Top Unsigned 2012 Picks
A quick look at notable 2012 draftees that didn't sign. Look for many of them in 2015 and some as early as next year.
8th overall-Pirates: Mark Appel
Appel is represented by none other than Scott Boras, who yet again drove a client to the signing
deadline. Appel was reportedly offered the maximum amount the Pirates had to offer without forfeiting
future draft picks and he and Boras ultimately declined. Appel will head back to Stanford for his senior
season, where he will again team up with top 2013 draft prospects Austin Wilson and Brian Ragira in
pursuit of a College World Series title.
75th overall-Mets: Teddy Stankiewicz
The hard throwing Stankiewicz will reportedly head to junior college rather than fulfill his commitment
to Arkansas, in order to re-enter the 2013 draft.
95th overall: Phillies: Alec Rash
Rash is a pretty unrefined arm at this point, but certainly has some good raw stuff. He will head to
Missouri and could be a higher selection in the 2015 draft.
106th overall: Athletics: Kyle Twomey
Somewhat of a surprise here, as it appeared the Athletics felt they could get a deal done with the
Twomey, after drafting him in the third round. Instead, he will head to USC in the fall where he could
potentially be a first round pick in 2015.
136th overall-Pirates: Brandon Thomas
Thomas has five tool potential in the outfield, but will return to Georgia Tech for his senior year, where
he should continue to refine his approach and move up some draft boards going into next year’s draft.
11th round: Astros: Hunter Virant
Virant was a favorite of ours this year, but will head to UCLA in the fall and re-enter the draft in 2015.
Virant is a very promising left handed pitcher and certainly has first round potential.
11th round-Cardinals- Trey Williams
After a less than stellar spring, Williams fell to the 11th round and will now head to Pepperdine. He still
has big time power potential and could be a first rounder in 2015.
15th round-Pirates: Walker Buehler
Buehler will head to Vanderbilt as expected and with some refinement could move way up some boards
in 2015, as the only reason he fell was due to his commitment.
15th round- Red Sox: Carson Fulmer
Another Vandy commit, Fulmer will head there in the fall after the Red Sox were not able to get a deal
done with him.
15th round-Rangers: Jameis Winston
Winston will honor his Florida State commitment to play quarterback. There was no real doubt here and
it will be interesting to see if he is ever drafted in the MLB draft again.
22nd round-Blue Jays: Josh Almonte
A bit of a surprise that Almonte didn’t sign here. He will head to Miami-Dade JC and be eligible to re-enter the
draft in 2013.
25th round-Cubs: Rhett Wiseman
A favorite of West Coast’s, Wiseman will head to Vandy, who have put together another excellent
recruiting class and should be very solid next year.
25th round-Mets: Leon Byrd
Byrd was a very intriguing choice by the Mets at this stage, but instead of signing will head to Rice in the
fall.
25th round-Nationals: Freddy Avis
Avis will honor his Stanford commitment, which was never truly in question.
25th round-Yankees: Ty Moore
Moore, a UCLA commit, has a very good bat and was expected to head to school. The only question was
whether the Yankees liked him enough to pay him his high bonus demands
26th round-Astros: C.J. Hinojosa
A Texas commit, Hinojosa was expected to enroll early at Texas this past school year and play for the
Longhorns in the spring, completely foregoing this year’s draft. Instead he will head to Texas in the fall
and re-enter the draft in 2015.
26th round-Nationals: Skye Bolt
Bolt, a favorite of East Coast’s, will honor his UNC commitment where he will have the opportunity to
improve his draft stock by showing off his five tool potential in the outfield.
27th round-Nationals: Cody Poteet
Poteet rounded out the high upside picks the Nationals made back-to-back-to-back and again they were
unable to get a deal done. Poteet will head to UCLA in the fall, the main reason he fell so far in the draft
and could definitely be a high round selection in 2015, as he has an incredibly high ceiling.
