Finishing up the 2012 Community Mock Draft with a review of the National League West.
Have a good Memorial Day, everyone.
2012 Community Mock Draft National League West Review
Arizona Diamondbacks
1-26) Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern
2-90) Anthony Alford, OF, Mississippi HS
3-120) Damien Magnifico, RHP, University of Oklahoma
John's Take: If Roache properly recovers from his wrist injury, he's a potential steal at 26. Alford is an outstanding athlete but also a major signability risk if not drafted in the supplemental round or sooner, with a football/baseball future ahead of him at Southern Mississippi. Magnifico may be the hardest thrower in the draft, but has erratic command and a checkered health history. This is a high upside group with high risk.
Colorado Rockies
1-10) Kyle Zimmer, RHP, University of San Francisco
1S-46) Tyler Naquin, OF, Texas A&M
2-73) Paul Blackburn, RHP, California HS
3-105) Walker Buehler, RHP, Kentucky HS
3S-128) Matt Reynolds, 3B, University of Arkansas
John's Take: Every year somebody drops further than expected and in this case it is Zimmer, who could go as high as first-overall under some scenarios. If he's available at 10 he's a great pick. Naquin is a pure hitter with some speed but might be a tweener type. Blackburn is a strike-thrower with a nice delivery who is considered signable despite an Arizona State commitment. Buehler profiles similarly but might not be signable away from Vanderbilt in the third round. There is some uncertainty about where Reynolds fits with the glove, but he can hit and as mentioned before, I think there will be a big run on players like this starting in the third round.
Los Angeles Dodgers
1-18) Stryker Trahan, C, Louisiana HS
1S-51) Nick Travieso, RHP, Florida HS
2-82) Tony Renda, 2B, University of California
3-113) Stephen Johnson, RHP, St. Edward's
John's Take: Trahan has a power bat and a strong arm, but questions about his defense put him all over draft boards, from the middle of the first round to the back of the supplemental. He could certainly go here for a team that thinks his glove will work behind the plate. Travieso is the kind of hard-throwing prep right-hander the Dodgers have lusted for in the past. Johnson throws very hard but his delivery and some command issues make him a reliever; he could move fast in that role. Renda is just plain solid and while his pure tools don't scream second round, his makeup does. Overall, I think this is quite plausible.
San Diego Padres
1-7) David Dahl, OF, Alabama HS
1S-33) Addison Russell, SS, Florida HS
1S-44) Walker Wieckel, RHP, Florida HS
1S-55) Mitch Gueller, RHP, Washington HS
2-68) Mitch Haniger, OF, Cal Poly
2-70) Brandon Thomas, OF, Georgia Tech
3-102) Brady Rodgers, RHP, Arizona State University
John's Take: Assuming that the supplemental picks will pass up college for slot money, I think this is quite strong. Dahl has across-the-board tools with polish, while Russell's weight loss and improved defense have boosted his stock this spring. Wieckel's so-so spring may cost him about 20 spots in the draft, but there may be some scout fatigue/overexposure/nitpicking with him. Gueller is the opposite: he didn't have much exposure until recently and his stock is shooting upward. In fact, he might go as high as the back of the first round. Haniger, Thomas, and Rodgers provide college leavening, but the two outfielders in particular are not just polish guys; they have tools as well.
San Francisco Giants
1-20) Ty Hensley, RHP, Oklahoma HS
2-84) Alex Bregman, INF, New Mexico HS
3-115) Sam Selman, LHP, Vanderbilt
John's Take: Hensley seems like the kind of high school arm the Giants would love to have, a "country strong" type who needs some refinement but could follow in the footsteps of Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. Bregman is more problematic: he's got clear first round tools, but lost most of the spring to injury and is strongly committed to LSU. If he goes to college, he would be a top ten candidate in 2015. In the past you could just pay him the money overslot now if you believed in him, but that no longer applies. Selman didn't live up to his full potential in college despite a 91-95 MPH heater, but could be moldable in the Giants system.
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