2012 MLB Draft: Kevin Gausman, Orioles Making 'Significant Progress' On Deal

The Baltimore Orioles and first round pick Kevin Gausman have been making "significant progress" on a contract, which now seems likely according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. It had previously been reported that Gausman was seriously considering a return to LSU for his junior season.

As a draft-eligible sophomore, Gausman was selected by Baltimore with a fourth overall pick in the draft. The first pitcher selected after a trio of position players, the Colorado native would be easily the highest selection in the draft to fail to sign a pro contract.

At the moment, Stanford pitcher Mark Appel (Pirates) and Oklahoma State pitcher Andrew Heaney (Marlins) are the only other top-10 picks that haven't agreed to deals yet.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Kevin Gausman Talking Return To LSU As July 13 Deadline For Orioles Approaches

Colorado native and LSU Tigers pitcher Kevin Gausman was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, but as the July 13 deadline for signing picks approaches, Gausman isn't afraid to discuss a return to LSU for his Junior season. It could just be posturing as Gausman and his agent use their leverage against the Orioles to get the best deal, but there isn't much time left to strike an agreement and LSU is a powerhouse program in the NCAA where he could keep his stock high for 2013.

Gausman was a draft-eligible sophomore this season, so he has two years more of NCAA eligibility, but the new draft cap system is designed to keep contracts within the league-recommended slot value so there may be little upside to a return to LSU. Here is what Gausman recently told NOLA.com:

"This is turning out to be a tough decision, but as of now my heart is still with LSU," Gausman said. "There are still things for me to accomplish as a Tiger. I still want to play in and win the College World Series, and with a lot of guys coming back next year, I believe we can do it."

Again, the deadline for teams to sign their draft picks to a major league contract is Friday, July 13.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Colorado Rockies Have Signed 28 Players From Class Thus Far

The Colorado Rockies have agreed to terms with 28 players from their 2012 MLB Draft class so far, including the team's first six picks. The deadline to sign players July 13 at 3 p.m. MT.

The top unsigned draft picks for the Rockies are fifth round infielder Matthew Wessinger and sixth round right-handed pitcher Matthew Carasiti, both of St. John's University. Each is expected to start negotiating contracts soon, as their college season recently ended. Same goes for the as yet unsigned players Colorado selected in rounds 13, 18 and 30.

Related: 2012 MLB Draft Signings: Colorado Rockies Agree To $1 Million Deal With Max White

The current list of signed players for Colorado includes 14 pitchers, six infielders, five outfielders and three catchers. The Rockies have also inked Zac Osborne, an undrafted shortstop for the Tennessee Volunteers.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Colorado Rockies Agree To $1 Million Deal With Max White

Baseball America's Jim Callis is reporting that the Colorado Rockies have agreed to terms with second-round pick Max White on a deal worth $1 million. That's nearly $300,000 over the MLB-assigned value of the pick.

#Rockies sign 2nd-rder Max White for $1 mil (pick value=$701,700). Florida HS OF was late riser, good all-around tools. #mlbdraft

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) June 14, 2012

Related: 2012 MLB Draft Signings: Correlle Prime Joins Rockies

White, an outfielder from Williston High School in Florida, was the No. 73 overall selection in the 2012 MLB Draft. The Rockies have now signed 11 of their top 13 draft picks. They've signed a total of 27 picks according to Baseball America.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Signings: Correlle Prime Joins Rockies

On Thursday, the Colorado Rockies signed 2012 MLB Draft pick Correlle Prime to a $190,000 signing bonus, according to a report from the Bradenton Herald. The Colorado Rockies used their 12th-round draft pick (No. 378 overall) on the 6-foot-6, 200-pound high school prospect from Manatee High School in Florida, and although he also pitched for his high school team the Rockies plan on developing him as a first baseman.

He will start his journey in Colorado's minor league system on Monday with the organization's Pioneer League affiliate in Grand Junction, Colorado. Prime is excited about the opportunity to start his career as a professional baseball player, as he told the Bradenton Herald:

"The opportunity was there, and it was a good opportunity. It was never really about the money. It was a chance to get my career started as a professional baseball player, and not too many kids get that opportunity. My mom, she backed me 100 percent, and that made a difference."

To learn more about the 2012 MLB Draft class signings for Colorado, visit the Rockies Draft Storystream.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Tom Murphy Contract: Rockies Sign Catcher

The Colorado Rockies have agreed to sign third round pick Tom Murphy, a catcher out of Buffalo, as Jim Callis of Baseball America reports. Murphy receives a $454,000 signing bonus, the full recommended value for where he was selected.

#Rockies, 3rd-rder Tom Murphy agree on $454k bonus (full pick value). #Buffalo C opened eyes last summer, profiles well w/bat. #mlbdraft

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) June 13, 2012

Murphy was taken with the No. 105 overall pick in the draft by Colorado, a compensation pick that the team received as a result of failing to sign 2011 third round pick Peter O'Brien. He was the Rockies' fourth pick of the day after David Dahl, Max White and Eddie Butler.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop byMinor League Ball with John Sickels.

Wilfredo Rodriguez Contract: Rockies Sign Puerto Rican Catcher

The Colorado Rockies announced on Wednesday that they have signed catcher Wilfredo Rodriguez, who was their seventh round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. Rodriguez, who comes from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (which produced top overall pick Carlos Correa), inked for $200,000, which is roughly $50,000 over the value assigned by MLB.

#Rockies have agreed to terms with and will sign 7th-rdr, C Wilfredo Rodriguez on Wed. for $200K (pick value: $147,300). #mlbdraft #MLB

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogersPG) June 13, 2012

Baseball America rated Rodriguez as the 7th-best player in the draft from Puerto Rico, and the 15th-best overall catcher. He was committed to Seminole State College, but the Rockies were able to buy him away from school.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Eddie Butler Contract: RHP Signs With Colorado Rockies

According to the Post's Troy Renck, the Colorado Rockies have agreed to terms on a deal with Radford RHP Eddie Butler, who was the No. 46 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft.

#Rockies' Draft picks David Dahl, Eddie Butler and Sean willoughby press conference at 530 as all have signed

— Troy Renck, Rockies (@TroyRenck) June 12, 2012

Related: David Dahl Agrees To $2.6 Million Contract With Rockies

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but the assigned slot value of that pick is a little over $1.1 million.

Butler went 7-4 with a 2.20 ERA for Radford in 2012, striking out 95 and walking 23 in 98 innings of work. He started 14 games.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

David Dahl Agrees To $2.6 Million Contract With Rockies

The Colorado Rockies agreed to a $2.6 million contract with outfielder David Dahl, the team's first round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, on Monday night.

Seth Willoughby Contract: RHP Signs With Colorado Rockies For $330,300

Baseball America's Jim Callis is reporting that the Colorado Rockies have signed Xavier RHP Seth Willoughby for $330,300; Willoughby was Colorado's fourth round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft.

#Rockies sign 4th-rder Seth Willoughby for $330,300 (full pick value). #Xavier RHP came out of nowhere w/92-95 FB & 88-90 cutter. #mlbdraft

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) June 11, 2012

Related: 2012 MLB Draft: Keith Law Examines Rockies Draft Selections

Willoughby made 25 appearances for Xavier in 2012, all of them as a reliever. He struck out 44 and walked 12 in 35-2/3 innings and picked up 12 saves in the process. He had nine saves in 2011.

