The NFL nicknames the last pick in their draft “Mr. Irrelevant” so this got me thinking about possible successes in the last round of the MLB draft. Who was picked down there and actually made it? Who was drafted, decided to go to college, and really increase their stock (Buster Posey). Here was what I was able to find:
2005: In pick 22 of 27 in the 50th round, the Angels selected Buster Posey. Confused? Well that was before college and Posey would later go on to be drafted by the Giants in the 2008 draft. In that later draft, Posey was drafted 5th overall. In other words he went from pick 1492 to 5. Posey was recently called up to the majors to inject some life into that Giant offense.
2004: He may not be a big name, but a decent major leaguer in Chris Davis was orginally drafted by the Yankees in the 50th round of the 2004 draft. In 2006 the Rangers selected him in the 5th round of the draft. Since then he has played in 3 MLB seasons and so far is a career .250 hitter.
2000: David Murphy was originally drafted by the Angels in the 50th round. In 2003 he was drafted 17 overall by the Red Sox. He has gone on to have a successful career in Texas (since being traded there).
This was as far as I went back because of a pattern that started to form. The only people that really made it to the majors being drafted in the 50th round were the players that were in high school, went to college, and then came back and were drafted high. While some of these names are big, it really shows that although you can find real talent in the later rounds (Piazza round 62), it is very difficult to do so.
