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Looking Back: 2000 First-Year Player Draft
Authored by Andrew Perna - 8th June, 2012 - 4:44 pm

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Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at how every First-Year Player Draft from 2000 on has panned out. Once we have looked at every draft class, first round only, each team will be graded on how they have used their first-round picks this millennium.

The 2000 Major League Baseball draft had star power at the top in Adrian Gonzalez, but the first round has yielded only three All-Stars (Gonzalez, Chase Utley and Adam Wainwright).

Of the thirty picks, fourteen have never made an appearance in the Major Leagues. Those players are perfectly split in terms of pitchers and position players. Three were drafted as catchers.

1. Marlins: Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, East Lake HS (CA)

If you rehash this draft, nine times out of ten Gonzalez would still be taken first overall. Depending on your baseball philosophy, there is a chance you might prefer a left-hander like Cliff Lee, but the slugger has been consistently good throughout his career. The Marlins traded Gonzalez to the Rangers in a package for Ugueth Urbina in 2003. He broke out with the Padres in 2006 and has hit at least 24 home runs in sixth straight seasons. He is a four-time All-Star and has finished in the top twenty of the MVP voting five times.

2. Twins: Adam Johnson, RHP, Cal State Fullerton

The first bust of the millennium, Johnson threw less than 27 innings in the Major Leagues. He debuted midway through the 2001 season and made seven appearances, four starts, while compiling a 8.28 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and allowing six home runs. He resurfaced two years later, but his stay in the Major Leagues did not last long after he allowed seven earned runs while recording just four outs over two appearances.

3. Cubs: Luis Montanez, SS, Coral Park HS (FL)

Drafted as an 18-year-old, he was converted to an outfielder and did not make his Major League debut until 2008. He did so with the Orioles before moving back to the Cubs, signing with the Phillies this past winter and landing with the Cardinals last month. He has played 129 games in his career, hitting .223/.258/.328.

4. Royals: Mike Stodolka, LHP, Centennial HS (CA)

Stodolka never made an appearance in the Big Leagues, although he did play for Triple-A Omaha of the Pacific Coast League in 2008. Ironically, the left-hander did so as a hitter. He last pitched professionally for Double-A Wichita before he became a hitter in hopes of reenergizing his career.

5. Expos: Justin Wayne, RHP, Stanford

Wayne was traded to the Marlins in the Cliff Floyd/Claudio Vargas deal and pitched in parts of three seasons with Florida. In 26 games, including eight starts, the right-hander had a 6.13 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and allowed close to two home runs per nine innings.

6. Devil Rays: Rocco Baldelli, OF, Bishop Hendrickson HS (RI)

The Pride of Rhode Island, Baldelli would have made a bigger impact had he not dealt with a strange ailment that robbed him of both energy and strength. He finished third in the voting for the 2003 American League Rookie of the Year and hit .280/.324/.443 in six seasons with Tampa Bay. He is currently an adviser to the Rays.

7. Rockies: Matt Harrington, RHP, Palmdale HS (CA)

Harrington never even had a sip of coffee in the Show. In seven Minor League seasons, all in the Independent League, he posted a 4.49 ERA (mostly as a reliever) and twice walked more batters than he struck out.

8. Tigers: Matt Wheatland, RHP, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA)

Wheatland followed the same path of Stodolka, never getting out of the minors despite trying his hand as a first baseman as his baseball dream was slipping away.

9. Padres: Mark Phillips, LHP, Hanover HS (PA)

He never got past High-A ball despite a relatively strong 2001 season in which he bounced around, but was 9-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 14 starts. He had a 2.16 strikeout-to-walk ratio, but never approached that kind of success again.

10. Angels: Joe Torres, LHP, Gateway HS (FL)

Believe it or not, Torres is still kicking around. He is currently with Triple-A Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League and has logged close to 600 innings in 12 seasons as a minor leaguer. He has been up-and-down, which has kept him from that elusive promotion.

11. Brewers: Dave Krynzel, OF, Green Valley HS (NV)

He stuck with Milwaukee, making his debut on September 1, 2004. He did not last a full year, hitting .188/.278/.208 in 54 plate appearances.

12. White Sox: Joe Borchard, OF, Stanford

Borchard played in 301 Major League games, but might best be known as the player Chicago traded to Seattle for Matt Thornton. He was not able to handle elite pitching, hitting .205/.284/.352 with 26 home runs and 77 RBI in 800 plate appearances.

13. Cardinals: Shaun Boyd, 2B, Vista HS (CA)

He played nine years in the Minors League, but was never able to excel at the higher levels. In parts of two seasons at the Triple-A level, Boyd hit .184/.285/.237. He has the distinction of being the highest position player draft in 2000 to not make the Major Leagues.

14. Orioles: Beau Hale, RHP, Texas

Hale drew raves coming out of Texas, but struggles on the mound and shoulder issues kept him from reaching his potential. He never advanced higher than Double-A, posting a 4.31 ERA and 2.66 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 478-plus innings.

