MLB Draft 2012: Houston Astros 2nd Round Pick Nolan Fontana In Town For Physical

The Astros could sign second round pick Nolan Fontana on Tuesday pending a physical, according to Mark Berman of Fox 26.

MLB sources tell FOX 26 SS Nolan Fontana, the Astros 2nd-round pick from Florida, in Houston for physical, could sign later today.

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) June 26, 2012

Fontana hit .284 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs for the Gators this past season. The Stros have already inked 28 of their draft selections, with No. 1 overall pick Carlos Correa, No. 41 overall pick Lance McCullers, third and fourth rounders Brady Rogers and Rio Ruiz being the most notable signees.

If the Stros sign Fontanta, their top eight picks will all be under contract, leaving only three more top 11 picks unsigned. With Correa signing on the cheap, it's made things a lot easier on the Stros in terms of signing other guys like McCullers.

Read more about the Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston. Head over to Baseball Nation for more news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

2012 MLB Draft: Houston Astros To Sign Rio Ruiz For $1.85 Million

Jeff Luhnow's magic is at work -- so far.

The first-year Houston Astros general manager shocked the baseball world when he selected Carlos Correra with the first overall pick in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Correra was not expected to be taken No. 1 overall, and signed for below slot recommendation value, which enabled the Astros to shell out big money to sign Lance McCullers Jr.

Well, that Correra pick has already paid even more dividends. ESPN's Keith Law is reporting that the Astros are set to sign Rio Ruiz, Houston's fourth round pick, for just under $2 million dollars.

Hearing Astros will sign fifth-rounder Rio Ruiz for $1.85 million. Scouting report for Insiders: insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/play…

— keithlaw (@keithlaw) June 23, 2012

Law's scouting report includes scouting grades both for the present and the future. If Ruiz hits his future grades, then the Astros will have a steal here with Ruiz in the fourth round, as third basemen with a 60 hitting tool and 50 power tools are tough to find, and typically are All-Stars.

For more on the Houston Astros, head over to the Crawfish Boxes and join the discussion.

2012 MLB Draft: Lance McCullers Inks Deal With Astros

The Houston Astros inked supplemental first-round pick Lance McCullers to a $2.5 million dollar deal that is approximately $1.3 million over the slot value for the 41st pick.

#Astros agree w/supp 1st-rder Lance McCullers on $2.5 mil. Pick value at 41 is $1,258,700. That's most over value in #mlbdraft this year.

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) June 17, 2012

New draft rules this season has many teams changing strategies. The new rules allot teams with a limit that can be spent for the entire draft. If you go over slot on a player then you have less to use on players elsewhere. It could be that the Astros felt strong enough about McCullers that they paid what it took to get him signed. Or they may know that one of their other picks isn't signing and thus upped the offer to McCullers.

For all the latest on the Astros organization and the 2012 MLB Draft, check out The Crawfish Boxes.

2012 MLB Draft: Houston Astros Begin Signing Draft Picks

The Houston Astros have wasted no time in beginning to bring some of their 2012 draft picks into their organization, announcing a slew of signings on Tuesday:

Astros sign OF Brett Phillips (6th round); OF Marc Wik (21st); LHP Kenneth Long (22nd); IF Ryan Dineen (25th); RHP Michael Hauschild (33rd).

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 12, 2012

Phillips, a two-sport star from Florida who had signed with NC State to play baseball, was the most noteworthy of the signings.

Houston agreed to give him a $300,000 signing bonus as well as pay for any future college tuition in order to get the high schooler into their rookie ball team in Kissimmee.

The 2012 draft is the first to operate under the new rules agreed to in the new CBA, which limits the amount of money any one team can spend on signing their draft picks.

For all the latest on the Astros organization and the 2012 MLB Draft, check out The Crawfish Boxes.

No. 1 Pick Carlos Correa Has First Pro Workout

The Houston Astros, as you may recall, used their overall No. 1 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft to select shortstop Carlos Correa out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School. The Stros had little problem signing Correa to a contract and Houston fans can look forward to eagerly tracking the top prospect's progress. That road begins here.

Joseph Duarte of Ultimate Astros reports that Correa had his first workout as a pro with the Astros on Tuesday morning. Correa went through a full workout with other Houston minor-leaguers at the Astros' Spring Training facilities in Kissimmee, Florida. Correa both took batting practice and participating in infield drills.

Fans can anticipate many more updates over the next few years as Correa succeeds -- or fails -- while working his way through the minor league system.

For more on the 2012 MLB Draft and top pick Carlos Correa, check out From The Crawfish Boxes and Baseball Nation.

2012 MLB Draft: Houston Astros Officially Sign Top Pick Carlos Correa

The Houston Astros and the top overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft, shorstop Carlos Correa, have officially agreed to terms. The 17-year-old Puerto Rican prospect signed a $4.8 million signing bonus, considerably lower than the $7.2 million slot value assigned to the pick under the new bargaining agreement. With the smaller signing bonus, the Astros figure to be able to sign more of their draft picks easier.

