Mizzou in the MLB Draft: Mock Drafts and Best Guesses

We already laid out the list of draft-eligible Tigers and Tiger recruits, plus the details of the Draft in a post earlier this week.

Follow the MLB Draft at MLB Draft Central. And follow it here on SimmonsField.com, where I'll be posting the Mizzou-related draft picks as they happen.

♦ VIDEO: MLB Draft Report: Alec Rash (MLB.com)

♦ State Preview: Missouri (Perfect Game)

WILD CARD: Blake Brown, of, University of Missouri. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Brown has third to fourth round tools, but his performance hasn't matched his potential to date. With a distinct lack of high potential college position players in this draft, that should help Brown’s standing. While 114 strikeouts in less than two college seasons reflects a need for him to improve his plate discipline, Brown has performed at a high level when he makes contact.

Top 2013 Prospect: Rob Zastryzny

♦ Matt Nestor of the Columbia Tribune handicaps the Draft and MU:

• Blake Brown: possibly top 5 rounds
• Eric Garcia: 2nd day
• Dane Opel and Blake Holovach: on the bubble
• Seniors Ben Turner, Dusty Ross, Conner Mach: likely
• Senior Jeff Emens: maybe

♦ Previewing Kansas City's Top Area Prospects For The 2012 MLB Draft (SBNation Kansas City)

[Trrip Note:  The numbers before each name are their rankings on Baseball America's Top 500 draft prospects]

72) Alec Rash, ADM High School (Adel, Iowa) The 6'5" 195 lb right-handed pitcher is a University of Missouri commit that features a fastball that gets up as high as 95 mph, and a hard slider that is in the low 80's as well. He is still raw and must improve his command, but he figures to likely be a second round pick.

202) Bralin Jackson, Raytown South High School (Raytown, MO) The first position player in the area list, Jackson is another Missouri commit that is still quite raw. The outfielder is a solid all-around player, but he still is a project at the plate.

324) Blake Brown, Missouri The 6'1" 185 lb junior is second on the Tigers with 10 home runs and 39 RBI, but also leads the team in strikeouts (57).

Mizzou fans will also recognize the name of a Jayhawk low on that list.

♦ SBNation Kansas City says the Royals May Target RHP Kyle Zimmer, the University of San Francisco pitcher the Tigers faced early in the 2012 season.

♦ Baseball America's Jim Callis has a mock draft based on his understanding of teams' interest. It includes a few names that will be familiar to Tiger fans:

• 4th pick, Royals: USF's Kyle Zimmer 
• 13th, White Sox:  Michael Wacha, Texas A&M, a pitcher the Tigers did well against - twice.
• 15th, Indians: Andrew Heaney, Oklahoma State
• 21st, Braves: Tyler Naquin, Texas A&M