The 2012 Major League Baseball Draft was a thrilling event for baseball fans everywhere. It marked the first opportunity for teams to select their top picks from an impressive list of amateur players, many of whom were expected to make significant contributions in the near future. On June 4-6th, MLB Network’s Studio 42 in Secaucus, New Jersey served as host venue where representatives from all 30 major league teams gathered with anticipation to draft these young prospects and take them one step closer towards achieving their dreams of playing professional baseball. The Houston Astros had the honor of making history by selecting Carlos Correa at number one overall which started off what would be three days full excitement and surprises.
1. Lucas Giolito
Chicago White Sox
Career
- All-Star (2019), Pitched a no-hitter on August 25, 2020
Lucas Giolito is a 28-year-old pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. He had a successful MLB debut in 2016, but has since struggled with injuries. Giolito attended Beverly Hills High School and was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
Injuries have dogged him throughout his career, including Tommy John surgery after just two seasons in the majors and an elbow injury that forced him to miss all of 2018 season.
He's still only 26 years old and could bounce back if he can stay healthy; however, there are concerns about his long-term durability due to past injuries.
Giolito throws right-handed and predominantly relies on four pitches - a fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball - which he uses to get batters out either by striking them out or inducing ground balls depending on their location.
2. Michael Wacha
Boston Red Sox
Career
- All-Star (2015), NLCS MVP (2013)
Michael Wacha is a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, and he made his MLB debut in 2013. He has a 3-7 record with an ERA of 4.17 in 117 appearances (11 starts).
Michael Wacha was drafted by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Iowa State University where he had been a starting pitcher for three seasons.
In 2016, Michael Wacha missed much time due to injury but came back strong and finished third in NL Cy Young voting behind Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer despite posting an ERA below 2 during that season's second half (.910).
Michael Wacha's fifth full year as a starter in the majors, so it will be interesting to see how his stats compare this season considering what we know about injuries from previous years Wacha was drafted in the first round by the Cardinals in 2013 and has since blossomed into one of their top pitchers.
He made his major league debut in 2016 and had a fantastic season, leading the Cardinals to an NLCS appearance. Wacha is known for his strong strikeout numbers, having recorded over 1,000 during his career thus far.
In 2020 he was traded to the Mets and enjoyed another successful year before being dealt again later that year to Tampa Bay Rays where he continues to pitch today.
Wacha's future with Boston remains uncertain after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this year but it is hoped he will return at some point in 2022.
3. Byron Buxton
Minnesota Twins
Career
- All-Star (2022), Gold Glove Award (2017), Platinum Glove Award (2017)
Byron Buxton was the top prospect in baseball before having a poor 2015 season. Despite his struggles, Buxton is still one of the most talented players in the game and has potential to be an all-star outfielder.
His ability to hit for power and average makes him dangerous on both sides of the ball, making him a valuable player on any team. The Twins have high expectations for Byron Buxton in 2016 after he put together strong performances at Double-A and Triple-A last year.
If he can stay healthy, there's no reason why Byron Buxton couldn't become one of the best hitters in baseball history Byron Buxton is a talented and exciting player in the MLB. He has been an All-Star twice, won a Gold Glove Award, and Platinum Glove Award.
His batting average has been poor over the past few seasons but he still manages to produce some good numbers.
He is known for his speed on the base paths and can be very dangerous when running wild with no one catching him. It will be interesting to see what Byron Buxton does next as it seems like his career is just starting to take off.
Also Played For: minnesota twins, st paul saints
4. Mike Zunino
Tampa Bay Rays
Career
- All-Star (2021), Golden Spikes Award (2012), Dick Howser Trophy (2012)
Mike Zunino is a highly-touted catcher prospect who has spent his entire career with the Seattle Mariners. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft, but he opted not to sign and instead attend college at Florida State University.
After four years with FSU, Zunino was selected by the Mariners in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft and made his debut that year. Injuries have been an issue for Mike Zunino throughout his career; however, he is still only 31 years old so there's still time for him to rebound from any struggles he might experience moving forward.
His defensive skills are well-known, as are his power abilities – which have led many experts to compare him to current stars like Buster Posey and Yadier Molina (who both played behind him on their teams).
It will be interesting to see how Mike Zunino performs over this next season – especially considering that new management has taken over in Seattle during 2019.
5. Courtney Hawkins
Chicago White Sox
Courtney Hawkins is a professional female baseball player who was signed by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in March of 2018. Courtney attended Wake Forest University where she played for the Demon Deacons women’s baseball team from 2013-2017.
During her time at Wake Forest, she compiled a record of 45-27 and finished as runner up in both the ACC Tournament and NCAA Regional Championships three times. In 2018, Courtney was drafted by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB).
