MLB Draft Rewind for Every Team's Best Pick from the 2016 Draft
In the weeks leading up to the 2024 MLB draft, we revisited some past classes and highlighted the best pick that each team made, running through the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 events.
It's time for another round of strolls down draft memory lane.
Ahead is a deep dive into each team's best selection of the 2016 draft. Each club's best pick is chosen based on their overall accomplishments in the big leagues, not just what they did during their time with the team that drafted them. For example, Bryan Reynolds is the pick for the San Francisco Giants, even though he was traded before making his MLB debut.
Only players who signed are eligible, so guys such as Adley Rutschman, George Kirby, Brent Rooker and Nick Lodolo who were selected but honored their college commitments will be included down the road as part of the draft class when they did sign.
Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Kevin Ginkel
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Drafted: 14th round, No. 419 overall
Relievers Kevin Ginkel (252 G, 14 SV, 3.87 ERA, 9.9 K/9) and Colin Poche (238 G, 12 SV, 3.94 ERA, 10.9 K/9) have put together remarkably similar careers in the majors. Ginkel gets the nod by a narrow margin thanks to the fact that he is still suiting up for the D-backs.
Right-hander Jon Duplantier was a Top 100 prospect prior to the 2018 (No. 73) and 2019 (No. 86) seasons, but things never clicked in the big leagues. He is currently pitching for the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese League where he has a 1.67 ERA in 59.1 innings.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Jon Duplantier (3-89), LHP Colin Poche (14-419), RHP Riley Smith (24-719)
Athletics: C Sean Murphy
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Drafted: 3rd round, No. 83 overall
The Athletics traded both Sean Murphy and A.J. Puk with multiple years of club control remaining, and while Puk brought back the better return in the form of outfielder JJ Bleday, it's Murphy who has put together the better career to date.
After winning the 2021 AL Gold Glove and receiving 2022 AL MVP votes, Murphy earned an All-Star selection in his first season with the Braves in 2023. Injuries slowed him last year, but he has a 110 OPS+ and 1.3 WAR through 44 games this season.
Other Notable Picks: LHP A.J. Puk (1-6), RHP Daulton Jefferies (1-37), RHP Brandon Bailey (6-172), OF Eli White (11-322), 2B Nate Mondou (13-382), RHP Seth Martinez (17-502)
Atlanta Braves: RHP Bryse Wilson
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Drafted: 4th round, No. 109 overall
Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz and Kyle Muller cost the Braves a combined $9.55 million in signing bonus money as three of the top high school arms in the 2016 class, and while they all showed flashes, none developed into rotation staples.
Bryse Wilson pitched 76.1 innings in a Braves uniform over parts of four seasons before he was shipped to the Pirates for reliever Richard Rodríguez at the 2021 trade deadline. His best season came out of the Brewers bullpen in 2023 when he logged a 2.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and three saves in 53 appearances.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Ian Anderson (1-3), LHP Joey Wentz (1-40), LHP Kyle Muller (2-44), RHP Jeremy Walker (5-139), LHP Tucker Davidson (19-559)
Baltimore Orioles: OF Austin Hays
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Drafted: 3rd round, No. 91 overall
Austin Hays was the first player from the 2016 draft class to reach the majors, making his MLB debut on Sept. 7, 2017, and he put together a solid three-year peak run in Baltimore that included an All-Star selection in 2023.
Left-hander Keegan Akin has also developed into a solid bullpen piece for the Orioles, posting a 3.17 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 in 99 appearances since the start of the 2024 season.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Cody Sedlock (1-27), LHP Keegan Akin (2-54), RHP Brenan Hanifee (4-121), RHP Tobias Myers (6-181), LHP Zach Muckenhirn (11-331)
Boston Red Sox: IF Santiago Espinal
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Drafted: 10th round, No. 298 overall
Santiago Espinal has carved out a productive six-year career in the majors as a utility infielder, even earning an All-Star nod in 2022 when he served as the primary second baseman for the Blue Jays.
