Monday, June 12 is the MLB Draft. Who were the best players taken with the third pick in the 2000s?
In just six days, on June 12, the MLB Draft will begin. We will have a live thread that evening here at Call to the Pen with instant analysis of the selections from our own Benjamin Chase throughout the first night.
As we prepare for the draft, here is the schedule for some draft information to get you ready for the big day when the MLB draft kicks off next Monday night:
Monday, June 5 – A look at the #5 picks of the 2000s
Tuesday, June 6 – A look at the #4 picks of the 2000s
Wednesday, June 7 – Mock Draft 6.1
Thursday, June 8 – A look at the #3 picks of the 2000s
Friday, June 9 – A look at the #2 picks of the 2000s
Saturday, June 10 – A look at the #1 picks of the 2000s
Sunday, June 11 – Final Mock Draft: What Ben Would Do
Monday, June 12 – Live Draft Thread!
2006. Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
While the #3 picks are by far the least impressive group of the 2000s picks in the top 5, Longoria is certainly comparable of the best top 5 picks of the millennium.
A star third baseman at Long Beach State, Longoria was considered the best talent in the 2006 draft by many when two pitchers were drafted ahead of him (and four more were drafted behind him). His advanced approach and highly regarded third base defense allowed him to make an impressive first impression in his draft season, hitting .315/.360/.597 with 18 home runs across three levels, finishing in AA. That impressive performance had him rated the #7 prospect by Baseball America and the #10 prospect by Baseball Prospectus.
Longoria split 2007 between AA and AAA. He combined to hit .299/.402/.520 with 26 home runs before posting a 1.000+ OPS with the Arizona Fall League. He was widely considered a “can’t-miss” prospect at that point, rated #2 by BA and #3 by BP.
Longoria spent a week in Durham before coming up to Tampa Bay for good in 2008. He was an innovator in the early contracts that the Rays signed, signing an unprecedented 9-year contract less than a week after he debuted with the Rays. While many felt that this sold Longoria short on his career earnings, the Rays rewarded him handsomely before the contract had completed in 2012 with a $100M extension to the contract.
Over his big league career, Longoria has hit .270/.343/.486 with 249 home runs. He’s played in three All-Star games (2008, 2009, 2010), won the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year, the 2009 AL Silver Slugger for 3B, and two Gold Gloves (2009, 2010).