Several teams beefed up their pitching staff in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.
Some teams reached for a prospect, some teams got lucky to pick one that fell and a few teams got the perfect player at the perfect time.
Here are the four best grades from teams that added big arms in the draft.
Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford—Pittsburgh Pirates, Pick No. 8
Grade: A+
The biggest surprise of the draft was Mark Appel falling all the way to No. 8. Many mock drafters projected the Stanford righty to go No. 1 overall, but three different teams chose other pitchers over him.
The Pirates got great value with this choice and if they can strike a reasonable deal with Scott Boras, Appel’s agent, they will have added an incredible talent.
His junior season at Stanford should have sealed the deal to make him at least a top three pick. He went 10-1 with a 2.27 ERA and struck out 127 batters in 119 innings.
Appel is far too talented to have fallen as far as he did, and the Pirates get the top grade for making sure he did not slide any more.
Kevin Gausman, RHP, LSU—Baltimore Orioles, Pick No. 4
Grade: A
Kevin Hausman is a polished product that has learned very quickly during his two years at LSU.
He has plenty of zip on his fastball and approaches triple-digits at times. His talent and his performance as a sophomore (11-1, 2.72 ERA in 2012 thus far) make him deserving of a top five pick.
This was a marked improvement over his freshman year, when he went 5-6 with a 3.51 ERA. Gausman was always incredibly talented, but his ability to improve continuously make him even more valuable.
The Orioles took him exactly when he should have gone, even with Appel on the board. Gausman is a similar talent and now Baltimore does not have to deal with Boras.
Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)—Washington Nationals, Pick No. 16
Grade: A-
This pick is a little risky, but it could pay off huge. Lucas Giolito is a 6’6”, 230-pound 17-year-old who has been clocked at 100 miles per hour.
No pitcher in the draft has a bigger upside. However, he missed most of this past season with an elbow injury and is reportedly considering accepting a scholarship to play at UCLA, according to the Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
Giolito could turn into an All-Star, but definitely has some questions surrounding him. Still, grabbing him in the middle of the first round was an excellent decision by the Nationals.
Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke—Toronto Blue Jays, Pick No. 22
Grade: A-
If Stroman was five inches taller, he would be a top 10 pick or higher. But he’s just 5’9”, despite having an excellent array of pitches.
He also has great power despite his size, as his fastball regularly checks in around the mid-90s. He had a 2.39 ERA this year with 136 strikeouts in 98 innings.
The Blue Jays were right not to worry about Stroman’s size and added an excellent pitcher to their club. He is simply too talented and productive not to be a first-round pick.
Even if he doesn’t end up as a starter because of his lack of height and bulk, he will still be very useful in relief.
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