A look at the Oakland A’s MLB Amateur Draft selections under Sandy Alderson. Alderson came on as GM in 1983 through 1997 then became President in his final year 1998 but I was not sure if he came before or after that year’s June Draft so I did not include 1983.
1984 June Draft Class
- Drafted Mark McGwire in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1984 amateur draft. Player signed July 20, 1984.
- Drafted Todd Burns in the 7th round of the 1984 amateur draft.
- Drafted Joe Strong in the 15th round of the 1984 amateur draft.
- Drafted John Fishel in the 19th round of the 1984 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
1985 June Draft Class
- Drafted Walt Weiss in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 1985 amateur draft. Player signed June 5, 1985.
- Drafted Dave Otto in the 2nd round of the 1985 amateur draft.
- Drafted Wally Whitehurst in the 3rd round of the 1985 amateur draft.
- Drafted Steve Wapnick in the 5th round of the 1985 amateur draft (June Secondary), but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Bruce Walton in the 16th round of the 1985 amateur draft.
- Drafted Jeff Shaver in the 22nd round of the 1985 amateur draft.
- Drafted Jim Pena in the 24th round of the 1985 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Larry Arndt in the 26th round of the 1985 amateur draft.
- Drafted Bob Malloy in the 30th round of the 1985 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
1986 June Draft Class
- Drafted Scott Hemond in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed August 6, 1986.
- Drafted Bret Barberie in the 1st round (22nd pick) of the 1986 amateur draft (June Secondary), but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Kevin Tapani in the 2nd round of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1986.
- Drafted Lance Blankenship in the 10th round of the 1986 amateur draft.
- Drafted Rod Beck in the 13th round of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 22, 1986.
- Drafted Dann Howitt in the 18th round of the 1986 amateur draft. Player signed June 3, 1986.
1987 June Draft Class
- Drafted Lee Tinsley in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 1987 amateur draft. Player signed June 17, 1987.
- Drafted Scott Livingstone in the 3rd round of the 1987 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Scott Chiamparino in the 4th round of the 1987 amateur draft.
- Drafted Jerry Nielsen in the 11th round of the 1987 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Ron Coomer in the 14th round of the 1987 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1987.
- Drafted Scott Brosius in the 20th round of the 1987 amateur draft. Player signed June 9, 1987.
1988 June Draft Class
- Drafted Stan Royer in the 1st round (16th pick) of the 1988 amateur draft.
- Drafted Joe Slusarski in the 2nd round of the 1988 amateur draft. Player signed October 1, 1988.
- Drafted John Briscoe in the 3rd round of the 1988 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1988.
- Drafted Joe Grahe in the 5th round of the 1988 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Ron Witmeyer in the 7th round of the 1988 amateur draft.
- Drafted Rod Correia in the 15th round of the 1988 amateur draft. Player signed June 2, 1988.
- Drafted Darren Lewis in the 18th round of the 1988 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1988.
- Drafted Bronswell Patrick in the 23rd round of the 1988 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1988.
1989 June Draft Class
- Drafted Scott Lydy in the 2nd round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1989.
- Drafted Steve Chitren in the 6th round of the 1989 amateur draft.
- Drafted Craig Paquette in the 8th round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed June 10, 1989.
- Drafted Kurt Abbott in the 15th round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed June 15, 1989.
- Drafted Matt Mieske in the 20th round of the 1989 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Dana Allison in the 21st round of the 1989 amateur draft.
- Drafted Mike Mohler in the 42nd round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed August 18, 1989.
1990 June Draft Class
- Drafted Todd Van Poppel in the 1st round (14th pick) of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed July 16, 1990.
- Drafted Kirk Dressendorfer in the 1st round (36th pick) of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed June 9, 1990.
- Drafted Eric Helfand in the 2nd round of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed June 22, 1990.
- Drafted Creighton Gubanich in the 6th round of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed August 6, 1990.
- Drafted Ernie Young in the 10th round of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1990.
- Drafted Doug Johns in the 16th round of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1990.
- Drafted Izzy Molina in the 22nd round of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed June 28, 1990.
- Drafted Tanyon Sturtze in the 23rd round of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1990.
- Drafted T.J. Mathews in the 35th round of the 1990 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Todd Revenig in the 37th round of the 1990 amateur draft. Player signed June 9, 1990.
- Drafted Sean Lowe in the 43rd round of the 1990 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
1991 June Draft Class
- Drafted Brent Gates in the 1st round (26th pick) of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 28, 1991.
- Drafted Mike Neill in the 2nd round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1991.
