The 2001 draft started with a bang and – outside of a handful of hits beyond the first half dozen picks – fizzled considerably as it climbed toward 100.  Five of the first six players selected in 2001 have posted a career bWAR in double digits.  However, only five of the remaining 94 players in that draft’s top 100 can make that claim.

The Minnesota Twins hit a home run with top overall pick Joe Mauer, who was a pretty easy choice at that spot after being named USA Today’s High School Player of the Year as a catcher in the Twins’ backyard (St. Paul).  Mauer became the face of the franchise Minnesota envisioned, compiling a 53.4 bWAR through 2017 and claiming American League MVP honors in 2009.

The draft’s top five picks concluded with another player who has accumulated a career bWAR north of 50 in Mark Teixeira, who went to Texas.  The Rangers only had one pick among the draft’s first 100 and they made it count.

A third player selected within the draft’s top five also was seemingly destined to reach 50 career bWAR.  Mark Prior, taken second overall by the Cubs, posted a 7.4 bWAR as an 18-game winner in 2003.  However, injuries limited him to just 18 more victories and 5.2 bWAR in the remainder of a career that did not extend beyond 2006.

Here were the picks in the order they were made:

OvPck Team Signed Name WAR Type
1 Twins Y Joe Mauer 53.4 HS
2 Cubs Y Mark Prior 16.6 4Yr
3 Devil Rays Y Dewon Brazelton -3 4Yr
4 Phillies Y Gavin Floyd 15.9 HS
5 Rangers Y Mark Teixeira 51.8 4Yr
6 Expos Y Josh Karp 10.2 4Yr
7 Orioles Y Chris Smith   4Yr
8 Pirates Y John VanBenschoten -3.5 4Yr
9 Royals Y Colt Griffin   HS
10 Astros Y Chris Burke -1.2 4Yr
11 Tigers Y Kenny Baugh 4Yr
12 Brewers Y Mike Jones HS
13 Angels Y Casey Kotchman 7.5 HS
14 Padres Y Jake Gautreau   4Yr
15 Blue Jays Y Gabe Gross 4.7 4Yr
16 White Sox via Marlins Y *Kris Honel HS
17 Indians via Red Sox Y *Dan Denham HS
18 Mets via Rockies Y *Aaron Heilman 1.8 4Yr
19 Orioles via Yankees Y *Mike Fontenot 4.5 4Yr
20 Reds N Jeremy Sowers 1.6 HS
21 Giants via Indians Y *Brad Hennessey 2.7 4Yr
22 Diamondbacks Y Jason Bulger 0.8 4Yr
23 Yankees via Mariners Y *John-Ford Griffin 0.2 4Yr
24 Braves via Dodgers Y *Macay McBride -0.2 HS
25 Athletics Y Bobby Crosby 5.4 4Yr
26 Athletics via Mets Y *Jeremy Bonderman 5.2 HS
27 Indians via White Sox N *Alan Horne   HS
28 Cardinals Y Justin Pope   4Yr
29 Braves Y Josh Burres HS
30 Giants Y Noah Lowry 10.2 4Yr
31 Orioles Y *Bryan Bass HS
32 Tigers Y *Michael Woods   4Yr
33 Angels Y *Jeff Mathis 1.2 HS
34 Yankees Y *Bronson Sardinha 0 HS
35 Indians Y *J.D. Martin 0.7 HS
36 Mariners Y *Michael Garciaparra HS
37 Athletics Y *John Rheinecker -0.3 4Yr
38 Mets Y *David Wright 49.9 HS
39 White Sox Y *Wyatt Allen   4Yr
40 Braves Y *Richard Lewis   4Yr
41 Giants Y *Todd Linden -1.8 4Yr
42 Yankees Y *Jon Skaggs   4Yr
43 Indians Y *Mike Conroy HS
44 Rockies Y *Jayson Nix 2.6 4Yr
45 Twins Y Scott Tyler   HS
46 Cubs Y Andy Sisco 0.8 HS
47 Devil Rays Y Jon Switzer -0.5 4Yr
48 Red Sox via Phillies Y *Kelly Shoppach 8.1 4Yr
49 Mariners via Rangers Y *Rene Rivera 2.1 HS
50 Expos Y Don Levinski   HS
51 Indians via Orioles Y *Jake Dittler   HS
52 Braves via Pirates N *J.P. Howell 8 HS
53 Royals Y Roscoe Crosby HS
54 Astros Y Mike Rodriguez 4Yr
55 Tigers Y Preston Larrison 4Yr
56 Brewers Y J.J. Hardy 28.2 HS
57 Angels Y Dallas McPherson 0.8 4Yr
58 Padres N Matt Harrington  
59 Blue Jays Y Brandon League 2.6 HS
60 Marlins Y Garrett Berger HS
61 Red Sox N Matt Chico 0.6 HS
62 Yankees via Rockies Y *Jason Arnold 4Yr
63 Yankees Y Shelley Duncan 0.9 4Yr
64 Reds Y Justin Gillman   HS
65 Tigers via Indians Y *Matt Coenen   4Yr
66 Diamondbacks Y Mike Gosling 0.1 4Yr
67 Mariners Y Mike Wilson -0.4 HS
68 Dodgers Y Brian Pilkington   HS
69 Athletics Y Neal Cotts 5.3 4Yr
70 Mets Y Alhaji Turay   HS
71 White Sox Y Ryan Wing   JC
72 Cardinals Y Dan Haren 35.3 4Yr
73 Braves Y Cole Barthel   HS
74 Giants Y Jesse Foppert -0.5 4Yr
75 Rockies N *David Taylor HS
76 Mets Y *Corey Rangsdale   HS
77 Twins Y Jose Morales 0.6 HS
78 Cubs Y Ryan Theriot 6.4 4Yr
79 Devil Rays Y Chris Flinn   4Yr
80 Mariners via Phillies Y *Lazaro Abreu HS
81 Angels via Rangers Y *Steven Shell 1.4 HS
82 Expos Y Mike Hinckley 0.9 HS
83 Orioles Y Dave Crouthers   4Yr
84 Pirates N Jeremy Guthrie 17.7 4Yr
85 Royals Y Matt Ferrera   HS
86 Astros Y Kirk Saarloos 1.1 4Yr
87 Tigers Y Jack Hannahan 6.7 4Yr
88 Brewers Y Jon Steitz   4Yr
89 Angels Y Jake Woods 0.5 JC
90 Padres N Tagg Bozied   4Yr
91 Blue Jays Y Tyrell Godwin -0.1
92 Marlins Y Allen Baxter   HS
93 Red Sox Y Jon Devries   HS
94 Rockies Y Jason Frome   4Yr
95 Yankees Y Chase Wright -0.1 HS
96 Reds Y Alan Moye   HS
97 Indians Y Nick Moran   4Yr
98 Diamondbacks Y Scott Hairston 6.5 JC
99 Mariners Y Tim Merritt 4Yr
100 Dodgers Y David Taylor HS

