that will likely have to move from center field to left field as a professional.  A good hitter in a year missing quality bats, this is a solid pick at #45.

Colorado Rockies #46 – Eddie Butler Radford RHP

Butler profiles as a reliever with a solid fastball in the 92-96mph range and an above-average slider, though they will certainly allow him to start early in his pro career in order to develop.  Butler was thought of more in the 2nd-3rd round in terms of value, but his arm should give him a chance to carve out a nice professional career.

Oakland Athletics #47 – Matt Olson Georgia HS 1B

This is the anti-Moneyball pick, right?  A high-school 1B, that was unexpected… a left-handed hitter with true power, he will take time to develop but he could be the long-term answer the Athletics have needed at 1B for many years now.  Boom or bust pick with some potential, not bad at #47.

Chicago White Sox #48 – Keon Barnum Florida HS 1B

Massive frame on a power hitting left-handed hitter, Barnum has elite power but possesses questions if he will hit at the higher levels.  Typical Kenny Williams pick with massive risk but massive rewards as well.

Cincinnati Reds #49 – Jesse Winker Florida HS OF

Sweet lefty swing with power and tools across the board, Winker owns a prototypical outfielders body and the potential to be a league-average or better outfielder after plenty of at-bats in the minor leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays #50 – Matt Smoral Ohio HS LHP

Terrific value this late in the compensation round, as many, including myself, expected Smoral to be taken late in Round 1.  Smoral injured himself early this season and barely pitched as a senior, but Smoral represents a nice chance for the Blue Jays to add another pitcher to their organizational stockpile.  Great pick!

Los Angeles Dodgers #51 – Jesmuel Valentin Puerto Rico HS SS

The son of former major leaguer Jose, Valentin has excellent defensive actions at shortstop and should stay there in pro ball.  His bat has some power in it and he has a fairly quick, line drive swing that should produce plenty of doubles.  Nice pick by the Dodgers.

St. Louis Cardinals #52 – Patrick Wisdom 3B St. Mary’s

Another easy-to-sign college player for the Cardinals, Wisdom has a good bat with some power, who will likely shift from 3B to either catcher or corner outfielder as a professional.  That said, this pick feels rich to me, as he fit better in the 3rd Round.

Texas Rangers #53 – Collin Wiles HS

Not a clue…

Philadelphia Phillies #54 – Mitch Guellar Washington HS RHP

Overall tremendous athlete with potential on the mound, Guellar has mid-rotation potential as a starter if he can refine his motion and develop a changeup.  Nice upside pick by the Phillies late in the compensation round.

San Diego Padres #55 – Walker Weickel Florida HS RHP

Ideal pitchers frame with a powerful, heavy fastball, Weickel was expected to be taken late in Round 1, so Weickel represents yet another excellent prospect the Padres have added to their stable of arms.

Chicago Cubs #56 – Paul Blackburn California HS RHP

Rocketed up draft boards this spring, Blackburn flashed real potential this year and could become a back-end starting pitcher after plenty of development work by the Cubs.  Good pick by the Cubs.

Cincinnati Reds #57 – Jeff Gelalich UCLA OF

Great pick, as Gelalich has the potential to be an everyday right-fielder in the major leagues, as he has some thunder in his bat, athleticism, and a strong throwing arm. Nice value at #57.

Toronto Blue Jays #58 – Mitch Nay Arizona HS 3B

Nay is a slugger with real upside as a hitter but will be shifting positions professionally, likely to a corner outfielder.  It is tough to find power in professional baseball, and Nay has plenty of that.  True, he will take years to develop, but this is a nice gamble from Toronto.

St. Louis Cardinals #59 – Steve Bean Texas HS Catcher

Athletic high school catcher with a chance to stay there, but his bat is intriguing, and if he can improve his defense behind the plate, Bean has excellent potential down the line.

Toronto Blue Jays #60 – Tyler Gonzales Texas HS RHP

Very impressive right-handed pitcher that I saw in the AFLAC game last summer, he has a low to mid-90s fastball and a plus breaking ball, and needs to develop a changeup in the minor leagues.  A raw prospect with plenty of talent, Gonzales is a great choice to end the compensation round.

With that selection, we conclude the 1st Round of the 2012 MLB Draft.  I will return tomorrow at Noon to Live Blog Day 2 of the draft, consisting of Rounds 2-15, and examine the Nationals selections and highlight other interesting or noteworthy picks as we go along.  Thank you for joining me this evening.

