Draft Review - Seasons 1-2

With the amateur draft upon us I thought I'd take some time to review the top 5 picks in each of the drafts held so far. This edition contains seasons 1 & 2.

Season 1
1. Francis Bird (P-HS) - Las Vegas - First ever 2nd city draft pick went to the Double Downs. He reached the bigs in season 4 and has since gone 45-34 with a 3.97 ERA. The 26-year old has become a solid pitcher but has yet to perform like the ace everyone expected following his Rookie of the Year performance in Season 5.
2. Greg Jamison (P-HS) - Hartford (now Richmond) - He was traded to Salem in Season 3 after making just four starts for the franchise that drafted him. He's been in the Salem rotation since Season 5 going 65-25 with a 4.52 ERA, winning the Cy Young in Season 5, and thrice making the All-Star team. So far, he's been the best of the high school pitchers selected at the top of the draft.
3. Claude Rakers (P-HS) - Detroit (now Montreal) - He was dealt to Wichita in Season 3. The Shockers handled him with kid gloves, delaying his big-league debut until season 5. He's since gone 42-22 with a 4.82 ERA. Last year was his best. Rakers posted a 17-5 mark with a 4.05 ERA. Still, he's never made a major league all-star game.
4. Julio Mateo (OF-SR - Rice University) - Toronto (now Rochester) - The first collegian drafted made his debut in Season 2, won the MVP in Season 4, and has been an All-Star in 3 of the last 4 years. He's hit 309 HR's so far and at just 29, he's expected to eclipse 500 in his career, all of which has been played in Rochester.
5. Esteban Mendoza (P-HS) - New York 2 (now Augusta) - He was the first of the picks to reach the majors in Season 2. However, his lack of control has held him back. A 63-62 Record while never posting an ERA under 4.23 make him a disappointment.

Season 2
1. Billy Huffman (P-HS) - Chicago (now Toledo) - Shortly after drafting Huffman, jologue sold the team to Minnesota. The Mighty Bats then dealt Huffman to San Juan, depriving Toledo of a future ace. In return, the franchise received 3 players, Lucas Laxton, a solid if unspectacular CF that's still with Toledo, and 2 players that never made the Show. Huffman meanwhile, has been driving the ladies crazy with his handlebar mustache on the way to a 27-8 record for the Crownrificos. He's just 24 and seems poised to lead the rotation for years to come.
2. Sean Moore (P-JUCO SO) - Norfolk (now Washington DC) - Moore suffered through numerous ownership changes (including a 21-loss season), spending parts of 4 consecutive years at AAA before making his big-league debut in Season 7 with the Sioux Falls Dakota, who acquired him in a pre-season deal. His 10-7 debut was a solid one and the Dakota expect him to be a rotation main-stay for years to come.
3. Marty Brantley (P-JUCO - SO) - Atlanta (now Scranton) - Brantley was rushed through the minors debuting in Scranton in season 4 with just 45 minor league appearances. He went 8-16 as a rookie and was dealt to Richmond during Season 5. He's become a horse for the Confederates, throwing 238 inning last year in posting a 17-10 record. Still just 26, he really seems to be coming into his own.
4. Mark Hitchcock (SS-HS) - Tacoma (now Honolulu) - Hitchcock signed a then-record $5.3 million contract. He's spent his entire career in the organization, hitting .290 since reaching the bigs in season 5. Scouts continue to question his hands as he's made 40+ errors in each of the past 2 seasons. His bat continues to develop as well. Mark's knocked in 106 runs in each of the last two years.
5. Will Nicholson (P-HS) - Toronto (now Rochester) - Nicholson was dealt to Mexico City in Season 3. The Bandejos did not rush the reliever, keeping him in the minors until this season. He's been lights out in a set up role so far, with a 1.27 ERA and figures to earn a shot as a closer in a couple years.

#1 Picks of the Past

With the Season 7 draft just around the corner we look back at #1 overall picks of the past.

Season 1 - Francis Bird (P), Las Vegas Double Downs - After becoming the first ever Second City draft pick Bird went 40-21 with a 2.70 ERA in 4 minor league seasons. He made 7 starts in a cup of coffee trip to the bigs in Season 4. Then he took home the NL Rookie of the Year award in Season 5, going 13-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 196 IP. Bird remains the ace of the 6 time division champion Double Downs.

Season 2 - Billy Hoffman (P), Chicago Hog Butchers - Huffman landed with Hog Butchers (now the Toledo Boones Farmers). He was dealt in Season 3 by then-owner texasviking of the short-lived Minnestoa Mighty Bats. The recipient was wang35 and the San Juan Crownrificos. In return the 'rificos sent Lucas Laxton (career .270 hitter for Toledo), Omar Sosa (currently unemployed, never played in bigs), and Jarret Graves (currently at AA for Atlanta, never saw the bigs) to the Bats. Huffman, a high school pick, went 64-15 in 5 minor league seasons (2.88 ERA). Since making his big league debut in season 5, Huffman is 13-1 with a 2.70 ERA for the Crownrificos. Season 7 looks to be his first year spent entirely in the bigs as a 23 year-old.

Season 3 - Tom Davidson (2b), Colorado Mountain Oysters - Davidson, the first college junior to be drafted #1 overall, shot through the minors and made his ML debut late in season 3, hitting .364 in 77 ABs. He's never returned to the minors, hitting .347 with 103 career homers. Last year was his finest season, posting a .376 average with 29 HRs and 136 RBIs. After making 39 errors as a rookie, Davidson has become a solid in unspectacular fielder in Colorado. He signed a 5-year, $39.5M contract extension this past off-season.

Season 4 - Brett Davis (SS), Scranton Nittany Lions - The Lions have treated Davis with kid-gloves, slowly bringing along the high school pick that just turned 21. Scouts consider him a can't-miss prospect with the chance to consistently hit 50+ HR's a season. Davis has hit .329 with 94 career minor league dingers. Some scouts feel that Davis will eventually end up at 3b after a 62 error season at AA in year 5. He settled down last year making just 19 errors at AAA and is expected to make his big league debut later this season as a SS.

Season 5 - Vernon Mota (P), Texas Riders - Mota blew through the minors making the RL all-star team in Season 5 and arriving in the bigs late in Season 6 following a 10-1, 3.29 performance at AA. The Riders are counting on him as a key part of their rotation going forward, though the 23 year-old continues to struggle in a hitter-friendly park, posting a 6-4 record and 5.52 ERA so far this season.

Season 6 - Kevin Canseco (2B), Honolulu Dolphins - The high school legend from tiny Woodbury, MN made a big splash winning the rookie league silver slugger in his first professional year. The Dolphins haven't been shy, starting the precocious youngster at AA where he hit .347 in 46 games this year before a promotion to AAA. He's just 9 games in at AAA but scouts expect big things from Canseco going forward though he's probably 2-3 years from making a meaningful contribution in the bigs.

Season 7 - ????