Top 10 Baseball Draft Picks 2008
Second Straight Year With No. 1, Tampa Bay Picks Tim Beckham
1. Tim Beckham, Tampa Bay Rays, SS, Durfee High (MA)
Beckham finished the season at Lower-A ball after hitting .243 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI in 46 games in the Rookie league.
2. Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates, 3B, Vanderbilt University
The Pittsburgh Pirates did not shy away from spending big money after avoiding expensive picks in the past but took the Vanderbilt third baseman. Alvarez did not play in 2008 after getting drafted. The dispute about his contract signing was not resolved until September 22 and he then reported to the Pirates spring training facility in Florida.
3. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals, 1B, American Heritage School (FL)
Hosmer batted .364 with 2 RBI in 3 games in Rookie ball.
4. Brian Matusz, Baltimore Orioles LHP, U. San Diego
In the Arizona Fall League, Matusz went 2-4 with a 4.73 ERA in 7 games and 6 starts with 31 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.
5. Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants C, Florida State U.
Posey reached the lower-A level for 3 games and drove in 2 RBI with 2 doubles and a .273 average. In the Hawaii Winter League, he batted .338 with 15 RBI in 19 games.
6. Kyle Skipworth, Florida Marlins, C, Patriot High School (CA)
Skipworth hit .208 with 5 home runs and 21 RBI in 43 games of Rookie ball.
7. Yonder Alonso, Cincinnati Reds, 1B, U. Miami
Alsonso played 6 games at High-A and hit .306 with 2 RBI. In the Hawaii Winter League, Alsonso hit .309 with 4 home runs, 21 RBI and a .419 on-base percentage in 29 games.
8. Gordon Beckham, Chicago White Sox, SS, U. Georgia
Beckham played 14 games at A level, hitting .310 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI. In the Arizona Fall League, Beckham batted .394 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI. He also had a .468 on-base percentage.
9. Aaron Crow, Washington Nationals, RHP, U. Missouri
Crow refused to sign a contract with Washington and then pitched 1 inning for Fort Worth in the Independent league.
10. Jason Castro, Houston Astros, C, Stanford U.
Castro started his professional career at Lower-A and batted .275 in 39 games with 2 home runs and 12 RBI. In the Hawaii Winter League, he hit .333 with 2 home runs and 13 RBI in 23 games.
Other First Rounders of Note:
11. Justin Smoak, Texas Rangers, 1B, U. South Carolina
13. Brett Wallace, St. Louis Cardinals, 3B, Arizona State U.
16. Brett Lawrie, Milwaukee Brewers, C, Brookswood Secondary School (Canada)
18. Ike Davis, New York Mets, 1B, Arizona State U.
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