By signing, Willoughby has given up his final year of college eligibility.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

TJ Oakes Contract: RHP Signs With Colorado Rockies

Minnesota Golden Gophers pitcher TJ Oakes, who was an 11th round selection of the Colorado Rockies in the 2012 MLB Draft, has agreed to terms on a contract with the Rockies and will forgo his senior season.

"The Rockies were one of the teams that talked to me throughout this process so it wasn't a complete surprise, but it was exciting when they called my name," Oakes said. "Everyone has told me that their organization is a good fit for me and I'm happy to be included with the club. They took a chance on me, gave me this shot and I couldn't be more excited."

Related: 2012 MLB Draft: Keith Law Examines Rockies Draft Selections

Oakes was 7-3 with a 2.32 ERA for the Gophers in 2012.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Keith Law Examines Rockies Draft Selections

The latest reviews from prospect analyst Keith Law suggest the Colorado Rockies may have secured a pair of high potential outfielders in the early rounds of the 2012 MLB Draft:

Colorado Rockies

Summary: David Dahl (1) is an athletic, high-upside prep outfielder from Alabama, although he lacks an outstanding tool and had a few scouts questioning his energy level. The Rockies haven't had the chance to add a guy like this in some time... Outfielder Max White (2) is very raw and his arm strength is still coming back from shoulder surgery, but he is a plus runner and has quick hands that lead to average raw power right now in BP.

The Rockies also appear to have nabbed one of the picks they missed out on last year, selecting a signable slugging catcher in the third round:

Tom Murphy (3) marks the second year in a row the Rockies have taken a power-before-hit poor defensive catcher in the third round. Last year's didn't sign; however, I expect Murphy, who can put on a show of pull power in BP but struggles with decent off-speed stuff, to go pro.

For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Keith Law Slots Rockies' David Dahl Behind Only To Nolan Arenado

The Colorado Rockies still need to sign the No. 10 overall choice in the 2012 MLB Draft, Alabama prep outfielder David Dahl, but ESPN Insider Keith Law already has him as a highly ranked prospect in the team's system. Law believes Dahl is the team's No. 2 overall prospect:

I'd slot Dahl in between their top prospect, Nolan Arenado, and shortstop prospect Trevor Story.

Arenado is considered the future third baseman of the future of the Rockies. He is currently playing for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and is expected to join the big league club later this season. Story was last year's supplemental first round choice and is currently playing for the Single-A Asheville Tourists.

Dahl instantly is the team's top outfield prospect, as Charlie Blackmon has failed to take off due to injury and the same for Tim Wheeler. Also, neither of those two might be more than a fourth outfielder for the club. Dahl has a chance to be an above-average everyday player.

For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Rockies Draft Picks 2012: Colorado Takes 17 Right-Handed Pitchers In 42 Picks

The 2012 MLB Draft is over, and the Colorado Rockies came away with 42 players in the process. The Rockies are most excited about No. 10 overall pick, outfielder David Dahl. Colorado typically doesn't take high school players in the early first round, but when the fifth-best position player according to Baseball America was still on the board, the team jumped at the chance. The first pitcher selected by the Rockies was Eddie Butler at No. 46 overall. His fastball reaches the mid-90s, but he usually sits in the lower end of the 90s. He throws a slider and a changeup as well, and the team will put him on track to become a starter.

In terms of a positional breakdown, the Rockies selected 19 pitchers and 23 position players. Interestingly, 17 of those pitchers are right-handed and only two throw lefty. As for the position players, they selected five catchers, 13 infielders and five outfielders.

Here is the complete list of 2012 MLB Draft picks for the Colorado Rockies, via the press release from the team website.

For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: 9 Local Players Selected In Draft

With rounds 16-40 coming to a close on Wednesday, the 2012 MLB Draft is over. Nine local players were taken, three of them by the Colorado Rockies.

Right-handed pitcher Ryan Warner became the first Colorado-area off the board when the Rockies selected him in the third round with selection No. 128. Warner hails from Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs.

The Rockies also drafted the next local kid taken off the board, outfielder Jeff Popick of Colorado Mesa. The Rox would grab their third local player in the 37th round when the team selected Casey Burns, a third baseman from Grand Junction High School.

Here are the rest of the local players taken in the 2012 draft:

For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Complete Draft Selections

The Colorado Rockies completed the 2012 MLB Draft on Wednesday afternoon by completing Rounds 16-40. The team opened up the day by drafting a local prospect from Colorado Mesa, outfielder Jeff Popick. From there on out, the Rockies mixed in a selection of four-year college players, junior college players and high schoolers. Most of the prep players are likely to go to college, but we'll know definitively on July 13 when the new signing deadline comes into effect.

Other prospects of interest the Rockies drafted on Wednesday include Ryan Garvey, an outfielder from Riverside Community College. He is the son of former Major Leaguer Steve Garvey.

Here is a complete listing of the Rockies' 2012 MLB Draft, from No. 10 overall pick OF David Dahl to 40th round selection C Justin Montalvo:

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Stay Local To Start Day 3, Draft Colorado Mesa OF Jeff Popick

The Colorado Rockies went local with its 16th round pick of the 2012 MLB Draft, taking Colorado Mesa (previously known as Mesa State) outfielder Jeff Popick with the 498th overall pick. He was announced as a left fielder.

Popick was a senior selection after going undrafted after his junior year. At the Division II level, Popick hit .424/.524/.663 with 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 65 RBI this spring. He's an athletic 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds and certainly could be a diamond in the rough.

The Rockies could send Popick to the Tri-City Dust Devils, but putting the local kid at the new Grand Junction Rockies affiliate might turn into the better option. The outfield in Grand Junction is going to be crowded with younger outfielders, however. College players usually skip Grand Junction and head to Tri-City after being drafted.

Follow along at MLB.com.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

MLB Draft 2012: Rockies Were Set To Pick P Ty Hensley In First Round, According To Report

Drafts in every sport are unpredictable, with one pick often setting off a chain reaction that affects every team after it. The 2012 MLB Draft was no exception, and the Colorado Rockies were one team that had it's prospective draft pick altered by a series of selections that came before it.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Talent Infusion In NL West

Part of the Colorado Rockies' future will be determined by how its 2012 draft class stacks up with that of its rivals, so, how did the rest of the NL West do in the 2012 MLB Draft? Here is who the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants picked with their first three picks on Day 2. (For full lists of draftees, click here.)

Arizona

• 90. Jose Munoz, SS, Los Altos High School, Calif.
• 120. Jake Barrett, RHP, Arizona State University
• 152. Chuck Taylor, CF, Mansfield Timberview High School, Tex.

Los Angeles

• 82. Steven Rodriguez, LHP, University of Florida
• 113. Onelki Garcia, LHP, Cuba
• 146. Justin Chigobogu, 1B, Raytown South High School, Mo.

San Diego

• 68. Jeremy Baltz, LF, St. John's University, New York
• 70. Dane Phillips, C, Oklahoma City University, Okla.
• 102. Fernando Perez, SS, Central Arizona College, Ariz.

San Francisco

• 84. Martin Agosta, RHP, St. Mary's University, Calif.
• 115. Jonathan Williamson, RF, Wake Forest University, N.C.
• 148. Steven Okert, LHP, University of Oklahoma, Okla.