The Shameless Plugs -> Follow me on Twitter @NatsGMdotcom, “Like” my Facebook page search NatsGM, and email me your comments and questions at NationalsGM@gmail.com.

On our final day previewing the 2012 MLB Draft, I wanted to project the 1^st Round with my version of a Mock Draft, as well as answer some draft questions I have received from the audience in the past few days.  Last season I correctly predicted 4 first round selections, as well as two of the Nationals first three picks in Alex Meyer and Brian Goodwin.  Like Adam Dunn, I promise to rebound this year with better numbers, so without further ado, here is my 2012 MLB Mock Draft.

NatsGM’s 1^st Round MLB Mock Draft

#1 – Houston Astros – Stanford RHP Mark Appel

With the choice between Appel and Georgia HS outfielder Byron Buxton, I believe they will choose the polished starting pitcher who should move quickly through the minors.  If Appel can improve his slider, he could be one of the better starting pitchers in major league baseball down the road.

#2 – Minnesota Twins – Georgia HS OF Byron Buxton

Buxton has solid to plus tools across the board and is incredibly impressive to watch.  He will move slowly through the minor leagues and needs polish, but his skills are off-the-charts and the Twins should be happy he is available at #2.

#3 – Seattle Mariners – Florida Catcher Mike Zunino

Tough pick here, as the Mariners are normally tough to predict, but I think they make a safe choice here and select Zunino, the top college hitter in this class, over Carlos Correa, who has more upside potential.  Zunino is a great leader with above-average defensive skills and hitting ability and should be a solid career major leaguer.

#4 – Baltimore Orioles – Louisiana State RHP Kevin Gausman

The Orioles will be tempted by Correa’s package of tools and potential, but I think they will choose one of the top college starters, and I think Gausman’s upside will eventually sway the Orioles to choose him at #4.

#5 – Kansas City Royals – San Francisco RHP Kyle Zimmer

The Royals figure to take whomever is remaining of Appel, Gausman, and Zimmer, as ideally they would find a advanced pitching prospect to pair with their strong contingent of young hitters they possess in the organization.  Zimmer has a solid repertoire, including a monster fastball, and should be a solid mid-rotation starter in the majors.

#6 – Chicago Cubs – Florida HS OF Albert Almora

I really like Almora’s potential and I think whichever club selects Almora will be getting a long-term building block in center field.  The Cubs have been linked to Almora for a while, and I think he is a steal outside the top-4 picks.

#7 – San Diego Padres – California HS LHP Max Fried

I am struggling with this choice, as Correa has a great chance to be the pick as well, but I think the Padres opt for the California lefty with the nasty curveball in Max Fried.

#8 – Pittsburgh Pirates – Puerto Rico HS SS Carlos Correa

Lots of options for the Pirates here, but if Correa is still available at #8, his offensive potential should be too much for the Pirates to pass on.  If Correa has already been chosen, Fried would be the probable selection.

#9 – Miami Marlins – Oklahoma State LHP Andrew Heaney

I do not have much of a read on Miami’s intentions, but they have a strong history of taking prospects from Oklahoma early in the draft, and I am projecting that trend to continue with Oklahoma State left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney.

#10 – Colorado Rockies – Texas HS OF Courtney Hawkins

If the draft falls this way, the Rockies should be choosing the best high school bat available between Joey Gallo, David Dahl, and Courtney Hawkins.  I think they choose the athletic Hawkins over his competitors.

#11 – Oakland Athletics – Alabama HS OF David Dahl

Oakland could go in a number of directions and most every rumor has them attached to Nevada HS 3B Joey Gallo, but too often these smokescreens are an attempt by the organization to deceive others.  With the team taking a long-term approach, I think they lean toward the highest ceiling player available and take David Dahl.

#12 – New York Mets – Texas A&M RHP Michael Wacha

Reports have the Mets wanting a high school hitter, but with Correa, Hawkins, and Dahl projected to be unavailable, I think New York shifts direction and takes the best college pitcher still available in polished Texas A&M starter Michael Wacha to pair with top prospects Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler.

#13 – Chicago White Sox – Mississippi State RHP Chris Stratton

Chicago GM Kenny Williams is a difficult one to figure, but the White Sox tend to be conservative in the draft, so I think the team will survey the draft board and take the top rated pitcher still available in physical college starter Chris Stratton.

#14 – Cincinnati Reds – Arizona State SS Deven Marrero

Cincinnati has done an excellent job in recent seasons finding good value in their 1^st round selections.  One of my favorites in this draft class, Marrero has struggled as a junior, but would represent a steal for the Reds if he lasts until #14.