Her debut season with the Hawks saw her post a batting average of .322 along with 13 home runs and 60 RBI which led to selection onto NPB’s All-Star Team. Courtney will return to play for Fukuoka Softbank Hawks again this year in their efforts to defend their NPB Championship title that they won back in July of 2019.
6. Lewis Brinson
San Francisco Giants
Lewis Brinson is a talented outfielder who can hit for power and average. He was drafted by the Marlins in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. In 2017, he had a breakout season with the Milwaukee Brewers, batting .290 with 27 home runs and 101 RBIs.
He made headlines in 2018 when he fought teammate Lorenzo Cain after being walked during a game at Kauffman Stadium.
The skirmish led to Lewis getting suspended for seven games, but it didn't stop him from finishing fourth in MVP voting that year (behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Mike Trout, and Manny Machado).
In 2019, Lewis signed with the Miami Marlins on a five-year contract worth $50 million dollars ($25 million guaranteed). At 28 years old, Lewis is still young enough to have plenty of good baseball left in him Lewis Brinson is a 24-year old outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Lewis made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2017 and has since played for Miami Marlins (2018-2021) and San Francisco Giants ( 2022).
He bats .198 with 28 home runs and 109 RBIs in 334 career games. Lewis grew up playing baseball at Coral Springs High School before being drafted by the Houston Astros in 2013 as a first round pick.
After stints with both the Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, he was traded to Milwaukee late last season where he has been performing well thus far this year.
7. Mark Appel
Philadelphia Phillies
Mark Appel is a right-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He made his debut with the organization in 2014, appearing in 10 games and posting an ERA of 4.60.
In 2015, he appeared in 23 games (all starts) and had a record of 9-7 with a 3.99 ERA and 124 strikeouts over 151 innings pitched.
He completed 2016 as a starter for the Astros, compiling a record of 11-9 with an ERA of 3.92 while striking out 166 batters over 203 innings pitched.
He became eligible for arbitration for the first time following 2017 season and elected to file for free agency rather than continue negotiations with Houston. Appel has been signed by numerous teams since becoming available on July 1st but has yet to pitch in 2018 due to injury..
In 2019, he will make his return from injury pitching for Team Israel at The World Baseball Classic Qualifier Tournament.
8. Andrew Heaney
Texas Rangers
Career
- AL Rookie of the Month (July 2015)
Andrew Heaney made his MLB debut in 2014 for the Miami Marlins. The left-handed pitcher was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2009, but he never signed with them.
In 2013, Heaney pitched to a 2.32 ERA and 147 strikeouts over 149 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. After pitching well at major league spring training, Heaney made the team as a reliever and started five games before being moved to the bullpen due to injuries among their starting pitchers.
On September 6th of that year, AndrewHeaney earned his first win as an MLB pitcher when he pitched 5 scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves . In 2015, Andrew Heaneys' rookie season with the Los Angeles Angels , he posted an impressive 3-1 record with a 1.68 ERA while striking out 67 batters in 65 innings of work.
9. Richie Shaffer
Columbus Clippers
Richie Shaffer is a 31-year-old infielder and outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. He played college baseball at Virginia Tech, where he was named to the All-ACC team as a sophomore in 2010.
After missing all of 2011 due to injury, Shaffer exploded onto the scene in 2012 with 37 home runs and 119 RBIs across both leagues (A+ and AA). Injuries kept him from having an even better 2013 season, but he still hit 17 home runs and drove in 71 runs between Triple A Durham and the majors.
Shaffer had 18 home runs and 58 RBIs while batting right field for Tampa Bay's big league club. Richie is married with two young children.
His wife also plays softball professionally Richie Shaffer made his major league debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015. He batted .213 with 5 home runs and 10 RBIs in 36 games played that season.
In 2016, Shaffer was traded to the Baltimore Orioles but did not play any games for them before being released later that year.
After spending 2017 out of baseball, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets in early 2018 and has since appeared in 16 games for their Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas 51s.
10. Kyle Zimmer
Omaha Storm Chasers
Kyle Zimmer is a 31-year-old pitcher who played for the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2019. Zimmer has had a successful career, pitching to a record of 77-57 with an ERA of 3.92 in parts of six seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals.
He was traded to the Seattle Mariners at the trade deadline in 2018 but failed to make an impact, going 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA over seven appearances (five starts).
On January 6, 2019, Zimmer signed a minor league contract with the Omaha Storm Chasers and made his debut two days later against Colorado Springs Sky Sox .
In four innings pitched he allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out one batter - his first professional victory. After being released by Omaha on June 25th, Zimmer re-signed with their Triple A affiliate Tacoma Rainiers on July 7th.
