Last week I started a series on here looking at draft regrets and it seemed like it generated some interest. Here we are for round 2 and 4 more teams. The same rules apply as before:
– I am choosing a player that was passed if that player was taken within 3 picks of when the listed organization made a selection.
– Also, I am limiting my evaluations to first round draft selections.
– I am only choosing each player one time.
Last week we look at the 1st round regrets of Fajita Eaters, Ball Busters, Baby Seals, and Mauling Tigers. So let’s see who is up next.
Tom Cat’s
Year- Round- Pick: 2017 Round 1 pick 15
Drafted: Riley Pint- SP- Col
Passed On: Forrest Whitley- SP- Hou (taken 3 picks later by Fajita Eaters)
In another article I disparaged the Riley Pint pick a bit so I’ll be a little fairer here. I had Pint rated as a high second round talent so grabbing him at #15 I did not think was a reach. Late in the first round is a tough place to draft and Pint was rated by BA as a 65E prospect. He also made two top 100 lists- BA and Sickels- and by all accounts he was a safe bet to be a solid starter with the ceiling of a potential ace. But Pint has not been able to throw strikes since signing and at this point I’d have to say its highly unlikely he even reaches AAA. Forrest Whitely, on the other hand, has done nothing except become arguably the best pitching prospect in the game.
Rollin’ Goats
Year- Round- Pick: 2008 Round 1 Pick 9
Drafted: Jarrod Parker- SP- Oak
Passed On: Johnny Cueto- SP- SF (taken 1 pick later by Ball Busters)
Three. That’s how many 1st round picks Cale has made in the 13 years since the first ever CPL draft. Two of those were Mike Trout and Carlos Carrasco, which makes Parker the selection by default. Parker pitched OK in 2012 and 2013 after he made it to the majors. But then he was abducted by aliens and was never heard from again. Cueto has gone on to 126 wins and a career 3.35 ERA over the last 12 years…and he’s still pitching.
Your Mom
Year- Round- Pick: 2010 Round 1 Pick 4
Drafted: Grant Green- SS- Oak
Passed On: Aroldis Chapman- RP- Cin (taken 3 picks later by Baby Seals)
2010 was a tough draft year for me. I had three picks in the first round, including #4 overall, and wound up with three first round picks who never had any meaningful time in the majors. To be fair to me 2010 was a pretty weak draft but there were several exceptions. I took Grant Green early on and I absolutely loved him. He spent parts of 5 seasons in the majors for 4 different teams, but never got more than 125 at bats in any one year. Green did have a few season in the minors with good numbers, but the planets never aligned just right for him and he was out of baseball in 2017. Three picks after Green, Fred took Aroldis who, at that time, had questions about whether he’d be a starter or reliever. He didn’t pan out as a starter but did become- and still is- one of the most dominant relievers in the game. Chapman is still going strong and has already accrued 273 saves and a 41% strikeout rate.
Pro Bowlers
Year- Round- Pick: 2013 Round 1 Pick 15
Drafted: Richie Shaffer-3B- TB
Passed On: Joey Gallo- 3B- Tex (Taken 1 pick later by Raging Ferrets)
Pat took Richie Shaffer late in the first round in 2013 with hopes that he could reach his ceiling of a mashing third baseman. But unfortunately Shaffer was drafted into a Tampa organization that never seems to know how to develop their prospects (I feel like I’ve said that before). The Rays held onto Shaffer for 7 seasons and during that time they managed to get him 130 at bats in the majors. His power never really developed, and while his walk rates were OK his strikeout rate always hovered around 30%. Two years and two organizations later- with zero additional MLB at bats- Shaffer was out of baseball. Gallo was drafted right after as another third baseman with a high offensive ceiling who has so far lived up to expectations. In his three seasons as a starter, Gallo has two 40+ home run seasons and was well on his way again last year before injury cut his season short.
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