Correa will now report to the Astros rookie-league Gulf Coast affiliate in Kissimmee, Florida, after he returns home to Puerto Rico to graduate high school this coming Sunday (quote courtesy of the AP):

''I just want to get to the big league level the quickest that I can,'' he said. ''I want to be a leader. I want to be the face of the franchise. That's what I want as a player. I will work hard right now to be a great player, an impact player in the big leagues.''

For more on the 2012 MLB Draft and top pick Carlos Correa, check out From The Crawfish Boxes and Baseball Nation.

2012 MLB Draft: Astros To Introduce Carlos Correa This Afternoon

According to the Twitter page of Zachary Levine, Ultimate Astros writer, the Houston Astros are prepared to introduce their number one overall pick, Carlos Correa.

All seems to have gone smoothly. Astros will introduce Carlos Correa this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.

— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) June 7, 2012

The 17-year-old product of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy is the first Puerto Rican player ever selected first overall. The team expects him to sign with them instead of playing collegiately at the University of Miami. The slot value of being the number one overall pick is about $7.2 million dollars and the Astros have $11.2 million to spend total.

Also, Correa signing would allow the Astros to keep him at the spring training complex in Florida to play for Houston's Gulf Coast League team.

For more on the Houston Astros, be sure to check out the Crawfish Boxes and join the discussion.

2012 MLB Draft Analysis: Houston Astros' Draft Class Praised By Keith Law

The Houston Astros needed to hit a home run in the 2012 MLB Draft. In fact, the farm system and major league roster is so depleted that they will need the same for the next few drafts. But if the future success of the team is predicated on the slow steps they take now, they can feel good about the early evaluations of Jeff Luhnow’s first class as the Astros General Manager.

ESPN’s Keith Law recently released his quick evaluations of the top players taken for each team. Law wastes no words before stating how much he appreciates the job Luhnow did:

I love this draft. They’ll likely sign first overall pick Carlos Correa (1) for well less than the $7.2 million assigned value — I’m expecting something around $4.5 million — and spread the money to high-upside prep pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (1A) and sweet-swinging third baseman Rio Ruiz (4). Shortstop Nolan Fontana (2) stays at the position with great instincts, an average but accurate arm and a great eye at the plate.

Brady Rodgers (3) has plus command, and will work with three and possibly four pitches, although his fastball will likely sit at fringe-average. Brett Phillips (6) can run, throw and play the outfield, and has played linebacker in his spare time. With a solid swing, he seems like an outstanding value in that spot. Preston Tucker (7) is a good senior sign with some pull power but probably not enough offense overall to profile as more than a bench guy.

The Astros need an infusion of talent at every position and at nearly every level. A start like this is a good thing for Astros fans to breathe easy knowing that the future is much brighter now than it was three days ago.

For more on the Houston Astros, be sure to check out the Crawfish Boxes and join the discussion.

2012 MLB Draft: Houston Astros Draft Results

Jeff Luhnow's first draft as the general manager of the Houston Astros is now officially in the books, as the 2012 First-Year Player draft came to an end on Wednesday. After shocking the baseball world by taking Carlos Correra with the first overall pick, Luhnow made another risky selection with his second choice -- Lance McCullers. McCullers is considered a difficult sign, but since the Astros are saving money by taking Correra first overall, Houston has a good chance to ink him.

Here's a look at Houston's entire 2012 draft class.

