2008 Major League Baseball draft

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The 2008 Major League Baseball draft, was an annual choosing of high school and college baseball players, held on June 5 and 6, 2008.

2008 Major League Baseball draft
General information
Date(s)June 5–6, 2008
Network(s)ESPN[1]
Overview
1504 total selections
First selectionTim Beckham
Tampa Bay Rays
First round selections46
← 2007
2009 →

First round selections

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The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Pedro Álvarez second overall. Alvarez had a breakout season in 2013, where he was named an All-Star, was the National League home run leader, and won the Silver Slugger at third base.
 
The Kansas City Royals selected Eric Hosmer with the third overall pick. With the Royals, Hosmer won 4 Gold Gloves at first base and the 2015 World Series.
 
The San Francisco Giants selected Buster Posey 5th overall. The 7x All-Star won the 2010 Rookie of the Year Award, the 2012 N.L. Most Valuable Player Award, the 2016 Gold Glove Award at catcher, five Silver Sluggers Awards at catcher and the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series.
Key
All-Star
* Player did not sign
Pick Player Team Position School
1 Tim Beckham Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop Griffin High School (GA)
2 Pedro Álvarez Pittsburgh Pirates Third baseman Vanderbilt
3 Eric Hosmer Kansas City Royals First baseman American Heritage School (FL)
4 Brian Matusz Baltimore Orioles Left-handed pitcher San Diego
5 Buster Posey San Francisco Giants Catcher Florida State
6 Kyle Skipworth Florida Marlins Catcher Patriot High School (CA)
7 Yonder Alonso Cincinnati Reds First baseman Miami (FL)
8 Gordon Beckham Chicago White Sox Shortstop Georgia
9 Aaron Crow* Washington Nationals Right-handed pitcher Missouri
10 Jason Castro Houston Astros Catcher Stanford
11 Justin Smoak Texas Rangers First baseman South Carolina
12 Jemile Weeks Oakland Athletics Second baseman Miami (FL)
13 Brett Wallace St. Louis Cardinals Third baseman Arizona State
14 Aaron Hicks Minnesota Twins Outfielder Woodrow Wilson High School (CA)
15 Ethan Martin Los Angeles Dodgers Right-handed pitcher Stephens County High School (GA)
16 Brett Lawrie Milwaukee Brewers Catcher Brookswood Secondary School (BC)
17 David Cooper Toronto Blue Jays First baseman California
18 Ike Davis New York Mets[Compensation 1] First baseman Arizona State
19 Andrew Cashner Chicago Cubs Right-handed pitcher TCU
20 Josh Fields Seattle Mariners Right-handed pitcher Georgia
21 Ryan Perry Detroit Tigers Right-handed pitcher Arizona
22 Reese Havens New York Mets Shortstop South Carolina
23 Allan Dykstra San Diego Padres First baseman Wake Forest
24 Anthony Hewitt Philadelphia Phillies Shortstop Salisbury School (CT)
25 Christian Friedrich Colorado Rockies Left-handed pitcher Eastern Kentucky
26 Daniel Schlereth Arizona Diamondbacks Left-handed pitcher Arizona
27 Carlos Gutiérrez Minnesota Twins[Compensation 2] Right-handed pitcher Miami (FL)
28 Gerrit Cole* New York Yankees Right-handed pitcher Orange Lutheran High School (CA)
29 Lonnie Chisenhall Cleveland Indians Shortstop Pitt Community College (NC)
30 Casey Kelly Boston Red Sox Right-handed pitcher Sarasota High School (FL)