For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Order, Live Stream And More

The 2012 MLB Draft comes to a conclusion on Wednesday afternoon with the final rounds of the three-day even happening in quick order. On Tuesday, the draft sped up after Round 10 as things moved to conference-call only, and that is how Rounds 16-40 will go on Wednesday. The picks will be fast and furious and many of the players will be complete unknowns even to those who follow the draft deeply.

Due to the new collective bargaining agreement, the draft has been shortened from 50 rounds to 40, which means we'll likely see more undrafted free agent signings this summer.

MLB.com will once again have live audio of the event and a draft tracker, allowing us to follow the Colorado Rockies. They will select 10th in each of the remaining rounds unless they elect to pass and end their draft selections earlier than Round 40.

June 6, 10:00 a.m. MT
Rounds 16-40, First-Year Player Draft
Live on MLB.com

And here is the draft order:

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Draft RHP Scott Oberg In 15th Round

The Colorado Rockies selected another relief pitcher on Tuesday in the 2012 MLB Draft. In the 15th and final round of Day 2, the Rockies took Connecticut Huskies right-handed pitcher Scott Oberg with the 468th overall pick.

Oberg was 5-0 in 22 relief appearances and finished the season with a 0.99 ERA. He had nine saves and struck out 36 batters in 36.1 innings.

The Rockies resume drafting on Wednesday with Round 16-40. Here are the players the Rockies have already drafted:

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Ryan Warner Agrees To Contract With Rockies, Forgoes College

The Colorado Rockies selected right-handed pitcher Ryan Warner with their third-round supplemental pick, and it did not take the two sides long to come to an agreement. Warner has agreed to terms with the Rockies and will skip college; he had been committed to play baseball at North Carolina State.

With the 128^th pick in the draft, Colorado on Tuesday selected [Ryan Warner] with its third-round supplemental pick, offering the 2012 Pine Creek graduate a $363,700 signing bonus to start his ascent to The Show and put off studies at North Carolina State. He said he should find out in a few days what his first assignment will be.

"I’m definitely going to sign for it," Warner said. "I’m still kind of speechless. I’ve dreamed of playing in the majors since I was 5 years old. This is a dream come true, and getting picked by Colorado was definitely the key."

For more coverage, head over to Rockies blog Purple Row. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Use 14th Round Pick On Shane Broyles

The Colorado Rockies selected Texas Tech Red Raiders right-handed pitcher Shane Broyles with its 14th round choice in the 2012 MLB Draft. Broyles is 6 feet 1 and worked as reliever for the Red Raiders.

While had made five starts this spring, Broyles appeared in 18 games as a reliever. He went 2-2 with a 4.42 ERA in 57 innings. He struck out 46 and walked 20 this spring.

The Colorado Rockies have one more pick remaining on Tuesday. Here is who has been selected so far:

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Rockies Select OF Kyle Von Tungeln In 13th Round

The Colorado Rockies drafted TCU Horned Frogs center fielder Kyle Von Tungeln with its 13th round choice in the 2012 MLB Draft.He is a 6-foot, 175-pound defensive outfielder who needs to work on improving his approach at the plate. He hit .301/.400/.420 this spring, but he had 50 strikeouts in 219 at-bats. He stole 12 of 17 bases.

Here are the Rockies' draft picks so far:

The Rockies have two picks remaining on the day.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Grab 1B Correlle Prime In Round 12

The Colorado Rockies used its 12th round draft pick in the 2012 MLB Draft on first baseman Correlle Prime. He is a 6-foot-6, 200-pound from Manatee High School in Florida. He was also the his high school team's ace pitcher.

As we get into the later rounds, these players do not count toward the bonus money each team had allotted. that only applied to the 10th round. However, team's can still incur penalties if they go over a certain amount of money.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Draft RHP T.J. Oakes In 11th Round

The Colorado Rockies turned to the frozen tundra of the north for Round 11 in the 2012 MLB draft and selected right handed pitcher Trevor "T.J." Oakes from the University of Minnesota. He was draft-eligible as a sophomore in 2011, but he added a few mph to his fastball this spring and sits in the lower-90s with the pitch.

The 6-foot-5, 225 pitcher went 7-3 with a 2.31 ERA in 14 starts. He struck out 78 in 97.1 innings. His slider and changeup need work, but his fastball can look like several different pitches, according to Baseball America.

The Rockies and the rest of the major league teams have until July 13 to sign their draft picks. Oakes might be one of those players who will come down to the wire to sign with his team.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Take 1B Ben Waldrip In 10th Round

The Colorado Rockies used its 10th round pick (No. 318 overall) on Jacksonville St. Gamecocks first baseman Ben Waldrip. Waldrip is a 6-foot-6, 245-pound left-handed hitter who teared the cover off the ball this spring as a senior. He hit .330/.410/.660 with 14 doubles, 18 home runs and 61 RBI. He struck out 30 times and walked 23 times.

He might struggle early on in his pro career, having played against weaker competition in the Ohio Valley Conference. But, as Baseball America points out, he might be a better hitter than Preston Tucker, who was drafted earlier by the Houston Astros (Tucker was the Rockies' 16th round draft pick in 2011).

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Rockies Select RHP Zach Jemiola In Round 9

The Colorado Rockies added another high school pitcher on Tuesday afternoon, selecting Great Oak (CA) High School right-handed pitcher Zach Jemiola with the 288th overall pick (Round 4) of the 2012 MLB Draft. The last high school pitcher the Rockies took was back at pick No. 128, a Compensation B choice used on local product RHP Ryan Warner.

Jemiola is 6 feet 3 and 200 pounds and has thrown in the mid-90s this year. However, a shoulder injury sapped some of that velocity off of his fastball. He now sits in the low-90s and throws a slider. However, his changeup will likely need work, according to Baseball America.

He is committed to UC Irvine, but the Rockies might be able to sway him away from spending his next three years there. The signing deadline is July 13.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Max White Will Sign With Rockies, According To Report

The Colorado Rockies used its second round draft pick in the 2012 MLB Draft on Florida high schooler CF Max White on Tuesday and there was some concern that he might head to Gainesville and play for the Florida Gators. It is usually tough to sign those high school players away from that school. But it appears that White will sign with the Rockies:

Max White tells me he's planning on signing with the Rockies and not attending Florida. He said it was tough to call Sully and tell him.

— Julie Quittner (@JQuittner) June 5, 2012

White figures to head to the Rockies' new short-season team in the Casper League, the Grand Junction Rockies, for the summer once he signs. He should be there with first-round draft pick David Dahl, but one of them, likely White, will need to move out of center field.

However, the Rockies do have last year's crop of outfielders including Dillon Thomas and Carl Thomore who might be with Grand Junction. We'll see in a couple of weeks.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Snag LF Derek Jones In 8th Round

The Rockies spent a couple earlier picks in the draft, including their first pick, taking center fielders. Now they've moved on to the corners of the outfield as they selected LF Derek Jones out of Washington State with the No. 258 pick in the eighth round of the draft.

Though he was listed was a right fielder officially in the draft, scouts have seen him as a left field prospect because of his limited arm strength and speed. He hit very well at Washington State with .337/.445/.577 numbers in 196 at-bats. His ceiling would seem to be a backup left fielder on the pro level.