29th round-Red Sox: Alex Bregman
Bregman was a potential first rounder heading into the spring, but after an injury, he fell down some
boards. He will head to LSU where he can definitely improve his draft stock for 2015.
30th round-Reds: Kyle Wren
Wren was a draft eligible sophomore this year, but will head back to Georgia Tech for his junior year and
will be eligible again next year.
33rd round-Rangers: Ryan Burr
An Arizona State commit, Burr said almost immediately after being drafted via twitter, that he would
head to ASU this fall. Burr has a very good frame and stuff and could definitely help ASU the next three
years.
34th round-Blue Jays: Brandon Lopez
We knew Lopez would be a very tough sign away from his Miami commitment and like we said prior to
the draft in our sleepers’ column, Lopez could be a first rounder after a few seasons with Miami.
36th round-Tigers: Clate Schmidt
A favorite of East Coast’s, Schmidt will honor his Clemson commitment. He is a bit undersized, but has
very good present stuff given the way he uses his entire body, he has a good chance to improve going forward.
37th round-Phillies: Daniel Starwalt
This Stanford commit was never expected to sign, but he certainly has a promising future. A favorite of
West Coast’s, he was young for his class and once he matures physically, could be very good.
38th round-Rockies: Dansby Swanson
It was pretty apparent from the outset that the Rockies would not be able to pry Swanson away from his
Vanderbilt commitment and that was certainly the case. Look for him in 2015.
39th round-Astros: Mitchell Traver
Traver will head to TCU in the fall, which was no surprise given the bonuses the Astros handed out to
Correa, McCullers and Ruiz.
40th round-Mariners: James Kaprielian
Rounding out UCLA’s excellent recruiting class is Kaprielian. Even after losing out on Giolito at the
deadline and Fried and Robertson earlier in the signing period, UCLA should have a very special class
here.
40th round: Blue Jays: Jose Cuas
Cuas will head to Maryland in the fall, joining high school teammate Kevin Martir. He could have been
a 10th round selection by the Jays if he were more open to signing for less than his $500,000 bonus
demand, and after a few years of seasoning he could be drafted much higher in 2015.
8th overall-Pirates: Mark Appel
Appel is represented by none other than Scott Boras, who yet again drove a client to the signing
deadline. Appel was reportedly offered the maximum amount the Pirates had to offer without forfeiting
future draft picks and he and Boras ultimately declined. Appel will head back to Stanford for his senior
season, where he will again team up with top 2013 draft prospects Austin Wilson and Brian Ragira in
pursuit of a College World Series title.
75th overall-Mets: Teddy Stankiewicz
The hard throwing Stankiewicz will reportedly head to junior college rather than fulfill his commitment
to Arkansas, in order to re-enter the 2013 draft.
95th overall: Phillies: Alec Rash
Rash is a pretty unrefined arm at this point, but certainly has some good raw stuff. He will head to
Missouri and could be a higher selection in the 2015 draft.
106th overall: Athletics: Kyle Twomey
Somewhat of a surprise here, as it appeared the Athletics felt they could get a deal done with the
Twomey, after drafting him in the third round. Instead, he will head to USC in the fall where he could
potentially be a first round pick in 2015.
136th overall-Pirates: Brandon Thomas
Thomas has five tool potential in the outfield, but will return to Georgia Tech for his senior year, where
he should continue to refine his approach and move up some draft boards going into next year’s draft.
11th round: Astros: Hunter Virant
Virant was a favorite of ours this year, but will head to UCLA in the fall and re-enter the draft in 2015.
Virant is a very promising left handed pitcher and certainly has first round potential.
11th round-Cardinals- Trey Williams
After a less than stellar spring, Williams fell to the 11th round and will now head to Pepperdine. He still
has big time power potential and could be a first rounder in 2015.
15th round-Pirates: Walker Buehler
Buehler will head to Vanderbilt as expected and with some refinement could move way up some boards
in 2015, as the only reason he fell was due to his commitment.
