Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB draft competitive balance picks have a mixed history

By Benjamin Chase

DENVER, CO - JULY 27: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning during interleague play at Coors Field on July 27, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 27: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning during interleague play at Coors Field on July 27, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
MLB draft
HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 15: Derek Fisher #21 of the Houston Astros catches a fly ball by Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers in the second inning at Minute Maid Park on April 15, 2018 in Houston, Texas. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

2014

A
35. Rockies – Forrest Wall
36*. Marlins – Blake Anderson
37. Astros – Derek Fisher
38. Indians – Mike Papi
39. Pirates – Connor Joe
40. Royals – Chase Vallot
41. Brewers – Jake Gatewood
B
69. Diamondbacks – Marcus Wilson (originally Padres)
70. Diamondbacks – Isan Diaz
71. Cardinals – Andrew Morales
72. Rays – Brent Honeywell
73. Pirates – Trey Supak
74. Mariners – Gareth Morgan

Just one player of this list has made the major leagues, and that’s Derek Fisher in a backup role. However, Brent Honeywell was one of the top 25 prospects in all of baseball before his Tommy John surgery last spring.

None of the players chose not to sign, which is the only year that all competitive balance selections signed with their drafting teams. Multiple players have also become top-30 prospects within their team and one other (Isan Diaz) has ranked as a top-100 prospect.

The path has not been smooth for many of these selections, as Gareth Morgan has yet to break out of A-ball and Blake Anderson (the Marlins compensation for not signing Krook the previous season) ended up switching from catching to the mound in 2017.

Of all the years of competitive balance selections, this one has shown to be the roughest season of picks as far as producing top players, tough Honeywell could end up changing a lot of that all on his own if he comes back well from TJS.

Home/MLB Draft