MLB Draft: Looking at the Pittsburgh Pirates First-Round Picks from 1994-2010
With the 2011 MLB amateur draft quickly approaching, fans and analysts alike are debating the direction the Pittsburgh Pirates will take with the first overall pick.
Pirates faithful are probably not optimistic, with good reason.
Since 1994, the Pirates have selected numerous busts and underwhelming prospects, while passing on several All-Stars and other above-average major league contributors.
While the Pirates have had some recent success, with the likes of Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen seeming worthy of their first-round selections, the past blunders cannot be denied.
Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the Pirates first-round selections from 1994-2010:
*Obviously positional depth in the organization could change the circumstances of who they chose not to pick, but based on talent, the guys they passed on were typically much better players.
1994: 11th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Mark Farris, OF, HS
Drafted as an outfielder, Farris would move to shortstop and never make it past Double-A during his four seasons in the Pirates system. Having turned down a football scholarship from Texas A&M to sign with the Pirates in 1994, Farris would wind up back on the football field. He led the Aggies to a Galleryfurniture.com Bowl win in 2001.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Nomar Garciaparra, SS, Georgia Tech
Coming off a successful career as a member of the Yellow Jackets, Garciaparra would rise through the Red Sox system in three years and win the 1997 Rookie of the Year Award. Garciaparra would go to six All-Star games with the Red Sox throughout his career and is one of 13 players to ever hit two grand slams in a single game.
Honorable Mentions: Paul Konerko, Keith Foulke, Jason Varitek
1995: 10th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Chad Hermansen, SS, HS
A shortstop in high school, Hermansen emerged as a top Pirates prospect right away. A South Pacific League All-Star during 1997, Hermansen was moved to the outfield and was promoted in 1999 as the Pirates center fielder of the future.
However, by 2000 he had lost his starting job and would eventually bounce around to the Cubs and the Dodgers before retiring in 2005 with a .195 career batting average.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Roy Halladay, P, HS
Selected 17th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays, Halladay has become arguably the best pitcher in the game today. A seven-time All-Star, Halladay has won a Cy Young in both the American and the National League.
In 2010, Halladay threw a perfect game and later a postseason no-hitter for the Phillies. He currently has a 3.29 career ERA along with 174 career wins.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Morris, Carlos Beltran, Joe Nathan, Mike Lowell
1996: 1st Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Kris Benson, P, Clemson
After being named college baseball's National Player of the Year in 1996, the Pirates selected Benson with the first overall pick in the draft. He spent two years in the minors and made his major league debut in 1998.
Benson would finish fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1998. In 2000, Benson would break the Pirates record for most strikeouts in a season by a right-hander, but would need Tommy John surgery after the season. Benson would put together lackluster seasons after missing the 2001 season, and was eventually traded to the Mets at the 2004 trade deadline.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: No One Significant
1996 turned out to be an odd year for the MLB draft. While Kris Benson never lived up to his hype as a first overall selection, neither did many of the other first-round selections. However, in odd fashion, the late rounds produced several great players, some of whom are still contributing today.
Notable Late-Round Picks: Jimmy Rollins, Roy Oswalt, Ted Lilly, Travis Hafner, Brad Penny
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1997: 8th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: J.J. Davis, 1B, HS
Highly touted coming out of high school in California, Davis was moved to the outfield while playing in the Pirates minor leagues. He would eventually debut during September of 2002 for the Pirates, and went on to play three disappointing seasons for the Pirates.
Davis would play one season for the Nationals in 2005 before retiring with a .179 career batting average and only six home runs.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Lance Berkman, 1B, Rice
Coming out of Rice University, Berkman was touted as a switch-hitting machine at first base. The former College Baseball Player of the Year, Berkman would be called up to the Houston Astros midway through the 1999 season and move to the outfield due to the presence of Jeff Bagwell.
Berkman has gone on to become a five-time All Star and has seemingly revived his career in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He has a .297 career batting average and over 1,000 career RBI.
Honorable Mentions: Jayson Werth, Jon Garland, Chone Figgins, Michael Young, Tim Hudson
1998: 15th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Clinton Johnston, P, Vanderbilt
A second-team All-American outfielder during college, Johnston amassed just 10 total wins over four seasons in the Pirates' minor league system. With the position switch being designated a failure, Johnston never made the big leagues.
