2/5/12

Draft 2012: Mike Zunino, Mitchel Traver, Walker Weickel, Pierce Johnson, Tom Murphy



Mike Zunino — 6’-2”, C, Florida  - Zunino hit .371 with 19 home runs, 67 RBIs and a .442 OBP as he was named the SEC Player of the Year in 2011. He has a patient approach at the plate and generates a ton of pull power. As great as he is offensively, defense is where he shines. With good hands, a strong and accurate arm and tremendous footwork, he fields his position like a major-league veteran. Will be a high pick and a fast riser to the big leagues. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Mitchell Traver, Houston Christian (Houston)  Traver, a TCU commit, offers size (6-foot-7, 250 pounds), easy velocity in the 91-95 mph range and the occasional above-average curveball that has some promise. His arm action isn't clean and he'll need to throw more strikes, but he could land late in the first round if he answers a few questions. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1051/top-10-class-of-2012-right-handed-pitchers

Walker Weickel, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), Pitcher, 6-6, R/R, Miami Like the duo from Harvard-Westlake, Weickel is part of a tandem of players from the same team that could go in the first round. Teammate Jess Winker, an outfielder, is also targeted as a potential first-round pick. Weickel could go somewhere in the late teens thanks to a fastball that is in the low 90s with a high of 94. He has three pitches, using a curve and a changeup to go along with the fastball. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm  

As far as 2012 pitching prospects go, JR RHP Pierce Johnson’s velocity jump and four-pitch mix (including a nasty CB) should get him early round consideration while SO RHP Nick Petree’s two greatest strengths (FB movement and overall command) figure to improve even more another year removed from Tommy John. http://baseballdraftreport.com/

Tom Murphy opened eyes with a strong 2011 season that earned him the Mid-America Conference Player of the Year Award and continued impressing over the summer with an All-Star summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Murphy has a short compact swing with plus raw power.  He also shows good speed for a catcher, recording a 60 time of 6.75 over the summer. His defense is not gold glove quality, but Murphy is solid behind the plate.  He has a slightly above average arm and he has consistent 1.9 pop times. In addition to his skills on the field, Murphy is known for good work ethic and makeup.   He is likely to be chosen in the 2nd or 3rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

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