Mets360 Draft series: The 2003 MLB Draft

While the Mets360 draft series is still in relative infancy, there is a very good chance the 2003 draft will go down as the least flashy of the bunch when the series concludes.

Looking at the previous three drafts dissected in this exercise, each has had a minimum of three players among the top 100 selected record a bWAR of at least 35 through the 2017 season. The best bWAR the 2003 draft could produce was 31.2, which belongs to 37th overall pick Adam Jones.

No player chosen in 2003’s first round has amassed a bWAR of at least 30. Nick Markakis, who was chosen seventh overall by the Baltimore Orioles, is close with 29.8. Half of the six players chosen ahead of Markakis – Kyle Sleeth, Chris Lubanski and Ryan Harvey – never even got the call to the big leagues.

Here’s the chronological order of the top 100 picks from 2003:

OvPck	Team	Signed	Name	bWAR	Type
1	Devil Rays	Y	Delmon Young	2.5	HS
2	Brewers	Y	Rickie Weeks	11.7	4Yr
3	Tigers	Y	Kyle Sleeth		4Yr
4	Padres	Y	Tim Stauffer	3.6	4Yr
5	Royals	Y	Chris Lubanski		HS
6	Cubs	Y	Ryan Harvey		HS
7	Orioles	Y	Nick Markakis	29.8	JC
8	Pirates	Y	Paul Maholm	12.1	4Yr
9	Rangers	Y	John Danks	21	HS
10	Rockies	Y	Ian Stewart	2.8	HS
11	Indians	Y	Michael Aubrey	0.2	4Yr
12	Mets	Y	Lastings Milledge	0.5	HS
13	Blue Jays	Y	Aaron Hill	23.8	4Yr
14	Reds	Y	Ryan Wagner	-0.3	4Yr
15	White Sox	Y	Brian Anderson	-0.2	4Yr
16	Marlins	Y	Jeff Allison		HS
17	Red Sox	Y	David Murphy	10.2	4Yr
18	Indians via Phillies	Y	*Brad Snyder	-0.1	4Yr
19	Diamondbacks via Mariners	Y	*Conor Jackson	2.3	4Yr
20	Expos	Y	Chad Cordero	7.5	4Yr
21	Twins	Y	Matt Moses		HS
22	Giants via Astros	Y	*David Aardsma	1.9	4Yr
23	Angels	Y	Brandon Wood	-3.7	HS
24	Dodgers	Y	Chad Billingsley	16.9	HS
25	Athletics	Y	Brad Sullivan		4Yr
26	Athletics via Giants	Y	*Brian Snyder		4Yr
27	Yankees	Y	Eric Duncan		HS
28	Cardinals	Y	Daric Barton	9.1	HS
29	Diamondbacks	Y	Carlos Quentin	10.4	4Yr
30	Royals via Braves	Y	*Mitch Maier	1.4	4Yr
31	Indians	Y	*Adam Miller		HS
32	Red Sox	Y	*Matt Murton	3.3	4Yr
33	Athletics	Y	*Omar Quintanilla	-0.8	4Yr
34	Giants	Y	*Craig Whitaker		HS
35	Braves	Y	*Luis Atilano	-0.9	HS