15. Phillies: Chase Utley, 2B, UCLA

He made five-straight All-Star games from 2006-2010 and received MVP votes in each season from 2005-2009. In nine seasons with Philadelphia, Utley has hit .290/.377/.505 with 188 home runs and 694 RBI. He hit .365 and had a .522 on-base percentage in the 2008 NLCS against the Dodgers as the Phillies made their way to a World Series victory.

16. Mets: Billy Traber, LHP, Loyola Marymount

Traber hung around for five Major League seasons, pitching for the Indians, Nationals, Yankees and Red Sox. He last appeared on a Big League mound in 2009 when he allowed five earned runs in less than four innings for Boston.

17. Dodgers: Ben Diggins, RHP, Arizona

Traded to the Brewers in 2002, Diggins made five starts before his career took a downturn. He had an 8.63 ERA in those five starts and excelled with Double-A Huntsville in 2003 before he tore the UCL ligament in his right elbow. After having Tommy John surgery, he was never the same again.

18. Blue Jays: Miguel Negron, OF, Puerto Rico

He was playing in the South Atlantic League as recently as last year, but the left-handed hitter never received a call-up despite two stints at the Triple-A level. He has played more than 1,000 games, including 139 at the highest Minor League level.

19. Pirates: Sean Burnett, LHP, Wellington Community HS (FL)

Burnett overcame an injury back in 2005 that came after he spent time with Pittsburgh during the 2004 season. He has since become an effective reliever. With the Nationals this season, he has a 1.00 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 23 appearances.

20. Angels: Chris Bootcheck, RHP, Auburn

Bootcheck made 90 appearances in the Majors, 77 of which came with the Angels. A spot starter in his first two seasons, the right-hander served as a full-time reliever over his final four campaigns. He had a 4.77 ERA in 51 games in 2007, but had a four-digit ERA in three of his final four years.

21. Giants: John "Boof" Bonser, RHP, Gibbs HS (FL)

Boof has pitched well when given the opportunity, but is known more for his unique nickname than what he has accomplished on the mound. He had a 4.22 ERA in 18 starts with Minnesota in 2006, but saw his ERA climb steadily through the 2010 season.

22. Red Sox: Phil Dumatrait, LHP, Bakersfield College

He hung around for four Major League seasons despite a horrible debut with the Reds in 2007. In six starts, the left-hander had a 15.00 ERA and allowed six home runs in just 18 innings. He had a 2.83 WHIP and walked more batters than he struck out.

23. Reds: David Espinosa, SS, Miami, FL

Still playing in the Atlantic League, Espinosa has logged 5,308 plate appearances with a line of .273/.371/.414 and 300 more strikeouts than walks.

24. Cardinals: Blake Williams, RHP, S.W. Texas State

He pitched well but never advanced to Double-A, recording a 3.60 ERA in 118 appearances across seven seasons.

25. Rangers: Scott Heard, C, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA)

Heard never got higher than High-A ball, hitting .245/.341/.360 with 24 home runs and 145 RBI in 345 games.

26. Indians: Corey Smith, SS, Piscataway HS (NJ)

The infielder is still active, having signed a Minor League contract with the White Sox this past January, but at 30-years-old he is still waiting for a Major League at-bat. He has hit 188 home runs in 13 seasons, including three at the Triple-A level (.223/.266/.355).

27. Astros: Robert Stiehl, C, El Camino College

In seven Minor League seasons, he made 110 appearances and pitched to a 4.17 ERA over 233 innings.

28. Yankees: David Parrish, C, Michigan

He played 149 games at the Triple-A level, hitting .235/.300/.344 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI. His overall numbers over eight Minor League seasons were only slightly better.

29. Braves: Adam Wainwright, RHP, Glynn Academy HS (GA)

Atlanta traded Wainwright in a package for J.D. Drew on December 13, 2003 and he has been a very good pitcher with St. Louis since 2006 when he served as a reliever. He finished third and second, respectively, in the 2009 and 2010 National League Cy Young voting as he thrived in the starting rotation. In 194 games, including 131 starts, the right-hander has a 3.12 ERA and a 2.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

30. Braves: Scott Thorman, 3B, Preston HS (ON)

Thorman looked to be on the rise when he debuted with Atlanta in 2006, hitting .234 with five home runs and 14 RBI in part-time duty, but struggled to hit for average and bounced around with four other teams without ever returning to the Majors.

Other Notable Selections:
105. Expos: Cliff Lee, LHP, Arkansas
113. Cardinals: Yadier Molina, C, Puerto Rico
466. Rays: James Shields, RHP, Hart HS (CA)
599. Pirates: Jose Bautista, 1B, Chipola College
879. Rangers: Ian Kinsler, 2B, Arizona State