• No. 1 overall: Carlos Correra, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, PR
• No. 41 overall: Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Jesuit HS Tampa, FL
• No. 61 overall: Nolan Fontana, SS, Florida
• No. 96 overall: Brady Rodgers, RHP, Arizona State
• No. 129 overall: Rio Ruiz, 3B, Bishop Amat HS, CA
• No. 159 overall: Andrew Aplin, OF, Arizona State
• No. 189 overall: Brett Phillips, OF, Seminole HS, FL
• No. 219 overall: Preston Tucker, OF, Florida
• No. 249 overall: Tyler Heineman, C, UCLA
• No. 279 overall: Daniel Minor, RHP, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
• No. 309 overall: Joe Bircher, LHP, Bradley, IL
• No. 339 overall: Hunter Virant, LHP, Camarillo HS, CA
• No. 369 overall: Terrell Joyce, LF, Florida State College
• No. 399 overall: Brian Holmes, LHP, Wake Forest, NC
• No. 429 overall: Joe Sclafani, SS, Dartmouth, NH
• No. 459 overall: Erick Gonzalez, RHP, Gateway CC, AZ
• No. 489 overall: Dan Gulbransen, OF, Jacksonville, FL
• No. 519 overall: Aaron West, RHP, Washington
• No. 549 overall: Richard Gingrass, C, Palm Desert, CA
• No. 579 overall: Ausin Elkins, 2B, Dallas Baptist, TX
• No. 609 overall: Ryan Clark, LHP, Kent State, OH
• No. 639 overall: Marc Wik, OF, Chabot JC, CA
• No. 669 overall: Kenny Long, LHP, Illinois State
• No. 699 overall: Travis Ballew, RHP, Texas State
• No. 729 overall: Patrick Blair, SS, Wake Forest, NC
• No. 759 overall: Ryan Dineen, SS, Eastern Illinois
• No. 789 overall: C.J. Hinojosa, SS, Klein Collins HS, TX
• No. 819 overall: Tanner Mathis, OF, Mississippi
• No. 849 overall: Angel Ibanez, 3B, Texas-Pan American
• No. 879 overall: Christian Garcia, RHP, Florence-Darlington Tech JC, SC
• No. 909 overall: Johny Neely, Texas Tech
• No. 939 overall: M.P. Cokinos, C, St. Mary's, TX
• No. 969 overall: Tyler Manez, LHP, Plainedge HS, NY
• No. 999 overall: Mike Hauschild, RHP, Dayton, OH
• No. 1,029 overall: Jordan Jankowski, RHP, Catawba, NC
• No. 1,059 overall: James Sinatro, C, Skyline HS, WA
• No. 1,089 overall: Mike Martinez, 3B, Florida International
• No. 1,119 overall: Michael Dimock, RHP, Wake Forest, NC
• No. 1,149 overall: Zachary Remillard, 3B, LaSalle Institute, NY
• No. 1,179 overall: Mitchell Traver, RHP, Houston Christian HS, TX
• No. 1,209 overall: Joseph Shaw, RHP, Ennis HS, TX

For more on the Houston Astros, be sure to check out the Crawfish Boxes and join the discussion.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Houston Astros Day Three Picks

Though the Houston Astros won't have a shocking pick on day three of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft akin to their first overall selection, they still could wind up finding some solid talent in rounds 16-40 of the draft, as Jeff Luhnow finishes up his first draft as general manager of the Astros.

Here's a look at who the Astros have drafted so far on day three of the draft:

• Dan Gulbransen, OF, Jacksonville, FL
• Aaron West, RHP, Washington
• Richard Gingrass, C, Palm Desert, CA
• Austin Elkins, 2B, Dallas Baptist, TX
• Ryan Clark, LHP, Kent State, OH
• Marc Wik, OF, Chabot JC, CA
• Kenny Long, LHP, Illinois State
• Travis Ballew, RHP, Texas State
• Patrick Blair, SS, Wake Forest, NC
• CJ Hinojosa, SS, Klein Collins Spring HS, TX
• Tanner Mathis, OF, Mississippi
• Angel Ibanez, 3B, Texas-Pan American
• Christian Garcia, RHP, Florence-Darlington Tech JC, SC
• John Neely, RHP, Texas Tech
• M.P. Cokinos, C, St. Mary's, TX
• Tyler Manez, LHP, Plainedge, NY
• Mike Hauschild, RHP, Dayton, OH
• Jordan Jankowski, RHP, Catawba, NC
• James Sinatro
• Mike Martinez, 3B, Florida International

MLB Draft Results: Astros Go For Pitching To Finish Day 2

After the first few rounds, the remaining selections are virtual crapshoots, with the projection of a player's ability not very strong and some of the high school talent deciding whether to sign or head to college.

The Astros went after pitching for most of the second half of the day. Here are Houston's selections from Round 8-15.

No. 249 - Tyler Heineman (C) - UCLA

No. 279 - Daniel Minor (RHP) - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

No. 209 - Joseph Bircher (LHP) - Bradley

No. 339 - Hunter Virant (LHP) - Adolfo Camarillo HS (Calif.)

No. 369 - Terrell Joyce (LF) - Florida State College

No. 399 - Brian Holmes (LHP) - Wake Forest

No. 429 - Joe Sciafani (SS) - Dartmouth

No. 459 - Erick Gonzalez (RHP) - Gateway CC (Ariz.)

For many teams, the later rounds on Tuesday were full of college players, as teams went after players more likely to sign. As a result, some talented high school players have fallen, making it more likely they head to school.

MLB Draft Results: Astros Select OF Preston Tucker In Seventh Round

The seventh round of the 2012 MLB Draft is underway on Tuesday. The Houston Astros once again held the first pick in the round.

With the No. 219 overall pick, the Astros selected outfielder Preston Tucker, a left-handed senior from the University of Florida. Tucker had drawn the attention of several teams since he is a pure power hitter. He will need a lot more work at the minor league lever to see if he can make the necessary adjustments to handle major league pitching, but the Astros just may find themselves with a fearsome masher a few years down the road.

You can click here to watch live streaming coverage of Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft at MLB.com.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and head over to Baseball Nation for additional news, notes and analysis around Major League Baseball. Check out Minor League Ball to see how some of these prospects develop in their quest to the major leagues.