11. Addison Russell
Chicago Cubs
Career
- All-Star (2016), World Series champion (2016)
Addison Russell was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the club in 2015 and has since been a regular member of their lineup, including being named to two All-Star teams.
In 2019 he won his third consecutive Gold Glove award as one of baseball's top defenders at second base, shortstop and third base. Addison is married to American actress Jenna Dewan Tatum, whom he met on set while filming "The Bachelor".
The couple welcomed their first child into the world in October 2018 and have an infant son named Otis.. Russell also enjoys playing basketball, spending time with family and friends as well as helping out charity work when possible Addison Russell is a shortstop in the Chicago Cubs organization.
He was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft and made his debut with them in 2015. In 2017, he won a World Series title with the team and has been a mainstay on their roster ever since then.
He has had some success offensively throughout his career, averaging .242 batting average over 569 games played (including postseason).
His best season came in 2016 when he hit 39 home runs to go along with 129 RBIs and an All-Star nomination as well as a championship win that year.
12. James Ramsey
Columbus Clippers
Career
- 2009–2012: Florida State
- 2012–2013: Palm Beach Cardinals
- 2013–2014: Springfield Cardinals
- 2013: Memphis Redbirds
- 2014–2015: Columbus Clippers
- 2016: Oklahoma City Dodgers
- 2016–2017: Tacoma Rainiers
- 2018: Rochester Red Wings
- 2018: Chattanooga Lookouts
- Position(s): Outfielder
- 2018: Florida State (OF/H)
- 2019–present: Georgia Tech (OF/H)
James Ramsey started his playing career at Florida State. He played there for two seasons before moving on to the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2013. Ramsey is currently an associate head coach and hitting/recruiting coordinator with Georgia Tech.
In this role, he oversees all aspects of the team's offensive and defensive baseball operations. Ramsey has helped lead Georgia Tech to back-to-back ACC championships (2017 & 2018).
His teams have also reached the College World Series twice (2015 & 2017) and won a National Championship in 1990 as a member of the Florida Gators Baseball Team.
James Ramsey is one of only six players in NCAA history to earn All-America honors at both shortstop and third base, as well as being drafted by both MLB teams (the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics).
He was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2016, making him one of just four Seminoles ever enshrined into that prestigious honor.
13. Albert Almora
Cincinnati Reds
Career
- World Series champion (2016)
Albert Almora Jr. was born on April 16, 1994 in Hialeah Gardens, Florida. He attended Coral Gables Senior High School where he played for the baseball team and helped lead them to a state championship his senior year.
Almora was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft with the 17th overall pick and made his debut with them in 2016.
Injuries have been an issue for him throughout his career but he has still managed to produce at a high level when healthy, hitting .259 with 33 home runs over 4 seasons so far.
His contract expired after the 2020 season and it is uncertain whether or not he will be able to continue playing at this high of a level due to injury concerns but if he can stay on the field then there is no doubt that he will be one of Major League Baseball's top players in years to come.
Also Played For: iowa cubs
14. Deven Marrero
Miami Marlins
Deven Marrero was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. He made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2013 and has since played for them, as well as other teams such as Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees.
In 2017 he joined the Boston Red Sox on a free agent contract. Deven is an infielder who bats right-handed and throws right-handed. His primary skills are hitting for average and fielding ground balls at a high level both defensively and offensively.
Deven's brother Ramon also plays professional baseball; they have one sister named Samantha who is currently attending college in Florida.. Deven resides in Miami, Florida with his wife Kelli Burdi whom he married in 2016 after appearing on "The Bachelor".
The couple welcomed their first child together - a daughter named Isabella - in January 2019.
15. Chris Stratton
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chris Stratton is a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Chris was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on August 22nd 1990. He attended college at Ole Miss and played for the Rebels baseball team before being drafted by the Giants in 2012.
In his rookie season with SF he went 14-8 with a 3.29 ERA and 218 strikeouts in 213 innings pitched, earning him Rookie of The Year honors amongst other accolades.
His sophomore year saw him post an impressive 19-10 record with a 2.89 ERA and 242 strikeouts over 222 1/3 innings pitched, leading to another all star selection as well as NL Cy Young Award nomination.
though ultimately finishing second to Clayton Kershaw in that voting process Injuries have plagued Chris during his career however; including Tommy John surgery after only 5 starts of the 2017 campaign which kept him out until late May - returning just short of 150 IP (he finished 149) while averaging 6 HRs allowed per 9 IP.
Prior to TJ he had made 7 consecutive Opening Day starts dating back to 2014 but due to various arm problems has not been able to complete more than 5 or 6 games since then.(source: giantsbaseball).
16. Gavin Cecchini
New York Mets
Gavin Cecchini was born on December 22, 1993 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended and played college baseball at Wake Forest University before being drafted by the New York Mets in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
Cecchini made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Mets in 2014 and hit .282/.370/.442 with 27 doubles, 11 home runs and 96 RBIs over 131 games between rookie ball and Low-A ball that season.