Derek was taken by the Baltimore Orioles during last year's draft in the 13th round but went back to school rather than signing. He was seen before the draft as a guy who could be taken a bit higher to save some money for later picks.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Preston Tucker Drafted By Houston Astros

Florida Gators outfielder Preston Tucker returned to school for his senior season and is currently playing in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, but once that concludes he will join the Houston Astros after being their seventh round draft pick (No. 219 overall). The Rockies selected Tucker in the 16th round in 2011 because he was considered a tough sign.

Tucker is hitting .316/.396/.579 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI. He is the second Gator the Astros drafted this year, earlier selecting shortstop Nolan Fontana with the 61st overall pick. The Astros also had the first overall selection and took shortstop Carlos Correa. The Astros also picked up a top-five talent that fell due to signability concerns in Lance McCullers, Jr. We'll need to wait and see if the Astros can ink him to a contract.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Select Another C In Round 7, Wilfredo Rodriguez

The Puerto Rican Baseball Academy has put out some solid prospects including the No. 1 overall pick in this draft Carlos Correa, and the Colorado Rockies sapped another player from it by selecting Puerto Rico's Wilfredo Rodriguez with the No. 228 pick in the seventh round of the draft.

A medium sized guy at 5'10'' and 202 lbs., Rodriguez is an offensive minded catcher and a guy who can hit to all fields as a righty. His defense isn't often mentioned by scouts, so he might not end up being a true catcher prospect in the system of the Rockies if he can move up.

Rodriguez is the second catcher taken in the draft by the Rockies, they selected catcher Tom Murphy out of the University of Buffalo back in the third round of the draft.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Colorado Native Stephen Johnson Drafted By San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants have selected RHP Stephen Johnson in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB Draft. The Colorado native played collegiately at St. Edwards University in Texas and enters the MLB after completing his junior year there.

And according to the scouting report from MLB.com, Johnson has the potential to be an impact reliever in the major leagues:

Sometimes a role change is all a player needs. When Johnson went from starter to reliever, his Draft stock took off. Johnson was up-and-down as a starter for Division II St. Edwards. He gave the bullpen a try over the summer, threw extremely well and then stayed there for the 2012 season. His plus fastball plays extremely well in a short relief role, touching triple digits. He throws a hard breaking ball that is a bit inconsistent as well.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Go For RHP Matt Carasiti In 6th Round

With the No. 194 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies went with their third pitcher in the draft, RHP Matt Carasiti from St. Johns.

Carasiti has a low 90's fastball and a decent slider, but has room to grow. He did start for St. Johns during his time there but is tagged as more of a reliever in the big leagues -- he played closer for the Red Storm at times. He is noted more for his great control than ability to blow guys away, more of a groundball guy than a strikeout guy.

Surprisingly, this is the second straight guy from St. Johns picked by the Rockies in this year's draft. Not what you expect to see this high, St. Johns isn't exactly known as a baseball power in the college world. Considering the pick from Buffalo earlier, the Rockies scouting in upstate NY must have been strong this year.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Pick SS Matthew Wessinger In 5th Round

With the 10th pick in the fifth round of the draft, the Colorado Rockies picked up Matthew Wessinger, a shortstop out of St. John's University in New York. He is the first infielder to be selected by the Rockies in this draft after taking a slew of pitchers, a catcher and two center fielders in the first four rounds.

The 5'11'', 180 lb. Wessinger was error prone playing SS for St. Johns and has been projected as perhaps a better prospect to play second base than SS in the big leagues. He was originally drafted in 2011 by the Kansas City Royals in the 37th round.

This was another pick from a smaller New York college with less baseball tradition by the Rockies this draft after picking up Tom Murphy from the University of Buffalo.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Tab Reliever Seth Willoughby In 4th Round

The Colorado Rockies will now pick 10th in the remaining round from 4-40. With the No. 138 selection, the Rockies tabbed Xavier Musketeers reliever Seth Willoughby in the fourth round. He is strictly a reliever, but he certainly could be a good one.

Willoughby has been a two-way player for the Musketeers, but a broken hamate bone ended that. When he came back solely as a pitcher, he turned things on. In 25 appearances, he put up a 1.01 ERA over 35.2 innings pitched. He struck out 44 batters and walked 12 while limiting opposing offenses to 21 hits. He has a fastball that can reach 95 mph and also throws a high-80s, low-90s cutter.

It'll be interesting to see if the Rockies decide to push Willoughby at an accelerated rate, but he certainly won't be a lambasted pick like Casey Weathers was for being a first-round pick in 2007.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Dip Into Colorado For RHP Ryan Warner

The Colorado Rockies used their Compensation B round selection to draft local RHP Ryan Warner. Warner hails from Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, CO. At 6 feet 7 and 185 pounds, Warner has a pitcher's body to fill out, but one that scouts certainly see as projectable.

His fastball sits in the upper-80s but can reach 91 mph. He also throws a spike curveball, according to Baseball America. However, his changeup still needs to be worked on. He is a North Carolina State commit, but the Rockies must certainly believe they can lure him away from there with this high selection.

Warner is considered the top talent in the state of Colorado this season, but Kevin Gausman was the highest selected player with ties to Colorado. He went No. 4 overall to the Baltimore Orioles. The Rockies nearly drafted Gausman in the first round back in 2010.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Buffalo C Tom Murphy Goes To Rockies In 3rd Round

The Colorado Rockies used the No. 105 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft to draft Buffalo Bulls catcher Tom Murphy on Tuesday. He is the second college player the team has drafted so far, previously taking two high school center fielders (David Dahl, Max White) and one pitcher from Radford (Eddie Butler).

Murphy, 6 feet 1 and 220 pounds, seems to be a solid defensive catcher with pop in his bat, but he likely won't hit for average. He hit .311 with 10 home runs this spring and was able to walk 32 times to 46 strikeouts.

The Rockies' next pick comes in the Compensation B Round at No. 128 overall. The team failed to sign 2011 third-round draft pick Peter O'Brien and received this choice as a result.

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2012 MLB Draft Results: Peter O'Brien Goes To New York Yankees

The New York Yankees used the 94th overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft to select Miami Hurricanes catcher Peter O'Brien. O'Brien was the Colorado Rockies' 2011 third-round draft pick, but he did not sign. Instead of returning to Bethune-Cookman for his senior season, O'Brien transferred to the Miami Hurricanes.

He hit 20 home runs as a sophomore, slumped in his junior year and then hit .340 with 10 home runs as a senior. The Yankees will likely keep him at catcher for as long as they can, but it is possible he will play his way off the position. The Yankees also have Gary Sanchez in the prospect pipeline, which means a position switch might be coming anyway.

The Rockies received a Compensation B pick for not signing O'Brien and will make that pick after the third round.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Draft CF Max White In 2nd Round

The Colorado Rockies used the 13th pick of the second round (73rd overall) to draft Williston (Fl.) High School center fielder Max White. He is committed to the Florida Gators, and many of those players are hard to sign away from the school. However, the Rockies must believe that they will be able to get him.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound left-handed hitter is speedy with good defense, though he might not be a center fielder in the long term. He is still developing and needs to face more advanced pitching, but Baseball America ranked him No. 111 overall in this draft and mentions a Steve Finley comparison if things go well.

The Rockies' next two picks come in at No. 105 overall (Round 3) and No. 128 overall (Compensation B Round).

