2005 MLB Draft Revisited: 5 Biggest Winners

5. Boston Red Sox

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The BoSox made some strong picks in 2005. They secured a steal in Jacoby Ellsbury in the first round, 23rd overall out of Oregon State University. Boston received for the most part seven quality seasons from the center fielder, who reached the bigs in his age 23 season and never looked back. From there, he was a crucial factor in their two World Series titles in 2007 and 2013. Ellsbury won a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, was named an All-Star and led the AL in stolen bases three times during his tenure in Boston. He contributed a total WAR of 21.1 in his Red Sox career.

Craig Hansen 26th overall turned out to be a flop, but with a supplemental first round pick the organization then nabbed Clay Buchholz 42nd overall. Buchholz has shown flashes of attaining ace status throughout his career. At the least, he has been a fairly reliable mid-rotation arm for the Red Sox over the better part of the last decade.

Other notable picks by the Red Sox in 2004 are 3B Pedro Alvarez (14-438), OF Charlie Blackmon (20-618) and C Jason Castro (43-1303).

None of the three elected to sign with Boston. Blackmon opted to play college ball at Georgia Tech, Castro played NCAA baseball at Stanford and Pedro Alvarez went on to play for Vanderbilt instead of inking a deal to play in Beantown.