One of my favorite things each year. The WBL Rookie Draft is always a bit “juiced,” with both some high end talent and some historical “decent” players, but there is plenty of dross here as well in the later rounds.
We’ll cover the first 3 rounds pick-by-pick here, then rounds 4-10 team by team.
A reminder: each team can make 2 picks outside of players historically associated with their seed franchises; the rest (until the tail end of the draft) must come from players that spent a significant period of their career with them.
OOTP does its usual fun on whether these picks actually sign, so news on that will hit future TWIWBL’s.
We are moving towards the 2002 season, for reference. Debut is, of course, an estimate.
#Round 1
Note that Round 1 contained 2 compensation picks for picks from last year’s draft that refused to sign.
| Pick | Team | Player & Age | Pos | Debut | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | MCG | Pedro Martínez (19) | P | 2004 | Currently a reliever, his live arm warrants a move to the rotation at some point. |
| 1.2 | MEM | Jim Rice (18) | OF | 2005 | Joins a system stocked with young OF, so some trades loom at some point. But, saves an exception pick, which has some value. |
| 1.3 | CAG | Zack Greinke (20) | P | 2004 | Perhaps solves a need for arms; refused to sign last year. |
| 1.4 | LAA | Rod Carew (19) | 2B | 2005 | Incredibly weak IF system gets a significant boost. At some point, 1B gets crowded, but that’s a problem many years down the road. |
| 1.5 | SFS | John Smoltz (19) | P | 2005 | The rich get richer. |
| 1.6 | NYG | Amos Rusie (18) | P | 2002 | The best pitcher who looks WBL ready right now. Also a franchise pick. |
| 1.7 | OTT | Jim McCormick (21) | P | 2003 | A gamble, but OTT is desperate for SP. |
| 1.8 | HOM | David Cone (19) | P | 2004 | Another franchise that needs rotation help. |
| 1.9 | BAL | Jose Altuve (17) | 2B | 2006 | One for the future, but potentially solves the position. |
| 1.10 | HOD | Juan Soto (18) | OF | 2004 | Honestly surprised he fell this far, Soto will cause some issues on the roster, but they’ll be well worth solving. |
| 1.11 | KCM | Chris Carpenter (19) | P | 2005 | More pitching needed, as always. |
| 1.12 | MCG | Jack Glasscock (20) | SS | 2004 | An interesting pick. First potential flop of the draft, but his arrival should coincide well with MCG’s needs as Robin Yount moves out of the middle infield. |
| 1.13 | NYY | Giancarlo Stanton (18) | OF | 2005 | Not likely to stay with NYY due to a draft-day deal with NYG for Gaylord Perry. That’s dependent on Stanton signing, though. |
| 1.14 | HOD | Bingo DeMoss (21) | 2B | 2004 | A worthy successor to Ryne Sandberg. |
| 1.15 | IND | Dave Winfield (21) | OF | 2003 | A bit of a steal for the ABC’s. |
| 1.16 | HOD | George Zettlein (27) | P | 2002 | Having used their exceptions, the HOD’s choices were quite limited. Here, they opted for some immediate help, hopefully. |
| 1.17 | HOU | Ed Morris (20) | P | 2003 | Houston will soon have an embarrassment of rotation riches–which should serve them quite well. |
| 1.18 | PHI | Darryl Strawberry (18) | OF | 2003 | Another pick that will lead to a crowded roster, but Strawberry’s peak is too attractive to ignore. |
