Draft 2012: Mike Zunino

Age: 21

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6′ 2″

Weight: 220

Bat: Hitting above .300 in the Majors is probably a stretch, but in his prime it could certainly be a possibility. Considering he doesn’t strike out much and has a good feel for the strike zone, and an OPB above .360 is going to more than make up for any  deficiencies he might experience early in his career.

Power: Legitimate. Zunino is a serious power threat and that threat is only going to grow as he matures with a wooden bat. While home runs aren’t exactly his specialty, Zunino is going to eventually grow into his gap power and start putting a few more balls over the fence. Expect far more doubles than homers early on in his career.

Defense: Zunino probably has the best defensive arm in the draft–not at catcher–in the draft. He has outstanding footwork behind the plate and should be more than adequate at shutting down the running game. His play behind the plate has apparently been improving since he began college. He calls a decent game, a skill that grows once implanted within an organization and blocking pitches is a non-issue. The learning curve won’t be too steep for Zunino as he is already an outstanding defender behind the dish and considered to be a great leader.

Synopsis: There is a reason many fear Zunino won’t be available once the Mariners’ pick comes around. He is a premier athlete and talent that could shore up almost any organizations catching department. If his bat alone was not enough to get you drooling, his defensive aptitude should be plenty. The biggest question surrounding Zunino and the Mariners? Will he still be there?

Here is a look at Zunino and his college stats for the 2012 season.

Here is a great video of a Zunino AB.