MLB Draft Results: Astros Select CF Brett Phillips From Florida

The sixth round of the 2012 MLB Draft is just underway on Tuesday. The Houston Astros once again had the benefit of holding the first pick in the sixth round. They used that sixth-round draft pick to select another high school player.

With the No. 189 overall pick in the draft, the Astros selected center fielder Brett Phillips out of Seminole High School in Florida. He is noted for his defense, speed, arms and instincts. While this is a good selection for the Astros, the main concern is whether the team will be able to sign Phillips or if the player will instead opt to go the college route.

You can click here to watch live streaming coverage of Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft at MLB.com.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and head over to Baseball Nation for additional news, notes and analysis around Major League Baseball. Check out Minor League Ball to see how some of these prospects develop in their quest to the major leagues.

MLB Draft Results: Astros Select CF Andrew Aplin

On Tuesday, the 2012 MLB Draft is rolling right along and well into the fifth round. The Houston Astros once again held the first pick in the fifth round and used their No. 159 overall pick to draft center fielder Andrew Aplin, a junior from the Arizona St. Sun Devils.

The scouting report on Aplin is that he may eventually stick in the major leagues as a fourth-outfielder type. He has good instincts and baseball knowledge. Although he is considered to be better defensively than offensively, he could develop into an asset for the Astros.

You can click here to watch live streaming coverage of Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft at MLB.com.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and head over to Baseball Nation for additional news, notes and analysis around Major League Baseball. Check out Minor League Ball to see how some of these prospects develop in their quest to the major leagues.

MLB Draft Results: Astros Select 3B Rio Ruiz In Fourth Round

The first three rounds of the 2012 MLB Draft are in the books but there is no slowing down as the fourth round gets underway on Tuesday. The Houston Astros once again hold the first pick in the fourth round. With the No. 129 overall selection in the draft, the Astros have picked up a high school third baseman.

The Astros selected Rio Ruiz out of Bishop Amat High School in California. Ruiz bats left-handed and throws right-handed and has drawn comparisons to Eric Chavez. He is a contact hitter and is solid on defense. With conditioning and seasoning, Ruiz just may be manning the hot corner in Houston a few years down the line.

You can click here to watch live streaming coverage of Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft at MLB.com.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and head over to Baseball Nation for additional news, notes and analysis around Major League Baseball. Check out Minor League Ball to see how some of these prospects develop in their quest to the major leagues.

MLB Draft 2012: Astros Select ASU RHP Brady Rodgers In Third Round

The action at the 2012 MLB Draft is flying fast and furious on Tuesday's second day of selections. The Houston Astros once again held the first pick in the third round. They used that pick to select Arizona St. Sun Devils junior right-handed pitcher Brady Rodgers as the No. 96 overall selection.

Rodgers shows consistent velocity in the low-90s and has a full repertoire of four pitches that should prove to be at least major league average with some more experience. He shows good knowledge of how to use all of his pitches and will likely have plus location after some time in the minors.

You can click here to watch live streaming coverage of Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft at MLB.com.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and head over to Baseball Nation for additional news, notes and analysis around Major League Baseball. Check out Minor League Ball to see how some of these prospects develop in their quest to the major leagues.

2012 MLB Draft: Astros Select SS Nolan Fontana With First Pick Of Second Round

On Tuesday, the Houston Astros once again kicked off the action in the 2012 MLB Draft. The Astros had the first pick in the second round and used it to select shortstop Nolan Fontana, a Junior at Florida.

The scouting report at MLB.com indicates that Fontana is a contact hitter with some power. He is said to have great instincts both in the field and on the basepaths and shows a terrific ability to make adjustments in the batter's box.

While not a flashy selection, the hope is that Fontana is an extremely well-rounded player that will be able to bring this good mix of skill to the major leagues and eventually solidify a future Astros infield.

You can click here to watch live streaming coverage of Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft at MLB.com.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and check out Baseball Nation for additional news, notes and analysis around Major League Baseball.

2012 MLB Draft Order Day 2: Houston Astros Lead Off Selections

The Houston Astros made splash and surprised much of the baseball world with the No. 1 overall selection of high school prospect Carlos Correa. At noon ET, the process repeats itself and the Stros get to set the tone of every round.

Click here for a look at the complete draft order.

What's interesting about how the Stros are going about their business is that best-available talent is triumphing over age and experience. Like how Houston didn't go with the safe, college-groomed and Houston-native pitcher like the rumors said they would.

Instead, taking Correa shows a commitment to developing something special as opposed going with conventional wisdom. Stros fans can only hope the brass continues to pursue talent the way it has up to this point.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and check out Baseball Nation for additional news, notes and analysis around Major League Baseball.

2012 MLB Draft: Astros Select RHP Lance McCullers Jr. With No. 41 Pick

The Astros may have gotten a steal with high school right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. falling to them with the No. 41 pick in the draft.