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2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Get Solid Feedback For David Dahl Selection

The Colorado Rockies had only selected only selected two high school position players in the first round of the draft prior to Monday night, but they made an exception for Alabama prep OF David Dahl at the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. Dahl has drawn comparisons to Grady Sizemore, Colby Rasmus, Johnny Damon and Jacoby Ellsbury in terms of his skill set and ceiling, and over at Rockies blog Purple Row they are excited about the pick:

Like Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, I buy into Dahl's swing and his ability to add power to his game, and he already possesses the hit tool and speed to hit for a high average in the minors early on. Without insider knowledge into his signability, I don't foresee any issues in getting Dahl under contract and hopefully he will be playing center for Grand Junction as early as game one.

For more on Dahl, here is a list of scouting reports compiled by Rockies blog Purple Row:

• PerfectGame.org profile
• Frankie Piliere, Scout.com
• John Klima, Baseball Prospect Report
• Mark Andersen, Baseball Prospect Nation

The team also added Radford RHP Eddie Butler, and they initially plan to keep him on track to be a starting pitcher. Here is the schedule for Tuesday, where Rounds 2-15 will unfold:

June 5, 10:00 a.m. MT
Rounds 2-15, First-Year Player Draft
Live on MLB.com

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ballwith John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Order, Schedule, Live Stream And More

The 2012 MLB Draft resumes on Tuesday with 15 rounds of more baseball goodness. Round 2 through 15 plus the Compensation B round after the third round will add more young talent to major league organizations.

For the Colorado Rockies, they will have 15 choices on Tuesday due to receiving one of those Compensation B round picks. The team failed to sign 2011 third-round draft pick Peter O'Brien and received the draft choice in recompense.

The Rockies have picks No. 73 overall (2nd round), No. 105 overall (3rd round) and No. 128 overall (Compensation B round) before selecting with the 10th pick in Round 4-40 (starting with No. 138 overall).

On Monday night, the Rockies selected Alabama prep OF David Dahl and Radford RHP Eddie Butler.

June 5, 10:00 a.m. MT
Rounds 2-15, First-Year Player Draft
Live on MLB.com

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Arvada's Pierce Johnson Drafted By Chicago Cubs

Pierce Johnson, native of Arvada, CO, has played his college ball for the Missouri St. Bears, but he will likely soon call the Chicago Cubs organization his home. The Cubs selected Johnson, a right-handed pitcher, with the 43rd overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft as part of the Compensation A round. The Cubs received this pick for losing Aramis Ramirez to the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent during the offseason.

Johnson is 6 feet 3 and 180 pounds with an instinct to strike out batters. He usually sits his fastball in the lower-90s, but he can reach up to 96 mph. His cutter and changeup are improving pitches, but it is health the Cubs will need to be concerned with if he signs with them. He had a forearm strain this season and missed a few starts. He also dislocated a knee last summer.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Nab Eddie Butler With No. 46 Overall Pick

The Colorado Rockies had a second selection in the 2012 MLB Draft on Day 1 and used its Compensation A pick (No. 46 overall) to draft RHP Eddie Butler of Radford. The Rockies received this pick as a result of seeing Mark Ellis sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent this past offseason.

Radford is 6 feet 2 and 165 pounds. His fastball reaches the mid-90s, but he usually sits in the lower end of the 90s. He throws a slider and a changeup, but the latter pitch needs work if he hopes to stay a starter.

In 2011, the Rockies used its Compensation A pick on shortstop Trevor Story, who is hitting .300/.391/.589 with 15 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and 34 RBI.

The Rockies will resume drafting with the rest of the league on Tuesday afternoon when Round 2-15 will take place. Colorado has an extra pick in the Compensation B Round, which comes after Round 3, as a result of not signing 2011 third-round pick Peter O'Brien.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Rockies Select HS OF David Dahl With No. 10 Overall Pick

The Colorado Rockies have selected Alabama prep outfielder David Dahl with the No. 10 overall draft pick in 2012 MLB Draft. The Rockies had been connected to him in the weeks leading up to the draft, but there were several high school players linked to the team in the final days, such as Courtney Hawkins. Hawkins was also available, so the Rockies obviously preferred Dahl over him.

Dahl is 6 feet 2 and 185 pounds and hits left-handed. He is committed to the Auburn Tigers, but he should sign relatively quickly (the signing deadline for draft picks is July 13 at 3:00 p.m. MT). He is a center fielder who has the arm and speed to stick there and he is projected to be a solid power hitter.

The Rockies' draft history has mostly favored pitchers with Christian Friedrich (2008), Tyler Matzek (2009) and Tyler Anderson (2011) being the most recent examples. Friedrich made his debut for the Rockies this season while Matzek has had to reorient his career and appears to finally be back on track. Anderson missed the start of the 2012 season with injury, but has done well in Asheville (3-0, 4.23 ERA, 20 K).

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Kevin Gausman Goes No. 4 Overall To Baltimore Orioles

Colorado native and current LSU Tigers pitcher Kevin Gausman is still playing in the 2012 NCAA Baseball Tournament, but he will soon call the minor leagues teams of the Baltimore Orioles his home. He was taken by the team with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft

Gausman is 11-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 115.2 innings pitched. He has struck out 128 batters so far. He is expected to pitch in either the first or second game of the Super Regionals this weekend. He is not eligible to sign with the team until LSU is eliminated from postseason play. Once that happens, Gausman will have until July 13 at 3:00 p.m. MT to sign a deal or head back to school for another year.

Gausman was a draft-eligible sophomore this season, which gives him two years more of eligibility. However, it seems unlikely Gausman will return, as the slotting system for baseball is pretty much set in stone and his stock might never be higher.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Keith Law Projects HS LHP Max Fried, Believes Lucas Giolito A Dark Horse

The Colorado Rockies are expected to go the prep route when they make the No. 10 overall selection on Monday night in the 2012 MLB Draft, but while many prognosticators see the team taking an outfielder, ESPN Insider Keith Law is projecting lefty Max Fried:

Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake H.S. (Studio City, Calif.)

They're interested in Almora, Correa, Hawkins, Fried, David Dahl and Gavin Cecchini, and remain a dark horse on Giolito.

All of the players listed above are high school products, but Giolito would be quite the pick if it happened. Giolito was in the mix to go No. 1 overall before an elbow injury shut him down for several weeks this spring. Because of that injury and his signability, Giolito's draft position is quite fluid leading up to the draft.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound righty has been clocked in at 100 mph and represents one of the truly high-upside players in the draft.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Jonathan Mayo Projects OF David Dahl To Rockies

The 2012 MLB Draft is just a few hours away and the Colorado Rockies hold the 10th overall pick. It appears that the team will change directions from years past and go with a high school bat -- at least according to all the bits of news added into the various mock drafts that have made their rounds the last few days. Over at MLB.com, Jonathan Mayo offers his latest mock draft with the Rockies taking Alabama prep outfielder David Dahl:

10. Colorado Rockies: David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (Ala.)
Hawkins, Dahl and Gavin Cecchini have been high school hitters in the mix here and they could still go the college arm route, but the speedy outfielder from Alabama gets the nod.

