A look at the #4 overall picks in the MLB Draft in the 2000s

Mike Stodolka, LHP, Kansas City Royals, no major league experience

The only #4 selection from 2000-2012 who did not reach the majors, Stodolka was a two-way player out of high school with excellent stuff and a big bat. As most guys with arms good enough to be selected this early in the draft, Stodolka was a primary pitcher until after it was clear that pitching wouldn’t work out, when he moved to the plate.

Stodolka leaped up draft boards his senior year when he struck out 111 in 52 innings in a good California high school league and seeing his fastball tick up to the low-90s after topping out in the upper 80s before his senior year. He also offered two above-average secondary pitches and a good 6’2″ frame, leading to thoughts that he could not only be successful, but be a guy who moved quickly through the minor leagues out of high school. That he was willing to cut a financial deal for the Royals helped him jump all the way from the mid-first round to #4.

In his draft season, he worked all the way up to low-A after showing very well with the Royals’ GCL team. However, that’s where he would stall for the next two seasons, not able to show the ability to control his stuff after a pair of shoulder injuries early in his career that eventually led to him making the switch to a full-time hitter in 2006.

Stodolka just couldn’t drive upper-level breaking stuff, and even though he posted solid contact and OBP numbers in AAA at 26, he was done with organized baseball after that season.