#15 – Cleveland Indians – Clemson Richie Shaffer 3B

Cleveland typically prefers college players in Round 1 and will be hoping Heaney, Stratton, or Wacha are still on the board.  If not, I think Cleveland will opt for the best remaining college hitter in Clemson’s Richie Shaffer.

#16 – Washington Nationals – Duke RHP Marcus Stroman

#17 – Toronto Blue Jays – California HS RHP Lucas Giolito

A true wild card in this draft, on talent Giolito should go in the top-3, but questions with his pitching elbow and his purported bonus demands will make him a true signability issue.  With numerous picks in this draft and thus, a large bonus pool, I think Toronto gambles that they can get Giolito under contract and away from UCLA this fall.

#18 – Los Angeles Dodgers – Nevada HS 3B Joey Gallo

Gallo could go higher than this, and rumors have the Dodgers wanting a pitcher rather than a hitter, but I think Gallo’s power and potential as a hitter will be too much for the Dodgers to pass on here at #18.

#19 – St. Louis Cardinals – Florida HS SS Addison Russell

Another high-ceiling talent that could go higher in the draft, Russell reportedly will be difficult to sign, but St. Louis like Toronto mentioned above, has plenty of early round picks and could tempt Russell with an over-slot offer.

#20 – San Francisco Giants – Stanford 3B Stephen Piscotty

The Giants need to get some hitting prospects to go along with their organizational pitching depth, and while you never draft for need in baseball, I think local Stanford product Stephen Piscotty could be a solid fit for the team at #20.

#21 – Atlanta Braves – Florida HS RHP Zach Eflin

If he was from Georgia, I would consider this selection a lock, as Atlanta has a strong affinity for local born high school players, but Eflin has solid potential and the Braves have a track record for drafting pitching early.

#22 – Toronto Blue Jays – Texas A&M OF Tyler Naquin

Naquin figures to be drafted late in the 1^st round based on his quality bat, and I think he fits well here with Toronto as he should be a relatively easy sign as a college junior and could represent an opportunity for the Blue Jays to save some money for the Giolito pick earlier in the round.

#23 – St. Louis Cardinals – Florida HS RHP Lance McCullers Jr.

Naquin could fit here as well if the Cardinals select Addison Russell and want to save money.  If not, McCullers Jr. could represent a nice value this late in Round 1 and I could see St. Louis gambling on his future potential.

#24 – Boston Red Sox – Louisiana HS SS Gavin Cecchini

Cecchini likely is picked before #24, but I did not find a logical fit earlier and with his brother Garin a member of the Red Sox already, this picks seems almost too good to be true.  Cecchini has a wiry frame, good athleticism, the skills to stay at shortstop professionally, and is one of the better high school hitters in the 2012 class.

#25 – Tampa Bay Rays – Florida HS RHP Nick Travieso

The Rays appreciate high school players, especially from the state of Florida, and I think Travieso’s power fastball and ability to be a mid-rotation starter in the future makes him a logical fit here at #25.

#26 – Arizona Diamondbacks – Oklahoma HS RHP Ty Hensley

I have little idea what direction Arizona will take with this pick, but Hensley is a talented high school arm and should be drafted in this area, if not a few picks earlier, so I will slot him here as Arizona continues to collect hard-throwing pitching prospects.

But now it is now under the patent protection, that is the reason, we have got levitra generico uk . To prevent this awful buy levitra online https://pdxcommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/15223-S-Henrici-Rd.-Flyer.pdf situation, NF Cure capsules are the best of all. Many chiropractic offices have a massage therapist that can help de stress no prescription viagra the body, increase circulation, which then facilitates the movement of the pelvis are side effects of drugs of any kind or because surgery for prostate cancer, the fractured vertebral lesions MS Female hormone disorders also affect mental health. It is also a clinically proven treatment of erectile dysfunction get viagra australia or impotency in the men. #27 – Milwaukee Brewers – Washington HS Catcher Clint Coulter

The Brewers are rumored to want one high upside player and one easy sign college player.  Coulter was invited to the draft proceedings this evening in New Jersey, and his talents as a power right-handed batter with a solid frame and the potential to be a major league catcher should lead him to be picked by the Brewers (or another club) at the end of Round 1.

