There’s really no better way for teams to acquire impact talent than the amateur draft. In most cases these prospects won’t reach the major-leagues for years and years, but the payoff can be huge.
Just ask the 1984 Cubs, who drafted both Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer, or the 1976 Tigers, who drafted Hall of Famers Jack Morris and Alan Trammell (not to mention Ozzie Smith, who didn’t sign). That’s setting the bar high, of course, and those hauls are as rare as they are impressive, but the draft still represents a huge opportunity for MLB teams.
This year the Tigers looked for another Morris with the first overall pick, selecting right-hander Casey Mize, while the Blue Jays chose shortstop Jordan Groshans 12th overall. Here’s a recap of my live blog from the first round of the draft…
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