Breakdown of previous draft steals

[OnBaseMachine]

I didn't know whether to stick this in the minor league forum or on here, so I'll just post it here. Mods, feel free to move it if you want.

With the draft coming up I started thinking of how many steals there have been through the major league baseball draft. It seems like in the NBA and NFL that most of the star players are 1st round picks, baseball not so. A lot of MLB stars are 2nd, 3rd, 8th, and 13th, and sometimes even 40th and 50th round picks. Some guys(Piazza) are just drafted because of family ties to an organization, yet he turned in a Hall of Famer. With that being said, I have went over the top 50 hitters and pitchers (by OPS and WHIP) in 2006 and then listed their draft position.

Top 50 hitters by OPS, draft position

Albert Pujols - Selected by St. Louis Cardinals in 13th round (402nd overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Jim Thome - Selected by Cleveland Indians in 13th round in the 1989 Major League draft.

Jason Giambi - Selected by Oakland Athletics in 2nd round (58th overall) of 1992 amateur entry draft

Alex Rios - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 1st round (19th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Jonny Gomes - Selected by Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 18th round (529th overall) of 2001 amateur entry draft

Nick Swisher - Selected by Oakland Athletics in 1st round (16th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft

Travis Hafner - Selected by Texas Rangers in 31st round (923rd overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Casey Blake - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 7th round (189th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Vernon Wells - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 1st round (5th overall) of 1997 amateur entry draft

Carlos Lee - Signed as undrafted free agent by Chicago White Sox in 1994

Chris Shelton - Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates in 33rd round (984th overall) of 2001 amateur entry draft

Miguel Cabrera - Signed as undrafted free agent by Florida Marlins in 1999

Lance Berkman - Selected by Houston Astros in 1st round (16th overall) of 1997 amateur entry draft

Morgan Ensberg - Selected by Houston Astros in 9th round (272nd overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Carlos Beltran - Selected by Kansas City Royals in 2nd round (49th overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft

Nick Johnson - Selected by New York Yankees in 3rd round (89th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Carlos Delgado - Signed as undrafted free agent by Toronto Blue Jays in 1988

Miguel Tejada - Signed as undrafted free agent by Oakland Athletics in 1993

Brad Hawpe - Selected by Colorado Rockies in 11th round (317th overall) of 2000 amateur entry draft

Pat Burrell - Selected by Philadelphia Phillies in 1st round (1st overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Eric Chavez - Selected by Oakland Athletics in 1st round (10th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Paul Konerko - Selected by Los Angeles Dodgers in 1st round (13th overall) of 1994 amateur entry draft

David Ortiz - Signed as undrafted free agent by Seattle Mariners in 1992

Ryan Howard - Selected by Philadelphia Phillies in 5th round (140th overall) of 2001 amateur entry draft

Derek Jeter - Selected by New York Yankees in 1st round (6th overall) of 1992 amateur entry draft

Troy Glaus - Selected by Anaheim Angels in 1st round (3rd overall) of 1997 amateur entry draft

Manny Ramirez - Selected by Cleveland Indians in 1st round (13th overall) of 1991 amateur entry draft

Josh Willingham - Selected by Florida Marlins in 17th round (491st overall) of 2000 amateur entry draft

Barry Bonds - Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1st round (6th overall) of 1985 amateur entry draft

Brian McCann - Selected by Atlanta Braves in 2nd round (64th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft

Hank Blalock - Selected by Texas Rangers in 3rd round (105th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Matt Holliday - Selected by Colorado Rockies in 7th round (210th overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Prince Fielder - Selected by Milwaukee Brewers in 1st round (7th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft

Mike Lowell - Selected by Chicago White Sox in 48th round (1352nd overall) of 1992 amateur entry draft

Adam Dunn - Selected by Cincinnati Reds in 2nd round (50th overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Kevin Mench - Selected by Texas Rangers in 4th round (118th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Magglio Ordonez - Signed as undrafted free agent by Chicago White Sox in 1991

Chase Utley - Selected by Philadelphia Phillies in 1st round (15th overall) of 2000 amateur entry draft

Alex Rodriguez - Selected by Seattle Mariners in 1st round (1st overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft

Craig Wilson - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 2nd round (47th overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft

Shea Hillenbrand - Selected by Boston Red Sox in 10th round (301st overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Austin Kearns - Selected by Cincinnati Reds in 1st round (7th overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Hanley Ramirez - Signed as undrafted free agent by Boston Red Sox in 2000

Jorge Posada - Selected by New York Yankees in 24th round (629th overall) of 1990 amateur entry draft

Joe Crede - Selected by Chicago White Sox in 5th round (137th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Gary Matthews Jr. - Selected by San Diego Padres in 13th round (366th overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft

J.D. Drew - Selected by St. Louis Cardinals in 1st round (5th overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Bobby Abreu - Signed as undrafted free agent by Houston Astros in 1990

Edwin Encarnacion - Selected by Texas Rangers in 9th round (274th overall) of 2000 amateur entry draft

Ramon Hernandez - Signed as undrafted free agent by Oakland Athletics in 1994

Breakdown of top 50:

16 first-rounders
Five second-rounders
Two third-rounders
One fourth-rounder
Two fifth-rounders

Five were taken from rounds 6-10
Six were taken from rounds 11-20
One from rounds 21-30
Two were taken from rounds 31-40
One from 41-50

Nine were signed as undrafted free agents from other countries(Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Panama).

