Top 10 Baseball Draft Picks 2004
Padres' Matt Bush first high school SS at No. 1 since Alex Rodrigeuz
1. Matt Bush, San Diego Padres, SS, Mission Bay HS
Bush was the first shortstop draft No. 1 overall from high school since Alex Rodriguez by the Seattle Mariners in 1993. Bush struggled immensely in his first two seasons in the minors, which included missing half the 2006 season with a broken ankle. In 2007, the Padres tried to convert him to a pitcher but he tore a ligament in rookie league and is not expected to pitch until 2009.
2. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers, RHP, Old Dominion U.
Verlander earned a late call-up in 2005 and then finished 2006 with 17 wins and 18 victories in 2007. His 2007 season also included being named an All-Star and pitching a no-hitter on June 12. In 2008, Verlander struggled to an 11-17 record with a 4.84 ERA in 201 innings in 33 starts.
3. Philip Humber, New York Mets, RHP, Rice U.
The first of three Rice pitchers taken among the first eight picks, Humber was given two late season call-ups by the Mets in 2006 and 2007, pitching 9 innings in 5 games without getting a decision. Before the 2008 season Humber was dealt to Minnesota in the trade for Johan Santana. Humber pitched most of 2008 in Triple-A with a 10-8 record and 4.56 ERA before pitching 11 innings of 5 games for the Twins in September 2008.
4. Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, RHP, Rice U.
Niemann pitched all of 2007 at Triple-A Durham and then received a short call-up with the Rays in 2008, earning a 2-2 record and 5.06 ERA in 5 games and 2 starts.
5. Mark Rogers, Milwaukee Brewers, RHP, Mt. Ararat School
Rogers worked his way up the Milwaukee minors system to high-A ball in 2006, getting 16 starts for a 1-2 record and 5.07 ERA. But he hasn't pitched since then.
6. Jeremy Sowers, Cleveland Indians, LHP, Vanderbilt U.
Sowers made his Major League debut in 2006 and has yet to live up to his first-round billing with a 12-19 record and 5.14 ERA in 49 starts over three seasons for Cleveland, including a 4-9 record and 5.58 ERA in 2008.
7. David "Homer" Bailey, Cincinnati Reds, RHP, La Grange HS
Bailey came to the MLB in 2007 and earned a 4-2 record with 5.76 ERA but struggled with his control. In 2008, he started the season in the minors and was brought up but went 0-6 with a 7.93 ERA, still suffering from control issues.
8. Wade Townsend, Baltimore Orioles, RHP, Rice U.
Townsend and Baltimore could not agree to contract terms and the right-hander returned to Rice to complete his degree - and would get drafted by Tampa Bay in 2005.
9. Chris Nelson, Colorado Rockies, SS, Redan HS
Nelson has been slow to move through the Rockies system, reaching Double-A Tulsa in 2008, hitting .237 with 3 home runs with 42 RBI in 73 games.
10. Thomas Diamond, Texas Rangers, RHP, U. New Orleans
Diamond was dominating in Frisco in 2006 with a 12-5 record, 4.24 ERA and 145 strike outs in 129.1 innings. He missed the entire 2007 season due to Tommy John surgery and in 2008, Diamond went 3-3 with a 6.20 ERA in 12 games at Double-A.
Other First Rounders of Note
11. Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates, C, Pine Richland HS
12. Jared Weaver, Anaheim Angels, RHP, Long Beach State U.
14. Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals, 3B Wolfson Senior HS
15. Stephen Drew, Arizona Diamondback, SS, Florida State U.
22. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins, LHP, U. Minnesota
23. Philip Hughes, New York Yankees, RHP, Foothill HS
28. Blake Dewitt, Los Angeles Dodgers, 2B, Sikeston HS
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