In 2015, he spent time with both High-A St Lucie (where he hit .271/.338/.431) and Double-A Binghamton (where he hit .278/.359/.439).
Cecchini was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas prior to the 2016 season where he put up a strong batting line of .323/.381/.496 while also contributing 16 home runs and 63 RBIs over 129 games played.
The 2017 campaign saw Cecchini make his Major League debut for the Mets as they finished fifth in their division; playing mainly at second base but also seeing some time at third base due to injury concerns around Matt Harvey..
In 97 games/113 innings played split between all three positions, Cecilini slashed a respectable .248/.291./426 with eight homers an 21 SB while adding 66 R+DBI on top of it all.
After struggling mightily during 2018 (.200-.257 average), Gavin rebounded this year hitting just under 31 homers along witih 84R+DHI through 154G & 751 PA's...should be one of your favorite players off waivers this week.
17. David Dahl
Albuquerque Isotopes
Career
- All-Star (2019)
Dahl made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2016. Dahl is a left-handed outfielder and threw right-handed. Dahl was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2013 draft.
In 2017, he set career highs with 24 home runs and 87 RBIs for the Padres. On July 26, 2018, Dahl hit a walk-off homer against Arizona to win their game 3 of the National League Division Series (NLDS).
This gave San Diego their second NLDS victory in three years and advanced them to face off against Los Angeles Dodgers in The NLCS later that year David Dahl has had an up-and-down career in the major leagues, but he is still only 26 years old and has plenty of time to improve.
David Dahl was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2012 and made his debut with them that same year. He hit well as a rookie, posting a .286 batting average with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in just 153 games played.
However, things went downhill for Dahl from there; he posted batting averages of .196, .240, and .241 over the next three seasons combined (2013-2015).
In 2016 however, he began to put it all together again and ended up hitting 42 home runs while driving in 160 runners en route to an All-Star selection - his first such honor ever.
After another solid season where he hit 27 homers en route to 164 RBIs, Dahl signed a four-year contract extension with the Colorado Rockies in 2018 which will keep him with them through 2020.
18. Ty Hensley
Ty Hensley is a 29-year-old pitcher who has spent the majority of his career playing for the Detroit Tigers. He made his MLB debut in 2015 and has since appeared in 68 games, compiling a record of 23-26 with a 4.20 ERA.
In 2018, he was traded to the Houston Astros and had an excellent season overall, posting a 20-8 record with 2.98 ERA over 32 starts. Ty Hensley is currently looking for new employment after being released by the Astros at the end of 2019...
Ty Hensley is a switch hitter who can hit for both power and average. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2017 amateur draft. Hensley has committed to play at Oklahoma State University next season.
19. Victor Roache
Roache is a veteran of the Arena Football League (AFL) and Professional Indoor Football League (PIF). He has also played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the National Arena League (NAL).
Roache was born in England but grew up in San Diego, California. Roache attended college at Central Florida before playing professionally. Victor has appeared in over 100 games as an AFL or PIF player and is one of only six players to have started every game he’s played in both leagues combined.
Roache joined the NAL team based out of Birmingham, Alabama, this season after previously being released by the AFL's Jacksonville Sharks earlier this year.
Victor currently leads all active NAL defenders with 2 interceptions despite missing two games due to injury early on in his tenure with the Rattlers.
20. Tyler Naquin
New York Mets
Tyler Naquin is a 31-year-old outfielder who has spent the past four seasons with the Cleveland Indians. He was drafted by the Indians in 2010, and made his major league debut in 2014.
In total, he's played 163 games in MLB, batting .247 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs. Naquin was transferred to the Mets at the trade deadline last year, but failed to make an impact on their playoff run.
He'll be looking for a new team this offseason as free agency begins at midnight ET on Monday night.. Tyler Naquin debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 2016. He had a productive rookie season, batting .264 with 61 home runs and 237 RBIs.
In 2020, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds and had another successful year, hitting .304 with 22 home runs and 95 RBIs. From 2021-22 he played for the New York Mets where he hit just .176 with no home runs or RBIs in 54 games played.
21. Stryker Trahan
Trahan is a free agent after being released by the Diamondbacks in March 2018. He was signed as an amateur free agent out of LSU in 2013 and made his MLB debut with Arizona in 2017.
Trahan has played all three outfield positions for the Diamondbacks, though he's best known for his time at right field where he posted a .972 OPS over 116 games. Trahan is coming off an injury-plagued season during which he hit just .191/.231/.442 while playing 46 games across two stints with the club.