The biggest hit outside of the draft’s opening six selections was by the New York Mets.  Chosen with the 38th pick in the draft, David Wright has produced the draft’s third-highest bWAR to date at 49.9.  He actually would have given the 2001 draft three players over 50 career bWAR had he not been saddled with a -0.2 bWAR in an injury-marred 2016 campaign – which very well could be his last.

At full health and in his prime, Wright not only was the biggest star on the Mets – he also was among the faces of Major League Baseball.  He posted five seasons with an OPS over .900, topping out with a .963 mark in 2007.

Other hits beyond the draft’s top six include Dan Haren, who was drafted 72nd overall by the Cardinals but didn’t emerge as a frontline starter until after a trade to the A’s.  Selected by the Brewers with the 56th pick, J.J. Hardy also has produced a solid career as evidenced by a 28.2 career bWAR.  Jeremy Guthrie, who was taken with the 84th pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates but did not sign, ended up posting a career bWAR of 17.7.

In terms of volume, the A’s had a decent draft, with Bobby Crosby, Neal Cotts and Jeremy Bonderman each eclipsing 5.0 career bWAR.  No other team had more than two.  Bonderman was a rare first-rounder selected out of high school by the Billy Beane regime and was traded to the Tigers the following year.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Devil Rays stuck out as a loser in this draft.  Including Dewon Brazelton, who was the only player selected in the top six picks not to produce a double-digit career bWAR, Tampa’s three choices in the top 100 produced a combined -3.5 bWAR.

Here’s the top 100 of the 2001 Draft sorted by bWAR:

