TOP THREE PLAYERS FROM THE 2012 MLB DRAFT

  The drama and suspense started early on the first day of MLB's First-Year Player Draft, which featured an eleventh-hour selection as the top overall pick and a highly touted college arm who fell down the board. (www.mlb.com) Houston shocked the industry by selecting prep infielder Carlos Correa as the first pick, and general manager Jeff Luhnow admitted that the Astros didn't settle on their choice until the final hour. And after Carlos Correa had been selected.

The night belonged to Carlos Correa, though, who became the highest-drafted player in the rich and distinguished history of Puerto Rican baseball. Correa, who attended the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, said that his selection is a testament to hard work and an important milestone. Houston hadn't picked first overall since taking Phil Nevin with the top pick in 1992. Carlos Correa was selected with countryman and recent retiree Ivan Rodriguez in attendance the highest-drafted player out of Puerto Rico had been Ramon Castro with the No. 17 pick in 1994. Correa was also the highest-drafted Puerto Rican-born player since Jose Cruz Jr., who was drafted third out of Rice University in 1995. 



http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22019763&topic_id=29113154&c_id=mlb

The Twins picked after Houston, and they picked up one of the Draft's most electrifying talents in outfielder Byron Buxton. Byron Buxton was a former prep football star, is regarded as a potential two-way talent in baseball, and he can throw a fastball that reportedly reaches as high as 99 mph. The Twins picked Buxton as a position player that will be joining  an organization that has produced outfielders such as Denard Span, Ben Revere and Aaron Hicks. Buxton, 18, hit .513 at Appling County High School this season, and he struck out 18 to lead his team to a Georgia state championship last week. Many scouts said Buxton was the best player available, and the Twins agreed.


http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22019815&topic_id=29113154&c_id=mlb

The Mariners picked power-hitting catcher Mike Zunino out of University of Florida with the third pick, a choice that preceded the Draft's first run on pitching. Mike Zunino is an American college baseball catcher with the University of Florida Gators baseball team. Zunino was named to the Baseball America All-American team as a sophomore for 2011 after being named Southeastern Conference player of the year. Mike Zunino is an American baseball catcher. He played college baseball at the University of Florida Gators baseball team. Zunino was named to the Baseball America All-American team as a sophomore for 2011 after being named Southeastern Conference player of the year. He was the second Florida Gator to win the SEC player of the year award after Matt LaPorta did so in 2005 and 2007. In 2010, he played with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He is from Cape Coral Florida.

FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS

No.	Team	Player
1	HOU	SS Carlos Correa
2	MIN	OF Byron Buxton
3	SEA	C Mike Zunino
4	BAL	RHP Kevin Gausman
5	KC	RHP Kyle Zimmer
6	CHC	OF Albert Almora
7	SD	LHP Max Fried
8	PIT	RHP Mark Appel
9	MIA	LHP Andrew Heaney
10	COL	OF David Dahl
11	OAK	SS Addison Russell
12	NYM	SS Gavin Cecchini
13	CWS	OF Courtney Hawkins
14	CIN	RHP Nick Travieso
15	CLE	OF Tyler Naquin
16	WAS	RHP Lucas Giolito
17	TOR	OF D.J. Davis
18	LAD	SS Corey Seager
19	STL	RHP Michael Wacha
20	SF	RHP Chris Stratton
21	ATL	RHP Lucas Sims
22	TOR	RHP Marcus Stroman
23	STL	OF James Ramsey
24	BOS	SS Deven Marrero
25	TB	3B/1B Richie Shaffer
26	ARI	C Stryker Trahan
27	MIL	C Clint Coulter
28	MIL	OF Victor Roache
29	TEX	OF Lewis Brinson
30	NYY	RHP Ty Hensley
31	BOS	LHP Brian Johnson