36	Braves	Y	*Jarrod Saltalamacchia	6	HS
37	Mariners	Y	*Adam Jones	31.2	HS
38	Devil Rays	Y	James Houser	-0.1	HS
39	Brewers	Y	Tony Gwynn	5.8	4Yr
40	Tigers	Y	Jay Sborz	-0.3	HS
41	Padres	Y	Daniel Moore		4Yr
42	Royals	Y	Shane Costa	-0.6	4Yr
43	Braves via Cubs	Y	*Jo-Jo Reyes	-3.8	HS
44	Orioles	Y	Brian Finch		4Yr
45	Pirates	Y	Tom Gorzelanny	5.9	4Yr
46	Rangers	Y	Vince Sinisi		4Yr
47	Rockies	Y	Scott Beerer		4Yr
48	Indians	Y	Javi Herrera		4Yr
49	Red Sox via Mets	Y	*Abe Alvarez	-0.4	4Yr
50	Blue Jays	Y	Josh Banks	-0.8	4Yr
51	Reds	Y	Thomas Pauly		4Yr
52	White Sox	Y	Ryan Sweeney	6.5	HS
53	Marlins	Y	Logan Kensing	-1	4Yr
54	Red Sox	Y	Mickey Hall		HS
55	Giants	Y	Todd Jennings		4Yr
56	Mariners	Y	Jeff Flaig		HS
57	Expos	Y	Jerry Owens	0.8	4Yr
58	Twins	Y	Scott Baker	15.7	4Yr
59	Astros	Y	Jason Hirsh	-0.3	4Yr
60	Angels	Y	Anthony Whittington		HS
61	Dodgers	Y	Chuck Tiffany		HS
62	Athletics	Y	Andre Ethier	21.8	4Yr
63	Giants	Y	Nate Schierholtz	4.3	JC
64	Yankees	Y	Estee Harris		HS
65	Cardinals	Y	Stu Pomeranz	-0.1	HS
66	Diamondbacks	Y	Jamie D’Antona	-0.3	4Yr
67	Braves	Y	Paul Bacot		HS
68	Devil Rays	N	Andrew Miller	8.4	HS
69	Brewers	Y	Lou Palmisano		JC
70	Tigers	Y	Tony Giarratano	-0.3	4Yr
71	Padres	Y	Colt Morton	-0.3	4Yr
72	Royals	Y	Brian McFall		JC
73	Cubs	Y	Jake Fox	-0.6	4Yr
74	Orioles	Y	Chris Ray	3.2	4Yr
75	Pirates	Y	Steven Lerud	-0.3	HS
76	Rangers	Y	John Hudgins		4Yr
77	Rockies	Y	Aaron Marsden		4Yr
78	Indians	Y	Ryan Garko	3.6	4Yr
79	Braves via Mets	Y	*Jake Stevens		HS
80	Blue Jays	Y	Shaun Marcum	13.4	4Yr
81	Reds	Y	Willy Jo Ronda		HS
82	White Sox	Y	Clint King		4Yr
83	Marlins	Y	Jon Fulton		HS
84	Red Sox	Y	Beau Vaughan		4Yr
85	Phillies	Y	Tim Moss		4Yr
86	Mariners	Y	Ryan Feierabend	-1.4	HS
87	Expos	Y	Kory Casto	-1.6	4Yr
88	Twins	Y	Johnny Woodard		JC
89	Astros	N	Drew Stubbs	8.3	HS
90	Angels	Y	Sean Rodriguez	9.1	HS
91	Dodgers	N	Cory VanAllen		HS
92	Athletics	Y	Dustin Majewski		4Yr
93	Giants	Y	Brian Buscher	0.5	4Yr
94	Yankees	Y	Tim Battle		HS
95	Cardinals	Y	Dennis Dove	-0.2	4Yr
96	Diamondbacks	Y	Matt Chico	0.6	JC
97	Braves	Y	Matt Harrison	9.1	HS
98	Devil Rays	Y	Travis Schlichting	0.3	HS
99	Brewers	Y	Charlie Fermaint		HS
100	Tigers	Y	Josh Rainwater		HS