| 1.19 | CLE | Todd Helton (22) | 1B | 2003 | A long-term solution to an aging position for the Spiders. |
| 1.20 | POR | Jack Fournier (16) | 1B | 2006 | A big bat, but a long ways away. |
| 1.21 | BRK | Brett Butler (22) | OF | 2004 | A safe pick, and perhaps overvalued here. |
| 1.22 | SFS | Dick McBride (24) | P | 2003 | More help on the mound for the Sea Lions. |
#Round 2
| Pick | Team | Player & Age | Pos | Debut | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | OTT | Robbie Ray (20) | P | 2004 | The peak is attractive. |
| 2.2 | BBB | Yoenis Céspedes (27) | OF | 2002 | Some immediate help for a somewhat crowded OF. |
| 2.3 | CAG | José Quintana (20) | P | 2005 | More long term rotation help. |
| 2.4 | LAA | Charlie Leibrandt (21) | 2B | 2005 | More pitching depth. Spot a pattern? |
| 2.5 | HOD | Pat Luby (20) | P | 2004 | With their exceptions used up, the pool thins out quickly. |
| 2.6 | LAA | Garry Templeton (19) | SS | 2005 | Templeton didn’t sign with HOU last year, he find himself in an organization more desperate for MI help this year. |
| 2.7 | OTT | Billy Jurges (21) | SS | 2003 | Maybe a hedge against Álex Rodríguez’ eventual shift to 3B? |
| 2.8 | CAG | Josh Hader (19) | P | 2005 | Eventual closer possibility for a team that should need it. |
| 2.9 | KCM | Bill Sherdel (20) | P | 2005 | A surprise pick. We’ll see. |
| 2.10 | BBB | Ron Gant (18) | SS | 2007 | BBB traded up to get Gant who, while a few years away, does project as a decent corner OF. |
| 2.11 | KCM | Allen Sothoron (20) | P | 2005 | More pitching, constrained by franchise history. |
| 2.12 | POR | Josh Johnson (18) | P | 2006 | Development needed, but decent upside. |
| 2.13 | IND | Johnny Allen (24) | P | 2002 | A potential steal, as Allen could help this season. |
| 2.14 | BAL | Jouett Meekin (22) | P | 2003 | Another intriguing selection–immediate help, if not a lot of extended value. |
| 2.15 | HOU | Paul Splittorf (22) | P | 2004 | Decent mid-rotation talent. |
| 2.16 | POR | Bob Groom (23) | P | 2003 | More medium talent with potential near-term impact. |
| 2.17 | CLE | Tommy Corcoran (17) | SS | 2006 | A pick for the future, but not a bad bet. |
| 2.18 | HOU | Tommy Harper (20) | OF | 2005 | HOU has an affection for these multi-position, roster extended options. |
| 2.19 | BRK | Zane Smith (21) | P | 2005 | Brooklyn believes deeply in stockpiling arms and letting them develop, Smith fits that profile. |
| 2.20 | SFS | Jimmie Lyons (20) | OF | 2003 | No room for him in SFS, but his talent is undeniable. |
We’re quickly moving to less immediately impactful names, so we’ll do the rest of the draft as team summaries.
| Team | Rounds 1-2 | Rounds 3-12 | Grade | Grade/ Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAL | Jose Altuve (2B), Jouett Meekin (P) | Billy Lush (OF), Terry Crowley (1B), Herm Starrette (P), Levin Jones (OF), Eddy Rodríguez (P), Gosuke Katoh (1B), Earl Cook (P), Jerry Hinsley (P), Candy Sierra (P) | C | Altuve is great, but very young. Not a lot from the rest, although Crowley has some pop in his bat. |