He eventually moved on to play independent league baseball around the United States and in Canada. In 2008, as a first baseman, Johnston hit 10 home runs and hit .305 for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Carsten Sabathia, P, HS
Better known to baseball fans as "CC," this hulking left-hander has established himself as one of the most dominating major league pitchers today. Sabathia made his debut with the Indians in 2001 and won 17 games on his way to finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Ichiro.
Since then, Sabathia has won one Cy Young Award, been selected to four All-Star teams and has won the Warren Spahn Award three times as baseball's best left-handed pitcher. He currently has 157 career wins and is creeping up on the 2,000 career strikeout mark.
Honorable Mentions: Brad Lidge, Matt Thornton, Adam Dunn, Matt Holliday, Mark Buerhle
1999: 8th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Bobby Bradley, P, HS
Bradley, a High School All-American hailing from Florida, would sign with the Pirates for a $2.3 million bonus instead of following his letter of intent to Florida State University. Bradley participated in the 2000 Futures game and was rated the 20th overall prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2001 season.
His potential would never be realized though due to several arm injuries. Bradley had arthroscopic surgery in June of 2001 and Tommy John surgery later that same season. After missing the 2002 season, Bradley had to undergo another surgery in 2003. He eventually reached Triple-A but struggled and was released to make room for Zach Duke.
Bradley went to camp with the Marlins in 2006, but would leave after just one day.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Alex Rios, 3B/OF, Puerto Rico
Rios was selected 19th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1999. He would spend five years in the minors as a top prospect before making his debut in 2004. The former Eastern League MVP has gone on to become a two-time All Star and currently plays for the Chicago White Sox. He has a career .279 batting average.
Honorable Mentions: Barry Zito, Ben Sheets, Justin Morneau, Carl Crawford, John Lackey
2000: 19th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Sean Burnett, P, HS
A state champion his senior year at Wellington High School in Wellington, FL, Burnett came to the Pirates as a lefty with pinpoint control. He did not disappoint early, winning the Pirates' Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award in 2001 and 2002.
Burnett was named the Carolina League's No. 1 prospect and moved on to the Altoona Curve where he would rack up a 14-5 record in Double-A. He was recalled during the 2004 season and won five games his rookie season before missing the entire 2005 season due to surgery. Burnett spent the next two seasons in Triple-A, and was eventually replaced on the Pirates roster by Rule-Five draft pick Evan Meek.
In 2009, the Pirates traded Burnett, along with Nyjer Morgan to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Adam Wainwright, P, HS
Wainwright had planned on attending Georgia Tech coming out of high school, but instead chose to sign with the Atlanta Braves after they made him the 29th overall selection in the 2000 draft. However, in 2003 Wainwright changed uniforms, as he was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of the deal that brought J.D. Drew to Atlanta.
Wainwright would make his debut for the Cardinals in 2005 as a reliever and has continued to improve after being moved into the starting rotation. Highlighted by a 19-win 2009 season, Wainwright has made one All-Star team, won a Gold Glove and was the NL Pitcher of the Year in 2009. He has a career ERA of 2.97.
Honorable Mentions: Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, James Shields, Ian Kinsler
2001: 8th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: John Van Benschoten, 1B/OF, Kent State
A power-hitting sensation at Kent State, Van Benschoten led all college hitters with 31 home runs his junior season. However, he also worked as Kent State's closer and when the Pirates selected him eighth overall, they decided to make him a permanent pitcher in their system. He was named the Pirates' top prospect in both 2003 and 2004, and made his major league debut during the 2004 season.
As goes the story for so many Pirates pitching prospects, Van Benschoten would also have his career derailed by injuries. He was put on the DL in 2004 and missed the rest of the season, and also missed the 2005 season. After bouncing between the minors and the Pirates several more times, Van Benschoten became a free agent in 2008. He currently holds the record for highest career ERA, 9.20, with at least 75 career innings pitched.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: David Wright, 3B, HS
Using the supplementary pick received due to the loss of Mike Hampton to free agency, the New York Mets selected David Wright. Since the selection in 2001, Wright has gone on to make five All-Star teams, win two Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards. He also is a member of the 30 home run-30 stolen base club, and holds the record for most career doubles as a New York Met.
He has a career .302 batting average.
Honorable Mentions: Dan Haren, Dan Uggla, Ryan Howard
2002: 1st Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Bryan Bullington, P, Ball State
Bullington was selected first overall in 2002 due to his "signability" over players like B.J. Upton, Jon Lester and Prince Fielder. For the Ball State Cardinals, Bullington had gone 11-3 and had set the then single-season record for strikeouts at the collegiate level.