He never played in the big leagues for the Red Sox, but he did make an impact on the organization. Espinal was the prospect sent to the Blue Jays to acquire postseason hero Steve Pearce at the 2018 trade deadline. The veteran slugger went on to win 2018 World Series MVP, going 4-for-12 with three home runs and eight RBI in five games.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Shaun Anderson (3-88), 1B Bobby Dalbec (4-118), RHP Mike Shawaryn (5-148), RHP Stephen Nogosek (6-178), LHP Kyle Hart (19-568)
Chicago Cubs: RHP Tyson Miller
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Drafted: 4th round, No. 134 overall
The Cubs did not have a first- or second-round pick in the 2016 draft as a result of signing Jason Heyward and John Lackey in free agency, leaving Oklahoma State right-hander Thomas Hatch as the team's first pick at No. 104 overall.
Reliever Tyson Miller did enough during a breakthrough 2024 season to stand out as the team's best pick, posting a 2.32 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 58 appearances. A hip injury sidelined him to start the season, and he was designated for assignment after returning from the 60-day IL.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Thomas Hatch (3-104), RHP Stephen Ridings (8-254), RHP Michael Rucker (11-344), IF Zack Short (17-524), RHP Matt Swarmer (19-584), IF Trent Giambrone (25-764)
Chicago White Sox: RHP Ian Hamilton
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Drafted: 11th round, No. 326 overall
Catcher Zack Collins hit .363/.544/.668 with 16 home runs during his junior season at the University of Miami, but things never clicked in the big leagues, and he hit .188 with a 33.5 percent strikeout rate in 465 career plate appearances with the White Sox, Pirates and Guardians.
Reliever Ian Hamilton joined Ryan Burr to provide some fun Hamilton-Burr content during his time with the White Sox, but he didn't find MLB success until joining the Yankees. Over the past three seasons wearing pinstripes, he has a 3.37 ERA and 10.3 K/9 in 95 appearances.
Other Notable Picks: C Zack Collins (1-10), RHP Zack Burdi (1-26), OF Alex Call (3-86), RHP Jimmy Lambert (5-146), LHP Bernardo Flores Jr. (7-206), 3B Zach Remillard (10-296), RHP Matt Foster (20-596)
Cincinnati Reds: IF/OF Nick Senzel
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Drafted: 1st round, No. 2 overall
Nick Senzel ranked No. 3 on B/R's list of the 25 biggest prospect busts of the last 10 years that was published back in May, but he still stands as the most productive player from Cincinnati's 2016 draft haul.
The No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft climbed as high as No. 7 on the Top 100 prospect list, and he hit .256/.315/.427 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 104 games as a rookie, but that ended up being his peak performance. He is currently playing in the Mexican League.
Other Notable Picks: OF Taylor Trammell (1-35), C Chris Okey (2-43), RHP Ryan Hendrix (5-138), RHP Joel Kuhnel (11-318)
Cleveland Guardians: RHP Shane Bieber
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Drafted: 4th round, No. 122 overall
The Guardians had one of the best draft classes in a thin 2016 crop, with Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac, Will Benson and Nolan Jones all making some level of impact in the big leagues, but there's no question Shane Bieber has been the best of the bunch even with his recent time missed to injury.
After breaking out during the 2019 season, he took home 2020 AL Cy Young honors with a 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 77.1 innings during the abbreviated COVID season. He was also an All-Star in 2019 and 2021, and he tossed 200 innings for the second time in his career in 2022.
Other Notable Picks: OF Will Benson (1-14), OF Nolan Jones (2-55), RHP Aaron Civale (3-92), OF Conner Capel (5-152), IF Samad Taylor (10-302), RHP Zach Plesac (12-362), OF Trenton Brooks (17-512), LHP Raymond Burgos (18-542), LHP Tanner Tully (26-782), RHP Ryder Ryan (30-902)
Colorado Rockies: RHP Bryan Baker
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Drafted: 11th round, No. 320 overall
Right-hander Bryan Baker has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season, logging a 2.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a pristine 41-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 32.1 innings.