15th round- Red Sox: Carson Fulmer
Another Vandy commit, Fulmer will head there in the fall after the Red Sox were not able to get a deal
done with him.
15th round-Rangers: Jameis Winston
Winston will honor his Florida State commitment to play quarterback. There was no real doubt here and
it will be interesting to see if he is ever drafted in the MLB draft again.
22nd round-Blue Jays: Josh Almonte
A bit of a surprise that Almonte didn’t sign here. He will head to Miami-Dade JC and be eligible to re-enter the
draft in 2013.
25th round-Cubs: Rhett Wiseman
A favorite of West Coast’s, Wiseman will head to Vandy, who have put together another excellent
recruiting class and should be very solid next year.
25th round-Mets: Leon Byrd
Byrd was a very intriguing choice by the Mets at this stage, but instead of signing will head to Rice in the
fall.
25th round-Nationals: Freddy Avis
Avis will honor his Stanford commitment, which was never truly in question.
25th round-Yankees: Ty Moore
Moore, a UCLA commit, has a very good bat and was expected to head to school. The only question was
whether the Yankees liked him enough to pay him his high bonus demands
26th round-Astros: C.J. Hinojosa
A Texas commit, Hinojosa was expected to enroll early at Texas this past school year and play for the
Longhorns in the spring, completely foregoing this year’s draft. Instead he will head to Texas in the fall
and re-enter the draft in 2015.
26th round-Nationals: Skye Bolt
Bolt, a favorite of East Coast’s, will honor his UNC commitment where he will have the opportunity to
improve his draft stock by showing off his five tool potential in the outfield.
27th round-Nationals: Cody Poteet
Poteet rounded out the high upside picks the Nationals made back-to-back-to-back and again they were
unable to get a deal done. Poteet will head to UCLA in the fall, the main reason he fell so far in the draft
and could definitely be a high round selection in 2015, as he has an incredibly high ceiling.
29th round-Red Sox: Alex Bregman
Bregman was a potential first rounder heading into the spring, but after an injury, he fell down some
boards. He will head to LSU where he can definitely improve his draft stock for 2015.
30th round-Reds: Kyle Wren
Wren was a draft eligible sophomore this year, but will head back to Georgia Tech for his junior year and
will be eligible again next year.
33rd round-Rangers: Ryan Burr
An Arizona State commit, Burr said almost immediately after being drafted via twitter, that he would
head to ASU this fall. Burr has a very good frame and stuff and could definitely help ASU the next three
years.
34th round-Blue Jays: Brandon Lopez
We knew Lopez would be a very tough sign away from his Miami commitment and like we said prior to
the draft in our sleepers’ column, Lopez could be a first rounder after a few seasons with Miami.
36th round-Tigers: Clate Schmidt
A favorite of East Coast’s, Schmidt will honor his Clemson commitment. He is a bit undersized, but has
very good present stuff given the way he uses his entire body, he has a good chance to improve going forward.
37th round-Phillies: Daniel Starwalt
This Stanford commit was never expected to sign, but he certainly has a promising future. A favorite of
West Coast’s, he was young for his class and once he matures physically, could be very good.
38th round-Rockies: Dansby Swanson
It was pretty apparent from the outset that the Rockies would not be able to pry Swanson away from his
Vanderbilt commitment and that was certainly the case. Look for him in 2015.
39th round-Astros: Mitchell Traver
Traver will head to TCU in the fall, which was no surprise given the bonuses the Astros handed out to
Correa, McCullers and Ruiz.
40th round-Mariners: James Kaprielian
Rounding out UCLA’s excellent recruiting class is Kaprielian. Even after losing out on Giolito at the
deadline and Fried and Robertson earlier in the signing period, UCLA should have a very special class
here.
40th round: Blue Jays: Jose Cuas
Cuas will head to Maryland in the fall, joining high school teammate Kevin Martir. He could have been
a 10th round selection by the Jays if he were more open to signing for less than his $500,000 bonus
demand, and after a few years of seasoning he could be drafted much higher in 2015.