However, prior to that, Trahan had established himself as one of the better hitters in baseball with a line of .290/.344/.508 over 219 appearances from 2016 through 2017.
While there are questions about whether or not Trahan can bounce back from last year's struggles, he still has plenty of upside given his excellent plate discipline and ability to hit for power despite not having great speed numbers (.254 ISO).
22. Lucas Sims
Cincinnati Reds
Sims was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Sims made his professional debut with the Gwinnett Braves in 2016, going 3-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 14 games (13 starts).
In 2017, Sims split time between Triple-A Louisville and Cincinnati, posting a combined 5-10 record with an 8.01 ERA in 25 appearances (24 starts). Sims make 24 more appearances for Cincinnati, all but one as a starter, finishing 9-12 with a 2.92 ERA.
He also led all National League pitchers in strikeouts (191) and innings pitched (215), earning him NL Pitcher of the Month honors for May/June.
On July 31st, Sims became just the fourth pitcher ever to win 10 or more games while pitching at least 200 innings each season – joining Pedro Martinez ('03-'04), Sandy Koufax ('59-'60), and Cy Young ('18)).
23. Brian Johnson
Boston Red Sox
Brian Johnson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 3rd round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut with Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in 2013 and posted a 2.92 ERA over 54 innings pitched.
In 2014, he played for Class A Greenville and had an ERA of 2.68 over 83 innings before being promoted to Double-A Portland where he finished with a 3.34 ERA in 26 games (24 starts).
After spending 2015 at Triple-A Pawtucket, Brian Johnson was called up to Boston on August 10th and made his Major League debut that day against the Tampa Bay Rays pitching 4 scoreless innings while striking out two batters.
He has since appeared in 11 games (10 starts) for Boston posting a 5-7 record with a 4.50 ERA as well as 107 strikeouts over 111 innings pitched Brian Johnson made his MLB debut for the Boston Red Sox in 2015.
He has since appeared for the Red Sox seven more times, including this year. Brian Johnson's record as a starter is 7-9 with an earned run average of 4.74 and 142 strikeouts in 191 innings pitched.
Johnson has also played out of the bullpen on occasion, most notably during his time with the Atlanta Braves (2017–2018). The right-hander will likely be a part of Boston's starting rotation next season after signing a one-year contract extension earlier this year covering 2020.
24. Jake Lamb
Arizona Diamondbacks
Career
- All-Star (2017)
Jake Lamb was born on October 9, 1990 in Seattle, Washington. Lamb started playing baseball at a young age and quickly became a standout player in the area.
He attended Southern Oregon University before being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2011 MLB Draft. After spending three seasons with the D-Backs, Lamb was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in July of 2016.
In 2017, he played an instrumental role for both teams as they made it all the way to their respective World Series games.. Jake Lamb is currently signed with The Angels through 2021 and has already put up impressive numbers during that time span including .285 batting average, 29 home runs and 106 RBIs over 185 appearances.
Lamb was drafted third overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014, and has since developed into one of their key players. He had a breakout year in 2017, hitting .236 with 94 home runs and 337 RBIs. Lamb is an all-around hitter who can hit for power or average, and his team would be lost without him on the field.
The Diamondbacks traded Lamb to Oakland earlier this offseason as part of a blockbuster deal that brought Jon Lester to Arizona; it's uncertain what Lamb's future looks like now that he's switch teams twice already during his career.
Lamb will turn 27 years old in 2020, so there may be some regression involved for him over the next few seasons - but don't count him out yet.
25. Keone Kela
Texas Rangers
Keone Kela is a pitcher with the Texas Rangers. Keone Kela was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft and made his debut for them later that year.
In 2015, he was traded to the Texas Rangers where he has since enjoyed considerable success, including an All-Star appearance in 2017. He signed with Yakult Swallows of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league prior to the 2019 season and will be looking to continue his recent form when he joins up with his new team next April.
Keone Kela made his MLB debut for the Texas Rangers in 2015. Keone Kela is a relief pitcher and has had some success over the past few years with Pittsburgh and San Diego.
He throws a fastball, slider, and changeup which have all been effective in getting outs for his teams. Keone Kela is known as an aggressive player who goes after hitters aggressively on the mound, making him difficult to hit regardless of what he's throwing at them.
At just 24 years old, Keone Kela has a lot of potential left in him and looks poised to continue playing at an high level for many more seasons to come.
26. Ryan Dull
Oakland Athletics
Ryan Dull is a 33-year-old right hand pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and has spent his entire career with the club.
In 2017, Dull pitched to a 3.88 ERA in 66 innings while striking out 94 batters. Dull's best season came in 2012 when he finished with a 10-8 record and 2.98 ERA in 149 innings across 28 appearances (25 starts).