Signability issues were a big reason reason McCullers, who was rated as the No. 13 prospect by MLB.com, fell so far. He has a power arm, with an attitude to match it. Some believe he could end up as a quality closer if he doesn't stick in a rotation. Here's what MLB.com had to say about McCullers.

McCullers is pure power. His fastball can easily touch the upper 90s and it has above-average movement in on right-handed hitters. When he stays on top of his slider it's an above-average, hard and tight breaking ball. He does have a changeup, but it's behind the other two offerings. He's got a feel for it, but doesn't need to use it much at this level. McCullers is fearless on the mound, with a closer-type mentality (and the stuff to match it).

McCullers does struggle with his command at times, which keeps hitters from being too comfortable at the plate. He will need to refine that, along with his offspeed stuff, to be an effective starter at the highest level. But there's nothing to indicate he won't be able to do just that with time and experience.

The Crawfish Boxes profiled McCullers here. David Coleman of The Crawfish Boxes was ecstatic about the pick, and hopes that some money saved by picking Carlos Correa at No. 1 could be used to sign McCullers, who has committed to Florida.

What's sort of genius is that, if Correa did indeed agree to a below-slot deal, the Astros could use the savings there to take McCullers for over slot (maybe $2-2.5 million) and get him signed easily. That would be a huge coup for this team, adding two elite, young talents to a system that needs that kind of upside.

Carlos Correa Excited To Be 1st Overall Pick By Houston Astros

The decision on the No. 1 pick wasn't an easy one for Houston. The Astros admitted that, within an hour of the draft, they hadn't made a decision. But the long-term potential of shortstop Carlos Correa was too much to pass up.

Bobby Heck and Jeff Luhnow on why Correa over Appel. "He has the chance to be a star" twitter.com/FSHouston/stat…

— FOX Sports Houston (@FSHouston) June 4, 2012

Correa said that going No. 1 was a validation of his hard work. From MLB.com:

"I feel so excited to be the No. 1 pick," said Correa, who attended the Draft at MLB Network's studios in Secaucus, N.J. "I just worked hard to be here, and right now, we are doing a great job and I feel proud to be here and excited."

Correa was also proud to be the first Puerto Rican high school player to be taken first overall in the MLB Draft.

"They have advised me very well. They have taught me a lot about baseball, obviously, and they have taught me well. Sandy Alomar has been working with me in the ballpark down there in my hometown. I feel proud that they have helped me a lot. I feel good. This feels good."

Read a more in-depth look at the Astros at The Crawfish Boxes.

Houston Astros 1st Overall Pick Carlos Correa Draws A-Rod Comparisons

The Houston Astros baseball minds went against the initial desire of ownership by drafting Puerto Rican high school shortstop Carlos Correa. He committed to play college ball at Miami, but with the Stros taking him No. 1 overall and experts dubbing him the next Alex Rodriguez, it may just be time to answer the calling.

Here are some of the A-Rod/Correa comparisons from Twitter:

AL scout on puerto rico hs ss carlos correa: "another a-rod.'' #highpraise

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) June 4, 2012

Harold Reynolds compares No. 1 overall @MLBDraft pick Carlos Correa to A-Rod: "He’s as advanced as any high school player you’ll see."

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 4, 2012

Astros are hoping Carlos Correa is more A-Rod and less Felipe Lopez... I think they're right

— Mark Hanrahan (@MarkHanrahan20) June 4, 2012

Why would the #Astros surprise us all & take Carlos Correa number 1? Because B/R says he compares to A-Rod, that's why: bleacherreport.com/articles/12059…

— Bleacher Report (@BR_MLB) June 4, 2012

Houston takes Carlos Correa, SS out of Puerto Rico Baseball Academy No.1 in MLB draft. Correa has drawn comparisons to A-Rod

— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) June 4, 2012

"We really felt like Carlos had the chance to be an impact player for a long time," first-year general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "Getting a player who could be a superstar was our priority."

Luhnow said it was a last-minute decision to take Correa, which indicates the team was considering other options leading up to the pick.

Read a more in-depth look at the Astros at The Crawfish Boxes.

MLB Draft 2012: Carlos Correra The Right Pick For The Astros

MLB Draft 2012: Houston Astros Select Carlos Correa With Top Overall Pick

The Houston Astros started the 2012 MLB Draft by selecting shortstop Carlos Correa from the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy, a shocking move to most analysts who predicted the organization would take Houston-bred right-handed pitcher Mark Appel from Stanford University.

Correa, a 17-year-old native of Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, is a 6-foot-4, 190 lb. shortstop who bats and throws right-handed. With the pick, Correa is the highest draft pick from Puerto Rico in the history of the MLB Draft. Correa is considered a big player for shortstop at 6-foot-4, and has been compared to Alex Rodriguez and Troy Tulowitzki. Among his skillset, Correa's strengths are in his speed and arm, but scouting reports indicate he can also hit for power.

