2008 MLB Draft

Major League Baseball’s 2008 First-Year Player Draft — also known as the Rule 4 Draft — is Thursday, June 5, at The Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., just outside Orlando. For the second straight year, the MLB Draft will be televised, on ESPN2 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. ET.

“Major League Baseball was encouraged by the very positive response both among baseball fans and our industry to the national telecast of last year’s First-Year Player Draft,” said commissioner Bud Selig.

“It represented an important first step, and there is a great potential to further build this event in the years ahead.”

There are also a few unique rules that separate the MLB First-Year Player Draft:

• Teams are not allowed to trade draft picks.

• Prospects (who are residents of the United States, a U.S. territory or Canada) may be drafted and subsequently sign with an MLB team out of high school. Prospects from other countries (Dominican Republic, Venezuela, etc.) are considered free agents.

• If a prospect does not sign with a team and instead opts to attend college, that prospect may not be drafted until after his junior season. A junior who is drafted has the option to return to school for his senior year rather than sign with the MLB team.

• All drafted players must be signed by August 15, otherwise the unsigned prospect has the right to enter the following year’s First-Year Player Draft.

While the MLB First-Year Player Draft has yet to take on the same significance as the NFL or NBA Drafts, it is growing in popularity at arguably a faster rate. Obviously, being televised helps, but so does the rise of college baseball and the immediate impact of young ballplayers at the big league level.

There is no better example than the epic 2005 MLB First-Year Player Draft, which has already produced some of the game’s best young players:

1. Diamondbacks – Justin Upton, OF, Great Bridge HS (Chesapeake, Va.)
2. Royals – Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska
4. Nationals – Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Virginia
5. Brewers – Ryan Braun, OF, Miami
7. Rockies – Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Long Beach State
12. Reds – Jay Bruce, OF, Westbrook HS (Beaumont, Texas)
23. Red Sox – Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Oregon State

And that list of 2005 alumni doesn’t even include emerging prospects like Mariners catcher Jeff Clement (No. 3 overall, USC), Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin (Tigers at No. 10, Roberson HS, N.C.), Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen (No. 11, Fort Meade HS, Fla.), Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus (No. 28, Russell County HS, Ala.) or Red Sox no-hit hurler Clay Buchholz (No. 42, Angelina College, Texas).

The 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft wasn’t as deep but it has seen the emergence of three of the best young arms in the game — Yankees star fireballer Joba Chamberlain (No. 41, Nebraska), Giants undersized ace Tim Lincecum (No. 10, Washington) and Dodgers 20-year-old lefty Clay Kershaw (No. 7, Highland Park HS, Texas).

This year’s draft class is considered to be solid, but with no clear-cut, “can’t miss” prospect as the No. 1 overall pick. Although, judging from history’s list of No. 1 picks, there is always risk involved — especially at the top.