His biggest weakness may be his propensity to give up home runs; he gave up 37 of them last season, which ranked fourth among AL pitchers who tossed at least 100 innings.
With the emergence of young arms such as Sean Manaea and Aroldis Chapman on Oakland's roster, it seems likely that Dull will see more competition for starting spots next year.
Dull was selected in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. He made his debut for the A's on September 1st, 2015 and finished up his rookie campaign with a win-loss record of 8-9 and an ERA of 4.31.
In 2019 he was traded to the New York Yankees where he has since played out the year as their bullpen ace despite having an earned run average above 4.
27. Andrew Triggs
Oakland Athletics
Andrew Triggs made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2016. The 33-year-old righty was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2007, but he never reached the majors there.
He spent time with both the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals before being traded to Oakland in late July of this year. In 10 games (eight starts) for the A's thus far, Triggs has a 3-5 record with a 4.21 ERA and 66 strikeouts over 56 innings pitched.
Andrew Triggs is a 22-year old right-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft. In his rookie season with the A's, he made 12 starts and had a record of 5–4 with an ERA of 3.97.
He played for San Francisco Giants in 2018 but did not have as successful a season, posting a 4–5 record and an ERA of 5.68.
The Boston Red Sox picked him up in free agency this offseason and he has started 10 games thus far, having posted an 8–3 record with an ERA of 2.92 over that time period.
28. Brett Phillips
Milwaukee Brewers
Phillips was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with them in June 5, 2017 and hit .259 over 68 games that season.
Phillips signed a three-year contract extension with the Brewers ahead of the 2018 season and he had another good year, hitting .288/.359/.473 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs in 132 games played.
In 2019, Phillips was traded to the Los Angeles Angels where he has continued to play well, putting up stats similar to those from his time in Milwaukee; however at Angel Stadium it's been even more successful for him as he is currently batting .304/.362/.527 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs through 116 games played so far this season.
Phillips is known for having an agile body which allows him to make difficult catches in center field or run down fly balls quickly; both skills that have helped him develop into one of baseball's best hitters.
29. Mitch Nay
Mitch Nay is a third baseman for the Kane County Cougars. Nay was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 7th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He did not sign with them and instead played college baseball at Oregon State University.
In his freshman year, Nay hit .326 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs while leading OSU to their first College World Series appearance since 1954. The following season, he led all NCAA Division I players in slugging percentage (.633) and OPS (1,078).
After being drafted by Detroit but not signing, Nay opted to return to OSU for his junior year where he won a national player of the year award after batting .372 with 43 home runs and 163 RBIs across 113 games- innings that included 13 complete games.
In 2016, Nay signed with the Cougars as an undrafted free agent and has continued his dominance hitting .313/.405/.548 in 94 PA over two seasons thus far as a member of Kane County's vaunted lineup.
30. Daniel Robertson
Milwaukee Brewers
Daniel Robertson is an infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth round of the 2012 MLB draft. Robertson made his debut with the Phillies in 2016 and had a .253 batting average over 155 games played.
In 2017, he was traded to Tampa Bay and hit .314 with 10 home runs over 146 games played.
Robertson has also spent time at second base, third base and shortstop during his career, but is mostly seen as an infielder due to his strong arm and good range in center field as well as left field on defense Daniel Robertson is a versatile infielder who has played all over the diamond.
He made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 and has since been with the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. Daniel Robertson is known for his powerful batting average, home runs, and RBIs.
His 2018 season was especially impressive as he hit 18 home runs and drove in 78 Runs batted in while also playing stellar defense at third base. In 2019, Daniel Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers where he helped lead them to their first National League Championship since 2011.
This season will be an important one for him as he looks to cement himself as one of baseball's top players for years to come.
Daniel Roberston is a passionate player who loves spending time with family and friends outside of the ballpark; this aspect of his character makes him truly unique among today's athletes.
31. Jesmuel Valentín
Philadelphia Phillies
Jesmuel Valentín was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2013. In 2018, he made his MLB debut with the team and played in 29 games before being traded to the Colorado Rockies.
He has also appeared in over 200 minor league games and hit .284/.353/.463 with 21 home runs and 89 RBIs. Jesmuel Valentín is a switch hitter who throws right-handed. Jesmuel Valentín made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
He batted .177 in 18 games played and recorded six runs batted in. Jesmuel Valentín is a Venezuelan-born outfielder who has spent most of his career playing for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
At 26 years old, Jesmuel Valentín has plenty of time to develop into an established major league player and make a positive impact on team success going forward.
32. Pat Light
Minnesota Twins
Pat Light is a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB draft but did not sign with them and instead attended college at Virginia Tech.
After one year at Virginia Tech, he was drafted by the Red Sox in 2010 and made his debut in 2013. In 2016, he had a career-high 9 saves and pitched to a 3rd place finish in save percentage (.823).
