With the No. 16 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals will select Michael Wacha, according to ESPN Insider Keith Law. The draft is scheduled to begin June 4.
Wacha is a 6-foot-6, right-handed pitcher from Texas A&M. Thus far this season, he's gone 8-1 with a 2.21 ERA through 15 starts. Moreover, he's struck out 107 batters against 17 walks. Here's Law on Wacha to the Nats:
Wacha's ceiling is limited, but his advanced changeup makes him a likely big leaguer. I've also heard Dahl and Marrero here, and the Nats have been linked by scouts on the East Coast to Duke's Marcus Stroman, but it would be a big departure for GM Mike Rizzo: Of sixteen pitchers he's taken in the first or second rounds as a scouting director for Arizona or while assistant GM or GM for Washington, none has been under 6-foot-2, and Stroman is 5-9.
The Houston Astros, who have the first pick in the draft, are projected to take Stanford starting pitcher Mark Appel.
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