BA - Mock v1.0

1. ASTROS: Houston is focusing on Buxton, Zunino and the three best college pitchers (Stanford's Mark Appel, Louisiana State's Kevin Gausman and San Francisco's Kyle Zimmer). Scouting director Bobby Heck has taken an up-the-middle position player with his top pick in each of his four drafts, and he and his staff are believed to favor Buxton, a five-tool center fielder. Rumors persist that the Astros' higher-ups—new owner Jim Crane and new general manager Jeff Luhnow—prefer an arm who could help soon and fit at the front of their rotation.
Projected Pick: MARK APPEL.

2. TWINS: Minnesota needs plenty of pitching help too, but it will set its draft board and take the best player available. That should be Buxton, though Zunino would enable the Twins to shift Joe Mauer to a less taxing position.
Projected Pick: BYRON BUXTON.

3. MARINERS: Seattle is loaded with pitching prospects and needs offense, so a bat would seem to be the obvious choice. That was the case in 2011 as well, when the Mariners crossed up the industry by selecting Hultzen at No. 2. They seem to be locked in on Buxton, Zunino and Puerto Rican high school shortstop Carlos Correa. Correa draws comparisons to Troy Tulowitzki, whom Seattle was set to take in this slot seven years ago before making a late switch to . . . Jeff Clement.
Projected Pick: MIKE ZUNINO.

4. ORIOLES: Baltimore is looking at the same hitters as the teams at the top of the draft, but unless Buxton or Zunino falls, it likely will opt for one of the three college arms. The Orioles are the first club mentioned with Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, but that seems like a reach given Marrero's offensive struggles this spring.
Projected Pick: KYLE ZIMMER.

5. ROYALS: Kansas City picked in this spot last year and missed out on the advanced pitcher it coveted when Cole, Hultzen, Bauer and Bundy went with the first four choices. The Royals will try again in 2012, and one of the three top-tier college arms should be available. If Appel, Gausman and Zimmer all disappear, Kansas City's best bet would be Zunino.
Projected Pick: KEVIN GAUSMAN.

6. CUBS: Once Appel, Gausman and Zimmer are chosen, there will be a run on position players, most of whom will be high schoolers. Chicago's pick could come down to Correa and polished Florida high school center fielder Albert Almora. The Cubs took another prep shortstop of Puerto Rican descent (Javier Baez) at No. 9 a year ago.
Projected Pick: ALBERT ALMORA.

7. PADRES: San Diego would prefer to take a bat here, likely from among a group that includes Zunino, Correa and Clemson third baseman Richie Shaffer. The Padres also could be tempted by a pitcher like Duke righthander Marcus Stroman, who's 5-foot-9 but has the most electric stuff in the draft, or Giolito's teammate Max Fried, a lefthander whose performance was slipping in early May.
Projected Pick: CARLOS CORREA.

8. PIRATES: After spending $14.5 million in bonuses on righthanders Jameson Taillon (No. 2 overall, 2010) and Cole (No. 1 overall, 2011), Pittsburgh seeks a position player. The Pirates have been searching for a shortstop for years, which may lead them to Marrero, a gifted defender and one of the few locks to stay at the position in this draft.
Projected Pick: DEVEN MARRERO.

9. MARLINS: It's easy to peg Stroman as a reliever because of his size, but his 93-95 mph fastball and dastardly slider probably aren't getting past the first 10 selections. Miami also could go for a high school position player such as Almora, Correa or David Dahl, a center fielder from Alabama. Given the many Oklahoma connections in the Marlins' front office, don't rule out Oklahoma State lefthander Andrew Heaney or Oklahoma prep righthander Ty Hensley.
Projected Pick: MARCUS STROMAN.

10. ROCKIES: Colorado has had limited success taking pitchers with its top choice in five of the last six drafts. The Rockies are zeroing in on hitters and would love Almora, but they may have to settle for a slightly lesser version in Dahl.
Projected Pick: DAVID DAHL.

11. ATHLETICS: Oakland's strength is pitching, yet the top options here will be Stroman or Fried unless other arms go higher than expected. If the draft plays out as projected here and the A's want an impact bat, Texas high school outfielder Courtney Hawkins, North Carolina prep third baseman Corey Seager and Shaffer would be the best available.
Projected Pick: MAX FRIED.

12. METS: At this point of the first round, teams will react to which players fall to them. New York is the first club strongly linked to Hawkins, Louisiana high school shortstop Gavin Cecchini and Texas A&M righthander Michael Wacha.
Projected Pick: GAVIN CECCHINI.