The following are the top first-round picks for each American League team in the last five years. If a team had multiple first-round selections, only the first one will be listed in the table. The corresponding statistics are through May 30.
In Tuesday's major-league draft, the Angels have the No. 13 pick. The team had two picks in 2000, getting lefty Joe Torre with the tenth pick and right Chris Bootcheck with No. 20. Certainly their choice of Troy Glaus with the third overall selection in 1997 is a franchise highlight. The team also got Darin Erstad in 1995 with the No. 1 overall selection.
|
Last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Joe Torres (10)
|
LHP
|
C. Rapids (A)
|
0-2, 4.35 ERA
|
|
'99
|
No pick
|
|
|
|
|
'98
|
Seth Etherton (18)
|
RHP
|
Hasn't played
|
(injury)
|
|
'97
|
Troy Glaus (3)
|
3B
|
Angels (MLB)
|
.286-13-36
|
|
'96
|
No pick |
|
|
|
|
*stats through May 30
|
The Orioles have drafted eight players in the first-round of the major-league draft over the last five years, and with two more picks in the first-round in this year's draft Baltimore will once again be busy. The Orioles have their own pick at No. 7, and they have also received the 19th overall pick from the Yankees for Mike Mussina. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark expects the O's to take 3B Mark Teixeira from Georgia Tech with its No. 7 pick.
|
Baltimore's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Beau J. Hale (14)
|
P
|
Bowie (AA)
|
1-3, 4.50
|
|
'99
|
Mike Paradis (13)
|
P
|
Bowie (AA)
|
5-4, 5.57
|
|
'98
|
Rick Elder (26)
|
1B
|
Delmarva (A)
|
.309, 8, 30
|
|
'97
|
Jayson Werth (22)
|
C
|
Tenn. (AA) ^
|
.244, 3, 22
|
|
'96
|
no first-round pick
|
|
|
|
The Red Sox do not have a first-round pick, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In the past five years, the team has drafted two southpaws who are presently inactive, a righty in Josh Garrett who is wallowing in double-A, and a shortstop in Adam Everett who has not been as successful as the team thought he would be. Luckily, Everett was a big part of the trade which brought Carl Everett to the team.
|
Boston's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Phil Dumatrait (17)
|
LHP
|
Hasn't played
|
|
|
'99
|
R. Asadoorian (17)
|
OF
|
Augusta (A)
|
.227-2-18
|
|
'98
|
Adam Everett (12)
|
SS
|
New Orl. (AAA)
|
.210-2-11
|
|
'97
|
John Curtice (17)
|
LHP
|
Hasn't played
|
|
|
'96
|
Josh Garrett (26)
|
RHP
|
Trenton (AA)
|
2-1, 4.40
|
The White Sox hope to use the the No. 16 pick to follow up on what appears to be a promising top pick from last year, Joe Borchard. The youngster is hitting the ball well at Double-A Birmingham. Kip Wells has at times looked like a good selection, but also at times has struggled at the major-league level. Jason Dellaero would appear to be in a good position, a former first-rounder and shortstop at Triple-A Charlotte while Royce Clayton is hitting near .100 for the major-league squad. Unfortunately, Dellaero is following up a .185 Double-A campaign with a .143 start this year.
|
Chicago's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Joe Borchard (5)
|
OF
|
Birmingham (AA)
|
.289-12-39 |
|
'99
|
Jason Stumm (15)
|
RHP
|
hasn't played
|
|
|
'98
|
Kip Wells (16)
|
RHP
|
ChiSox (MLB)
|
2-1, 2.00 ERA
|
|
'97
|
Jason Dellaero (15)
|
SS
|
Charl. (AAA)
|
.143-1-6
|
|
'96
|
Bobby Seay (12)
|
LHP
|
Orlando (AA)
|
0-3, 6.00
|
The Indians will have the No. 17 and the No. 27 picks in the first round. Generally speaking, the team has done a good job on draft day in the past five years, with the highlight being C.C. Sabathia, who is having a fine rookie campaign three years after being selected. Tim Drew has been up and down, compiling a 6.75 ERA with the major-league squad before being sent down to Buffalo. Last year's top pick, Corey Smith, is in the Yankees organization.