If the Rockies decided not to buck history and go with a pitcher with this pick, Texas A&M Aggies right-hander Michael Wacha might be the selection. He goes to the Chicago White at No. 13 in this mock draft.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Rockies Select Courtney Hawkins In Baseball America Mock

The Colorado Rockies haven't quite yet selected Texas high school outfielder Courtney Hawkins with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, but indications from nearly every MLB mock draft is that they're merely biding their time. In his most recent mock draft for Baseball America, Jim Callis, like most of his colleagues, tabs Hawkins for the Rockies first round pick.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: ESPN's Keith Law Ranks Kevin Gausman As Draft's Best Pitcher

LSU Tigers RHP Kevin Gausman isn't going to be the first pitcher picked in the 2012 MLB Draft, but at least one notable evaluator thinks he's the best pitching prospect available. That would be ESPN's Keith Law, who ranks Gausman as the No. 3 overall player in the draft and the top pitcher, one spot ahead of Stanford's Mark Appel, who is all but assured of being a top-two pick.

Here is Law's evaluation of Gausman, who he has going No. 4 overall to the Baltimore Orioles in his most recent mock draft:

Gausman has a grade 65 fastball, sitting 93-97 mph and touching 99. He'll feature two breaking balls, a curveball and a slider, with the latter being the superior pitch, flashing plus at 82-86 with hard downward break. There's a plus change in here at 83-86 if he can harness it, and his delivery is much cleaner than three years ago. If it all comes together, Gausman could be a No. 1 starter, although a No. 2 is the more likely outcome.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

MLB Mock Draft 2012: David Dahl To Colorado, Says Baseball Prospectus

The consensus in amateur baseball circles seems to be that the Colorado Rockies will take a high school hitter with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, but just exactly who that player is obviously remains to be seen. But there have been a few players heavily linked to Colorado in recent days, one of which is Alabama high school outfielder David Dahl, and in his newest mock draft, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus sees the Rockies selecting Dahl.

Here is Goldstein on the projection:

10. Colorado Rockies ($2.7M): David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL)
The Rockies seem to prefer [Courtney] Hawkins among the high school outfielders, but Dahl impressed in his workout at Coors and the Rockies would be happy here. There are a couple of weird Gavin Cecchini rumors here, and some wonder if the front office is feeling some job pressure, which could lead to a safer pick with a college arm like [Andrew] Heany, Chris Stratton, or Michael Wacha.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: SB Nation's John Sickels Has OF David Dahl Going To Rockies

In his final mock draft prior to Monday's start to the 2012 MLB Draft, SB Nation's John Sickels predicts that the Colorado Rockies will select high school outfielder David Dahl. Here's what Sickels has to say about it:

10) Colorado Rockies: David Dahl, OF, Alabama HS: Sources agree the Rockies are looking at young hitters with upside, and Dahl has the balance of tools and skills that should interest them.

Related: 2012 MLB Mock Draft: Courtney Hawkins To The Rockies, Says MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo

Sickels is not alone in his sentiments, as both Keith Law and Kevin Goldstein have in recent days projected Dahl to Colorado. Dahl is one of several hitters the Rockies are considering with the No. 10 overall selection.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft Order: Rockies Pick At Nos. 10 And 46 On Day 1

The 2012 MLB Draft takes place on Monday night and the Colorado Rockies will have two picks on Day 1 of the event. The Rockies have their regular No. 10 overall pick after finishing the 2011 season with a 73-89 record. The second pick comes at No. 46 in the supplemental Compensation A round, which is for picks given out for the loss of free agents. The Rockies saw second baseman Mark Ellis sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the offseason.

The draft order doesn't add many draft picks on Day 2, but the Rockies will be one of three teams gaining a Compensation B pick. That comes after the third round at pick No. 128 for not signing 2011 third-round draft pick C Peter O'Brien. O'Brien is draft eligible once again as a senior.

Here is the draft order for Day 1:

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2012 MLB Draft: TV Schedule, Start Time And More

Monday is the start of a pivotal three days for the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball -- the start of the 2012 MLB Draft is here. The MLB Network will have live coverage of Round 1 and Compensatory Round A on Monday; rounds two through 15 will be conducted on Tuesday and rounds 16-40 will follow on Wednesday.

Here's the schedule:

June 4, 4 p.m. MT
Draft preview show
Live on MLB Network and MLB.com

June 4, 5 p.m. MT
Round 1 & Comp A, First-Year Player Draft
Live on MLB Network and MLB.com

June 5, 10:00 a.m. MT
Rounds 2-15, First-Year Player Draft
Live on MLB.com

June 6, 10:00 a.m. MT
Rounds 16-40, First-Year Player Draft
Live on MLB.com

Check out the draft order here.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And for more 2012 MLB Draft coverage, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Courtney Hawkins To The Rockies, Says MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo

With the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies will have plenty of top prospects to choose from. Right now, most draft prognosticators see Colorado looking at a high-ceiling high school power hitter or a low-floor college pitcher. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo sees the Rockies thinking along those lines, and in his newest mock draft he has Colorado nabbing Texas high school outfielder Courtney Hawkins, but notes that they certainly may go with someone else.

10. Colorado Rockies: Courtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll HS (Texas)
The Rockies would look at the college pitchers above as well as high school hitters like David Dahl and Gavin Cecchini, to go along with this week's choice, Hawkins. College pitchers still around, like Michael Wacha or Stratton, could also come into play.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Keith Law Sees David Dahl For Rockies

If you believe most mock drafts as the 2012 MLB Draft approaches, the Colorado Rockies are likely targeting a projectable high school outfielder with their first pick. Aside from Miami-based outfielder Albert Amora, the Rockies should have their pick of the litter, including Birmingham, Ala. high schooler David Dahl.

Dahl is projected to go to the Rockies in the most recent mock draft from Baseball Prospectus, and ESPN's Keith Law also sees Colorado tabbing him with the No. 10 overall pick in his newest mock draft:

David Dahl, CF, Oak Mountain H.S. (Birmingham, Ala.)
They're hoping [Courtney] Hawkins gets to them, but if he doesn't, look for Dahl or prep shortstop Gavin Cecchini here.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Baseball America Tabs Courtney Hawkins For Rockies

If there's one 2012 MLB Draft prospect that has been most connected to the Colorado Rockies, it may be Texas outfielder Courtney Hawkins. Hawkins is one of the premier power bats in the draft, a raw high schooler from Texas with a major ceiling. Hawkins has been pegged for the Rockies in various mock drafts throughout the process, and the newest version of Baseball America's mock also has the Rockies taking Hawkins.

Here's Jim Callis on the projection:

10. ROCKIES. Colorado hasn't had much luck taking pitchers in the first round lately and is targeting bats. Hawkins, Alabama high school outfielder David Dahl and Louisiana prep shortstop Gavin Cecchini would be the top options. Oklahoma high school righthander Ty Hensley is a longshot.
Projected Pick: COURTNEY HAWKINS.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: OF David Dahl Could Land With Rockies

The 2012 MLB Draft is just three days away and baseball experts continue to update their first round projections. In this Friday update from Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein, the Colorado Rockies select high school outfielder David Dahl with the No. 10 overall pick.

10. Colorado Rockies: David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL)

The Rockies have worked out several high school position players, and are especially attached to outfielders like Hawkins, Almora and David Dahl. Fried would be tempting here, but he's gone, as are the other two outfielders.

Related: MLB Draft 2012: A Look At Colorado's Top Prospects, Including Rockies Favorite Jeff Popick

The other names mentioned by Goldstein hear are worth keeping an eye on as well since they could be available to the Rockies at No. 10 in the real thing.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

MLB Draft 2012: A Look At Colorado's Top Prospects, Including Rockies Favorite Jeff Popick

According to Baseball America, the talent entering the MLB Draft out of Colorado this year is underwhelming, but that doesn't been the fields are bare. Only two players made BA's list of the top 500 prospects entering the draft, a pair of prep pitchers, but they did note some interest in one player by the local big league ballclub.

