4. Colorado Rockies
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Rockies did not do a lot with their 2005 draft picks, but they definitely got their first one correct. A credit to their talent evaluators for that reason alone.
Troy Tulowitzki was selected with the 7th overall pick. He is a five tool player that plays shortstop, where offensive output typically comes at a premium. Sure he has had his setbacks with injuries here and there, but when healthy, Tulo is as solid of a franchise player a team could ask for.
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Three times the 30-year old has finished inside the top 10 of NL MVP balloting. He was a runner-up to Ryan Braun in 2007 NL ROY voting, he’s made four All-Star teams and has compiled a lifetime .299/.373/.517 slash line with the Rox. Add to that six seasons with more than 20 home runs, two Gold Gloves a total WAR of 37.6 since becoming an everyday player eight years ago, and Colorado can be considered a winner in this draft class.
If not solely for drafting Tulo, but for avoiding a number of players who were selected shortly after him and turned out to be absolute busts. The Rays took RHP Wade Townsend 8th overall, the Mets grabbed RHP Mike Pelfrey 9th and the Tigers drafted Cameron Maybin with the next pick thereafter.