The O's claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays prior to the 2022 season, and the Blue Jays acquired him in 2018 when he was included as a player to be named in a trade for reliever Seunghwan Oh. He has posted a 3.54 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 in 165 appearances since joining the Orioles.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Riley Pint (1-4), LHP Ben Bowden (2-45), IF/OF Garrett Hampson (3-81), 3B Colton Welker (4-110), C Brian Serven (5-140), RHP J.D. Hammer (24-710), RHP Rico Garcia (30-890)
Detroit Tigers: RHP John Schreiber
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Drafted: 15th round, No. 445 overall
Matt Manning looked like a potential future ace when he spent five straight years on the Top 100 prospect list, peaking at No. 17 prior to the 2020 season, but he was never able to stake his claim to a rotation spot and now stands more as organizational depth.
Reliever John Schreiber had a 6.28 ERA in 28 appearances for the Tigers, but he later found success with the Red Sox and is now a key setup arm for the Royals. Since the start of the 2022 season, he has a 3.26 ERA and 9.6 K/9 with 11 saves and 63 holds in 201 appearances.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Matt Manning (1-9), RHP Kyle Funkhouser (4-115), RHP Bryan Garcia (6-175), OF Jacob Robson (8-235), RHP Brandyn Sittinger (17-505)
Houston Astros: C Jake Rogers
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Drafted: 3rd round, No. 97 overall
There was a time when it looked like Forrest Whitley might end up developing into the best player from the entire 2016 draft class, but injuries and a 50-game drug suspension derailed his rise to stardom and he was designated for assignment on June 8.
Instead, it's catcher Jake Rogers who has been the most productive big leaguer from the 2016 Astros draft, though his contributions have come in Detroit after he was included as one of the prospect pieces in the blockbuster deal to acquire Justin Verlander in 2017.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Forrest Whitley (1-17), OF Ronnie Dawson (2-61), IF Abraham Toro (5-157), RHP Nick Hernandez (8-247), LHP Ryan Hartman (9-277), IF Alex De Goti (15-457), 1B Taylor Jones (19-577), C Chuckie Robinson (21-637)
Kansas City Royals: IF Nicky Lopez
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Drafted: 5th round, No. 163 overall
A huge 2021 season was enough to make Nicky Lopez the clear choice for the Royals, though that has proven to be an outlier performance in the years since as he has settled in as a useful utility infielder.
During his peak season, he hit .300/.365/.378 for a 104 OPS+ with 29 extra-base hits and 22 steals while posting strong defensive metrics (1,233.2 innings, 3 DRS, 4.6 UZR/150) at shortstop on his way to a 4.4-WAR campaign.
Other Notable Picks: OF Khalil Lee (3-103), LHP Richard Lovelady (10-313), RHP David McKay (14-433), OF Nick Heath (16-493), RHP Anthony Bender (20-613)
Los Angeles Angels: OF Brandon Marsh
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Drafted: 2nd round, No. 60 overall
One of the top college bats in the 2016 draft class, Matt Thaiss hit .380/.474/.585 with 10 home runs and more walks (37) than strikeouts (16) during his junior season at Virginia. He has an 83 OPS+ and 2.0 WAR in 288 games in the majors, and after shifting to first base and then third base, he has ended up back behind the plate.
Meanwhile, second-round pick Brandon Marsh has turned out to be one of the few everyday position players to emerge from the 2016 class, with the Angels flipping him to the Phillies in a one-for-one swap that brought catcher Logan O'Hoppe to Los Angeles.
Other Notable Picks: C Matt Thaiss (1-16), RHP Chris Rodriguez (4-126), C Jack Kruger (20-606), SS Jose Rojas (36-1,086)
Los Angeles Dodgers: C Will Smith
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Drafted: 1st round, No. 32 overall
Outfielder Corey Ray (No. 5 pick in 2016 draft) and two-way standout Brendan McKay (No. 4 pick in 2017 draft) put scouts in the stands at Louisville games, and catcher Will Smith no doubt benefitted during a breakout junior season where he hit .382/.480/.567 while raising his OPS by 382 points over his sophomore campaign.
The Dodgers took him at the back end of the first round and nearly a decade later he is one of the best catchers in baseball playing on a 10-year, $140 million contract.
Shoutout to Zach McKinstry, who exceeded expectations by even reaching the majors as the No. 1,001 overall pick in the draft and is now a key contributor for a very good Tigers team.