Mesa State outfielder Jeff Popick doesn't make BA's list of top prospects, but he's still apparently been endearing himself to the Colorado Rockies over the past few years. As Conor Glassey writes, they "would love to see him on the roster of their new Rookie-level affiliate in Grand Junction."

An athletic outfielder that reportedly has solid tools, Popick went undrafted last year but has continued to crush the ball for Mesa State in 2012. He's played left field in college, and playing that position at the professional level would be a major limit on his potential, but he may not profile at any other defensive spot.

BA considers Pine Creek HS pitcher Ryan Warner and Highlands Ranch HS pitcher Ryan Burr to be the state's top two players. Ranked 204th and 205th on the publication's national list, respectively, neither is considered to be an elite prospect at this point. Both players have strong frames and can hit the low 90's, but they're both considered pretty raw.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Keith Law Projects Kevin Gausman To Kansas City Royals At No. 5

It's quite unlikely that Colorado native and LSU RHP Kevin Gausman will fall down to the Colorado Rockies at No. 10 in the upcoming 2012 MLB Draft, and that's no different in ESPN Insider Keith Law's latest MLB mock draft. He has Gausman going to the Kansas City Royals at No. 5, but that's not set in stone or anything:

All arms are in play here right now -- including Gausman, Zimmer and Lance McCullers Jr. -- although I did also hear Albert Almora as a dark horse here. If the board blew up, they would also consider Zunino.

Zimmer, a product of the University of San Francisco, goes two picks later at No. 7 while McCullers isn't projected in the first round due to signability concerns.

With draft budgets in place and severe penalties for going over that money, it will be interesting to see how teams change their draft strategies. Even if the Royals pass on Gausman at No. 5 -- if he doesn't go before then -- one of the four teams selecting immediately ahead of the Rockies will be a good bet to snatch him.

To learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Keith Law Sticks With HS OF Courtney Hawkins For Rockies In Latest Projections

The 2012 MLB Draft is less than a week away and mock drafts will be popping up throughout the week. ESPN Insider Keith Law has released his second mock draft of the season and he doesn't change anything for the Colorado Rockies. After giving the Rockies high school outfielder Courtney Hawkins in his first projection, Law sticks with the prep player once again:

Assuming Almora and Correa are gone (which is likely), they're on Hawkins, David Dahl and Gavin Cecchini. Hawkins has one of the quickest bats in the draft and plenty of power.

Dahl is a prep center fielder from Alabama (No. 12 to the New York Mets in this mock) while Cecchini is a shortstop from Louisiana (No. 17 to the Toronto Blue Jays).

In Baseball America's Top 500 rankings, Dahl comes in at No. 12 while Hawkins and Cecchini follow at Nos. 15 and 16, respectively. Dahl and Hawkins are projectable outfielders who seemingly could do it all while Cecchini is a strong defender but might not have quite the impact on offense as some would like.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Kevin Gausman Taken With 4th Pick In Latest BA Mock Draft

LSU starting pitcher Kevin Gausman is projected to be taken by the Baltimore Orioles with the fourth overall pick in the latest mock draft by Baseball America. The full slate of projected selections requires a subscription, but here's what BA had to say about Gausman and Baltimore:

Baltimore seems to be leaning more towards arms than bats, especially if Buxton is gone, so that would leave it looking at Gausman and [Kyle] Zimmer. Gausman had a strong start at the Southeastern Conference tournament this week, while Zimmer will try to put hamstring woes and fluctuating velocity behind him in his final outing of the season tonight. Don't rule out [Carlos] Correa or [Albert] Almora here.

A draft-eligible sophomore, Gausman has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the nation. Back in 2010, he was drafted out of high school by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round, but he turned down a major signing bonus to go to college. Dominating the SEC has only helped his stock, though, as he's posted a 2.86 ERA with 118 strikeouts and just 23 walks over 100.2 innings this year.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

MLB Draft 2012 Mock Draft: Rockies Projected For High School Outfielder

The Colorado Rockies will pick tenth overall in the 2012 MLB Draft, putting them in prime position to get a prospect who could develop into a star player. They also could opt for a college player who has a lower ceiling and a higher floor, but in his most recent mock draft Baseball America's Jim Callis sees them opting for a toolsy, projectable high school outfielder with major power.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Rockies Projected For Stanford 3B Stephen Piscotty

The 2012 MLB Draft is less than two weeks away, and the Colorado Rockies hold the No. 10 overall pick. The Rockies look to be targeting an offensive position player this year, either a prep player or a college player. In Jonathan Mayo's latest mock draft (just the first 20 picks, though), the Rockies draft Stanford third baseman Stephen Piscotty:

10. Colorado Rockies: Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford
The Rockies are likely still looking at a number of options, from high school hitters like Hawkins, Dahl and Gavin Cecchini to college arms like any of those above or perhaps Michael Wacha. They also could go the college-bat route, deciding between the power of Clemson's Richie Shaffer or the pure hit-abilitiy [sic] of Piscotty. The Stanford product gets the nod for now.

Piscotty is Mayo's No. 15 prospect in the draft and has hit .335/.425/.488 with five home runs and 53 RBI. He has 27 walks to 17 strikeouts.

If Piscotty was the pick, Rockies fans shouldn't make too much out of him being a third baseman. Yes, the Rockies do have Nolan Arenado on the cusp of playing the hot corner at Coors Field, but Piscotty could move to the outfield, a position he has experience at in his career.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

MLB Draft 2012: Garrett Atkins To Represent Rockies During Draft

The Colorado Rockies will have one of their younger alumnus representing them in the 2012 MLB Draft. According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, former Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins will join scout Mike Garlatti during the team's selections for the 2012 MLB Draft:

Garrett Atkins will represent #Rockies in NY for 2012 draft along w Mike Garlatti That's pretty cool

— Troy Renck, Rockies (@TroyRenck) May 22, 2012

Atkins played seven seasons with the Rockies, hitting 98 homers with the franchise. Only 32 years old, Atkins has not played in the MLB since 2010.

The Rockies pick will at No. 10 in the first round of the MLB draft, good for their highest draft position since 2007, when they picked RHP Casey Weathers with the No. 8 overall pick.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Courtney Hawkins Could Be Colorado's 1st Round Pick

The 2012 MLB Draft is just a couple of weeks away and the Colorado Rockies hold the 10th pick following the disappointment of the 2011 season. The 2012 season could look brighter if the Rockies make a sound selection -- however one judges such a pick before the player has even signed a contract.

Over at Minor League Ball, a computer-simulated mock draft was run for the first 10 round. It gives out some odd results -- the Rockies won't draft three straight outfielders in all possibility -- but it makes a solid selection for the Rockies at No. 10 overall with outfielder Courtney Hawkins.

Interestingly, this simulation gave the Rockies catcher Peter O'Brien in the supplemental first round. He was the Rockies' 2011 third-round pick.

