With the first pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, the Houston Astros selected shortstop Carlos Correa from Puerto Rico. For the next several hours, 30 more names were called and the futures of dozens of young men were changed forever. Despite most of these players facing a long road to the majors that will take several years, many of the 2012 first round picks already have baseball cards produced by major manufacturers. In fact, collectors can chase cards from 20 of the 31 first picks.
Correa's lone cardboard appearance thus far is in the 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic. The card was made for the participants and haven't been inserted in packs yet. It's likely Topps did hold back autographed versions for inclusion in a future set, much like they have done with similar AFLAC sets. Right now, the 2011 Bowman Perfect Game cards of Correa and others currently being sold on the secondary would have likely been acquired from the players themselves.
The other main source of baseball cards from the 2012 MLB Draft first round picks comes from the many USA Baseball-themed sets and inserts that have been produced over the last handful of years. Most notable of these are the autographs made by Topps in 2010 and 2011 for Bowman Chrome, Topps Chrome and their autograph-heavy USA Baseball box sets. Most recently, USA Baseball cards limited to 199 numbered copies were included in 2011 Panini Limited Baseball.
Below is a list of the 31 first round picks from the 2012 MLB Draft. The list does not include any supplemental picks. For each player, we've also included, where applicable, baseball card highlights available at the time of the draft. This is not a definitive list of all their cards as several have extremely rare parallels that have only a handful of copies. Rather, this list includes the players' best cards that are abundant enough that they are somewhat readily available. You can click on their names to shop for deals on eBay.
1. Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
2. Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
- none
3. Mike Zunino, Seattle Mariners
- 2008 Bowman AFLAC
4. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
- 2009 Bowman AFLAC
- 2009 Upper Deck USA Baseball Autograph #/502
- 2010 Bowman Chrome 18U USA Baseball
- 2011 Bowman Platinum Team USA Autograph
- 2011 Bowman Sterling USA Baseball Relics
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autograph
5. Kyle Zimmer, Kansas City Royals
- none
6. Albert Almora, Chicago Cubs
- 2009 Upper Deck USA Autographed Jersey #/149
- 2011 Bowman Chrome 18U USA Baseball Refractor Autographs #/417
- 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft USA Baseball Autographs
- 2010 Bowman Sterling USA Baseball Relics
- 2010 Topps USA Autographs
- 2011 Bowman Chrome 18U USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autograph with Mikey White
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps USA Autographs
7. Max Fried, San Diego Padres
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
8. Mark Appel, Pittsburgh Pirates
- 2011 Bowman Platinum Team USA Autographs
- 2011 Bowman Sterling USA Baseball Relics
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Topps USA Autographs
9. Andrew Heaney, Miami Marlins
- none
10. David Dahl, Colorado Rockies
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autographs with Jesse Winker #/299
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
11. Addison Russell, Oakland Athletics
- 2011 Bowman Chrome 18U USA Baseball Refractor Autographs #/417
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
12. Gavin Cecchini, New York Mets
- 2011 Bowman Chrome 18U USA Baseball Refractor Autographs #/417
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autographs with Alex Bregman #/299
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
13. Courtney Hawkins, Chicago White Sox
- 2009 Upper Deck USA Autographed Jersey #/149
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
14. Nick Travieso, Cincinnati Reds
- 2010 Bowman Draft
- 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2010 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
15. Tyler Naquin, Cleveland Indians
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autographs with Josh Elander #/299
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
16. Lucas Giolito, Washington Nationals
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
17. D.J. Davis, Toronto Blue Jays
- none
18. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Baseball USA Autographs
- 2010 Bowman Draft
- 2010 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
19. Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autographs with Brady Rogers #/299
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
20. Chris Stratton, San Francisco Giants
- none
21. Lucas Sims, Atlanta Braves
- 2010 Bowman Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2010 Bowman Draft
- 2010 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Bowman Perfect Game All-American Classic
22. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autograph with Erich Weiss #/299
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
23. James Ramsey, St. Louis Cardinals
- none
24. Deven Marrero, Boston Red Sox
- 2011 Bowman Platinum National Team Autographs
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autographs with Matt Reynolds #/299
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
25. Richie Shaffer, Tampa Bay Rays
- 2008 Bowman AFLAC
- 2008 Upper Deck USA Baseball Autographed Jersey #/295
26. Stryker Trahan, Arizona Diamondbacks
- none
27. Clint Coulter, Milwaukee Brewers
- none
28. Victor Roache, Milwaukee Brewers
- none
29. Lewis Brinson, Texas Rangers
- none
30. Ty Hensley, New York Yankees
- none
31. Brian Johnson, Boston Red Sox
- 2010 Bowman Chrome Wrapper Redemption Autographs #/99
- 2010 Bowman Platinum Relic Autograph Refractors #/740
- 2010 Bowman Sterling Dual Autographs with Mikie Mahtook
- 2010 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2010 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Bowman Sterling Dual Autographs with Kevin Gausman #/299
- 2011 Panini Limited National Team #/199
- 2011 Topps Chrome USA Baseball Autographs
- 2011 Topps USA Baseball Autographs
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