Commentary

Future 50 v. 2.0

Byron Buxton remains No. 1; Florida's Mike Zunino climbs to No. 2

Originally Published: April 10, 2012
By Keith Law | ESPN Insider

I'll be expanding this list to 100 names in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, injuries and performance changes have altered the list enough since the last update that it was time for a fresh look.

One note: Missouri State's Pierce Johnson would have appeared on this list, but a forearm strain has knocked him out of the rotation and out of the top 50 until we get more information.


Big Board Bar

1
Byron Buxton
CF
6-1
175
H.S.

Analysis: There's a broad consensus around Buxton as the best player in this draft and a legitimate No. 1 overall pick, as he earns comparisons to a number of other players drafted in that top spot. He has all tools, an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale with an 80 arm (reportedly 95-98 mph off the mound last week) and big future power. But he's playing against poor high school competition in rural Georgia and has yet to homer this spring, so he's not without his risks.


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Keith Law

ESPN Insider
  • Senior baseball analyst for Insider
  • Was special asst. to Blue Jays GM
  • Wrote for Baseball Prospectus

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