Breakout prospects for 2012

Interest in baseball's amateur draft has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade. The event was once an outpost solely for the hard-core, but thanks to great coverage -- including a national television audience -- even many casual fans can name their team's first-round pick from this past June and maybe even a big bonus baby from the later rounds.

Believe it or not, there was a time when the draft was a secret. With MLB fearing the college game would use the draft as a free recruiting tool, lists were once kept shrouded until a player signed. With 1,530 players selected in the 2011, there are still plenty of secrets to be uncovered.

Here are 10 players, not taken in the first round or given a greatly over-slot bonus, who are poised to break out in 2012 and become familiar to fans everywhere.

Carter Capps, RHP, Seattle Mariners

The 121st overall pick and only supplemental third-round pick, Carter converted to pitching at Division II powerhouse Mt. Olive in North Carolina and turned himself into a significant pro prospect.

At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Capps certainly looks the part, and he backs it up with a low-to-mid 90s fastball that he complements with a potentially plus slider. Because he's so new to the craft, he still looks like a catcher who is trying to pitch, but he missed bats in his pro debut (21 strikeouts in 18 innings for low Class A Clinton) and could move quickly if swtiched to a bullpen role.

To read the full prospects report from Kevin Goldstein, plus gain access to ESPN Insider's full MLB coverage, sign up today.

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