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.
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