#28 – Milwaukee Brewers – Missouri State RHP Pierce Johnson

Johnson was hugely impressive early this spring and had great helium as a prospect, but later in his season he ran into some arm difficulties, which now leaves him as a late 1^st round or supplemental 1^st round pick.  As probably the best available college starter left on the board, Johnson would be an easy sign and quality pick in this area of the draft.

#29 – Texas Rangers – Ohio HS LHP Matt Smoral

Texas has a reputation for taking the best player available, and at this point in the draft, lefty Matt Smoral is possibly the most talented player on the board.  Smoral missed most of this season with a foot injury, but an imposing lefty with a good fastball would be a nice value here.

#30 – New York Yankees – Mississippi HS OF D.J. Davis

The Yankees love potential and often take high school players with lots of tools who lack polish at the top of the draft.  Davis is unlikely to reach #30 because of his sheer talent, but every year some player has to slide on draft day, and perhaps Davis is that player in 2012.  If so, I think the Yankees quickly snatch up this talented but raw athlete.

#31 – Boston Red Sox – Louisiana HS OF Stryker Trahan

Another talented player who should be off the board by pick #31, Trahan has a powerful throwing arm and pop in his left-handed bat.  If he is still available in the back half of Round 1, some team is going to get a steal with this talented catcher.

 

In addition to the mock draft, here are a few interesting emails I have received the past few days and thought might interest the group.

Mrs. NatsGM via Email –> “Can anyone drafted this year immediately go to the major leagues?”

I would be a fool if I did not answer a question sent from my wife.  It is extremely rare that someone is drafted in June and makes it to the big leagues in the same season.  Not one player from the historically talented 2011 draft class made the major leagues last season, and only Chris Sale did so for the White Sox in the 2010 class.

As for this class, the only player that could plausibly see major league action this summer would be Duke RHP Marcus Stroman, if he is made a reliever.  His power fastball and devastating slider are major league ready right now, and the time he would spend in the minor leagues would be developing his changeup and cutter, and making sure he is conditioned to throw 120 pitches in a start without losing command or velocity.  Those issues are eliminated in relief, thus he could be an asset to a team’s bullpen this summer as a power reliever, then stretched out as a starter in future years.  Thanks for the question!

Jonathan via Email -> “Do you have a Big Board or a list of your top-30 prospects for this year’s draft?”

Yes I do, though I cut it off at 20 because at that point I am forced to begin ranking players that I have not watched personally, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the exercise.  Here is my list of the top-20 available prospects in this year’s draft.

My Big Board

1) Byron Buxton

2) Albert Almora

3) Lucas Giolito

4) Mark Appel

5) Deven Marrero

6) Kevin Gausman

7) Carlos Correa

8) Max Fried

9) Mike Zunino

10) Kyle Zimmer

11) Andrew Heaney

12) Marcus Stroman

13) Addison Russell

14) Michael Wacha

15) David Dahl

16) Stryker Trahan

17) Lance McCullers Jr.

18) Richie Shaffer

19) Stephen Piscotty

20) Gavin Cecchini

@MannyRo1 via Twitter -> “@NatsGMdotcom You made a prediction for the Nationals pick in Round 1, what about for Rounds 2-5?”

Happy to do so @MannyRo1, good question!  As I projected in Part 4 of our Preview and earlier in my Mock Draft, I prognosticated Duke RHP Marcus Stroman to be the Nationals selection at pick #16.  Assuming the team takes Stroman or another college pitcher in the 1^st round, history tells us to expect them to look for another polished college pitcher with fastball velocity or an athletic player in the middle of the diamond in Rounds 2-5.

Round 2 Pick #80 Projection -> Georgia Tech OF Brandon Thomas

Thomas is an athletic, switch-hitting center field prospect from Georgia Tech that performed admirably last summer in Cape Cod and would be a nice value at pick #80.  In Round 3, I would expect the Nationals to look for the best player available and perhaps scoop up a high school athlete that has fallen due to signability.

Round 3 Pick #111 Projection -> California HS 3B Trey Williams

Son of a 10-year baseball veteran, Trey has long been on scouts radar due to his bloodlines and plus right-handed raw power and hitting potential.  A bit of a case of draft-itis has caused his draft stock to fall some this spring, but Williams would represent a nice value in the 3^rd round.  If they take Williams or another difficult to sign player in Rounds 2 or 3, I would expect the Nationals to prioritize taking college players the next few picks in order to save themselves some money.  With some reasonable college pitching depth this year, I think they draft the best one available in Round 4.

