History of the No. 22 pick in the MLB Draft

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The Dodgers hold the No. 22 pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, which gets underway in roughly eight hours. They earned the No. 22 pick after finishing 92-70 last season and thanks to some free agent signings by other teams.

The 22nd spot in the draft has yielded some pretty quality players in the past. Here’s a look at the last 20 years’ worth, as well as notable selections from before 1994.

2013: RHP Hunter Harvey, Orioles
2012: RHP Marcus Stroman, Blue Jays
2011: 2B Kolten Wong, Cardinals
2010: C Kellin Deglan, Rangers
2009: RHP Kyle Gibson, Twins
2008: SS Reese Havens, Mets
2007: RHP Tim Alderson, Giants*
2006: RHP Colton Willems, Nationals
2005: LHP Aaron Thompson, Marlins
2004: LHP Glen Perkins, Twins
2003: RHP David Aardsma, Giants
2002: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, Indians
2001: RHP Jason Bulger, Diamondbacks
2000: LHP Phil Dumatrait, Red Sox
1999: RHP Matt Ginter, White Sox
1998: LHP Matt Thornton, Mariners
1997: C Jayson Werth, Orioles
1996: RHP Gil Meche, Mariners
1995: RHP Tony McKnight, Astros
1994: OF Dante Powell, Giants

*- Originally the Dodgers’ pick, but it went to San Francisco after LA signed Jason Schmidt

Other notables (10+ bWAR or Dodger selections)

1992: RHP Rick Helling, Rangers
1990: RHP Steve Karsay, Blue Jays
1989: OF Tom Goodwin, Dodgers
1987: C Craig Biggio, Astros
1985: 1B Rafael Palmeiro, Cubs
1981: SS Dave Anderson, Dodgers
1976: LHP Bruce Hurst, Red Sox
1972: SS Chet Lemon, Athletics
1971: SS Craig Reynolds, Pirates

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As you can see, some really talented major leaguers. There’s one future hall of famer (Biggio), one who could have been if not for peformance-enhancing drugs (Palmeiro). Lemon and Hurst were 55.5- and 34.8-win players. More recently, there are two of the top pitching prospects in the game who were No. 22s (Harvey and Stroman), a couple All-Star left-handed pitchers (Perkins and Thornton) and old friend Werth, who was let go too early (justifiably so, at the time).

It’d be foolish to expect a hall of famer, a multiple-time All-Star or key pieces to a championship team with this selection, but Logan White and Co., have a good chance of landing a quality future major leaguer.

The Dodgers also hold the No. 62 pick today. Here are some notable selections at that spot.

2003: OF Andre Ethier, Athletics
1997: RHP Jeff Weaver, White Sox (did not sign)
1979: RHP Jose DeLeon, Pirates

Not much going on at 62. Nice to see Ethier on that, who easily has the highest bWAR of the trio.

About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.