The 1st round of the June 2008 MLB Amateur Draft has yielded a number of all-stars and a National League MVP. The draft was almost six drafts ago, so let’s review and the top 5 and some of the other more notable picks.
1. Tim Beckham-SS (Tampa Bay Rays) Tim was drafted out of Griffin High School in Georgia. He was ranked the 28th best prospect in baseball prior to the 2009 season, but fell down to the 92nd best in 2012. He has yet to make his major league debut, but has progressed through the Rays’ minor league system, spending his first full year in AAA last season. Maybe this year he will make his major league debut. While he is still young at 23, he has 6 seasons of minor league play under his belt with no major league experience. Not really what you want out of the 1st overall pick.
2.Pedro Alvarez-3B (Pittsburgh Pirates) Drafted out of Vanderbilt University, Alvarez, only played three seasons in the minors, mostly at the double and triple A level. He got his first call up in 2010, but his major league career has been hot and cold. In 2010, he played 95 games & hit 16HR but in 2011 batted .191 w/4HR. 2012 was somewhat of a breakout year for Alvarez hitting 30HR & 85RBI for the Pirates. He is off to a slow start this season, but we aren’t out of April yet, so I’m not going to judge him yet for this year.
3.Eric Hosmer-1B (Kansas City Royals) Also drafted out of high school like Beckham, the two have taken vastly different paths. This pick makes the Beckham pick look bad. Hosmer has played two full MLB seasons (2011 & 2012). In 2011, he placed 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting, finishing with a .293BA & 78RBI. He is a very consistent player, and will be on the Royals’ roster for the foreseeable future.
4.Brian Matusz-P (Baltimore Orioles). Lefty from the University of San Diego, Matusz made his MLB debut in 2009 for Baltimore. Originally a starter for the 1st four years of his Oriole career, he has been moved to the bullpen for the 2013 campaign. In 2010, he earned 10 wins for Baltimore, and finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting. But in 2011, he posted a 1-9 record. Matusz is fairing better this season coming out of the bullpen. Pitchers are sometimes hard to grade because of the team they play on.
5. Buster Posey-C (San Francisco Giants) The gem of the 2008 draft, Posey has won two World Series, and been awarded the 2010 Rookie of the Year, 2012 All-Star, 2012 NL MVP, 2012 Silver Slugger Award, 2012 Hank Aaron Award,2012 NL Batting Champion, 2012 NL Comeback Player of the Year. Need I say more.
Notables
9.Aaron Crow-P (Washington Nationals) Crow didn’t sign with the Nationals, because he didn’t want to play with a losing franchise, so he went back to college, only to get drafted by the Kansas City Royals a year later. But he was a 2011 All-Star and has been a solid reliver for the Royals.
21. Ryan Perry-P (Detroit Tigers) Perry is notable because when I was in college, I saw him pitch in the College World Series regional against my school, Eastern Michigan. I even went out and get a Perry jersey t-shirt. He was lights out in the inning he pitched. Now he has moved on to play for the Washington Nationals.
26. Daniel Schlereth-P (Arizona Diamondbacks) I put Schlereth up here because he got the win in the most recent game I went to, see my article about the Tides v Braves. Also his dad is former NFL player, and current ESPN personality Mark Schlereth.
37.Conor Gillaspie-IF (San Fransico Giants) Conor was the first 2008 pick to make his MLB debut he now plays for the White Sox.
39. Lance Lynn-P (St. Louis Cardinals) Lynn was a great steal for the Cardinals. Making the 2012 NL All-Star team, and winning the World Series with the Cardinals in 2011. In 2012 he was 18-7 and is 2-0 this season. Lynn is a high strikeout pitcher and should be a good number two or three pitcher for the Cardinals.
43. Wade Miley-P (Arizona Diamondbacks) A 2012 NL All-Star, got 16 wins and finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting last season. He is off to a solid start tihs year starting out 2-0 with a 2.13ERA in two starts.
96.Craig Kimbrel-P (Atlanta Braves) Was 2011 Rookie of the Year, 2012 NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, 2011 & 2012 NL All-Star.
163. Alex Avila-C (Detroit Tigers) A fifth round steal for Detroit Avila made the 2011 AL All-Star team & won the Silver Slugger award that year. Should be Detroit’s catcher of the future.
Former West Virginia QB Pat White was drafted by the Reds in the 49th Round, but never played.
I hope you enjoyed this little overview, if you have any other players from the draft that you like, feel free to post about them in the comments section below.
The Bleacher Blues 