OvPck Team Signed Name WAR Type
1 Twins Y Joe Mauer 53.4 HS
5 Rangers Y Mark Teixeira 51.8 4Yr
38 Mets Y *David Wright 49.9 HS
72 Cardinals Y Dan Haren 35.3 4Yr
56 Brewers Y J.J. Hardy 28.2 HS
84 Pirates N Jeremy Guthrie 17.7 4Yr
2 Cubs Y Mark Prior 16.6 4Yr
4 Phillies Y Gavin Floyd 15.9 HS
6 Expos Y Josh Karp 10.2 4Yr
30 Giants Y Noah Lowry 10.2 4Yr
48 Red Sox via Phillies Y *Kelly Shoppach 8.1 4Yr
52 Braves via Pirates N *J.P. Howell 8 HS
13 Angels Y Casey Kotchman 7.5 HS
87 Tigers Y Jack Hannahan 6.7 4Yr
98 Diamondbacks Y Scott Hairston 6.5 JC
78 Cubs Y Ryan Theriot 6.4 4Yr
25 Athletics Y Bobby Crosby 5.4 4Yr
69 Athletics Y Neal Cotts 5.3 4Yr
26 Athletics via Mets Y *Jeremy Bonderman 5.2 HS
15 Blue Jays Y Gabe Gross 4.7 4Yr
19 Orioles via Yankees Y *Mike Fontenot 4.5 4Yr
21 Giants via Indians Y *Brad Hennessey 2.7 4Yr
44 Rockies Y *Jayson Nix 2.6 4Yr
59 Blue Jays Y Brandon League 2.6 HS
49 Mariners via Rangers Y *Rene Rivera 2.1 HS
18 Mets via Rockies Y *Aaron Heilman 1.8 4Yr
20 Reds N Jeremy Sowers 1.6 HS
81 Angels via Rangers Y *Steven Shell 1.4 HS
33 Angels Y *Jeff Mathis 1.2 HS
86 Astros Y Kirk Saarloos 1.1 4Yr
63 Yankees Y Shelley Duncan 0.9 4Yr
82 Expos Y Mike Hinckley 0.9 HS
22 Diamondbacks Y Jason Bulger 0.8 4Yr
46 Cubs Y Andy Sisco 0.8 HS
57 Angels Y Dallas McPherson 0.8 4Yr
35 Indians Y *J.D. Martin 0.7 HS
61 Red Sox N Matt Chico 0.6 HS
77 Twins Y Jose Morales 0.6 HS
89 Angels Y Jake Woods 0.5 JC
23 Yankees via Mariners Y *John-Ford Griffin 0.2 4Yr
66 Diamondbacks Y Mike Gosling 0.1 4Yr
34 Yankees Y *Bronson Sardinha 0 HS
91 Blue Jays Y Tyrell Godwin -0.1
95 Yankees Y Chase Wright -0.1 HS
24 Braves via Dodgers Y *Macay McBride -0.2 HS
37 Athletics Y *John Rheinecker -0.3 4Yr
67 Mariners Y Mike Wilson -0.4 HS
47 Devil Rays Y Jon Switzer -0.5 4Yr
74 Giants Y Jesse Foppert -0.5 4Yr
10 Astros Y Chris Burke -1.2 4Yr
41 Giants Y *Todd Linden -1.8 4Yr
3 Devil Rays Y Dewon Brazelton -3 4Yr
8 Pirates Y John VanBenschoten -3.5 4Yr
12 Brewers Y Mike Jones HS
11 Tigers Y Kenny Baugh 4Yr
16 White Sox via Marlins Y *Kris Honel HS
17 Indians via Red Sox Y *Dan Denham HS
29 Braves Y Josh Burres HS
31 Orioles Y *Bryan Bass HS
36 Mariners Y *Michael Garciaparra HS
43 Indians Y *Mike Conroy HS
53 Royals Y Roscoe Crosby HS
54 Astros Y Mike Rodriguez 4Yr
55 Tigers Y Preston Larrison 4Yr
60 Marlins Y Garrett Berger HS
62 Yankees via Rockies Y *Jason Arnold 4Yr
75 Rockies N *David Taylor HS
80 Mariners via Phillies Y *Lazaro Abreu HS
99 Mariners Y Tim Merritt 4Yr
100 Dodgers Y David Taylor HS
7 Orioles Y Chris Smith 4Yr
9 Royals Y Colt Griffin HS
14 Padres Y Jake Gautreau 4Yr
27 Indians via White Sox N *Alan Horne HS
28 Cardinals Y Justin Pope 4Yr
32 Tigers Y *Michael Woods 4Yr
39 White Sox Y *Wyatt Allen 4Yr
40 Braves Y *Richard Lewis 4Yr
42 Yankees Y *Jon Skaggs 4Yr
45 Twins Y Scott Tyler HS
50 Expos Y Don Levinski HS
51 Indians via Orioles Y *Jake Dittler HS
58 Padres N Matt Harrington
64 Reds Y Justin Gillman HS
65 Tigers via Indians Y *Matt Coenen 4Yr
68 Dodgers Y Brian Pilkington HS
70 Mets Y Alhaji Turay HS
71 White Sox Y Ryan Wing JC
73 Braves Y Cole Barthel HS
76 Mets Y *Corey Rangsdale HS
79 Devil Rays Y Chris Flinn 4Yr
83 Orioles Y Dave Crouthers 4Yr
85 Royals Y Matt Ferrera HS
88 Brewers Y Jon Steitz 4Yr
90 Padres N Tagg Bozied 4Yr
92 Marlins Y Allen Baxter HS
93 Red Sox Y Jon Devries HS
94 Rockies Y Jason Frome 4Yr
96 Reds Y Alan Moye HS
97 Indians Y Nick Moran 4Yr

All in all, the first 100 picks of the 2001 draft accumulated a bWAR of 370, but nearly 40 percent of that total came before the seventh player came off the board.  As this project continues, it will be determined if this draft was a top-heavy outlier or more in line with the norm.

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3 comments on “Mets360 Draft series: The 2001 MLB Draft

  • Brian Joura

    Two years in and the results are surprising, at least to me. I guess the thing that most stands out is that I expected more people in the 10-20 bWAR range. I guess I thought there were more Jeremy Guthries out there.

  • Matt Netter

    Dewon Brazelton, now that’s a head scratcher. I looked him up on baseball-reference and even his minor league numbers were awful. His lone career highlight was hitting a 3-run homer in a triple A game. Rays scouts must have seen something they liked.

  • Steevy

    It’s a shame that David Wright’s career has suffered this lingering death.One of the greatest Mets ever from draft pick through his entire career in the organization..

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