Supplemental first round selections

Pick Player Team Position School
31 Steven Hunt Minnesota Twins[Compensation 3] Right-handed pitcher Tulane
32 Jake Odorizzi Milwaukee Brewers[Compensation 4] Right-handed pitcher Highland High School (IL)
33 Bradley Holt New York Mets[Compensation 5] Right-handed pitcher UNC Wilmington
34 Zach Collier Philadelphia Phillies[Compensation 6] Outfielder Chino Hills High School (CA)
35 Evan Frederickson Milwaukee Brewers[Compensation 7] Left-handed pitcher San Francisco
36 Michael Montgomery Kansas City Royals[Compensation 8] Left-handed pitcher Hart High School (CA)
37 Conor Gillaspie San Francisco Giants[Compensation 9] Third baseman Wichita State
38 Jordan Lyles Houston Astros[Compensation 10] Right-handed pitcher Hartsville High School (SC)
39 Lance Lynn St. Louis Cardinals[Compensation 11] Right-handed pitcher Ole Miss
40 Brett DeVall Atlanta Braves[Compensation 12] Left-handed pitcher Niceville High School (FL)
41 Ryan Flaherty Chicago Cubs[Compensation 13] Shortstop Vanderbilt
42 Jaff Decker San Diego Padres[Compensation 14] Outfielder Sunrise Mountain High School (AZ)
43 Wade Miley Arizona Diamondbacks[Compensation 15] Left-handed pitcher Southeastern Louisiana
44 Jeremy Bleich New York Yankees[Compensation 16] Left-handed pitcher Stanford
45 Bryan Price Boston Red Sox[Compensation 17] Right-handed pitcher Rice
46 Logan Forsythe San Diego Padres[Compensation 18] Third baseman Arkansas

Compensation picks

  1. ^ Pick from Atlanta Braves as compensation for signing of free agent Tom Glavine
  2. ^ Pick from Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as compensation for signing of free agent Torii Hunter
  3. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for signing of free agent Torii Hunter
  4. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for signing of free agent Francisco Cordero
  5. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Tom Glavine
  6. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Aaron Rowand
  7. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Scott Linebrink
  8. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent David Riske
  9. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Pedro Feliz
  10. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Trever Miller
  11. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Troy Percival
  12. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Ron Mahay
  13. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Jason Kendall
  14. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Doug Brocail
  15. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Liván Hernández
  16. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Luis Vizcaíno
  17. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Éric Gagné
  18. ^ Supplemental pick as compensation for loss of free agent Mike Cameron

Other notable players

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The Colorado Rockies selected Charlie Blackmon in the second round. He is a 4x MLB All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger award winner, and the 2017 National League batting champion.
 
The Atlanta Braves selected Craig Kimbrel in the third round. The 9x All-Star won the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year award.
 
The San Francisco Giants selected Brandon Crawford in the fourth round. The 3x All-Star won four Gold Glove Awards at shortstop, the 2015 Silver Slugger Award at shortstop and the 2012, and 2014 World Series.
 