Other Notable Picks: 2B Gavin Lux (1-20), RHP Jordan Sheffield (1-36), RHP Mitch White (2-65), RHP Dustin May (3-101), OF DJ Peters (4-131), LHP Devin Smeltzer (5-161), 1B/OF Luke Raley (7-221), RHP Andre Scrubb (8-251), RHP Tony Gonsolin (9-281), RHP A.J. Alexy (11-341), OF Cody Thomas (13-401), RHP Dean Kremer (14-431), IF/OF Zach McKinstry (33-1,001)
Miami Marlins: RHP Michael King
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Drafted: 12th round, No. 353 overall
Coming off a 201-strikeout season for the Padres in 2024, it's hard to believe Michael King tallied just 64 punchouts in 104 innings during his junior season at Boston College, but he showed enough potential for the Marlins to take him in the 12th round of the 2016 draft.
The Marlins traded him along with international bonus money to the Yankees in exchange for Caleb Smith and Garrett Cooper prior to the 2018 season, and he joined the Padres as one of the key pieces in the Juan Soto blockbuster. Free agency awaits this winter, and he could be headed for a $100 million payday.
Other Notable Picks: LHP Braxton Garrett (1-7), RHP Sean Reynolds (4-113), LHP Dylan Lee (10-293), RHP Chad Smith (11-323)
Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Corbin Burnes
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Drafted: 4th round, No. 111 overall
Here is what MLB.com had to say in their predraft write-up on Saint Mary's ace Corbin Burnes:
"While some worry that his arm is too quick and that effort in his delivery could mean a move to a bullpen, Burnes has shown the ability to maintain velocity deep into starts. So long as he can continue to repeat his delivery consistently, he should have a chance to reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter."
It's safe to say he has exceeded those expectations, winning the 2021 NL Cy Young and finishing in the top-10 in balloting four other times on his way to a massive six-year, $210 million contract with the D-backs.
Other Notable Picks: OF Corey Ray (1-5), RHP Lucas Erceg (2-46), C Mario Feliciano (2-75), C Payton Henry (6-171), OF Weston Wilson (17-501), C Cooper Hummel (18-531), 1B Ryan Aguilar (31-921)
Minnesota Twins: RHP Griffin Jax
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Drafted: 3rd round, No. 93 overall
A breakout junior season at the Air Force Academy sent Griffin Jax's draft stock soaring, and he finished 9-2 with a 2.05 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 105.1 innings while tossing six complete games and two shutouts.
Originally a starter when he broke into the big leagues, he has since found a place at the back of the bullpen, and he posted a 2.03 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 12.0 K/9 with 10 saves and 24 holds in 72 appearances in 2024.
Other Notable Picks: OF Alex Kirilloff (1-15), C Ben Rortvedt (2-56), IF José Miranda (2-73), OF Akil Baddoo (2-74), RHP Jordan Balazovic (5-153), RHP Tyler Wells (15-453), RHP Sean Poppen (19-573), C Caleb Hamilton (23-693)
New York Mets: 1B Pete Alonso
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Drafted: 2nd round, No. 64 overall
Despite hitting .374/.469/.659 with 18 doubles, 14 home runs and 60 RBI in 58 games during his junior season at the University of Florida, Pete Alonso slipped to the second round of the 2016 draft due to persistent concerns about the right-handed hitting, first-base-only prospect profile.
He quickly erased any concerns about his upside when he tore through the minors and then crushed a rookie record 53 home runs en route to 2019 NL Rookie of the Year honors. With a 137 OPS+ and 243 home runs since breaking into the majors, he has firmly established himself as one of the best sluggers of his era.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Justin Dunn (1-19), LHP Anthony Kay (1-31), RHP Colin Holderman (9-280)
New York Yankees: RHP Greg Weissert
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Drafted: 18th round, No. 548 overall
Blake Rutherford was the prospect centerpiece in the deal to acquire David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Todd Frazier from the White Sox, while Nick Solak and Taylor Widener were traded for Brandon Drury, so the biggest impact from this draft class came from their early trade value.
Reliever Greg Weissert has been the most productive pick from this class, though his success has come with the rival Red Sox after he was traded in the Alex Verdugo deal. He has a 2.96 ERA with four saves and 19 holds in 98 games with Boston since the start of 2024.