|
Cleveland's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Corey Smith (26)
|
3B
|
Columb. (AAA)
|
.246-6-32
|
|
'99
|
No pick
|
|
|
|
|
'98
|
C.C. Sabathia (20)
|
LHP
|
Indians (MLB)
|
5-2, 5.24 ERA
|
|
'97
|
Tim Drew (28)
|
RHP
|
Buffalo (AAA)
|
0-1, 2.45 ERA
|
|
'96
|
D. Peoples (28)
|
1B
|
Buffalo (AAA)
|
.223-4-22
|
Detroit has the No. 11 pick this season, and the only time since 1996 that the team didn't have a top 10 pick, they got Jeff Weaver, easily the best pick the team has made in awhile, at No. 14. Big things are expected from Eric Munson, who is presently at Double-A Erie. Matt Anderson has not yet panned out as the No. 1 overall pick in 1997.
|
Detroit's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Matt Wheatland (8) |
OF
|
W. Mich (A)
|
0-2, 10.93 ERA
|
|
'99
|
Eric Munson (3)
|
1B
|
Erie (AA)
|
.285-4-42
|
|
'98
|
Jeff Weaver (14)
|
RHP
|
Tigers (MLB)
|
4-5, 3.09 ERA
|
|
'97
|
Matt Anderson (1)
|
RHP
|
Tigers (MLB)
|
2-0, 6.53 ERA
|
|
'96
|
Seth Greisinger (6) |
RHP
|
Hasn't played
|
|
For the fifth straight year, the Royals will have a top 10 pick in the major-league draft. In Tuesday's draft, Kansas City will pick No. 9 overall. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark expects the Royals to take outfielder Roscoe Crosby. That pick, however, comes with a risk, according to one scout. "He's so good in football, you hear he could be the first player taken in the NFL draft. So he's a risky proposition."
|
Royals' last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Michael Stodolka (4)
|
P |
Burlington (A)
|
1-1, 3.73
|
|
'99
|
Kyle Sander (7)
|
P
|
Hasn't played
|
|
|
'98
|
Jeff Austin (4)
|
P
|
Omaha (AAA)
|
2-7, 8.67
|
|
'97
|
Dan Reichert (7)
|
P
|
Royals (MLB)
|
5-4, 3.49
|
|
'96
|
Dee Brown (14)
|
OF
|
Royals (MLB)
|
.281, 4, 25
|
|
*stats through May 30
|
Minneota has the No. 1 overall pick this season. The organization has done an excellent job in recent years of scouting talent, resulting in some solid, though not spectacular, top picks. Adam Johnson is off to a pretty good start, pitching at Double-A New Britain in his first pro season. Ryan Mills and Michael Cuddyer are also with the Rock Cats, and Cuddyer is making excellent progress and is sure to continue to grow with the organization. Travis Lee is a solid major leaguer, now in Philadelphia. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark believes the team will draft catcher Joe Mauer with the top pick.
|
Minnesota's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Adam Johnson
|
RHP
|
New Brit. (AA)
|
2-5, 4.63 ERA
|
|
'99
|
B.J. Garbe (5)
|
OF
|
Ft. Myers (A)
|
.287-2-22
|
|
'98
|
Ryan Mills (6)
|
LHP
|
New Brit. (AA)
|
2-5, 6.42 ERA
|
|
'97
|
Michael Cuddyer
|
3B
|
New Brit. (AA)
|
.273-10-26
|
|
'96
|
Travis Lee (2)
|
1B
|
Phillies (MLB)
|
.270-9-28
|
The Yankees have the No. 23 pick, about where they've picked in the last five drafts, and their success has been very mixed. Eric Milton was an excellent pick at No. 20 in 1996, but he was traded to the Twins in the Chuck Knoblauch deal. David Walling, their top pick from 1999, is the closest of the bunch to being ready for the big leagues, while Tyrel Godwin, their top choice in '97, did not even sign with the club.
|
New York's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
David Parrish (28)
|
C
|
Tampa (A)
|
.239-1-19
|
|
'99
|
David Walling (27)
|
RHP
|
Columb. (AAA)
|
3-3, 5.50 ERA
|
|
'98
|
Andy Brown (24)
|
OF
|
Tampa (A)
|
.220-6-25
|
|
'97
|
Tyrel Godwin (24)
|
OF
|
Did not sign
|
|
|
'96
|
Eric Milton (20)
|
LHP
|
Twins (MLB)
|
5-3, 3.39 ERA
|
In Tuesday's major-league draft, the Athletics will pick 26th. Can they continue their string of excellent first-round picks? It's hard to imagine a better track record, as Oakland has three of their last five first picks already in the majors and contributing heavily. Barry Zito is slumping a bit this year, but Mark Mulder has been outstanding. It's hard to believe Eric Chavez was a pick in the draft in 1996. He's been in the major leagues for a few years already.