Delmon Young, the younger brother of established major leaguer Dmitri, went first overall to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Despite being Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2005 and runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2007, Young ultimately fell short of expectations. He managed just a 2.5 bWAR in a 10-year major league career, thanks in part to poor plate discipline and troubles defensively.

The Devil Rays’ best pick in the draft turned out to be Andrew Miller at No. 68, but he did not sign with the team and since has become one of the best relievers in the game elsewhere.
Rickie Weeks was selected second overall by the Milwaukee Brewers and has put up a respectable 11.7 bWAR, which rounded out the top 10 in that category among the draft’s first 100 picks. Here’s how that ranking list looks:

OvPck	Team	Signed	Name	bWAR	Type
37	Mariners	Y	*Adam Jones	31.2	HS
7	Orioles	Y	Nick Markakis	29.8	JC
13	Blue Jays	Y	Aaron Hill	23.8	4Yr
62	Athletics	Y	Andre Ethier	21.8	4Yr
9	Rangers	Y	John Danks	21	HS
24	Dodgers	Y	Chad Billingsley	16.9	HS
58	Twins	Y	Scott Baker	15.7	4Yr
80	Blue Jays	Y	Shaun Marcum	13.4	4Yr
8	Pirates	Y	Paul Maholm	12.1	4Yr
2	Brewers	Y	Rickie Weeks	11.7	4Yr
29	Diamondbacks	Y	Carlos Quentin	10.4	4Yr
17	Red Sox	Y	David Murphy	10.2	4Yr
28	Cardinals	Y	Daric Barton	9.1	HS
90	Angels	Y	Sean Rodriguez	9.1	HS
97	Braves	Y	Matt Harrison	9.1	HS
68	Devil Rays	N	Andrew Miller	8.4	HS
89	Astros	N	Drew Stubbs	8.3	HS
20	Expos	Y	Chad Cordero	7.5	4Yr
52	White Sox	Y	Ryan Sweeney	6.5	HS
36	Braves	Y	*Jarrod Saltalamacchia	6	HS
45	Pirates	Y	Tom Gorzelanny	5.9	4Yr
39	Brewers	Y	Tony Gwynn	5.8	4Yr
63	Giants	Y	Nate Schierholtz	4.3	JC
4	Padres	Y	Tim Stauffer	3.6	4Yr
78	Indians	Y	Ryan Garko	3.6	4Yr
32	Red Sox	Y	*Matt Murton	3.3	4Yr
74	Orioles	Y	Chris Ray	3.2	4Yr
10	Rockies	Y	Ian Stewart	2.8	HS
1	Devil Rays	Y	Delmon Young	2.5	HS
19	Diamondbacks via Mariners	Y	*Conor Jackson	2.3	4Yr
22	Giants via Astros	Y	*David Aardsma	1.9	4Yr
30	Royals via Braves	Y	*Mitch Maier	1.4	4Yr
57	Expos	Y	Jerry Owens	0.8	4Yr
96	Diamondbacks	Y	Matt Chico	0.6	JC
12	Mets	Y	Lastings Milledge	0.5	HS
93	Giants	Y	Brian Buscher	0.5	4Yr
98	Devil Rays	Y	Travis Schlichting	0.3	HS
11	Indians	Y	Michael Aubrey	0.2	4Yr
18	Indians via Phillies	Y	*Brad Snyder	-0.1	4Yr
38	Devil Rays	Y	James Houser	-0.1	HS
65	Cardinals	Y	Stu Pomeranz	-0.1	HS
15	White Sox	Y	Brian Anderson	-0.2	4Yr
95	Cardinals	Y	Dennis Dove	-0.2	4Yr
14	Reds	Y	Ryan Wagner	-0.3	4Yr
40	Tigers	Y	Jay Sborz	-0.3	HS
59	Astros	Y	Jason Hirsh	-0.3	4Yr
66	Diamondbacks	Y	Jamie D’Antona	-0.3	4Yr
70	Tigers	Y	Tony Giarratano	-0.3	4Yr
71	Padres	Y	Colt Morton	-0.3	4Yr
75	Pirates	Y	Steven Lerud	-0.3	HS
49	Red Sox via Mets	Y	*Abe Alvarez	-0.4	4Yr
42	Royals	Y	Shane Costa	-0.6	4Yr
73	Cubs	Y	Jake Fox	-0.6	4Yr
33	Athletics	Y	*Omar Quintanilla	-0.8	4Yr
50	Blue Jays	Y	Josh Banks	-0.8	4Yr
35	Braves	Y	*Luis Atilano	-0.9	HS
53	Marlins	Y	Logan Kensing	-1	4Yr
86	Mariners	Y	Ryan Feierabend	-1.4	HS
87	Expos	Y	Kory Casto	-1.6	4Yr
23	Angels	Y	Brandon Wood	-3.7	HS
43	Braves via Cubs	Y	*Jo-Jo Reyes	-3.8	HS
27	Yankees	Y	Eric Duncan		HS
51	Reds	Y	Thomas Pauly		4Yr
64	Yankees	Y	Estee Harris		HS
76	Rangers	Y	John Hudgins		4Yr
79	Braves via Mets	Y	*Jake Stevens		HS
83	Marlins	Y	Jon Fulton		HS
85	Phillies	Y	Tim Moss		4Yr
88	Twins	Y	Johnny Woodard		JC
92	Athletics	Y	Dustin Majewski		4Yr
94	Yankees	Y	Tim Battle		HS
3	Tigers	Y	Kyle Sleeth		4Yr
5	Royals	Y	Chris Lubanski		HS
6	Cubs	Y	Ryan Harvey		HS
16	Marlins	Y	Jeff Allison		HS
21	Twins	Y	Matt Moses		HS
25	Athletics	Y	Brad Sullivan		4Yr
26	Athletics via Giants	Y	*Brian Snyder		4Yr
31	Indians	Y	*Adam Miller		HS
34	Giants	Y	*Craig Whitaker		HS
41	Padres	Y	Daniel Moore		4Yr
44	Orioles	Y	Brian Finch		4Yr
46	Rangers	Y	Vince Sinisi		4Yr
47	Rockies	Y	Scott Beerer		4Yr
48	Indians	Y	Javi Herrera		4Yr
54	Red Sox	Y	Mickey Hall		HS
55	Giants	Y	Todd Jennings		4Yr
56	Mariners	Y	Jeff Flaig		HS
60	Angels	Y	Anthony Whittington		HS
61	Dodgers	Y	Chuck Tiffany		HS
67	Braves	Y	Paul Bacot		HS
69	Brewers	Y	Lou Palmisano		JC
72	Royals	Y	Brian McFall		JC
77	Rockies	Y	Aaron Marsden		4Yr
81	Reds	Y	Willy Jo Ronda		HS
82	White Sox	Y	Clint King		4Yr
84	Red Sox	Y	Beau Vaughan		4Yr
91	Dodgers	N	Cory VanAllen		HS
99	Brewers	Y	Charlie Fermaint		HS
100	Tigers	Y	Josh Rainwater		HS