Round 4 Pick #144 Projection -> Samford LHP Lex Rutledge

Rutledge is a young projectable left-handed pitcher that I like more than most, as I have seen him impress the past two summers in Cape Cod, but his command of the strike zone is below-average and his motion needs refinement.  His talent and ability to throw in the mid-90s as a lefty make him a tantalizing prospect and a team willing to be patient and work with Rutledge could find a tremendous value in this area of the draft.  I continue to believe the Nationals will focus on finding additional pitching in Round 5.

Round 5 Pick #174 Projection -> UCLA RHP Scott Griggs

The Nationals have had a history in recent years of selecting California collegiate pitching (Paul Applebee, Matthew Grace, Bradley Meyers, Tom Milone, and Kylin Turnbull come to mind) and I think they return to the well again in Round 5 and select Scott Griggs, an inconsistent right-handed reliever at UCLA with a monster fastball and strong strikeout numbers.  His shaky command and unreliable throwing motion makes him profile as a reliever but his stuff is quality enough that he could be an asset in relief in a few seasons.

Charles from Pennsylvania via Email -> “Who are some prospects in this year’s draft that you like more than the consensus and some that you like less than most scouts do?”

A few names that immediately come to mind as players I like more than most in this draft are Missouri OF Blake Brown, Texas Christian C/OF Josh Elander, Georgia Tech RHP Buck Farmer, Jacksonville OF Dan Gulbransen, and Arizona State SS Deven Marrero.  As for players I do not care for as much as the general population, names include Michigan State OF Torsten Boss, St. Johns RHP Kyle Hansen, Florida LHP/1B Brian Johnson, Florida HS RHP Nick Travieso, and Virginia SS Chris Taylor.  Only time will tell if I am correct on these players.  Does anyone have any personal favorites in this year’s draft class?  If so, leave your choices in the comments section at the end of the article, and thanks Charles for the email.

A friendly reminder I will be Live Blogging all 40 rounds of the 2012 MLB Draft, so I encourage you to join me tonight (Monday) beginning at 7pm as we discuss the 1^st round and supplemental 1^st Round selections.  Then return on Tuesday commencing at 12pm as I Live Blog Rounds 2-15 and finally, on Wednesday again starting at Noon as we complete Rounds 16-40.  Thank you for reading.

 

The Shameless Plugs -> Follow me on Twitter @NatsGMdotcom, “Like” my Facebook page search NatsGM, and email me your comments and questions at NationalsGM@gmail.com.

The medicine takes a beat on weak or poor erections that getting viagra prescription humiliate you in the bed. Surgery, which samples of levitra cute-n-tiny.com in some cases is inevitable, may accidentally lead to the damage of muscles, arteries or nerves. Additionally, adequate levels of testosterone (produced by the testes) and an intact pituitary gland uk generic viagra are required for the purpose of ejaculation. Take one Maha Rasayan capsule and one No Fall capsule daily tadalafil for sale cheap two times (one each after meal at night and one each after breakfast in the morning and second one in the night for three to four months.

Part 4 of our 2012 MLB Draft Preview finds us narrowing our focus to the Washington Nationals and investigating what their strategy will look like heading into Monday’s Rule 4 draft.  As a result of a strong finish last September, the Nationals will choose 16^th overall in the 1^st round, the first time they have selected outside the top-10 since 2006 when they selected Chris Marrero at pick #15 and Colton Willems at #22.  Since then, the Nationals have spent their 1^st round picks to take LHP Ross Detwiler #6 overall in 2007, RHP Aaron Crow at #9 in 2008, RHP Stephen Strasburg at #1 overall and RHP Drew Storen at pick #10 in 2009, in 2010 the Nationals chose phenom OF Bryce Harper #1 overall, and last season the team opted for Rice University 3B Anthony Rendon at #6.

The Nationals have ten selections in the first 10 rounds of the 2012 draft, and 40 selections overall in the now 40 round draft, leaving them a bonus pool of $4,436,200 to sign their first ten picks, with the recommended slot bonuses breaking down as follows: Round 1 (#16) $2,125,000, Round 2 (#80) $630,000, Round 3 (#111) $428,500, Round 4 (#144) $311,700, Round 5 (#174) $233,400, Round 6 (#204) $174,900, Round 7 (#234) $145,300, Round 8 (#264) $135,700, Round 9 (#294) $126,700, and Round 10 (#324) $125,000 (Tip of the Fedora to BaseballAmerica.com for these dollar figures).  Rules state that teams may exceed their bonus dollars pool by 5% without losing a future 1^st round pick, meaning the Nationals maximum total dollars available without incurring a non-financial penalty is $4,658,010.  In rounds 11-40, players are allowed a maximum $100,000 bonus, and every dollar that exceeds $100,000 must be taken from the team’s overall bonus pool.