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Dee Strange-Gordon in the fourth round. A two-time All-Star, his 2015 breakout season saw him win the Gold Glove Award at second base, the Silver Slugger Award at second base, and lead the National League in batting average, and stolen bases.
Round Pick Player Team Position School
2 47 Kyle Lobstein Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher Coconino High School (AZ)
2 48 Tanner Scheppers Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Fresno State
2 49 Johnny Giavotella Kansas City Royals Second baseman New Orleans
2 50 Xavier Avery Baltimore Orioles Outfielder Cedar Grove High School (GA)
2 51 Anthony Gose Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder Bellflower High School (CA)
2 52 Brad Hand Florida Marlins Pitcher Chaska High School (MN)
2 57 Robbie Ross Texas Rangers Pitcher Lexington Christian Academy (KY)
2 58 Tyson Ross Oakland Athletics Pitcher California
2 59 Shane Peterson St. Louis Cardinals Outfielder Long Beach State
2 60 Tyler Ladendorf Minnesota Twins Second baseman Howard College (TX)
2 61 Josh Lindblom Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Purdue
2 69 James Darnell San Diego Padres Third baseman South Carolina
2 70 Zeke Spruill Atlanta Braves Pitcher Kell High School (GA)
2 72 Charlie Blackmon Colorado Rockies Outfielder Georgia Tech
2 73 Bryan Shaw Arizona Diamondbacks Pitcher Long Beach State
2 74 Tyler Chatwood Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Pitcher Redlands East Valley High School (CA)
3 79 Jordy Mercer Pittsburgh Pirates Shortstop Oklahoma State
3 81 L. J. Hoes Baltimore Orioles Second baseman St. John's College High School (DC)
3 82 Roger Kieschnick San Francisco Giants Outfielder Texas Tech
3 83 Edgar Olmos Florida Marlins Pitcher Birmingham High School (CA)
3 84 Zach Stewart Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Texas Tech
3 85 Stephen Fife Boston Red Sox Pitcher Utah
3 86 Brent Morel Chicago White Sox Third baseman Cal Poly
3 87 Danny Espinosa Washington Nationals Shortstop Long Beach State
3 94 Logan Schafer Milwaukee Brewers Outfielder Cal Poly
3 96 Craig Kimbrel Atlanta Braves Pitcher Wallace State Community College
3 97 Chris Carpenter Chicago Cubs Pitcher Kent State
3 100 Kirk Nieuwenhuis New York Mets Outfielder Azusa Pacific
3 101 Blake Tekotte San Diego Padres Outfielder Miami (FL)
3 102 Vance Worley Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Long Beach State
3 106 David Adams New York Yankees Second Baseman Virginia
3 107 Cord Phelps Cleveland Indians Second Baseman Stanford
3 108 Kyle Weiland Boston Red Sox Pitcher Notre Dame
3 110 Jonathan Pettibone Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Esperanza High School (CA)
4 114 Chase d'Arnaud Pittsburgh Pirates Shortstop Pepperdine
4 115 Tim Melville Kansas City Royals Pitcher Wentzville Holt High School (MO)
4 116 Kyle Hudson Baltimore Orioles Outfielder Illinois
4 117 Brandon Crawford San Francisco Giants Shortstop UCLA
4 123 Joe Wieland Texas Rangers Pitcher Bishop Manogue Catholic High School (NV)
4 127 Dee Strange-Gordon Los Angeles Dodgers Shortstop Southeastern University
4 135 Jason Kipnis* San Diego Padres Outfielder Arizona State
4 136 Trevor May Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Kelso High School (WA)
4 139 Buddy Boshers Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Pitcher Calhoun Community College
4 140 Corban Joseph New York Yankees Shortstop Franklin High School (TN)