Other notables:

Marcus Giles-53rd round
Brian Giles-17th round
Mike Piazza-62nd round
Jeff Kent-20th round
Jason Bay-22nd round

Top 50 pitchers by WHIP, draft position


Pedro Martinez - Signed as undrafted free agent by Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988

Jose Contreras - Signed as undrafted free agent by New York Yankees in 2002

Bronson Arroyo - Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates in 3rd round (69th overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft

Mike Mussina - Selected by Baltimore Orioles in 1st round (20th overall) of 1990 amateur entry draft

Roy Halladay - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 1st round (17th overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft

Tom Glavine - Selected by Atlanta Braves in 2nd round (47th overall) of 1984 amateur entry draft

Javier Vazquez - Selected by Montreal Expos in 5th round (140th overall) of 1994 amateur entry draft

Chris Capuano - Selected by Arizona Diamondbacks in 8th round (238th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Jeremy Bonderman - Selected by Oakland Athletics in 1st round (26th overall) of 2001 amateur entry draft

Jason Schmidt - Selected by Atlanta Braves in 8th round (206th overall) of 1991 amateur entry draft

Jarrod Washburn - Selected by California Angels in 2nd round (31st overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft

Curt Schilling - Selected by Boston Red Sox in 2nd round (39th overall) of 1986 amateur entry draft

John Lackey - Selected by Anaheim Angels in 2nd round (68th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

David Bush - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 2nd round (55th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft

Brandon Webb - Selected by Arizona Diamondbacks in 8th round (249th overall) of 2000 amateur entry draft

John Smoltz - Selected by Detroit Tigers in 22nd round (574th overall) of 1985 amateur entry draft

Greg Maddux - Selected by Chicago Cubs in 2nd round (31st overall) of 1984 amateur entry draft

Tony Armas Jr. - Signed as undrafted free agent by New York Yankees in 1994

Jake Peavy - Selected by San Diego Padres in 15th round (472nd overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Derek Lowe - Selected by Seattle Mariners in 8th round (215th overall) of 1991 amateur entry draft

Kenny Rogers - Selected by Texas Rangers in 39th round (815th overall) of 1982 amateur entry draft

Chris Carpenter - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 1st round (15th overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft

Johan Santana - Signed as undrafted free agent by Houston Astros in 1995

Dan Haren - Selected by St. Louis Cardinals in 2nd round (72nd overall) of 2001 amateur entry draft

Chris Young - Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates in 3rd round (89th overall) of 2000 amateur entry draft

Brett Tomko - Selected by Cincinnati Reds in 2nd round (54th overall) of 1995 amateur entry draft

Barry Zito - Selected by Oakland Athletics in 1st round (9th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Sean Marshall - Selected by Chicago Cubs in 6th round (163rd overall) of 2003 amateur entry draft

Woody Williams - Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in 28th round (732nd overall) of 1988 amateur entry draft

John Koronka - Selected by Cincinnati Reds in 12th round (350th overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Wandy Rodriguez - Signed as undrafted free agent by Houston Astros in 1999

Jamie Moyer - Selected by Chicago Cubs in 6th round (135th overall) of 1984 amateur entry draft

Jon Lieber - Selected by Kansas City Royals in 2nd round (44th overall) of 1992 amateur entry draft

Brad Penny - Selected by Arizona Diamondbacks in 5th round (155th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Josh Beckett - Selected by Florida Marlins in 1st round (2nd overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Aaron Harang - Selected by Texas Rangers in 6th round (195th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Roy Oswalt - Selected by Houston Astros in 23rd round (684th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft

Brett Myers - Selected by Philadelphia Phillies in 1st round (12th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Kelvim Escobar - Signed as undrafted free agent by Toronto Blue Jays in 1992

Justin Verlander - Selected by Detroit Tigers in 1st round (2nd overall) of 2004 amateur entry draft

Chan Ho Park - Signed as undrafted free agent by Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994

Nate Robertson - Selected by Florida Marlins in 5th round (146th overall) of 1999 amateur entry draft

Clay Hensley - Selected by San Francisco Giants in 8th round (247th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft

Freddy Garcia - Signed as undrafted free agent by Houston Astros in 1993

Jeff Francis - Selected by Colorado Rockies in 1st round (9th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft

Tim Hudson - Selected by Oakland Athletics in 6th round (185th overall) of 1997 amateur entry draft