2007 – Tampa Bay Devil Rays – David Price, LHP, Vanderbilt
2006 – Kansas City Royals – Luke Hochevar, RHP, Tennessee
2005 – Arizona Diamondbacks – Justin Upton, SS, Great Bridge (Va.) HS
2004 – San Diego Padres – Matt Bush, SS, Mission Bay (Calif.) HS
2003 – Tampa Bay Devil Rays – Delmon Young, OF, Camarillo (Calif.) HS
2002 – Pittsburgh Pirates – Bryan Bullington, RHP, Ball State
2001 – Minnesota Twins – Joe Mauer, C, Cretin-Derham (Minn.) HS
2000 – Florida Marlins – Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Eastlake (Calif.) HS
1999 – Tampa Bay Devil Rays – Josh Hamilton, OF, Athens Drive (N.C.) HS
1998 – Philadelphia Phillies – Pat Burrell, 3B, Miami
1997 – Detroit Tigers – Matt Anderson, RHP, Rice
1996 – Pittsburgh Pirates – Kris Benson, RHP, Clemson
1995 – California Angels – Darin Erstad, OF, Nebraska
1994 – New York Mets – Paul Wilson, RHP, Florida State
1993 – Seattle Mariners – Alex Rodriguez, SS, Westminster Christian (Fla.) HS
1992 – Houston Astros – Phil Nevin, 3B, Cal State Fullerton
1991 – New York Yankees – Brien Taylor, LHP, East Cateret (N.C.) HS
1990 – Atlanta Braves – Chipper Jones, SS, The Bolles School (Fla.)
1989 – Baltimore Orioles – Ben McDonald, RHP, LSU
1988 – San Diego Padres – Andy Benes, RHP, Evansville
1987 – Seattle Mariners – Ken Griffey Jr., OF, Moeller (Ohio) HS
1986 – Pittsburgh Pirates – Jeff King, 3B, Arkansas
1985 – Milwaukee Brewers – B.J. Surhoff, C, North Carolina
1984 – New York Mets – Shawn Abner, OF, Mechanicsburg (Pa.) HS
1983 – Minnesota Twins – Tim Belcher, RHP, Mt. Vernon Nazarene College
1982 – Chicago Cubs – Shawon Dunston, SS, Jefferson (N.Y.) HS
1981 – Seattle Mariners – Mike Moore, RHP, Oral Roberts
1980 – New York Mets – Darryl Strawberry, OF, Crenshaw (Calif.) HS
1979 – Seattle Mariners – Al Chambers, OF, Harris (Pa.) HS
1978 – Atlanta Braves – Bob Horner, 3B, Arizona State
1977 – Chicago White Sox – Harold Baines, OF, St. Michaels (Md.) HS
1976 – Houston Astros – Floyd Bannister, LHP, Arizona State
1975 – California Angels – Danny Goodwin, C, Southern
1974 – San Diego Padres – Bill Almon, SS, Brown
1973 – Texas Rangers – David Clyde, LHP, Westchester (Texas) HS
1972 – San Diego Padres – Dave Roberts, 3B, Oregon
1971 – Chicago White Sox – Danny Goodwin, C, Central (Ill.) HS
1970 – San Diego Padres – Mike Ivie, C, Walker (Ga.) HS
1969 – Washington Senators – Jeff Burroughs, OF, Wilson (Calif.) HS
1968 – New York Mets – Tim Foli, SS, Notre Dame (Calif.) HS
1967 – New York Yankees – Ron Blomberg, 1B, Druid Hills (Ga.) HS
1966 – New York Mets – Steve Chilcott, C, Antelope Valley (Calif.) HS
1965 – Kansas City A’s – Rick Monday, C, Arizona State

This year, the Tampa Bay Rays have the No. 1 overall pick for the fourth time in the franchise’s brief history — but the first time since changing the team’s name from the “Devil Rays” to just the “Rays.” Two of the previous three No. 1 overall picks are no longer with the team, as Josh Hamilton (1999) is chasing an MVP and Triple Crown with the Rangers and Delmon Young (2003) was the key piece in a trade that brought right-handed starter Matt Garza to Tampa.

Last year’s first pick, Vanderbilt 6’6” lefty David Price, is thought to be on the fast track to the bigs. After an injury setback, Price has yet to allow a run for the Vero Beach Devil Rays in Class A — with 2-0 record, a 0.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts (compared to 2 walks) in 18.0 innings over three starts.

This year, the Rays have another chance to add another top-flight talent to a young roster that already includes 23-year-old outfielder B.J. Upton (No. 2 overall pick in 2002) and 22-year-old rookie third baseman Evan Longoria (No. 3 in 2006).

Although it remains to be seen who will go No. 1 in this year’s draft, there are two primary candidates — Griffin (Ga.) HS shortstop Tim Beckham and Florida State catcher Buster Posey — neither of whom are considered to be the best player in this year’s class — a distinction belonging to Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez. Two other prospects — San Diego lefty ace Brian Matusz and American Heritage (Fla.) HS first baseman Eric Hosmer — are also thought to be in the discussion but less likely candidates.

Tim Beckham, SS
6’1”, 190
Griffin (Ga.) HS

Beckham is being touted as the “third Upton brother” — a reference to Arizona’s Justin (No. 1 overall in 2005) and Tampa’s B.J. (No. 2 in 2002) — which is almost like being called “the fifth Beatle.” The 18-year-old lacks the power of the Uptons but does have the same fluid five-tool arsenal that is hard to pass up, no matter what pick in the draft. Beckham was the MVP of the 2007 Aflac All-American Baseball Classic, where he went 1-for-3 with 3 RBI, two sacrifice flies and an 8th-innning triple. As a senior, Beckham hit .500 in 78 at-bats, with five home runs, 31 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 40 runs scored. Although he signed to play baseball at USC, Beckham is most likely a Top-2 pick, reportedly having worked out only for Tampa Bay (No. 1) and Pittsburgh (No. 2).