| BBB | Yoenis Céspedes (OF) | Steve Cishek (P), Ricardo Hernández (3B), Ed Hanyzewski (P), Grant Dayton (P), Lefty Wallace (P), Harry Hulihan (P), Zach Vincej (SS), Jake Smith (P), Dale Roberts (P), Kid Baldwin (C), Brandon Larson (3B) | C | Hernández has some potential, but this is not a great draft, even if Céspedes comes good somewhat immediately. |
| BRK | Brett Butler (OF), Zane Smith (P) | Jerry Garvin (P), Lew McCarty (C), Mickey Hughes (P), Davis Daniel (P), Joe Evers (1B), Marvell Wynne (OF), Ed Albosta (P), Shaun Anderson (P) | B | A good job. Butler will have a WBL career, and both Smith and Garvin have live arms. Wynne may be a steal as well. |
| CAG | Zack Greinke (P), José Quintana (P), Josh Hader (P) | Bob Priddy (P), Dominic Fletcher (OF), Mike Caruso (SS), Harry Clark (3B), Ross Gload (OF), Mem Lovett (1B), Rómulo Sánchez (P), Al Kellett (P), Hugh Canavan (P), Vaughn Eshelman (P) | A- | The first 3 picks are all excellent additions to a system starved for pitching. Not a lot else, although Caruso and Gload may have some potential. |
| CLE | Todd Helton (1B), Tommy Corcoran (SS) | Julián Tavárez (P), Emil Levsen (P), Abraham Almonte (2B), Chauncey Fisher (P), Jerry Fahr (P), Cotton Knaupp (SS), Dalton Jones (2B), Juan Castillo (2B), Rabbit Benton (2B) | B+ | Helton solves a long-term issue, the rest seems fine, with Tavárez being a decent pickup. |
| DET | Riley Greene (OF), Kid Madden (P), Jakie May (P), Howie Krist (P), Nate Cornejo (P), Bill Barrett (C), Jess Pike (P), Ambrose McGann (2B), Bud Smith (P), Otto Jacobs (C), Jeter Downs (2B) | C | No picks in the first 2 rounds hurts a lot, but Greene could be a steal for the Wolverines. | |
| HOD | Juan Soto (OF), Bingo DeMoss (2B), George Zettlein (P), Pat Luby (P), Ron Gant (SS) | Terry Larkin (P), Vern Olsen (P), Billy Holland (SS/P), Elmer Yoter (3B), Steven Hill (C), Harry East (3B), Lev Shreve (P), Phonney Martin (OF) | A | Could be transformational. Soto is a generational talent, DeMoss a clear succession plan for Ryne Sandberg, and even Holland has some intriguing potential as a 2-way player. |
| HOM | David Cone (P) | Cliff Chambers (P), Bob Walk (P), Jimmy Ripple (OF), Red Witt (P), Jeff Wallace (P), Harry Jordan (P), Bill Hallman (OF), Larry Ciaffone (OF), Jaycob Brugman (OF), Jeff Doyle (2B) | B | Cone is a great pick, but there’s not a lot else here. |
| HOU | Ed Morris (P), Paul Splittorff (P), Tommy Harper (2B) | Lou Piniella (OF), Ken Suarez (C), Jim Wohlford (SS), José Cisnero (P), Mike Hedlund (P), Clint Hurdle (C), Danny Bautista (OF), Rance Pless (1B), Bob Friedrichs (P), Ricky Gutiérrez (SS), Mauro Zárate (P), Rod Gilbreath (3B), Gene Moriarity (OF) | B+ | Could be higher, depending on how Morris develops. Lots of potentially useful marginal pieces in later rounds–Piniella, Hurdle, Gutiérrez. |
| IND | Dave Winfield (OF), Johnny Allen (P) | Gary Redus (OF), Tex McDonald (SS), Dusty Miller (OF), Billy McCool (P), Chub Sullivan (1B), Tom Wiedenbauer (OF), Jackson Tetreault (P), Logan Allen (P), Mike Champion (2B) | A | Winfield being available was shocking. Allen and Redus being added makes the draft a surprising success. |
| KCM | Chris Carpenter (P), Bill Sherdel (P), Allen Sothoron (P) | Casey Kotchman (1B), Tex Pruiett (P), Fred Holdsworth (P), Gerónimo Peña (2B), Otto Schomberg (1B), Wish Egan (P), Pete Naton (C), Tom Donohue (C), Harley Dillinger (P) | C | Weird. Lots of franchise picks, but not a ton of actual value behind Carpenter. |