Baseball Prospect Nation called Correa a big, raw talent in their March scouting report:

Physically impressive with remaining physical projection. Still extremely young and very raw offensive player. Has strength and bat speed for power projection. Actualization of that power hinges on the development of his hitting ability which remains extremely unrefined and is the biggest question mark in his game. Believers in the bat project him as a potential .280 hitter with 15-plus home runs a year, from a premium defensive position. Some scouts are more pessimistic, wondering if he will ever hit enough to be a regular. Has defensive fundamentals to stick at shortstop, but his body may say otherwise. Very hard worker with a desire to improve and advance. High character kid that may will himself to success. Potential everyday guy that contributes across the board offensively and sticks on the left side of the infield.

For more on the 2012 MLB Draft, check out all our coverage at Baseball Nation and From The Crawfish Boxes.

2012 MLB Draft: Houston Astros' Top Overall Pick Still Unknown, Sort Of

At least one sort-of staffer for the Houston Astros is professing that the club's choice for the top overall pick in Monday night's MLB Draft is still completely unknown:

Just spoke to a source in #Astros FO. Selection is on lockdown like he's never seen before. No idea who #1 is

— Evan Valenti (@EvanValenti) June 4, 2012

According to his Twitter bio, Valenti is the play-by-play man for the Astros' minor league affiliate the Tri-City ValleyCats (Short-season A). While the news might be buttoned up around the office, the overwhelming majority of predictions have the Astros taking Stanford pitcher Mark Appel.

However, Sports Illustrated's Jay Jaffe writes that "there's no quick fix" for the Astros with Appel, and their struggling farm system after years of bust picks and mismanagement:

Any payoff, either on the field or off, won’t come immediately, however. Unlike the pitchers taken at 1-1 in the past half-dozen drafts — Luke Hochevar (Royals, 2006), David Price (Devil Rays, 2007), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals, 2009) and Gerrit Cole (Pirates, 2011) — Appel is expected to need two or three seasons in the minors before he’s big-league ready. By comparison, Hochevar, Price and Strasburg all debuted in the majors the season after they were drafted, and Cole could be up by next year.

Jaffe also says that unlike seasons past, Appel and the rest of his draft class don't feature a game-changing pick.

For more on the 2012 MLB Draft, check out From The Crawfish Boxes and Baseball Nation.

2012 MLB Draft Rumors: Houston Astros Already Set On Mark Appel

The chatter around Major League Baseball circles is that the Houston Astros have already decided on who they will take with the No. 1 overall pick in Monday's draft. Just like the latest mock from Baseball America, word is Houston-native pitcher Mark Appel, out of Stanford, will be the Stros' coveted pick.

Early word: astros take stanford rhp mark appel and twins take Ga. prep CF byron buxton. unconfirmed but that's scuttlebutt

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) June 4, 2012

Everyone knows that Houston owner Jim Crane wants to invest in a No. 1 pitching talent, and everything indicates Appel is at least that. But as Baseball America notes, the flashier Georgia prep prospect Byron Buxton "appears to be the preference of the team's baseball decision-makers" and they'd certainly consider taking him for some reason a deal with Appel fell through.

Read more about the Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and head over to Baseball Nation for additional news around Major League Baseball and the draft.

MLB Draft 2012: Uncertainty Surrounds Houston Astros First Pick

Most of the speculation regarding the Houston Astros first pick of the draft had had the team selecting Stanford pitcher and Houston native Mark Appel.

But that might not be what actually transpires. Astros general manger Jeff Luhnow tells the Sporting News that he has a number players on his radar for Monday.

"At the end of the day, this draft is filled with a number of players that are going to play in the big leagues for a long time," Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow said, "and we need to do our best to try to figure out which ones we want to be wearing Astros uniforms."

Aside from Appel, the Astros could take high school outfielder Byron Buxton, LSU right-hander Kevin Gausman and Florida catcher Mike Zunino.

The draft begins at 5 p.m. CT on MLB Network.

For more on the Astros, be sure to check out the Crawfish Boxes, and for more on the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, head on over to Minor League Ball.

MLB Draft 2012: Astros Select First Tonight

After months of speculation, the Houston Astros will finally be on the clock tonight. All signs point to them selecting Stanford pitcher Mark Appel with the first overall pick.

In addition to being one of the best players in this year's draft class, Appel has extra appeal to the Astros. He is a Houston native and his family had season tickets to the Astros.

But while the Astros appear to be leaning towards Appel, the Houston Chronicle suggests that it's not a done deal.

That’s when they’ll have to settle on one from what general manager Jeff Luhnow called a "universe" of seven players considered in the run-up to the team’s third-ever top pick.

It's unclear who is in that "universe" of seven players, but aside from Appel, LSU right-hander Kevin Gausman and high school outfielder Byron Buxton figure to get a look.

The draft begins at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network.