Examining the last 3 years draft results (2009-2011), in 2009 the Nationals drafted 51 overall players, 30 total pitchers and 21 batters, and in the first 10 rounds, they drafted 8 pitchers and 3 hitters.  In 2010, the club drafted 50 total players, 23 pitchers and 27 hitters, and in the top-10 rounds, the team took 4 pitchers and 6 hitters.  Finally, last season, the Nationals selected 51 overall prospects, 26 pitchers and 25 hitters, including 8 pitchers and 3 batters in the first 10 rounds.  Spanning 32 total picks in the top-10 rounds the previous 3 years, the Nationals have selected 24 college players, 4 junior college players, and 4 high school players, of which the overall breakdown was 20 pitchers and 12 hitters.  Some trends we can deduce from this information is the team’s preference for collegiate players in the 1^st round, an emphasis on pitchers and collegiate players in the first 10 rounds, and specifically in rounds 6-10, a concentration of college pitching.

One tendency we should expect to continue is the Nationals preference to draft collegiate pitching with velocity in the 1st round.  Of course, most every organization is seeking similar prospects, but I expect the Nationals to focus even more sharply in these areas after trading away 4 prospects, including 3 pitchers, in the Gio Gonzalez trade and the graduation of many top prospects to the major leagues in the past few seasons.  Teams rarely draft for need, but the Nationals are rather thin with pitching depth at Double-A and Triple-A, and a polished collegiate pitcher would slot nicely into the farm system.  Another trend we should expect the Nationals to continue with this year is the drafting of college juniors and seniors in Rounds 6-10 as the organization has shown a preference for college players since GM Mike Rizzo took over, and considering the new bonus pool, this could be a nice place to save money to disperse elsewhere in the draft.  Finally, the Nationals have a history of going over-slot in the top-5 rounds, A.J. Cole, Brian Goodwin, Sammy Solis, and Kylin Turnbull amongst others, and because of the noteworthy high school talent available this year, I expect the team to draft some difficult to sign prospects in Rounds 2-5.  Not to mention that MLB rules state that if a team fails to sign a pick in the first 3 rounds, they receive a compensation pick the following year, giving the front office a bit of a safety net in case of difficult negotiations.

Taking this all into account, expect the Nationals to select a college pitcher in Round 1, some perceived difficult to sign prospects in Rounds 2-5, and will conclude the top 10 Rounds with college and junior college pitching.  Therefore, my prediction for the Nationals selection Monday evening at #16 is…

It generic viagra generic boosts production of testosterone and strengthens the weak nerves and tissues in the reproductive organs and prevent semen leakage naturally. This entire process is commonly known cialis generic pharmacy as the miniaturization process. Men with cheap women viagra extreme diseases fail to suffer the medicine and the increment of age, the intake of alcohol, the excessive masturbation in the boyhood etc. are the basic reasons for this are- stress, busy schedules, polluted environment and non-hygienic food. Beta-blockers can affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels, important site viagra generika typically temporarily. The NatsGM Prediction for the Nationals 1^st Round Pick -> Duke University RHP Marcus Stroman

Although Stroman has the sheer talent and ability to be selected prior to #16, the lack of historical success for sub-6 feet tall right-handed starting pitchers will make organizations in my belief ahead of the Nationals pause and eventually decide on another “safer”, more physical prospect.  Stroman, drafted by the Nationals in the 18^th round in 2009, could potentially pitch in the major leagues this summer if shifted to the bullpen and a club could ultimately use him as a starting pitcher in the future, similar to the development path the Chicago White Sox have used with LHP Chris Sale since drafting him in 2010.

If Stroman is off the board, I assume the Nationals will continue to focus their attention heavily toward collegiate players, primarily pitchers, with possibilities including Texas A&M RHP Michael Wacha, Oklahoma State LHP Andrew Heaney, Mississippi State RHP Chris Stratton, and Arizona State SS Deven Marrero.

In the final installment of our 2012 MLB Draft Preview, I will be producing a Mock Draft in addition to answering a few draft questions collected from the readers.  Thank you for reading.

The Shameless Plugs -> Follow me on Twitter @NatsGMdotcom, “Like” my Facebook page by searching NatsGM, and please send me your comments and questions via email to NationalsGM@gmail.com.