Once in the minors, Bullington racked up 13 wins between two teams and continue to progress through the system. After eventually getting the call to the majors in 2005, Bullington suffered through an injury-plagued two seasons before being designated for assignment in 2008, where he was claimed by the Cleveland Indians.
Bullington is 1-9 in his major league career with a five-plus ERA. He is currently playing professional baseball in Hiroshima, Japan.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Zack Greinke, P, HS
After being selected by the Royals with the sixth overall selection, Greinke was named The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year in 2003, after pitching his way to a 15-4 record with a 1.93 ERA. Greinke would have continued success in the major leagues, making his debut in 2004.
Since 2004, Greinke has been selected to one All-Star team, won one Cy Young Award and was the 2009 ERA champion.
Honorable Mentions: Prince Fielder, Cole Hamels, Nick Swisher, Matt Cain, Scott Kazmir
2003: 8th Overall Selection
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Who the Pirates Selected: Paul Maholm, P, Mississippi State
While Maholm has certainly not been the extreme bust of a Bobby Bradley or a Bryan Bullington, he has not lived up to the hype of an eighth overall selection. After making his debut in 2005, Maholm has never been better than average for the Pirates.
While he has proven to be durable and reliable enough to take the mound every five days as a member of the starting rotation, he has never been able to take that next step. Maholm has a career record of 48-63, all with the Pirates, to go along with a career ERA of 4.46.
Who the Pirates Could Have Selected: Chad Billingsley, P, HS
Billingsley has not been much better than Maholm since being drafted 24th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he has been better. Racking up a 59-41 career record to go along with a 3.55 career ERA, Billingsley has been a consistent presence in the Dodgers rotation since 2006.
The powerfully built right-hander has been selected to one All-Star team and continues to develop as a pitcher.
Honorable Mentions: Carlos Quention, Aaron Hill, Adam Jones
2004-2010
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While it is probably too early in their careers to call these players busts or worthy first-rounders, it is not too early to take a look at how they have fared thus far.
2004: Neil Walker (11th Overall Selection)
Drafted as a catcher, Walker has since moved to second base for the Pirates after also being tried as a third baseman. Being judged as a bust early on, Walker has come on strong for the Pirates and leads the team in batting average and RBI. He is currently their starting second baseman.
2005: Andrew McCutchen (11th Overall Selection)
A true rising star in the game, McCutchen hasn't disappointed so far. Since being moved into the starting lineup during 2009 to replace Nate McLouth, he has proven himself to be a game-changer on the basepaths and at the dish. He currently leads the team in home runs with eight, and continues to fine-tune his defense in center field.
2006: Brad Lincoln (4th Overall Selection)
Lincoln has yet to prove himself at the major league level. After getting the call in 2010, Lincoln flopped and was eventually sent back down to Triple-A Indianapolis. In 2011, Lincoln has been strong in Triple-A while he recovers from an injury, and could be added to the rotation anywhere from now until June.
2007: Daniel Moskos (4th Overall Selection)
Perhaps former Pirates GM Dave Littlefield's most criticized selection, Moskos has gone from starter to setup man since 2007. He seems to have found his role as a lefty specialist coming out of the bullpen and continues to adjust to the bullpen mentality. He was recently optioned back to Indianapolis to make room for a healthy Evan Meek.
2008: Pedro Alvarez (2nd Overall Selection)
Alvarez has been heralded as the "clean-up hitter in waiting" since being drafted out of Vanderbilt. However, he has struggled with plate discipline and strikeouts. His lack of range as a starting third baseman also has a rumored move to first base alive in the clubhouse.
While his career is still young and full of promise, Pirates faithful are becoming impatient with the powerful lefty.
2009: Tony Sanchez (4th Overall Selection)
Sanchez is known as a high-contact hitter who is adept defensively. While the bat is questioned by some, Sanchez has shown the ability to hit for average thus far in the minors. A broken jaw in 2009 did set back his progress, but Sanchez is back on track playing for Double-A Altoona.
2010: Jameson Taillon (2nd Overall selection)
The youngest and perhaps the most highly-touted of all these first-round selections, Taillon is a hopeful ace for a desperate franchise. The 19-year-old has four pitches that are average or above, and can crank his fastball into the high-90s.
Taillon is currently enjoying moderate success with the Single-A West Virginia Power. Pirates fans are hoping the frequent Josh Beckett comparisons are accurate, and that Taillon can arrive to the majors with a bang.
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