Aaron Cook - Selected by Colorado Rockies in 2nd round (70th overall) of 1997 amateur entry draft

Jamey Wright - Selected by Colorado Rockies in 1st round (28th overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft

Tim Wakefield - Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates in 8th round (200th overall) of 1988 amateur entry draft

Mark Mulder - Selected by Oakland Athletics in 1st round (2nd overall) of 1998 amateur entry draft

Breakdown of top 50:

11 first-rounders
10 second-rounders
Two third-rounders
0 fourth-rounders
Three fifth-rounders

10 were taken from rounds 6-10
Two were taken from rounds 11-20
Three from rounds 21-30
One from rounds 31-40

Eight were signed as undrafted free agents

Other notables:

Zach Duke-20th round
Dontrelle Willis-8th round
Andy Pettitte-22nd round
Kevin Millwood-11th round
Mark Buehrle-38th round

As you see, if you are lucky you can find a great player in late rounds, maybe because they are supposedly too short(Oswalt), not athletic enough(Shelton), or teams shy away because they think a player may play another sport(Smoltz).

[edabbs44]

I think it shows the value of scouting in other countries and, more importantly, the need for a world wide draft.

Nice work on that compilation.

[vaticanplum]

I just realized that I have no memory of the Aaron Harang trade -- knew he came from Oakland, couldn't remember who we gave up. so I looked it up and found that it was Jose Guillen.

1. That trade happened at the deadline. Now, this was when Oakland had Mulder, Zito, Hudson, Lilly and Harden, so ok, their starting pitching was in pretty good shape. I don't remember their outfield situation. But Guillen was a free agent at the end of the season, and they had to know he'd command a little money, something the A's are known to avoid. In short, was this trade viewed as a little batty at the time? Did the Reds actually make out like bandits for once or was Harang viewed as purely a throwaway?

2. Harang was sent to us with Joe Valentine (ok, I remember him) and "Jeff Bruksch". Who?

[blumj]

The A's OF situation at the time was pretty brutal, Terrence Long and Eric Byrnes were starting for them, and Jermaine Dye was always on the DL. But I also don't remember anyone thinking all that much of Harang at the time, either.

[Freddie_Free]

I have to assume that Oakland also received some draft compensation picks when they let him walk at the end of the year.

[Red Leader]

The A's OF situation at the time was pretty brutal, Terrence Long and Eric Byrnes were starting for them, and Jermaine Dye was always on the DL. But I also don't remember anyone thinking all that much of Harang at the time, either.

I loved Harang at the time of the deal. If that trade thread is still in the archives, we'd be able to see. Harang came up for the A's earlier that season, I believe and K'd 10 people in his first start. I knew he'd be a good one, although, to be honest, I didn't think he would be consistently good like he was last year, or so far this year.

Thought Valentine would be more than what he was, and though Bruksch was a worthless throw in, which he was.

[Aronchis]

Harang and Claussen have switched roles. Claussen was supposed to be the "stud" gotten from the trades while Harang was the "4/5" starter. However Claussen didn't recover his arm strength after his TJ surgury and Harang improved his work ethic which caused his arm strength to modestly rise, which improved his overall outlook performance IMO. Strange how things workout.

[edabbs44]

I have to assume that Oakland also received some draft compensation picks when they let him walk at the end of the year.

Thought so too, but I looked it up and they didn't get anything.

[Hap]

Vladimir Guerrero was also un-drafted, and he is arguably the most naturally talented player in the entire world.

The draft can be a farce (Shawn Abner), or it can be like winning the lottery (George Kenneth Griffey, Junior).

[edabbs44]

Vladimir Guerrero was also un-drafted, and he is arguably the most naturally talented player in the entire world.

The draft can be a farce (Shawn Abner), or it can be like winning the lottery (George Kenneth Griffey, Junior).
Only undrafted b/c he was ineligible for the draft.

[RedLegSuperStar]

Shame Johnny Almerez (sp?) couldn't sign Miguel Cabrera when he scouted him.

[Johnny Footstool]

In short, was this trade viewed as a little batty at the time? Did the Reds actually make out like bandits for once or was Harang viewed as purely a throwaway?

At the time, it seemed like a good deal. The Reds were picking up a servicable starting pitcher and a pitching prospect, while the A's were getting a much-needed bat for the stretch run.

While the A's would probably like to have Harang back now, his loss didn't really hurt the organization that much.

[StillFunkyB]

I thought JD Drew was drafted by the Phillies but refused to sign?

[Heath]

whoops.

[Red Leader]

I thought JD Drew was drafted by the Phillies but refused to sign?

I believe he was drafted by the Phils and refused to sign, and then re-entered the draft where he was taken by the Cardinals and signed.

[redsmetz]

I have to assume that Oakland also received some draft compensation picks when they let him walk at the end of the year.

I just checked on that and couldn't find that they did. I would have thought he would have at least been a Type B player, but it didn't show up in the 2004 draft list I saw.