1997 MLB Draft

Thinking about Lance Berkman got me thinking about the 1997 MLB draft (Berkman was taken 16th by the Astros).

The top three picks of the 1997 draft were:

1. Matt Anderson RHP - Tigers
2. JD Drew OF - Phillies
3. Troy Glaus - 3B Angels

Do you think the Tigers would like a do over on this pick? The top three remind me of the year in the NBA that Joe Barry Carrol was picked first by the Warriors, Darrell Griffith was picked second by Utah and the Celtics wound up with Kevin McHale. The third pick in both cases was much better than the first two combined.

How do good do you think the Phillies would be right now if they picked Glaus instead of Drew? (Of course we have to remember that the Phillies already had Scott Rolen in their farm system haven drafted him in 1993.)

San Francisco took Jason Grilli with the fourth pick and Vernon Wells went to the Blue Jays with the very next pick. Now is when I remind Giants fans that Wells hit .317 last year with 33 HR and 117 RBI.

Berkman was the next big success at 16. The Red Sox had the 17th pick and used it on LHP John Curtice who has had slightly less impact at the MLB level than Berkman [sarcasm off].

Almost exactly half of the 31 first round picks were used on pitchers (15 of 31). (None of which can be classified as all-star type successes so far.)

Almost exactly half of the 31 first round picks were used on high school players (15 of 31). Vernon Wells is the only high schooler from that draft that has made a real good MLB impression so far but you do have to give it some more years before reaching any sort of judgment.