- Drafted Steve Wojciechowski in the 4th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1991.
- Drafted Scott Sheldon in the 8th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 5, 1991.
- Drafted Damon Mashore in the 9th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 5, 1991.
- Drafted Jason Wood in the 11th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1991.
- Drafted Miguel Jimenez in the 12th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1991.
- Drafted Darrell May in the 14th round of the 1991 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Brent Cookson in the 15th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 9, 1991.
- Drafted George Williams in the 24th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 10, 1991
1992 June Draft Class
- Drafted Jason Giambi in the 2nd round of the 1992 amateur draft. Player signed July 3, 1992.
- Drafted Don Wengert in the 4th round of the 1992 amateur draft. Player signed June 17, 1992.
- Drafted Steve Cox in the 5th round of the 1992 amateur draft. Player signed June 2, 1992.
- Drafted D.T. Cromer in the 11th round of the 1992 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1992.
- Drafted Gary Haught in the 22nd round of the 1992 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1992.
- Drafted Brian Lesher in the 25th round of the 1992 amateur draft. Player signed June 11, 1992.
- Drafted Robert Fick in the 45th round of the 1992 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
1993 June Draft Class
- Drafted John Wasdin in the 1st round (25th pick) of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed June 15, 1993.
- Drafted Willie Adams in the 1st round (36th pick) of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed July 21, 1993.
- Drafted Jeff D’Amico in the 2nd round of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed July 26, 1993.
- Drafted Jason McDonald in the 4th round of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed July 27, 1993.
- Drafted Scott Spiezio in the 6th round of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed June 24, 1993.
- Drafted Tim Kubinski in the 7th round of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1993.
- Drafted Chris Michalak in the 12th round of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1993.
- Drafted Willie Morales in the 14th round of the 1993 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1993.
- Drafted Brandon Kolb in the 38th round of the 1993 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
1994 June Draft Class
- Drafted Ben Grieve in the 1st round (2nd pick) of the 1994 amateur draft. Player signed June 9, 1994.
- Drafted Brad Rigby in the 2nd round of the 1994 amateur draft. Player signed July 9, 1994.
- Drafted Jason Beverlin in the 4th round of the 1994 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1994.
- Drafted Ryan Drese in the 5th round of the 1994 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Emil Brown in the 6th round of the 1994 amateur draft. Player signed July 17, 1994.
- Drafted Steve Randolph in the 10th round of the 1994 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Tim Hudson in the 35th round of the 1994 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
1995 June Draft Class
- Drafted Ariel Prieto in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 1995 amateur draft. Player signed June 28, 1995.
- Drafted Mark Bellhorn in the 2nd round of the 1995 amateur draft. Player signed June 24, 1995.
- Drafted Danny Ardoin in the 5th round of the 1995 amateur draft. Player signed June 17, 1995.
- Drafted Ryan Christenson in the 10th round of the 1995 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 1995.
- Drafted David Newhan in the 17th round of the 1995 amateur draft. Player signed June 9, 1995.
- Drafted Steve Connelly in the 24th round of the 1995 amateur draft. Player signed June 13, 1995.
- Drafted Jeff DaVanon in the 26th round of the 1995 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1995.
1996 June Draft Class
- Drafted Eric Chavez in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed August 27, 1996.
- Drafted A.J. Hinch in the 3rd round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed June 22, 1996.
- Drafted Cody McKay in the 9th round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1996.
- Drafted Kevin Gregg in the 15th round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed June 30, 1996.
- Drafted Brett Laxton in the 24th round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed June 19, 1996.
1997 June Draft Class
- Drafted Eric DuBose in the 1st round (21st pick) of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 23, 1997.
- Drafted Nathan Haynes in the 1st round (32nd pick) of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 14, 1997.
- Drafted Chad Harville in the 2nd round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 19, 1997.
- Drafted Marcus Jones in the 3rd round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 18, 1997.
- Drafted Tim Hudson in the 6th round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 13, 1997.
- Drafted Adam Piatt in the 8th round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 18, 1997.
- Drafted Ryan Drese in the 14th round of the 1997 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
1998 June Draft Class
- Drafted Mark Mulder in the 1st round (2nd pick) of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed October 9, 1998.
- Drafted Gerald Laird in the 2nd round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 1, 1999.
- Drafted Jason Hart in the 5th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 5, 1998.
- Drafted Eric Byrnes in the 8th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1998.
- Drafted Jon Adkins in the 9th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 27, 1998.
- Drafted Jeff Bajenaru in the 13th round of the 1998 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.