5 144 Justin Wilson Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Fresno State
5 145 John Lamb Kansas City Royals Pitcher Laguna Hills High School (CA)
5 150 Daniel Hudson Chicago White Sox Pitcher Old Dominion
5 151 Adrian Nieto Washington Nationals Catcher American Heritage School (FL)
5 155 Jermaine Curtis St. Louis Cardinals Third baseman UCLA
5 159 Tyler Pastornicky Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop IMG Academy (FL)
5 163 Alex Avila Detroit Tigers Catcher Alabama
5 165 Anthony Bass San Diego Padres Pitcher Wayne State
5 167 Chris Dominguez Colorado Rockies Third baseman Louisville
5 168 Collin Cowgill Arizona Diamondbacks Outfielder Kentucky
5 171 Zach Putnam Cleveland Indians Pitcher Michigan Wolverines
6 174 Robbie Grossman Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder Cy-Fair High School (TX)
6 177 Eric Surkamp San Francisco Giants Pitcher NC State
6 182 J. B. Shuck Houston Astros Outfielder Ohio State
6 183 Richard Bleier Texas Rangers Pitcher Florida Gulf Coast
6 185 Eric Fornataro St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Miami Dade College
6 191 Josh Harrison Chicago Cubs Second baseman Cincinnati
6 194 Josh Satin New York Mets Second Baseman California
6 195 Cole Figueroa San Diego Padres Shortstop Florida
6 200 Brett Marshall New York Yankees Pitcher Sterling High School (TX)
6 202 Ryan Lavarnway Boston Red Sox Third baseman Yale
7 206 Caleb Joseph Baltimore Orioles Catcher Lipscomb
7 209 Pedro Villarreal Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Howard
7 210 Jordan Danks Chicago White Sox Outfielder Texas
7 219 Eric Thames Toronto Blue Jays Outfielder Pepperdine
7 229 Will Smith Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Pitcher Gulf Coast Community College
7 230 Kyle Higashioka New York Yankees Catcher Edison High School (CA)
7 232 Tim Federowicz Boston Red Sox Catcher North Carolina
8 237 Scott Barnes San Francisco Giants Pitcher St. John's
8 238 Isaac Galloway Florida Marlins Outfielder Los Osos High School (CA)
8 247 Nick Buss Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielder USC
8 248 Erik Komatsu Milwaukee Brewers Outfielder Cal State Fullerton
8 249 Evan Crawford Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Auburn
8 250 Brett Oberholtzer Atlanta Braves Pitcher Seminole State College of Florida
8 252 Bobby LaFromboise Seattle Mariners Pitcher New Mexico
8 253 Andy Dirks Detroit Tigers Outfielder Wichita State
8 254 Eric Campbell New York Mets Third baseman Boston College
9 264 Matt Hague Pittsburgh Pirates Third baseman Oklahoma State
9 268 Dan Jennings Florida Marlins Pitcher Nebraska
9 269 Dave Sappelt Cincinnati Reds Outfielder Coastal Carolina
9 281 Jay Jackson Chicago Cubs Pitcher Furman
9 292 Christian Vázquez Boston Red Sox Catcher Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School (PR)
10 296 Chris Herrmann* Baltimore Orioles Third baseman Alvin Community College
10 301 Tommy Milone Washington Nationals Pitcher Southern California
10 305 Alex Castellanos St. Louis Cardinals Second baseman Belmont Abbey College
10 309 Danny Farquhar Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Louisiana
10 310 J. J. Hoover Atlanta Braves Pitcher Calhoun Community College
10 311 Alex Wilson* Chicago Cubs Pitcher Texas A&M
10 313 Robbie Weinhardt Detroit Tigers Pitcher Oklahoma State
10 315 Andrew Albers San Diego Padres Pitcher Kentucky
10 320 D. J. Mitchell New York Yankees Pitcher Clemson