Known for his slider, which has been described as "a nasty offering", Light is considered to be among Boston's brightest young prospects Light made his MLB debut for the Boston Red Sox on April 26th, 2016.
He was traded to the Minnesota Twins in September of that year and didn't have much success with them either. Light finished his career with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 11.34 which isn't great by any means.
He's had 16 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched but has also given up 16 earned runs which is not ideal either. Pat Light, unfortunately, won't be remembered as one of the more successful players in MLB history but he did play a small role during his time there, so it can't be denied that he did something noteworthy while playing professional baseball.
33. Collin Wiles
Collin Wiles is a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was drafted by the Brewers in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft and made his debut in 2015. Wiles has had success both with his fastball and slider, which makes him an versatile weapon on the mound.
In 2019, he was named to his first All-Star team and finished third in voting behind Max Scherzer and Chris Sale. Collin is married with two children who attend school in Kansas City area where he also pitches for their baseball team during summers when not playing professionally back home in Milwaukee.
The 28-year-old aspiring actor loves spending time outdoors including camping, fishing, hiking, biking or simply taking walks around town with friends or family members. Living life to its fullest while continuing to pursue dreams of being an actor longterm remains at the top of this young athlete's priority list as well.
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34. Luke Bard
Los Angeles Angels
Luke Bard was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 13th 1990. He attended the University of Miami where he played for the Hurricanes baseball team.
In 2017, Luke Bard was selected to play with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and he pitched well throughout the tournament. The Tampa Bay Rays signed Luke Bard as a free agent in 2022 and he will be pitching for them that season.
His primary focus is on helping his team win games, but he also enjoys playing music while out on the field and has released an album under that name (along with several other projects).
Luke Bard is one of many young pitchers who are making waves in professional baseball these days, showing great potential both on and off the field Bard made his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Angels on March 31st of this year.
The 25-year-old was originally drafted by the Rays in 2014 and played parts of three seasons with them before being traded to the Yankees earlier this year. Bard has a 4-4 record so far in his career, along with an ERA of 4.44 and 68 strikeouts over 63 innings pitched.
He is set to join the Tampa Bay Rays next season after spending part of 2020 there as well, pending free agency considerations later this month which could result in him continuing his professional baseball career elsewhere entirely.
35. Eddie Butler
Colorado Rockies
Eddie Butler was born in Chesapeake, Virginia in 1991. He attended Southern Maryland University and played college baseball for the Blue Crabs. Butler made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies on June 6, 2014.
In 2019, he signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO league. Eddie has a 4-1 record with a 1ERA in 5 games (4 starts) for NC Dinos this season as of September 13th Butler was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2014 and made his MLB debut with the team in 2016.
Butler struggled with inconsistency during his time with the Rockies, but he managed to win a total of three games while on their roster. In 2017, Butler was traded to the Chicago Cubs where he had more success and finished as a member of their playoff-bound squad.
After one season in Chicago, Butler was traded to Texas Rangers for pitcher Kyle Freeland who would help turn around Butler's career later on; however, it wasn't until 2018 when Butler really began to show potential offensively for NC Dinos in Taiwan’s professional baseball league (KBO).
36. Nolan Fontana
Salt Lake Bees
Nolan Fontana is an infielder for the Houston Astros. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
Fontana made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2013 and has since played for them, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and now Houston Astros.
In 2015 he signed a one-year contract with the Astros worth $5 million dollars. His favorite baseball player is Mike Trout and he likes to watch cartoons as well (Nolan's dad works on The Simpsons).
Nolan enjoys spending time outdoors including hiking and fishing; however, if there's a game going on at any given moment you can find him inside a stadium or arena cheering on his team. Nolan Fontana made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017.
He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the 2009 draft and played for them until being traded to the Angels in 2016. In 2018, he hit just .065 over 105 at-bats for LA before being released on June 15th.
Since then, Fontana has been playing independent baseball in California, hitting a respectable .292/.363/.526 with six home runs and 20 RBIs through 25 games this season as of September 2nd.
Nolan is known as an above-average defender at first base and has had some success batting leadoff or third place in lineup configurations throughout his career - having averaged a .
293 batting average while leading off or taking part in three straight seasons from 2014 to 2016 respectively with Chicago (he also led off 107 games during that time).
37. Rio Ruiz
Diablos Rojos del México
Rio Ruiz is a third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2016, and made his MLB debut with them that season.
In 2018, he signed with the LG Twins of the KBO League and had an outstanding year there, hitting .309/.378/.534 with 16 home runs and 77 RBIs in 158 games.
He returned to MLB in 2019 and has been a valuable part of the Orioles’ lineup so far this season, batting .281/.341/.484 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs in 132 games played.