Other Notable Picks: OF Blake Rutherford (1-18), IF/OF Nick Solak (2-62), RHP Nick Nelson (4-128), RHP Brooks Kriske (6-188), RHP Taylor Widener (12-368), 3B Armando Alvarez (17-518), RHP Braden Bristo (23-698), LHP Phillip Diehl (27-818)
Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Cole Irvin
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Drafted: 5th round, No. 137 overall
The Phillies whiffed on No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak and have only seen four players from their 2016 draft class reach the majors, with the best of that small group being left-hander Cole Irvin.
The University of Oregon product was sent to the Athletics for cash considerations after logging a 6.75 ERA over 45.1 innings with the Phillies, and he quickly became a staple in their rotation. He made 32 starts in 2021 (10-15, 4.24 ERA, 178.1 IP) and 30 starts in 2022 (9-13, 3.98 ERA, 181.0 IP) before he was traded to the Orioles for infielder Darell Hernaiz.
Other Notable Picks: OF Mickey Moniak (1-1), LHP JoJo Romero (4-107), 1B Darick Hall (14-407)
Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Max Kranick
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Drafted: 11th round, No. 345 overall
First-round pick Will Craig hit .379/.520/.731 with 16 home runs during his junior year at Wake Forest, but his pro career will unfortunately be best remembered for a fielding blunder where he chased Javier Baez down the first base line and allowed a run to score rather than simply stepping on first base to end the inning.
Reliever Max Kranick has surfaced as a quality arm for the Mets this season with a 3.65 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 24 appearances. He made 11 appearances for the Pirates in 2021 and 2022, but missed all of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery before spending last year shaking off the rust in the minors.
Other Notable Picks: 1B Will Craig (1-22), RHP Blake Cederlind (5-165), RHP Cam Vieaux (6-195), RHP Adam Oller (20-615), OF Hunter Owen (25-765), RHP Geoff Hartlieb (29-895)
San Diego Padres: RHP David Bednar
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Drafted: 35th round, No. 1,044 overall
The Padres walked away with multiple productive big league arms in this draft class, but the standout has been closer David Bednar, who has piled up 94 saves and made a pair of All-Star appearances in five seasons with the Pirates.
The Pirates acquired him in the three-team deal that sent Joe Musgrove to San Diego, while fourth-round pick Joey Lucchesi was also part of that trade, joining the Mets.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Cal Quantrill (1-8), LHP Eric Lauer (1-25), RHP Mason Thompson (3-85), LHP Joey Lucchesi (4-114), RHP Lake Bachar (5-144), RHP Jesse Scholtens (9-264), OF Jack Suwinski (15-444), OF Taylor Kohlwey (21-624)
San Francisco Giants: OF Bryan Reynolds
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Drafted: 2nd round, No. 59 overall
The Giants traded away a young Bryan Reynolds for what amounted to 130 games of Andrew McCutchen prior to the 2018 season. The Pirates mainstay was acquired for an ill-fated run at contention, then flipped to the Yankees at the trade deadline when a playoff push did not materialize.
While the Giants have searched high and low for offensive firepower in the outfield in the years since that trade, Reynolds developed into the de-facto face of the franchise for the Pirates until Paul Skenes came along. The two-time All-Star has a 119 OPS+ and 18.9 WAR in seven seasons in Pittsburgh.
Other Notable Picks: LHP Matt Krook (4-125), LHP Caleb Baragar (9-275), LHP Conner Menez (14-425)
Seattle Mariners: OF Kyle Lewis
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Drafted: 1st round, No. 11 overall
Kyle Lewis exploded onto the scene with a 131 OPS+ and six home runs in 18 games as a September call-up in 2019, then followed that up with 2020 AL Rookie of the Year honors, crushing 11 home runs in 58 games during the abbreviated campaign.
Unfortunately, a right meniscus tear and subsequent knee injuries have limited him to 70 games since his Rookie of the Year season. Still only 29 years old, he is not officially retired, but has not played organized baseball since 2023.
Other Notable Picks: IF Donovan Walton (5-147), RHP Matt Festa (7-207), RHP Reggie McClain (13-387), RHP Robert Dugger (18-537)
St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Zac Gallen
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Drafted: 3rd round, No. 106 overall
There were not many difficult decisions in this exercise, but Zac Gallen vs. Tommy Edman for the Cardinals was a toss-up, and both rank among the best overall talents to emerge from the 2016 draft class.
