MLB Mock Draft 2012: Keith Law Says Twins Should Take Byron Buxton

The 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Draft is less than one week away, and the Minnesota Twins are still frantically trying to gather as much information about every conceivable prospect worth considering at No. 2 overall.

Even though the Twins are desperate for young arms and would seemingly be wise to add a pitcher atop the draft, Keith Law of ESPN.com is of the belief that Minnesota might just be targeting five-tool H.S. outfielder Byron Buxton at No. 2. Law has Stanford starter Mark Appel going No. 1 to Houston, leaving a tough choice for Minnesota brass about whether to take Buxton or highly-touted starter Kyle Zimmer from San Francisco. Here's what Law had to say:

Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County H.S. (Baxley, Ga.)

I've heard the Twins will take Appel if he's here, and if not, they are split between Buxton and Kyle Zimmer, who still isn't all the way back from a hamstring injury. In other words, if you could bet on Appel and Buxton going in the first two picks in either order, you'd be in good shape as of today.

There's no denying Buxton's immense physical gifts, or that he could theoretically develop into one of the three or four best players in the sport if everything goes to plan. But pennants and World Series rings are often built on the back of a strong pitching rotation, so it might be troubling for Twins fans to not see a pitcher unanimously tabbed in this spot.

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