Rio Ruiz has experience playing both shortstop (in high school) and second base (in college), but is primarily seen as a third baseman due to his ability to field balls cleanly at that position Rio Ruiz was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States when he was just a boy.
He started playing baseball at an early age, and quickly became one of the best players in his region. In 2016, Rio Ruiz signed with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent after impressing scouts with his play in independent ball.
Ruiz made his MLB debut that year and hit well enough to stick around for another season. In 2018, he led all NL second basemen in fielding percentage (.989).
The 28-year-old is slated to become a free agent at the end of this season and will likely seek greener pastures elsewhere if he isn't re-signed by Atlanta.
38. Brady Rodgers
Fresno Grizzlies
Brady Rodgers is a right-handed pitcher who has played in both the minor leagues and Major League Baseball. Rodgers attended Texas A&M University, where he was named an All American in 2009 as well as being drafted by the Detroit Tigers that same year.
After spending time with both the Toledo Mud Hens and Memphis Redbirds, Brady made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2014 at age 25.
In 2016, Brady signed with the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League before being called up to play for Oakland again later that season.
He stayed with Oakland through 2017 before signing a minor league contract with Baltimore Orioles organization in 2018.
As of 2019, Brady is currently pitching for Triple-A Norfolk Tides and has appeared in 59 games overall across three different organizations over four seasons since making his MLB debut.
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39. Alec Asher
Philadelphia Phillies
Alec Asher was born on October 4, 1991 in Lakeland, Florida. He played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers and pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015.
In 2019 he pitched in the CPBL with Uni-President Lions. Alec Asher has a record of 1-1 with a 3 ERA over 2 appearances so far this season in Taiwan's professional league system Alec Asher is a pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
He made his MLB debut on July 12th and has been struggling ever since. Alec Asher was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015, but he only played for them for two seasons before being traded to Baltimore Orioles in 2017.
After spending part of 2018 with the Milwaukee Brewers, Alec Asher was signed by Uni-President Lions of CPBL earlier this year.
Alec Asher's struggles in MLB have not stopped him from posting impressive stats in CPBL however - as he currently boasts a win-loss record of 1-6 and an ERA of 4.29 while striking out 43 batters over 38 innings pitched so far this season. With three more starts remaining in 2019.
There's still time forAlecAsher to turn things around and show that he belongs on an MLB roster again - though it will be tough given his current form.
40. Nick Williams
Philadelphia Phillies
Nick Williams was born in Galveston, Texas on September 8th, 1993. He is an outfielder for the Toros de Tijuana and has played in 97 games over the past two seasons.
Williams bats left-handed and throws right-handed. In 2017, he hit .291 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 88 games for Class A Advanced San Antonio before being promoted to Double-A Tulsa where he finished the year hitting .302 with 9 home runs and 51 RBIs in 104 games.
In 2018, Williams had a breakout season with Triple-A Oklahoma City batting .321 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs in 116 games. Nick Williams made his MLB debut for the Philadelphia Phillies on June 30th of this year. Nick Williams is a right-handed hitter and has hit 31 home runs in 114 games played with the Phillies so far.
Nick Williams also has 110 RBIs to go along with those 31 home runs, making him one of the most productive hitters on the team currently.
Nick Williams was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2013, but he only appeared in 20 games over two seasons before being traded to Philadelphia earlier this year as part of a blockbuster deal involving Carlos Rodon and others.
The 24-year old outfielder is still relatively young and looks to be developing into an all-around solid player at the major league level, which should bode well for both Philly and White Sox fans moving forward.
41. Preston Tucker
Fresno Grizzlies
Tucker is a left-handed outfielder for the Houston Astros. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 3rd round of the 2009 MLB Draft, but did not sign with them and instead played in Korea for the Kia Tigers.
Tucker made his MLB debut with the Astros on May 7th, 2015 and has since appeared in 104 games total (47 starts). His most productive season to date came in 2017 when he hit .284/.368/.528 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs en route to being named an All-Star selection.
Tucker signed a two year deal worth $8 million with the Padres prior to 2018, but struggled mightily at bat (.179 batting average) throughout both seasons leading him to be released at midseason 2019.
In January 2020, Tucker agreed terms on a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he will serve as depth behind established outfielders Michael Brantley, Ian Kinsler and Matt Davidson among others.
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Final Words
. . . The 2012 Major League Baseball Draft was a thrilling event for baseball fans everywhere. It marked the first time that an entire class of college players had been selected in one draft, and it produced many talented players who have since gone on to successful careers in the majors.
Among the best overall performers were phenom Stephen Strasburg of Washington State University, high school sensation Bryce Harper of San Francisco Giants, and top prospect Mike Olt of Texas Rangers.
