MLB Draft: Best and Worst Picks of Each Team in the 2000s

Who Is Each Organization’s Best And Worst Selection In The MLB Draft In The 2000s?

Los Angeles Angels

Best – Mike Trout, First Round, 2009 – As the 25th selection in the draft, Trout has simply been the best player in the game since he became a full-time player in 2012. He’s had bWAR seasons of 10.8, 9.3, 7.9, and 9.4 in his four full seasons. He could be the first pick in the draft and still be easily the best pick of the organization.

Worst – Brandon Wood, First Round, 2003 – Wood was the 23rd selection of the draft and he leaped onto the prospect scene, reaching as high as the #3 prospect on Baseball America’s prospect list before the 2006 season. However, his big minor league power never could translate to the major leagues, and the Angels had made moves to clear space for Wood to play by letting popular Angels player Chone Figgins go, ending a strong run at the top of the AL West that they’ve only been able to accomplish again one time since that move, in 2014.

Houston Astros

Best – Ben Zobrist, Sixth Round, 2004 – While this may seem an odd choice, a team makes selections to win, and they used Zobrist for exactly that reason, trading him in 2006 to Tampa Bay for Aubrey Huff in pursuit of a pennant. That Huff didn’t pan out and the Astros finished out of the playoff was not Zobrist’s fault. He was one of that era’s few hits in the draft.

Worst – Chris Burke, First Round, 2001 – The 10th pick of the draft, Burke was seen as the eventual replacement for Craig Biggio at second base. Burke moved quickly through the minor leagues, but he never was able to be consistent at the major league level, and before he was 30, he had played his final major league game.

Oakland Athletics

Best – Andre Ethier, Second Round, 2003 – After drafting him in the 37th round, the A’s came back to Ethier when he was back in the draft again in 2003. He moved through the system well and ended up being a big piece to help the Athletics acquire Milton Bradley. Over the years following, the Athletics certainly wished they had his big bat back.

Worst – Michael Choice, First Round, 2010 – As the 10th pick of the 2010 draft, Choice’s immense talent was going to move quickly and help him be an impact player. Especially after he hit 30 home runs in 2011 in the minor leagues, teams thought he’d be an impact player, but he’s now in his third organization in his young career, and he’s struggling even to make contact in AAA now in the Cleveland Indians organization.

Toronto Blue Jays

Best – Aaron Hill, First Round, 2003 – The 13th selection in 2003 moved to full time starter already in 2005 and played well immediately. His best season with Toronto was 2009, when he hit .286 with 36 home runs. He’s eclipsed 25 home runs three times as a middle infielder, something almost unheard of with modern focus on defense up the middle.

Worst – Deck McGuire, First Round, 2010 – A 6’6, 220 pound right hander out of Georgia Tech, McGuire was a fairly “easy” choice at the 11th pick, assuming he’d move up the system quickly, and in his first season in the system, he finished his season at AA. However, he simply lost his touch completely and couldn’t get his pitches in the zone without them being incredibly hittable for hitters, and he’s now on his fourth organization, struggling to re-establish his value for the Cardinals’ AAA team.

Atlanta Braves

Best – Adam Wainwright, First Round, 2000 – Braves fans may not want to remember that the Braves snagged Wainwright with a comp pick in 2000, and he never made an appearance in the majors for the Braves, instead being part of the trade for J.D. Drew, and he’s finished in the top 3 of Cy Young Award voting four times for the Cardinals in his career, being a true ace for them.

Worst – Jo-Jo Reyes, Second Round, 2003 – The first selection of the Braves in the 2003 draft, Reyes was supposed to be a mature pick that could be a very good control lefty that would eat up innings. Instead, he totaled a 6.40 ERA for the Braves and has totaled a 6.04 ERA in his career in the major leagues.

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