Collaborative Mock Draft Part Two: Picks 12-22

We're inching closer to the Rays pick, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow. The middle of the round should be stocked with college prospects, but let's see which directions the staff decided to go in. If you missed part one last night, here is a link. Look for part three tomorrow morning.

12. New York Mets select SS Deven Marrero (Arizona State): The Mets don't have a shortstop of note in their system, with Wilmer Flores and Jordany Valdespin having questions both about their bats and their ability to stick at short. Well, after a slightly disappointing offensive year for Arizona State, Marrero might not make the Mets' faithful forget about Jose Reyes, but the Pac-10 defensive player of the year can light it up in the field. -Whelk

13. Chicago White Sox select RHP Michael Wacha (Texas A&M): The White Sox have opted for a college player with their past seven first round draft picks. In fact, eleven out of their past twelve first rounders were drafted out of college, with Gio Gonzalez as the only exception. It certainly is a debatable strategy given their mixed results, but I wouldn't expect them to change their strategy now. If no good college options are available at their spot, it is certainly plausible that they could go with a high school player. However, Michael Wacha is a good value pick at the 13th spot in the draft. With a solid fastball, good command, and a devastating changeup,
Wacha profiles well as a 2/3 starter. -mr. maniac

14. Cincinnati Reds select RHP Chris Stratton (Mississippi State): The Reds have been rumored to cove one of the college arms and Stratton is the best one left on the board. Nobody's stock rose higher this spring than Stratton's, who in many ways came out of nowhere to become a near consenus Top-20 pick. The Mississippi State junior has a mid-nineties fastball, a hard slider, and an above-average 12-6 curve ball which serves as his out-pitch. He has shown excellent command and control, but will need some polishing down to his mechanics to get them to me more consistent. -John Gregg

15. Cleveland Indians select LHP Andrew Heaney (Oklahoma State): The run on college pitchers continues with this former Rays pick. His stuff has improved as a junior with the Cowboys, and at 6'2 and 174 pounds, he might be able to add just a little more to his 90-92 MPH fastball. While neither his curveball nor changeup are probably plus pitches, he has very good command to both sides of the plate. He's been one of the NCAA's best workhorses this season as one of the nation's innings pitched leaders. He's also second in strikeouts, behind only Duke's Marcus Stroman. The Indians typically lean towards college talent in the first round, and after last summer's bizarre Ubaldo Jimenez trade, they could use more pitching depth. -SGrauer

16. Washington Nationals select RHP Lance McCullers (Jesuit HS, FL): I think the Nationals would like one of the top college arms to fall to them here but if none are left on the board I think they would go with the high upside arm of McCullers. There were some doubts about his ability to remain as a starter in pro ball, doubts that had some warrant but was far from the consensus among Tampa area scouts I spoke to, but those doubts seem to have faded away. McCullers has a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a plus slider. He can also handle the bat well with gap power, something of small value that might be useful to a National League team. -JCMitchell

17. Toronto Blue Jays select OF David Dahl (Oak Mountain HS, AL): Toronto has arguably been the most aggressive team in the draft in recent years, consistently targeting top talent with their early picks. The new CBA may impact that strategy, and they may not be able to go all-out for their two first-rounders the way they might have in years past. Dahl would be a typical Jays pick, though, big on tools with signability questions. A centerfielder with plus speed, he also projects to hit for good power as well, though he's more unpolished than Almora, whom Dahl compares to on a tools level. -Imperialism32

18. Los Angeles Dodgers select RHP Nick Travieso (Archbishop McCarthy HS, FL): The Dodgers have chosen pitchers with their top pick in the previous nine drafts, and while their system could use an infusion of hitting talent, I'm going to bet on the streak. Travieso already boasts a good fastball that can sit in the mid 90s and reach above that when he wants. His slider shows promise, and he has a still developing changeup. at 6'2", 215 lbs. he's already a big guy, but he may be able to add to that velocity a touch as he grows stronger. -Whelk

19. St. Louis Cardinals (via Anaheim) select CF D.J. Davis (Stone HS, MS): The Cardinals are in an interesting position with this pick. Since they also possess the 23rd pick in the draft, they have to be careful to try to avoid picking a player whose bonus requests pass their limit. That makes Cecchini and Seager unlikely targets. So far in the draft, there has been an obvious preference to college players, making the top targets at this pick mediocre values. D.J. Davis is committed to Meridian Community College, so despite being a prep player, he should be sign-able. Possessing superb athleticism, Davis has the speed to rival any professional baseball player, with some thinking he may be the fastest. At the plate, he shows the tools to hit for an average and provide gap power. Few players in the draft have Davis' potential, and the Cardinals should be happy to nab him with one of their first round picks. -mr. maniac

20. San Francisco Giants select 3B Stephen Piscotty (Stanford): Word on the street is that the Giants are looking for a college bat and Piscotty or Texas A & M OF Tyler Naquin are the best players on the board that fit that bill. Piscotty has an advanced hit tool and makes a lot of contact at the plate. He isn't a proto-typical power hitter, but has enough bat speed and strength to hit a few out on occasion and has made strides in that department in the last year. Third base is an excellent fit for him defensively as he has a plus arm with good accuracy. His athleticism is solid as well and he is a slightly above average runner. None of his tools really stand out, but when you look at the total package, he is an attractive player who has a good shot to hit right away in the pros. -John Gregg

21. Atlanta Braves select 3B Richie Shaffer (Clemson): There are a number of appealing players available at this spot, but Shaffer is a player with a high floor at a position Atlanta could use. He's had a great spring in the ACC, and he offers the prototypical third baseman's package. He has the potential plus power teams look for at a corner position, and he's an above average defender with a plus arm. It's hard to believe Shaffer would last this long, and he's too good for Atlanta to pass up. In addition to a handful of prep pitchers they could be looking at, position players like Gavin Cecchini, another player who probably shouldn't be on the board still, and Tyler Naquin are possibilities. -SGrauer

22. Toronto Blue Jays (failure to sign Tyler Beede in 2011) select RHP Zach Eflin (Hagerty HS, FL): Hard to say where they Jays will go since this is a compensatory pick but Eflin is a big kid at 6'5″ 200 pounds with a simple and repeatable delivery. He has a low-to-mid 90s fastball and potentially plus change up but he needs a better breaking ball. His talent puts him in the 15-25 range so it is possible he might ask for too much for this slot but a tricep injury has made him miss some time and I do not know his asking price. Eflin will fit in nicely with all of Toronto's young pitching prospects. Could see a variety of options here including Hunter Virant, Duane Underwood, or a college player like Tyler Naquin who would be an easier sign. -JCMitchell