Monday, June 8, 2009

The Milwaukee Brewers select...

Tomorrow? Who knows. Predicting the MLB draft is as easy winning the lottery, but with the draft around the corner I thought we'd take a look back at the Brewers history in Round One. Let me also say, Baseball Reference is an amazing website.

2008 - Brett Lawrie - INF - The slugging second baseman is currently playing for Class A Wisconsin
2007 - Matt LaPorta - OF/1B - The crew flipped the slugger to Cleveland in the C.C. Sabathia deal.
2006 - Jeremy Jeffress - RHP - The Flamethrowing lefty has struggled with his command, he's currently in A-Ball.
2005 - Ryan Braun - LF - (Right) This one has worked out pretty well, Braun was Rookie of the year in '07 and finished third in MVP voting in '08.
2004 - Mark Rogers - RHP - Derailed by shoulder injuries, Rogers is pitching in A-ball and is still trying to stay healthy.
2003 - Rickie Weeks - 2B - Weeks has been in the majors since 2005 and was enjoying a breakout season in '09 before a wrist injury sidelined him.
2002 - Prince Fielder - 1B - No mistake here either, in 2007 he bacame the youngest player to hit 50 Home Runs.
2001 - Mike Jones - RHP - Shoulder and elbow injuries disrupted his once promising career, Currently at Double-A.
2000 - Dave Krynzel - OF - Plagued by questionable off the field decisions, Krynzel was eventually traded to Arizona for (ouch) Johnny Estrada and Claudio Vargas.
1999 - Ben Sheets - RHP - (Right) A four-time all-star, Sheets has 86 wins in eight seasons. Might we see him back with the Crew at Midseason?
1998 - J.M. Gold - RHP - High school pitcher, never made it past High-A and was released in 2004.
1997 - Kyle Peterson - RHP - At least he made it to the bigs, had a 4.71 ERA in 91 IP, hasn't been seen in the majors since 2001.
1996 - Chad Green - OF - Never made the bigs, it's going to be ugly for a while here.
1995 - Geoff Jenkins - OF - (Right) Has 221 career home runs, more importantly he gave the fans something to cheer for.
1994 - Antone Williamson - 3B - Had 54 big league at-bats in 1997. That's about it.
1993 - Jeff D'Amico - SP - Looked good in 2000, (12-7, 2.66 ERA) but struggled with injuries after that.
1992 - Kenny Felder - OF - College player, never made the bigs.
1991 - Kenny Henderson - RHP - Wanted a $1 million signing bonus, Brewers offered $500,000. He never signed, and never made the show.
1990 - No draft pick this year, lost it as compensation for signing DH Dave Parker.
1989 - Cal Eldred - RHP - Finally a decent pick, Eldred won 86 games in a 14-year big league career.
1988 - Alex Fernandez - RHP - Good pick, even better if he had signed. Would go on to win 107 games with the White and Marlins.
1987 - Bill Spiers - SS - Played six season for the Brewers, in 13 MLB seasons he was a .271 hitter. Not like Craig Biggio was drafted 7 picks later.
1986 - Gary Sheffield - SS - See website header.
1985 - B.J. Surhoff - SS - (Right) Yes, he was drafted as a shortstop. First overall pick in the '85 draft, Surhoff hit .282 with 188 home runs over 19 MLB seasons.
1984 - Isaiah Clark - SS - Never made it past AA, retired in 1990.
1983 - Dan Plesac - LHP - Saved 133 games in 7 season with the Brewers, pitched 18 seasons in the bigs.
1982 - Dale Sveum - SS - Had his promising career disrupted by a broken leg in 1988. Never was the same after that.
1981 - First round pick was lost as compensation for signing Roy Howell.
1980 - Dion James - OF - Traded to Atlanta after three seasons in Milwaukee. Hit .288 over 11 big league seasons.
1979 - First round pick went to Detroit as compensation for Jim Slaton.
1978 - Nick Hernandez - C - Never made the big leagues
1977 - Paul Molitor - SS - (Right) Hall of Famer and 7-time all-star. Unforgettable player in Milwaukee.
1976 - Bill Bordley - LHP - Did not sign, pitched 8 games for San Francisco in 1980.
1975 - Richard O'Keefe - LHP - Never pitched in the big leauges.
1974 - Butch Edge - RHP - Drafted by Toronto in the 1976 expansion draft, pitched 51.2 innings in '79 for the Jays.
1973 - Robin Yount - SS - No description necessary.
1972 - Dan Thomas - 1B - Played 54 games for Milwaukee, hitting .274.
1971 - Tommy Bianco - SS - Hit .176 in Major League at-bats.
1970 - Darrell Porter - C - A four-time All-Star, Porter hit 188 home runs in 17 seasons.
1969 - Gorman Thomas - SS - I don't think it's a stretch to call Big Spike a Brewers legend. He was also the first draft pick in Milwaukee Brewers history.

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