For more on the Astros, be sure to check out the Crawfish Boxes, and for more on the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, head on over to Minor League Ball.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Minor League Ball Also Has Mark Appel Going To Astros

The 2012 MLB Draft begins on Monday June 4 and with draft fast approaching those who follow the draft closely are putting up their final mock drafts. The Houston Astros have the No. 1 overall selection and have already been rumored to be taking Stanford Cardinal right-handed pitcher Mark Appel.

Over at SB Nation's Minor League Ball they have two final mock drafts by John Sickels and Matt Garrioch, and they both have the Astros taking Appel.

There is not a lot to add about the pick, but here is what Garrioch says about Appel:

Appel is a originally from Houston and I have heard that Luhnow and company have been following him hard. I would bet that Buxton is their No. 2 option.

MLB Draft 2012: Mark Appel Expected To Be Taken No. 1 By Astros, According To A Report

Stanford Cardinal starting pitcher Mark Appel has long been projected to go No. 1 overall in the 2012 MLB Draft which begins on June 4. There has been some talk that the Astros could go elsewhere with their pick, however ESPN analyst Jim Bowden is reporting that the Astros will indeed take Appel with their first choice:

According to source the Houston Astros are expected to select Stanford RHP Mark Appel with the first over all selection in tomorrows draft.

— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) June 3, 2012

2012 MLB Mock Draft: ESPN's Keith Law Still Has Astros Taking Mark Appel No. 1 Overall

The 2012 MLB Draft is coming up on June 4 and so the mock drafts are flying around with their final projections. The latest mock draft from ESPN's Keith Law who has the Houston Astros sticking with the same pick from his prior mock drafts with them taking Stanford Cardinal ace Mark Appel with the No. 1 overal pick:

The decision appears to be down to Appel, Byron Buxton, Lucas Giolito, Carlos Correa and Kevin Gausman. The Astros insist they'll take the best player available, but I'm sure that if they can get that player to sign for less than the $7.2 million recommended bonus for this pick, they won't complain.

Astros Sunday Roundup: Mark Appel "Rumored" To Be Draft's No.1 Pick

June 4, and the Amateur Draft is just around the corner...

2012 MLB Draft: Astros GM Jeff Luhnow Wants An 'MVP-Caliber Player' With No. 1 Pick

In sports, we've seen plenty of teams strike it rich with the No. 1 overall pick in a given league's draft. Phenoms, whose ability is unquestioned, is selected by their respective teams and provide glory for the supporters for the next 12-15 years.

Unless you get the pick wrong.

The Houston Astros have the delightful consequence of having the No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 MLB draft, and general manager Jeff Lunhow realizes that as the organization shifts to the American League, the draft also represents a new shift in direction for a team whose found themselves in the cellar of the NL central in recent years.

Lunhow took questions from the media during a Friday afternoon press conference at Minute Maid Park to update the direction of the Astros for next week's First-Year Player Draft. Luhnow gave some interesting quotes and made note to not ask him about which player his team is going to select with the No. 1 pick.

"We're still gathering more information, and I think we won't really have our final order until Sunday night." - Lunhow

On the future direction of the Astros:

"We will be making a significant investment in this Draft. The Astros were not major players in free agency last year and it's unclear how much we'll play a factor this year. This will be one of the most significant investments we make in our future over the course of [those] three days as we draft and select players and hopefully sign them to become future Astros." - Lunhow

On the type of players the Astros will target in the draft:

"All things being equal, if a player were to get to the big leagues two years sooner than other players, we would give that player the edge. If we feel like there's a younger player who has a higher probability of generating more Major League value, we will not stay away from that player in order to get something that will come here quicker." - Lunhow

Asst. general manager Bobby Heck on the history of the draft:

"You look back at the history of the Draft, and the first guy is not always the best player. As we walked through the process this spring, the number of players we circled with more intensity got smaller as the year went on. As a group, we've had 20 guys that are flying or driving around the country and convening the other night when we had a workout. It's fun for all of us to sit still for a few days and hear the excitement and talk about the players in great depth." - Heck

This is the Astros first time picking No. 1 overall in 20 years, and the draft comes to you next week.

For more on the Astros, be sure to check out the Crawfish Boxes. For more on the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, head over to Minor League Ball.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Houston Astros Select Mark Appel

Another day, another MLB mock draft. With the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft set to get under way on June 4, draftniks are busy publishing the latest and greatest mock drafts. ESPN's Keith Law has posted another mock draft, and once again, he has the Houston Astros selecting Mark Appel with the first pick in the draft.

The choice for the Astros will come down between Appel, a college arm, and Byron Buxton, a high school, toolsy outfield prospect. Law, like many others, believe that the Astros will select Appel with the first pick, despite the risk that comes with collegiate arms.

Appel certainly has the size many look for in a pitcher, as he's a 6'5", 215 lb righty. The knock on Appel is that the stats haven't matched the stuff -- as Appel has a solid array of pitchers, but this year, Appel has done his best to quiet his doubters. Through 110 innings, Appel is 9-1 with a 2.37 ERA, limiting opposing hitters to a .216 average while striking out 116 and walking just 24 for Stanford this year.

