Call to the pen
Fansided

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

By Benjamin Chase

May 24, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) hits a double against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) hits a double against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Gavin Floyd, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies, 15.9 bWAR

Well-built with good control of multiple pitches, Floyd was a solid selection when the Phillies took him #4 in 2001. He opened his first season in low-A and showed right away that he was ready for a professional workload, throwing 166 innings for Lakewood. That performance led to Floyd’s peak ranking as a prospect as Baseball America ranked him the #9 overall prospect that offseason.

In 2003, he didn’t show as well with strikeouts, so he dropped down to #23, but he still had a 3.00 ERA in high-A as a 20-year-old. Then in 2004, he jumped all the way to the major leagues after passing through AA and AAA, throwing 28 1/3 innings for the major league club that season.

Floyd spent the next two seasons bouncing between Philadelphia and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he could not establish himself in the major leagues. After 2006, he was traded with Gio Gonzalez to the Chicago White Sox for Freddy Garcia, and that really kick started his career.

After splitting time between AAA and the majors with the White Sox in 2007, Floyd established himself as a consistent mid-rotation starter for the White Sox for the next 5 seasons. From 2008-2012, Floyd averaged 31 starts and 190 innings per season, with a 4.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 108 ERA+, posting an average 59/151 BB/K ratio.

However, in 2013, Floyd injured his shoulder, and he’s never been the same. Attempts to return have shown some promise, as his 2014 season with Atlanta (9 starts, 2.65 ERA, 1.25 WHIP before breaking his elbow), but he has struggled with injury each time.

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