Although the Mariners drafted the player who has accumulated the most bWAR among the draft’s first 100 selections, it’s difficult to declare them a winner considering they traded Jones to the Orioles before he truly established himself in the majors. Jones managed just 0.9 bWAR prior to the 2008 trade that sent him and four others, including Chris Tillman, to Baltimore for Erik Bedard.

The Orioles since have gotten 30.3 bWAR from Jones. Coupled with the 25.5 bWAR received from the first nine years of Markakis’ career, Baltimore would appear to be the chief beneficiary of the 2003 draft. In addition, reliever Chris Ray chipped in 3.2 bWAR after being the Orioles’ third-round pick that year.

Another benefactor from the 2003 draft was Los Angeles, which selected Chad Billingsley 24th overall. Billingsley accumulated the second-highest bWAR among pitchers drafted among the top 100 with 16.9. The Dodgers also have received all 21.8 bWAR from the career of Andre Ethier, who was selected 62nd overall in 2003 by Oakland but shipped to Los Angeles for Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez two years later.

From a volume perspective, the Toronto Blue Jays were the only organization to produce multiple players that have contributed double-digit bWAR. Aaron Hill, who was chosen 13th overall, has the third-most bWAR from the 2003 draft with 23.8. Shaun Marcum, who went 80th, produced 13.4 bWAR in a career that ended in 2015.

With four drafted players among the top 100 combining for -0.6 bWAR, the Detroit Tigers stuck out as the biggest loser from the 2003 draft. Sleeth not graduating from Double-A despite being the third overall pick was particularly unfortunate for an organization that lost 119 games in 2003.

The Chicago Cubs also managed a combined -0.6 bWAR from its top-100 picks, including Harvey at No. 6. Each of the next seven players selected after Harvey, who topped out at Double-A, posted a positive bWAR and combined for over 90 bWAR.

The Tigers and Cubs were far from alone as underachievers in a draft devoid of big names. In fact, only nine players among the 2003 draft’s top 100 can claim to have even made an All-Star team. In that group, only Jones has been an All-Star more than twice.

While the 2003 draft has produced 38 players with a positive bWAR – the same number as in 2002 – it has produced less top-end talent than any previous draft in this series. Here’s hoping things can turn around in 2004!