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) /
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SURPRISE, AZ – NOVEMBER 03: AFL East All-Star, Daulton Varsho #8 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2017

A
31. Rays – Drew Rasmussen
32. Reds – Jeter Downs
33. A’s – Kevin Merrell
34. Brewers – Tristen Lutz
35. Twins – Brent Rooker
36. Marlins – Brian Miller
B
68. Diamondbacks – Daulton Varsho
69. Padres – Blake Hunt
70. Rockies – Tommy Doyle
71. Indians – Tyler Freeman
72. Pirates – Conner Uselton
73. Royals – Evan Steele
74. Orioles – Zac Lowther
75. Astros – J.J. Matijevic (originally Cardinals)

While this is the one season where a selection wasn’t traded, there was one pick moved from its original team as the Cardinals were forced to give their pick to the Astros as part of their punishment for the hacking done on the Astros computer systems.

This group of players is an intriguing mix of high-upside, low-floor players from the high school ranks and quick-moving players from the college ranks and plenty in between. After playing plenty at the AA level in 2018, Rooker and Miller could be up to the major leagues for at least a September call-up in 2019. The way Varsho, Doyle, Lowther, and Matijevic showed in 2018, there could be more than just those two seeing the major leagues in 2019.

Rasmussen joined the “trend” of competitive balance selections not signing when he chose to return to Oregon State after the Rays found he needed to have Tommy John surgery. He spent 2018 recovering and will be on the mound for the Brewers, who picked him in the 6th round, in 2019.

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