Astros fans won't have to wait too much longer to see who Jeff Luhnow takes with his first pick since being hired by Houston.

For more on the Astros, be sure to check out the Crawfish Boxes. For more on the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, head over to Minor League Ball.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: Astros Still Expected To Select Mark Appel As No. 1 Overall

The Houston Astros are already surprising many with their better-than-expected play so far this season. But they're still preparing for the future and are the holders of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft this summer.

In the latest mock draft over at Baseball America, Jim Callis ties the Astros to a familiar name. As most analysts have predicted, Stanford Cardinal right-handed pitcher Mark Appel is still expected to receive the coveted No. 1 overall selection.

Appel is currently a junior at Stanford and has been turning heads during his time there. Perfect Game lists him as having a fastball that normally clocks between 88-92 mph. He is reported to be a good athlete with a plus slider.

For more on the Astros and the 2012 MLB Draft stay tuned to this StoryStream, check out Crawfish Boxes and Minor League Ball. For more from around Major League Baseball check out Baseball Nation.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: ESPN Has Astros Selecting Stanford's Mark Appel

The Houston Astros have a lot of pressure on themselves since they have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. In a prior mock draft, the Astros were projected to take high school standout Byron Buxton out of Georgia.

In ESPN's latest, they have the Astros being more conservative and taking Stanford pitcher Mark Appel:

The Astros' decision is still apparently up in the air, but the general feeling is that they'll take the college arm over the higher-upside, higher-risk outfielder, Byron Buxton ... or that they'll take the best player who'll cut a deal below the $7.2 million slot figure and transfer the money to later picks.

Here is a scouting report of Appel:

Has command projection with all three pitches. Solid understanding of the nuances of the game. Quick feet on pickoff move and gets off the mound well to field his position. Strong competitor that attacks with his best stuff. Improved consistency and pitching intelligence that should come with experience could vault him to another level. Once stuff and command come together, he has an outside chance to become a top of the rotation starter and consistent All-Star caliber pitcher.

Most projections out there have Appel going No. 1 overall, and he looks to be the likely selection for the Astros.

For more on the Astros and the 2012 MLB Draft stay tuned to this StoryStream, check out Crawfish Boxes and Minor League Ball. For more from around Major League Baseball check out Baseball Nation.

MLB Draft 2012: Houston Astros Have $11.1 Million To Spend On Early Selections

Baseball America released the financials for every Major League Baseball team making selections in this year's draft, and only the Minnesota Twins have more money to spend than the Houston Astros.

With the rules changing in terms of how teams spend money, bonuses will be distributed differently, as Baseball America explains:

One of the most significant provisions of the new draft rules will be the prescribed bonuses for every pick in the first 10 rounds. Major League Baseball had tried for years to curb draft spending with recommended bonuses, but those proved ineffective with no penalties to back them up. With a punitive tax and the possibility of losing picks in future drafts behind the numbers now, teams are expected to stick to them much more closely.

The numbers build off the bonus set for the No. 1 pick, which is $7.2 million this year. Every pick from 2-338 is expressed as a percentage of the No. 1 pick, down to $125,000 for the final picks of the 10th round. A team's total budget for the first 10 rounds is the sum of the numbers for all of its picks, so teams that have extra picks and early picks have more money to spend. The Twins have the highest budget this year, with the second overall pick as well as extra picks.

The Astros have just over $11.1 million to spend on their first 11 selections, with $7.2 million available to the first pick.

Read more about the Houston Astros at The Crawfish Boxes.

Houston Astros Sunday Roundup: Three Weeks Till The 2012 Draft

Who has his finger on the button: Jim Crane, Bobby Heck or Jeff Luhnow?

2012 MLB Draft: Astros Realize Pressure Of No. 1 Pick

The Houston Astros have the first pick in the MLB Draft for only the third time in franchise history and the pressure to get it right with the Stros being in the rebuilding process is immense. First-year general manager Jeff Luhnow has been on a quest, traveling all over the country in an effort to spot the next No. 1 pick.

Since there is no sure-thing, far-and-away top pick like Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper, the Astros brass actually has some work to do and decisions to make.

"We certainly want to get it right, but there are 39 other rounds to the Draft," said Luhnow, who added that the Cardinals acquired Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Allen Craig and Daniel Descalso, among others, beyond the first round. "And you look at our club here and J.D. Martinez was chosen later on in the Draft [20th round]. We feel this Draft is an opportunity to add significant depth to the organization."

Read more about the Astros at The Crawfish Boxes.

The 2012 New Player Draft: The Houston Astros Are On The Clock

The selection order for the 2012 Rule 4 New Player Draft is set and the Houston Astros are on the clock.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: Houston Astros Select Byron Buxton With No. 1 Pick

The Houston Astros select Byron Buxton with 1st overall pick in 2012 MLB Mock Draft.