|
Oakland's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
No pick |
|
|
|
|
'99
|
Barry Zito (9)
|
LHP
|
A's (MLB)
|
3-4, 5.06 ERA
|
|
'98
|
Mark Mulder (2)
|
LHP
|
A's (MLB)
|
7-2, 3.27 ERA
|
|
'97
|
Chris Enochs (11)
|
RHP
|
Midland (AA)
|
0-1, 6.50 ERA
|
|
'96
|
Eric Chavez (10) |
3B
|
A's (MLB)
|
.273-6-25
|
For the second consecutive season, the Mariners will be without a first-round pick. From 1996-99, the organization has chosen three pitchers and a catcher with its first pick, and the results have not been what they had hoped. Last year's pick, Ryan Christianson has struggled at Single-A San Bernardino this season. Ryan Anderson, their first pick in 1997, and Gil Meche, ('96) have not played at all.
|
Seattle's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
No first-round pick
|
|
|
|
|
'99
|
R. Christianson (11)
|
C
|
San Bern. (A)
|
.237-2-23
|
|
'98
|
Matt J. Thornton (22)
|
P
|
San Bern. (A)
|
5-3, 3.07 ERA
|
|
'97
|
Ryan Anderson (19)
|
P
|
Has not played
|
|
|
'96
|
Gil Meche (22)
|
P
|
Has not played
|
|
The Rangers have the No. 5 pick in the first round, the the highest draft position Texas has had in a while, but the club's draft record has not been great over the last five seasons. Last season's top pick, Scott Heard, has struggled at Single-A Savannah and Carlos Pena ('98) and R.A. Dickey ('96), who is with the major-league club, have also been less than spectacular. With the fifth overall pick, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark expects the Rangers to take UCLA pitcher Josh Karp.
|
Texas' last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Scott Heard (25)
|
C |
Savannah (A)
|
.225, 2, 14
|
|
'99
|
No first-round pick
|
|
|
|
|
'98
|
Carlos Pena (10)
|
1B
|
Okla. (AAA)
|
.226, 6, 18
|
|
'97
|
no first-round pick
|
|
|
|
|
'96
|
R.A. Dickey (18)
|
P
|
Rangers (MLB)
|
0-1, 6.75
|
For the third consecutive season, the Devil Rays will have a top 10 pick in the major-league baseball draft. In Tuesday's draft, will have the No. 3 pick in the first round. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark expects the team to select right-hander Dewon Brazelton from Middle Tennessee State. This is what one scout had to say about Brazelton: "He's nasty, man. He's got a (Greg) Maddux changeup. ... He could be the quickest to the big leagues of them all. His change is just this side of Pedro Martinez. And he the throws up to 95."
|
Rays' last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Rocco Baldelli (6)
|
OF |
Charles. (A)
|
.279, 2, 22
|
|
'99
|
Josh Hamilton (1)
|
OF
|
Orlando (AA)
|
.189, 0, 4
|
|
'98
|
No first-round pick
|
|
|
|
|
'97
|
Jason Standridge (31)
|
P
|
Durham (AAA)
|
3-4, 4.56
|
|
'96
|
Paul Wilder (29)
|
OF
|
Bakersfld.
|
.244, 0, 3
|
Toronto has the No. 15 pick, and if the Jays continue with their trend they will pick an offensive player as they have in the first round each of the last five years. Of those five picks, Vernon Wells is the only one in the major leagues. Shortstop Felipe Lopez has shown some promise and has now advanced to Triple-A Syracuse. Joe Lawrence, their first-round pick from '96, has yet to show he can hit beyond the Single-A level.
|
Toronto's last five first-round draft picks
|
|
Year
|
Pick (No.)
|
Pos.
|
Pres. level
|
2001 stats
|
| '00
|
Miguel Negron (18)
|
OF
|
Charleson (A)
|
.192-0-2
|
|
'99
|
Alexis Rios (19)
|
OF
|
Charleston (A)
|
.239-0-14
|
|
'98
|
Felipe Lopez (8)
|
SS
|
Syracuse (AAA)
|
.261-6-18
|
|
'97
|
Vernon Wells (5)
|
OF
|
'Jays (MLB)
|
.267-1-2
|
|
'96
|
Joe Lawrence (16)
|
C
|
Syracuse (AAA)
|
.234-0-8
|
| |
|