Gallen never pitched for the Cardinals at the MLB level before he was flipped to the Marlins as part of the prospect package to acquire slugger Marcell Ozuna prior to the 2018 season. The Marlins then traded him in a one-for-one swap for Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the 2019 trade deadline, and he has finished in the top-10 in NL Cy Young voting three times as a member of the D-backs while posting a 3.50 ERA with 923 strikeouts in 865.2 innings.
Other Notable Picks: OF Dylan Carlson (1-33), RHP Dakota Hudson (1-34), IF/OF Tommy Edman (6-196), C Andrew Knizner (7-226), LHP Daniel Castano (19-586), IF Andrew Young (37-1,126)
Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Nathaniel Lowe
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Drafted: 13th round, No. 390 overall
The Rays took brothers Josh Lowe (No. 13 overall) and Nathaniel Lowe (No. 390 overall) both in the 2016 draft, with Josh plucked from the high school ranks and Nathaniel selected out of Mississippi State.
Both have had their moments in the majors, but Nathaniel has put together the better overall career to this point with a 118 OPS+ and 11.9 WAR in 760 games. He won a Silver Slugger in 2022 and a Gold Glove in 2023, with both coming as a member of the Rangers.
Other Notable Picks: OF Josh Lowe (1-13), OF Jake Fraley (2-77), RHP Easton McGee (4-120), LHP Kenny Rosenberg (8-240), IF Miles Mastrobuoni (14-420), LHP Sam Long (18-540)
Texas Rangers: LHP Cole Ragans
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Drafted: 1st round, No. 30 overall
Left-hander Cole Ragans was one of nine high school pitchers taken in the first round of the 2016 draft, and as things stand today he has developed into the best of the bunch by a wide margin.
After logging a 5.32 ERA in 64.1 innings pitching primarily out of the bullpen for the Rangers, he joined the Royals at the 2023 trade deadline in exchange for a two-month rental of Aroldis Chapman and promptly started pitching like an ace. The 27-year-old has a 3.35 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 388 strikeouts in 306.2 innings since the trade, and he finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting last year.
Other Notable Picks: RHP Alex Speas (2-63), IF Charles Leblanc (4-129), RHP Kyle Cody (6-189), C Sam Huff (7-219), RHP Joe Barlow (11-339)
Toronto Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette
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Drafted: 2nd round, No. 66 overall
Concerns surrounding some moving parts in Bo Bichette's swing caused him to slip to the second round of the 2016 draft, despite exciting raw tools and an offensive ceiling that stacked up to any prospect in the class.
The two-time All-Star was one of the best offensive players in baseball in 2021, 2022 and 2023 before an injury-plagued season last year, but he has rebounded with a 108 OPS+ and 1.2 WAR through 73 games in a contract year.
Other Notable Picks: RHP T.J. Zeuch (1-21), RHP Zach Jackson (3-102), OF Joshua Palacios (4-132), IF Cavan Biggio (5-162), LHP Kirby Snead (10-312), RHP Josh Winckowski (15-462), LHP Jake Fishman (30-912)
Washington Nationals: LHP Jesus Luzardo
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Drafted: 3rd round, No. 94 overall
The Nationals gave Jesus Luzardo more than double slot value in the third round of the 2016 draft after Tommy John surgery cut his senior season short and knocked him out of the first-round conversation.
He was packaged with Blake Treinen and Sheldon Neuse to acquire relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the Athletics at the 2017 trade deadline, and he developed into arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball in the years that followed.
He was traded again at the 2021 deadline, going to the Marlins in exchange for a two-month rental of Starling Marte, and he broke out during the 2023 season. He has only topped 20 starts once in his career, but he continues to flash frontline potential when healthy.
Other Notable Picks: IF Carter Kieboom (1-28), RHP Dane Dunning (1-29), 3B Sheldon Neuse (2-58), OF Daniel Johnson (5-154), C Tres Barrera (6-184), 1B Jake Noll (7-214), LHP Ben Braymer (18-544), RHP Sterling Sharp (22-664)
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.jpg?w=600 "Biggest Winners and Losers After 30 Games ⚾")