Has any team ever had a better run of first round picks than the White Sox did between 1987–1990?
January 3, 2025
Under the general management of Larry Hines.
19 comments
Tigers:
2004: Justin Verlander
2005: Cameron Maybin
2006: Andrew Miller
oh and probably the best…the Giants:
2006: Tim Lincecum
2007: Madison Bumgarner
2008: Buster Posey
There aren’t that many others that hold a candle to the Giants with ~~2 hall of famers and a potential 3rd~~. I noted it in a comment below, I am wrong, Posey is the only HoF. The other two are just hall of very good.
Pretty damn good run for Baltimore from 2018-2022….Rodriguez, Rutschman, Kjerstad, Cowser, and Holliday. Definitely not better thn that White Sox run but the O’s run is what came to mind for me.
Shockingly (or really not for those of us fans), they haven’t even put together 4 more even at the Fernandez/McDowell WAR level in the last 35 years. In fact, it then took until 2004 to even get to the 25+ WAR level which was Gio Gonzalez (which none of that was with the Sox). Even if you wanted to include Rowand’s 20 WAR, besides him, Gonzalez and Chris Sale (53 WAR and counting), it’s been a horrific run of first round picks.
For more recent history, we’ll see where Rodon and Crochet end up but they’ll do the vast majority of their value away from the organization. As for their last 4 picks that haven’t made it up yet, hard to tell but at least they’re highly regarded. But hey, so were the 2015-2019 when they were routinely drafting in the top 10 and the combined WAR for those 6 players (2 top 30 picks in 2016) is 5.4… when the current GM was overseeing Player Development.
Ventura. Ventura. Isn’t he that kid that had his ass kicked by an old man after charging the mound? 🤔🤣
Is this more impressive than LAD hitting on 5 RoY in a row? I’m genuinely debating it in my mind
Man times have changed.
I can’t remember who else they picked(and I’m lazy) but didn’t the Mets draft strawberry and gooden back to back? Not saying it compares to those 4 given longevity but that worked out well for the metsies in the short term.
Astros drafted the whole core that won those World Series.
One of them is one of my very favorite sports moments that happened at Arlington Stadium with a pitcher from TEXAS!
Robin Ventura is only a 2x all star?
The Cubs had a pretty good run in the early 10s:
’11- Javier Baez (2016 championship team, had his best years with the Cubs)
’12- Albert Almora (2016 team, was a reliable, though middling outfielder. Also in the 1st round that year were P’s Pierce Johnson and Paul Blackburn who have found themselves contributing on other teams)
’13- Kris Bryant (2016 team, MVP, had his best years with the Cubs)
’14- Kyle Schwarber (2016 team, and put up many great years both during and after his time with the Cubs)
’15- Ian Happ (still on the team, and had turned into a consistent player for them, even winning a gold glove or two)
Cubs: Bryant, Schwarber, Happ
Angels got Tyler Chatwood (10.4 bWAR) in 2008, Trout (86.2), Randall Grichuk (14.6), Garrett Richards (8.3) and Tyler Skaggs (3.6) all in 2009, Cam Bedrosian (1.7) in 2010 and CJ Cron (12.4) in 2011 for a really solid run.
Mariners went A-Rod in 93 (117), Varitek in 94 (24), Jose Cruz in 95 (19) and Gil Meche in 96 (16), which is also a great run.
The Phillies from 1998 through 2002 went Pat Burrell, Brett Myers, Chase Utley, Gavin Floyd, Cole Hamels. And in 1997 they drafted but didn’t sign JD Drew. That’s six straight guys with 14+ WAR careers, three over 44. 1996 was Adam Eaton (and Jimmy Rollins in the 2nd Round).
D-Backs went Carlos Quentin in 2003, Stephen Drew in 2004, Justin Upton in 2005, Max Scherzer in 2006, which is solid. A 10, 15, 33 and 75 WAR set.
Royals: Gordon&Hochevar, Mostalkas, Hosmer
Worth a WS.
Out of curiosity I was looking through the Mariners – I would say the best currently is
1993 – Alex Rodriguez 1994 – Jason Varitek 1995 – Jose Cruz Jr.