- Drafted Tyler Yates in the 23rd round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 10, 1998.
Information was provided by Baseball-Reference
14 comments
GravediggerHebner
10/26/2010-5:40pm at 5:40 pm (UTC -4)
I lived in Boston when Oakland’s ’93 1st round pick John Wasdin pitched for the Red Sox. Even the team’s own radio announcers took to calling him “Way Back” Wasdin due to the numerous homers he gave up.
I can’t pretend to know how these picks may have been thought of at the time they were made but I can say that with very few exceptions the players I’ve heard of before I have heard of because they are infamous, for either just being not very good or for (alleged) steroid use, not famous.
I believe Brent Gates played a little 2B for a mid-90′s fantasy team of mine, a team that did not do very well.
To end on a high note kudos on Tim Hudson in the 35th round even though he didn’t sign until you took him in a subsequent draft in the 6th.
Mr North Jersey
10/26/2010-5:42pm at 5:42 pm (UTC -4)
They really wanted Hudson. Drafted him in 1994 but didn’t sign then drafted him again in 1997.
Mr North Jersey
10/26/2010-6:19pm at 6:19 pm (UTC -4)
If 1983 was indeed Alderson’s 1st draft and 1998 was his last then He hit the “Mark” in his 1st round Picks.
1983 1st round (10th pick) Mark McGwire
1998 1st round (2nd pick) Mark Mulder
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
So overall, some good first round picks with occasional bomb (Van poppel) and not many blue chippers that stand out. I think I like Byrnes’ signings better.
Mr North Jersey
10/26/2010-7:55pm at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
How do you feel about the idea that with age comes wisdom?
stickguy
10/26/2010-8:13pm at 8:13 pm (UTC -4)
I thought that was gray hair in your ears?
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-8:25pm at 8:25 pm (UTC -4)
With age also comes senility. Not saying I’m anti-old (AKA, anti-Sandy), I’m just saying having a look at what the two have done, I like the trend that Byrnes has done. Both are definitely upgrades. Sandy may be better at running the club vs. the drafting strats. Hey, 2 headed monster anyone?
Mr North Jersey
10/26/2010-8:30pm at 8:30 pm (UTC -4)
The whole “with age comes wisdom” thing was to suggest that even though his past draft record may not be as impressive as others maybe now with age he has gained a better perspective at identifying talent that can hopefully benefit us.
hazmet
10/26/2010-8:19pm at 8:19 pm (UTC -4)
Nice work MNJ. I did this exercise a couple of weeks ago and reviewed the same. The thought I had at the time went something like “OK some good some bad but how much was his pick steered by what he was going to be able to spend on signing draft picks the time”. Then I thought “OK should I be scared that being Selig’s annointed one does this mean the Mets are going to continue to honor the slotting system to a fault”. And that, scares the piss out of me. Hopefully not.
The other thing I looked at for Sandy was his track record for in season trades and he does have a history of going for experienced “back 9″ type pickups to bolster the rotation at the deadline. Not necessarily a bad thing as that would be refreshing to possibly see meaningful in season trades lead to meaningful games in September.
Mr North Jersey
10/26/2010-8:23pm at 8:23 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Haz. I was debating if I should do something similar as far as trades go but decided against it due to the time it would involve.
His feelings on the slotting system will soon be made clear so let’s just hope some of that time spent in the D.R. bears some fruit for us down the road.
hazmet
10/26/2010-8:28pm at 8:28 pm (UTC -4)
Good call with his time in the DR too. Link that up with the Mets Academy and could be a nice recipe for success.
I hear ya on the trade research, I scanned through items for the ’80′s in Wikipedia for him and that was about it. But a brief scan showed he does have a trader jack side to him in season which is not only good but necessary to compete. I wonder if there’s ever been a WS winner that didn’t have to make an in season trade. I doubt it.
Be well my friend
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-8:26pm at 8:26 pm (UTC -4)
agreed. definitely good work there holmes.
wannybackstra
10/26/2010-10:04pm at 10:04 pm (UTC -4)
these draft results don’t strike me as any better than ordinary. or maybe worse.
metro
10/27/2010-12:39am at 12:39 am (UTC -4)
Sandy Alderson doesn’t run the draft. Grady Fuson ran the drafts and Fuson in his career has been responsible for drafting the following players (to name a few)
Hudson
Zito
Mulder
Ethier
Kinsler
Latos
Leblanc
Chavez
Bobby Crosby (rookie of the year, hurt his back)
Ben Grieve (another former ROY)
Jaff Decker (top 40 prospect in the game)
Kyle Blanks
Kevin Gregg
Rich Harden