NFL players drafted

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Notes

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On September 9, 2008, Conor Gillaspie, the 37th pick in the 2008 draft, made his Major League debut, becoming the first from his draft class to do so. Buster Posey was the first 2008 draftee to play in post-season and eventually won the 2010 World Series, the 2012 World Series, and the 2014 World Series with the San Francisco Giants. Posey was also named 2010 NL Rookie of the Year,[2] and he won 2012 National League Most Valuable Player award and the 2012, 2014 & 2015 Silver Slugger awards.

2011 Rookie of the Year Craig Kimbrel was drafted 96th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round.

Ryan Westmoreland, who the Boston Red Sox drafted in the fifth round, became one of the best prospects in baseball before having brain surgery twice to repair a cavernous malformation.[3]

Brothers Caleb and Corban Joseph were both chosen in the 2008 draft. The New York Yankees selected Corban in the fourth round, with the 140th overall selection, out of Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, while the Baltimore Orioles drafted Caleb in the seventh round, with the 206th overall selection, out of Lipscomb University.[4]

West Virginia quarterback Pat White was drafted in the 49th round by the Cincinnati Reds, even though he had not played baseball since his senior year of high school in 2004, when he was drafted by the Anaheim Angels.

Negro Leagues Special Draft

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Prior to the start of the draft, the League held a special round consisting of surviving Negro leagues players to acknowledge and rectify their exclusion from the major leagues on the basis of race in the past. The idea of the special draft was conceived by Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.[5] Each major league team drafted one player from the Negro leagues. Notable in the draft were Emilio Navarro (who, at 101 years of age at the time of the draft, was believed to be the oldest living professional ballplayer) and Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, the first woman ever drafted.[6]

Player MLB Team Position Negro league Team(s)
Hubert Simmons Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Shortstop Kansas City Monarchs
Neale 'Bobo' Henderson Baltimore Orioles Pitcher/Outfielder Baltimore Elite Giants
Jim 'Fireball' Colzie Boston Red Sox Pitcher Indianapolis Clowns, Atlanta Black Crackers
Hank Presswood Chicago White Sox Shortstop/Third baseman Cleveland Buckeyes, Kansas City Monarchs
Otha "Li'l Catch" Bailey Cleveland Indians Catcher Birmingham Black Barons, Chattanooga Choo-Choos, Cleveland Buckeyes, Houston/New Orleans Eagles
Cecil Kaiser Detroit Tigers Pitcher/First baseman/Outfielder Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords
Ulysses Hollimon Kansas City Royals Pitcher Birmingham Black Barons, Baltimore Elite Giants
Bill 'Lefty' Bell Minnesota Twins Pitcher Birmingham Black Barons, Kansas City Monarchs
Emilio 'Millito' Navarro New York Yankees Shortstop/Second baseman/Third baseman Cuban Stars
Irvin Castille Oakland Athletics Shortstop Birmingham Black Barons
John Miles Seattle Mariners Third baseman/Outfielder Chicago American Giants
Walter Lee Gibbons Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher Philadelphia Stars, New York Black Yankees, Indianapolis Clowns
Charley Pride Texas Rangers Pitcher Birmingham Black Barons, Memphis Red Sox
Harold Gould Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Philadelphia Stars
Bob Mitchell Arizona Diamondbacks Pitcher Kansas City Monarchs
James 'Red' Moore Atlanta Braves First baseman Atlanta Black Crackers, Baltimore Elite Giants, Newark Eagles
Walt Owens Chicago Cubs Pitcher/First baseman Detroit Stars
Charlie Davis Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Memphis Red Sox
Mack 'The Knife' Pride Colorado Rockies Pitcher Memphis Red Sox, Kansas City Monarchs
Enrique Maroto Florida Marlins Pitcher Kansas City Monarchs
Bill Blair Houston Astros Pitcher Detroit Stars, Indianapolis Clowns
Andrew Porter Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Baltimore Elite Giants, Newark Eagles, Indianapolis Clowns, Cleveland Buckeyes
Joseph B. Scott Milwaukee Brewers First baseman/Outfielder Memphis Red Sox, New York Black Yankees
Robert Scott New York Mets Pitcher/First baseman Memphis Red Sox, New York Black Yankees
Mahlon Duckett Philadelphia Phillies First baseman/Second Baseman Philadelphia Stars, Indianapolis Clowns
James Tillman Pittsburgh Pirates Catcher Homestead Grays
'Prince' Joe Henry St. Louis Cardinals Second baseman/Third Baseman Philadelphia Stars, Indianapolis ClownsDetroit Stars
Walter McCoy San Diego Padres Pitcher Chicago American Giants, Kansas City Monarchs
Carlos Manuel Santiago San Francisco Giants Shortstop/Second baseman New York Cubans
Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson Washington Nationals Pitcher Indianapolis Clowns

References

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  1. ^ Brown, Maury (June 10, 2020). "MLB Draft Returns To ESPN For First Time Since 2008". Forbes. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Haft, Chris (November 15, 2010). "Posey catches NL Rookie of the Year honors". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. ^ "Boston Red Sox – Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland's long road back from brain surgery – The Boston Globe". Boston.com. March 20, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  4. ^ Strasinger, Mike (June 9, 2008). "Joseph brothers both selected in major league baseball draft". Nashville City Paper. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Tim Brown, "Winfield's Brainchild Thrills Negro Leaguers", Yahoo! Sports, June 4, 2008
  6. ^ 2008 Special Negro Leagues Draft. MLB.com. Retrieved on January 27, 2019.
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Preceded by 1st Overall Picks
Tim Beckham
Succeeded by