The St. Louis Cardinals have two picks in the 2012 MLB Draft, both in the middle of the first round where the draft usually has already turned unpredictable. So projecting their picks is an inexact science, but if there's one consensus player that draft prognosticators think the Cards are targeting, it's prep shortstop Addison Russell.

In his newest 2012 mock draft, ESPN's Keith Law has the Cardinals snagging Russell with their first pick at No. 19 overall, which comes as compensation from the Los Angeles Angels for signing Albert Pujols. Here is Law on the projection:

Addison Russell, SS, Pace (Fla.) H.S.
Russell is one of the best athletes in the draft with a real chance to stick at short. St. Louis is on most of the same names as Toronto, with more emphasis on bats. (This is the compensation pick the Cardinals got from the Angels for Albert Pujols.)

With the team's second pick, Law has them taking Duke pitcher Marcus Stroman, who is seen by many as having some of the best stuff in the draft but who has likely been pushed back to the end of the first round thanks to his short stature. Here is Law on that pick, which comes at No. 23 overall:

Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke
I haven't heard him strongly connected to too many teams, even though everyone raves about his stuff. In addition to the bats from pick No. 19, they're linked to prep lefty Hunter Virant here.

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