19 comments
Tigers:
2004: Justin Verlander
2005: Cameron Maybin
2006: Andrew Miller
oh and probably the best…the Giants:
2006: Tim Lincecum
2007: Madison Bumgarner
2008: Buster Posey
There aren’t that many others that hold a candle to the Giants with ~~2 hall of famers and a potential 3rd~~. I noted it in a comment below, I am wrong, Posey is the only HoF. The other two are just hall of very good.
Pretty damn good run for Baltimore from 2018-2022….Rodriguez, Rutschman, Kjerstad, Cowser, and Holliday. Definitely not better thn that White Sox run but the O’s run is what came to mind for me.
The Big Hurt
Nationals
2009 Strasburg (& Storen)
2010 Harper
2011 Rendon
Ventura had a WAR of 56? That’s borderline HOF.
Shockingly (or really not for those of us fans), they haven’t even put together 4 more even at the Fernandez/McDowell WAR level in the last 35 years. In fact, it then took until 2004 to even get to the 25+ WAR level which was Gio Gonzalez (which none of that was with the Sox). Even if you wanted to include Rowand’s 20 WAR, besides him, Gonzalez and Chris Sale (53 WAR and counting), it’s been a horrific run of first round picks.
For more recent history, we’ll see where Rodon and Crochet end up but they’ll do the vast majority of their value away from the organization. As for their last 4 picks that haven’t made it up yet, hard to tell but at least they’re highly regarded. But hey, so were the 2015-2019 when they were routinely drafting in the top 10 and the combined WAR for those 6 players (2 top 30 picks in 2016) is 5.4… when the current GM was overseeing Player Development.
Ventura. Ventura. Isn’t he that kid that had his ass kicked by an old man after charging the mound? 🤔🤣
Is this more impressive than LAD hitting on 5 RoY in a row? I’m genuinely debating it in my mind
Man times have changed.
I can’t remember who else they picked(and I’m lazy) but didn’t the Mets draft strawberry and gooden back to back? Not saying it compares to those 4 given longevity but that worked out well for the metsies in the short term.
Astros drafted the whole core that won those World Series.
One of them is one of my very favorite sports moments that happened at Arlington Stadium with a pitcher from TEXAS!
Robin Ventura is only a 2x all star?
The Cubs had a pretty good run in the early 10s:
’11- Javier Baez (2016 championship team, had his best years with the Cubs)
’12- Albert Almora (2016 team, was a reliable, though middling outfielder. Also in the 1st round that year were P’s Pierce Johnson and Paul Blackburn who have found themselves contributing on other teams)
’13- Kris Bryant (2016 team, MVP, had his best years with the Cubs)
’14- Kyle Schwarber (2016 team, and put up many great years both during and after his time with the Cubs)
’15- Ian Happ (still on the team, and had turned into a consistent player for them, even winning a gold glove or two)
Cubs: Bryant, Schwarber, Happ
Angels got Tyler Chatwood (10.4 bWAR) in 2008, Trout (86.2), Randall Grichuk (14.6), Garrett Richards (8.3) and Tyler Skaggs (3.6) all in 2009, Cam Bedrosian (1.7) in 2010 and CJ Cron (12.4) in 2011 for a really solid run.
Mariners went A-Rod in 93 (117), Varitek in 94 (24), Jose Cruz in 95 (19) and Gil Meche in 96 (16), which is also a great run.
The Phillies from 1998 through 2002 went Pat Burrell, Brett Myers, Chase Utley, Gavin Floyd, Cole Hamels. And in 1997 they drafted but didn’t sign JD Drew. That’s six straight guys with 14+ WAR careers, three over 44. 1996 was Adam Eaton (and Jimmy Rollins in the 2nd Round).
D-Backs went Carlos Quentin in 2003, Stephen Drew in 2004, Justin Upton in 2005, Max Scherzer in 2006, which is solid. A 10, 15, 33 and 75 WAR set.
Royals: Gordon&Hochevar, Mostalkas, Hosmer
Worth a WS.
Out of curiosity I was looking through the Mariners – I would say the best currently is
1993 – Alex Rodriguez 1994 – Jason Varitek 1995 – Jose Cruz Jr.
Could be replaced by (long ways to go)
2018 – Logan Gilbert 2019 – George Kirby 2020 – Emerson Hancock
And it didn’t lead to much success as a franchise, right?