Buster Posey, C
6’2”, 200
Florida State (Leesburg, Ga.)

Although the versatile Posey was already considered a candidate for the Rays at No. 1, the Seminole backstop rose to national prominence after playing all nine positions and hitting a grand slam in a 10-0 victory over Savannah State on May 9. After starting at his traditional catcher spot in the first inning, Posey played first base in the second, second base in the third, shortstop in the fourth, third base in the fifth, left field and center field in the sixth, before striking out both batters he faced as a pitcher in the seventh and finally moving to right field for the final out of a seven-inning blowout. For the year, Posey hit .471 in 191 at-bats, with 15 home runs, 62 RBI, five stolen bases and 70 runs. After being drafted in the 50th round by the Angels in 2005, Posey started 184 consecutive games at FSU and may be the safest pick in the draft.

Pedro Alvarez, 3B
6’2”, 225
Vanderbilt (New York, N.Y.)

Despite being the consensus top player in the draft, just as many feel Alvarez will not be the No. 1 overall pick this year — primarily due to a roadblock at third base (Longoria) with the Rays. After missing the first half of the season with a hand injury, Alvarez hit .322 in 121 at-bats, with six home runs, 22 RBI, three stolen bases and 33 runs scored. As a sophomore, Alvarez hit .386 with 18 home runs and 68 RBI, with a 24-game hit streak and a hit in 58-of-66 games on the year. That summer, he also hit .315 with seven homers and 30 RBI for the USA National Team, Alvarez’s second stint with Team USA. In 2006, Alvarez was Baseball America’s National Freshman of the Year. As a high school senior, he was named New York HS Player of the Year by Gatorade and Louisville Slugger, before being drafted by the Red Sox in the 14th round.

Alvarez is advised by super-agent Scott Boras, which may cause some teams to shy away from the draft’s top player. Last year, the top college hitter and high school pitcher both fell due to contract concerns stemming from Boras’ reputation and representation.

Georgia Tech catcher Matt Weiters was widely considered the top overall prospect in the draft, but slid to the Orioles at No. 5 overall. Meanwhile, Seton Hall (N.J.) Prep School pitcher Rick Porcello experienced a free-fall all the way to the Tigers at No. 27 overall. But it was worth it, as Porcello signed the largest contract ever given to a high school player, with a $3.5 million signing bonus and a $7.28 million deal.

MLB makes a point to slot salaries and give suggested bonuses for each pick. But since teams have the right to overpay if they choose, the top players have recently started to fall to franchises willing to pay the price. In fact, several teams — led by the Tigers and Yankees — have made a habit of overpaying. This is a trend worth watching, since the spirit of the draft is to give the worst teams the best players, theoretically leveling the playing field over the long run.

Politics and strategy aside, the MLB First-Year Player Draft has seemingly become more important in the modern era. High-priced free agent busts like Giants lefty Barry Zito and Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones are becoming more common; and so are quick contracts for young impact players like Braun and Tulowitzki. What was old is new again. Homegrown teams are back and prospects plant roots on draft day.

2008 MLB First Round Draft Order

1. Tampa Bay Rays
2. Pittsburgh Pirates
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. San Francisco Giants
6. Florida Marlins
7. Cincinnati Reds
8. Chicago White Sox
9. Washington Nationals
10. Houston Astros
11. Texas Rangers
12. Oakland A’s
13. St. Louis Cardinals
14. Minnesota Twins
15. Los Angeles Dodgers
16. Milwaukee Brewers
17. Toronto Blue Jays
18. New York Mets
19. Chicago Cubs
20. Seattle Mariners
21. Detroit Tigers
22. New York Mets
23. San Diego Padres
24. Philadelphia Phillies
25. Colorado Rockies
26. Arizona Diamondbacks
27. Minnesota Twins
28. New York Yankees
29. Cleveland Indians
30. Boston Red Sox