The Worstest Draft Ever

[chicoruiz]

Baseball Prospectus has an article up today naming the 2001 Reds draft as the worst draft any major league team has ever had. That was the Jeremy Sowers year; no player made the majors, only a few made AAA, and the few that were traded were used to acquire such luminaries as Kirk Saarloos, Jeff Austin and Brian Shackleford.

[RedlegJake]

That is bad to the bone...and coming so soon after Marge and her "who needs scouts?" destruction of the farm decade its only a wonder the Reds only took 9 years to start winning again

[Steve4192]

I'd say the 1996 draft was worse.

At least in 2001, the Reds drafted one very solid major leaguer (Nick Markakis) even if they didn't manage to sign him.

In 1996, there was not a single solid major leaguer drafted, and they spent their first round pick on a guy who suffered from night blindness (Johnny Oliver). That is some serious keystone cops level drafting.

[757690]

2001 was the draft in which Linder told Bowden he couldn't spend any real money signing players. Bowden purposefully punted the first pick with a player he knew wouldn't sign, and only drafted player who would sign cheap. Of course it was the worst draft ever.

[REDREAD]

Baseball Prospectus has an article up today naming the 2001 Reds draft as the worst draft any major league team has ever had. That was the Jeremy Sowers year; no player made the majors, only a few made AAA, and the few that were traded were used to acquire such luminaries as Kirk Saarloos, Jeff Austin and Brian Shackleford.

Yep, thank you John Allen for deciding the draft was a "waste of money" (He actually said that) just because Howington flamed out. The Reds had no money to sign anyone that year.