Here are the 10 picks made for the Rockies:

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Rockies Have $6.6 Million To Work With In Top 10 Rounds

The 2012 MLB Draft will be different than in years past due to changes in the new collective bargaining agreement. The bonuses for each pick in the first 10 rounds are based off the No. 1 overall pick, which is slotted in at $7.2 million this year. Add the total of each pick a team has in the first 10 rounds and that is the total money pool a team has to use to sign its draft picks from those selections. For the Rockies, that means they will have $6,628,300 for the first 10 rounds, $2.7 million for the No. 10 overall pick. Here is a complete breakdown of the signing bonuses the team can give out (via Baseball America):

While a team can be penalized for going over the slot bonus -- making it unlikely a team will go over that limit -- a team does not need to use the full recommended bonus money and can spread it around. However, should a team not sign a player, that money can't be moved around and is taken out of the team's money pool.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Jonathan Mayo Projects Rockies To Take Prep Pitcher Max Fried

In his latest mock draft for MLB.com, resident prospect guru Jonathan Mayo projects the Colorado Rockies to select prep pitcher Max Fried with the tenth overall pick. Fried is an impressive young lefty that's pitched for Harvard-Westlake High School in California.

The Rockies could be in on a number of the high school hitters projected to go in the top 10, and there's also been talk of their interest in a college hitter like Clemson's Richie Shaffer or a college pitcher like [Michael] Wacha (if none of the other advanced pitchers named above are available). But they haven't been afraid to go for pitching in the first round, and Fried should be there after a couple of shaky outings that perhaps has taken him out of consideration for the top nine.

Fried, who comes in at 6-foot-4, has a scholarship from UCLA, but it's unlikely that he'll be going to college considering how high he's presumably going to be selected in June's draft. With the first pick in the draft, Mayo sees the Houston Astros taking Stanford ace Mark Appel.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Draft: Keith Law Lists Kevin Gausman As Top Pitcher In Class

Every year, resident scouting guru Keith Law does some exceptional work over at ESPN covering the draft, and this year has been no exception. His latest list of the top 100 players available in the draft is up over at ESPN.com, and it features three Colorado natives that all happen to be college pitchers.

The biggest name is LSU's Kevin Gausman, a native of Centennial, Colo., that's rated by Law as the best pitcher in the entire draft. While Law notes that Stanford's Mark Appel or USF's Kyle Zimmer could ultimately emerge as the highest-rated pitcher on the board, Gausman is seeing the most hype right now.

The other two Colorado natives listed by Law are Missouri State's Pierce Johnson (Arvada, Colo.) and St. Edward's Stephen Johnson (Boulder, Colo.). Neither is remotely as well-regarded as Gausman, with Pierce ranked No. 59 overall and Stephen ranked No. 62.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Keith Law Predicts Kevin Gausman To Orioles At No. 4 Overall

Kevin Gausman (RHP, LSU) is a draft-eligible sophomore this year, making him one of the top available overall players in the 2012 MLB Draft. He's so highly thought of that he is likely to be selected within the first 10 picks and possibly within the first five. ESPN Insider Keith Law has released his first mock draft just three weeks before the event and projects the Baltimore Orioles to take the Colorado native:

Baltimore is looking for the best player available; that could be Gausman, who I currently have ranked as the top pitcher in the draft, or Correa or any of the players named above, although the Orioles are not really linked to Giolito.

In Law's first scenario, only one college pitcher goes ahead of Gausman and that is projected No. 1 overall picks Mark Appel to the Houston Astros. The other selections are high school outfielder Byron Buxton and high school pitcher Lucas Giolito.

The Orioles drafted high school pitcher Dylan Bundy with the No. 4 overall pick in 2011. He has allowed two runs (zero earned) in seven starts (25 innings). He has struck out 36 batters while walking only two. Add Gausman to an emerging young pitching corps and the Orioles' success so far this season, Baltimore would certainly continue to rise.

Gausman was a sixth-round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Keith Law Projects HS 3B Courtney Hawkins For Rockies

The 2012 MLB Draft is just three weeks away, which means mock draft season for this event will start to pick up speed soon enough. ESPN Insider Keith Law has released his first mock draft, and for the Colorado Rockies at No. 10 overall the choice is high school third baseman Courtney Hawkins:

Hawkins might have the quickest bat of anyone in this draft, though he sometimes struggles to make contact. I'm also hearing Ty Hensley and David Dahl here. I would have to think they'd re-evaluate if someone such as Fried fell this far.

The Rockies last took a high school position player in the first round during the 2004 draft when the team selected shortstop Chris Nelson. Nelson is currently with the big league team, but it took him until 2010 to make his debut and he is far from a productive player. And the year before that, the Rockies took third baseman Ian Stewart, who was traded this past offseason.

Still, with the Rockies' poor track record of drafting pitchers in the first round over the last few years, the team does appear to be looking at changing directions this year. Hawkins, 6 feet 3 and 210 pounds, would certainly qualify as a change-of-direction pick. While he is an aggressive hitter (causing high strikeout numbers), Hawkins' power will certainly offset that for whichever team drafts him.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Former Rockies Draftee Ross Stripling Throws No-Hitter For Texas A&M

2012 MLB Draft: Kevin Gausman Goes No. 5 To Royals In Baseball America Projection

Colorado native and right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman, a draft-eligible sophomore, last went in the sixth round of the MLB Draft during the 2010 season, but he turned down the Los Angeles Dodgers to head to the LSU Tigers. That decision is likely to turn out well since he is on the cusp of being a top-five draft choice. In Baseball America's first mock draft, the Kansas City Royals nab Gausman at No. 5 overall:

Kansas City picked in this spot last year and missed out on the advanced pitcher it coveted when Cole, Hultzen, Bauer and Bundy went with the first four choices. The Royals will try again in 2012, and one of the three top-tier college arms should be available. If Appel, Gausman and Zimmer all disappear, Kansas City's best bet would be Zunino.

Gausman is 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA over 12 starts. He has struck out 101 batters and walked just 20 in 82.2 innings. He is a midseason finalist for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award and should be among the finalists selected at the end of May.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Baseball America Projects HS OF David Dahl To Rockies At No. 10

The MLB Draft season doesn't ever really feel started until Baseball America releases its first in-season mock draft and that's what happened on Thursday afternoon. The Colorado Rockies hold the No. 10 overall pick and use it to select a high-upside high school outfielder:

10. ROCKIES: Colorado has had limited success taking pitchers with its top choice in five of the last six drafts. The Rockies are zeroing in on hitters and would love Almora, but they may have to settle for a slightly lesser version in Dahl.
Projected Pick: DAVID DAHL.

Dahl is a lefty-swinging outfielder from Oak Mountain HS in Birmingham, Al. Baseball America wrote ($), back in the winter, that Dahl has the makings of a five-tool player who can stick in center field or move over to right because of his strong arm.

Albert Almora, mentioned above, goes to the Chicago Cubs at No. 6 overall. He is also a five-tool prospect in center field.

The Rockies last took an outfielder in the first round during the 2010 MLB Draft, selecting Clemson's Kyle Parker. Parker hit 21 home runs for Low-A Asheville in 2011 and moved up to Advanced-A Modesto in 2012. However, he played just one full game before a ball hit his hand in the second game and sent him to the disabled list.

For more on the Colorado Rockies, check out the Rockies blog Purple Row. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels or checkout the baseball analysts blog Beyond the Box Score.

2012 MLB Draft Order: Rockies Enter Draft With No. 10 And No. 46 Pick

The Colorado Rockies will have two picks in June's amateur MLB draft, looking to build their farm system.