The 2012 Major League Baseball Draft kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. when the Houston Astros, blessed with the #1 overall pick, are officially on the clock.
The first round and supplementary, or "sandwich" round, will take place tonight. Round Two will start at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a day which will conclude with the last pick of Round 15 later in the day. Rounds 16 through 40 will take place on Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m.
The 2012 MLB Draft has been shortened from 50 to 40 rounds, so the three day event will be much shorter.
Here are some Louisiana players to watch for on Day 1 of the MLB Draft:
RHP Kevin Gausman, LSU - The ace of the Tiger staff for the last two seasons will be a top 5 overall pick tonight. His fastball sits between 93-97 mph and has hit 101 on the gun this season. His makeup, mental toughness and secondary pitches are superb. He should be in a big league starting rotation by 2015 at the latest, possibly reaching the majors in 2014. He could go as high as second overall to the Twins, but will not slip past the Orioles at the fourth pick.
INF Gavin Cecchini, Barbe HS - Possessing great baseball bloodlines, Cecchini was coached by both mom and dad in high school. His brother Garin, a 4th round selection of the Red Sox in 2010, is probably a better prospect. However, Gavin has shown scouts he can excel with the wood bat, used during his senior season in high school. He is an Ole Miss signee. Louisiana's newly-crowned Mr. Baseball will likely be selected between the 16th and 24th picks today in round one.
C Stryker Trahan, Acadiana HS - A 6-foor-2, 220 pound left-handed hitting backstop, Trahan has great athletic skills. His hitting and power are not questioned but his defensive skills raise eyebrows. He will likely be moved to a corner outfield position or even play first base. A team may work with him behind the plate, as quality backstops are at a premium these days. Trahan reportedly had to deal with off-the-field distractions this year while dealing with a family illness, which showed scouts his toughness and resolve. Like Cecchini, Trahan signed with Ole Miss. My guess is he will be taken in the first round by Boston or Milwaukee in the 20's.
1B Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman HS (Nevada) - The LSU signee is a power hitting first baseman that reminds many of former Bengal Tigers slugger Matt Clark. Some scouts have Gallo (6'4, 200) slated as a 3B, but he does not move that well to play the hot corner at the next level. He should be a late first round or "sandwich" round pick today and will likely not make it to LSU.
Every pick of the first round and supplementary round will be aired live on the MLB Network and carried on the Internet at mlb.com.
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