| LAA | Rod Carew (2B), Charlie Leibrandt (P), Garry Templeton (SS) | Steve Henderson (OF), Jack DiLauro (P), Mike Trost (C), Dennis Ribant (P), Lou Pote (P), Zach Lutz (3B), Dave Pierson (C), Doc Land (OF), Rubén Quevedo (P), Francisco Peña (c) | B+ | Sure. Carew fills an obvious need, as does Templeton. |
| MEM | Jim Rice (OF) | Sam Jethroe (OF), Joe Hornung (OF), John Healy (P), Hal Rhyne (SS), Joe Ellick (3B), Joe Cicero (OF), Jerry Mallett (OF), Iván Cruz (1B), Sam Childs (1B), Tony Balsamo (P), Harry Smith (2B) | B– | Another young OF? Really, Memphis? And after that, adding Jethroe to Rice? There better be some trades a-coming. |
| MCG | Pedro Martínez (P), Jack Glasscock (SS) | Jesús Lazardo (P), Bobby Vaughn (2B), Erasmo Ramírez (P), Jing Johnson (P), Billy Redmon (SS), Scott Olsen (P), Steven Ames (P), Mario Ramírez (SS), Francis Martes (P), George Milstead (P) | A | Any draft that gets you Martínez is an A. But … Glasscock may be an overreach. |
| NYG | Amos Rusie (P) | Red Murray (OF), Dave Veres (P), Harry McCormick (P), Alvin Davis (1B), Kiko Calero (P), Frank West (P), Luis Castillo (P), Héctor Sánchez (C), Andy Rincon (P), Ed Wilkinson (OF), William Coon (OF), Kevin Collins (3B) | C | Love me some Rusie, and he’ll help right away … but the rest … Veres and Calero fit with the Gothams’ bullpen obsession. |
| NYY | Giancarlo Stanton (OF) | John Kruk (1B), Rich Coggins (OF), John Shaffer (P), Frank Gilhooley (OF), John Ryan Murphy (C), Dutch Rudolph (OF), Marcus Wilson (OF), Darrell Johnson (C), Roy Witherup (P), Mike Shea (P) | D | Stanton is headed out of town, making this a much weaker draft, even if Kruk looks like a solid bat. Still, the Black Yankees never have cared about the draft, so perhaps that’s unfair: if Perry brings them a championship, they’ll see this as a great draft, no matter what Stanton does. |
| OTT | Jim McCormick (P), Robbie Ray (P), Billy Jurges (SS) | Al Woods (OF), Jesse Carlson (P), Wilton Guerrero (2B), Ed Atkinson (OF), Dane Myers (OF), Bill Collver (OF), Orlando Mercado (C), Emanuel Snyder (OF) | C | Maybe? They need arms, so maybe? |
| PHI | Darryl Strawberry (OF) | Harry Eisenstat (P), Andy Hansen (P), Ben Tincup (P), Jack Scheible(P), Pat Bohen (P), Doc Amole (P), Ben Froehlich (C), John Peters (OF), Fred Buckingham (P), Andy Sommerville (P), Joe Schultz (C), Travis Swaggerty (OF) | C- | The Strawberry pick makes total sense. The rest … not so much. |
| POR | Jack Fournier (1B), Josh Johnson (P), Bob Groom (P) | Steve Brye (OF), Rich Reese (1B), David Hulse (OF), Joe Gedeon (OF), Kyle Garlick (OF), Carlos Pascual (P), Moe Berg (SS), Bill Sarni (C), Terry Humphrey (C), Jesús Montero (C), Babe Ellison (1B) | C | Talk about looking to the future … Fournier has a future, but he’s 16. And the run on catchers at the end is just downright odd. |
| SFS | John Smoltz (P), Dick McBride (P), Jimmie Lyons (OF) | Joe Dunand (2B), Kevin Kobel (P), Nate Mondou (2B), Hank Hulvey (P), Bert Kuczynski (P), Jerar Encarnación (OF), Greg Aquino (P), Dorn Taylor (P), Art Smith (P) | A | I mean … how did they do this? Smoltz is a rotation arm, Lyons has immense talent. |