Baseball draft of amateur players
2008 Major League Baseball draft
Date(s) June 5–6, 2008 Network(s)
ESPN
[1] 1504 total selectionsFirst selection
Tim Beckham
Tampa Bay Rays First round selections 46
The 2008 Major League Baseball draft , was an annual choosing of high school and college baseball players, held on June 5 and 6, 2008.
First round selections
The
Pittsburgh Pirates selected
Pedro Álvarez second overall. Alvarez had a breakout season in
2013 , where he was named an
All-Star , was the
National League home run leader , and won the
Silver Slugger at
third base .
The
Kansas City Royals selected
Eric Hosmer with the third overall pick. With the Royals, Hosmer won 4
Gold Gloves at
first base and the
2015 World Series .
The
San Francisco Giants selected
Buster Posey 5th overall. The 7x
All-Star won the
2010
Rookie of the Year Award , the
2012
N.L. Most Valuable Player Award , the
2016
Gold Glove Award at
catcher , five
Silver Sluggers Awards at
catcher and the
2010 ,
2012 , and
2014
World Series .
Key
Supplemental first round selections
Compensation picks
Other notable players
The
Colorado Rockies selected
Charlie Blackmon in the second round. He is a 4x
MLB All-Star , 2x
Silver Slugger award winner, and the
2017
National League batting champion .
The
Atlanta Braves selected
Craig Kimbrel in the third round. The 9x
All-Star won the
2011
National League Rookie of the Year award .
The
San Francisco Giants selected
Brandon Crawford in the fourth round. The 3x
All-Star won four
Gold Glove Awards at
shortstop , the
2015
Silver Slugger Award at
shortstop and the
2012 , and
2014
World Series .
The
Los Angeles Dodgers selected
Dee Strange-Gordon in the fourth round. A two-time
All-Star , his
2015 breakout season saw him win the
Gold Glove Award at
second base , the
Silver Slugger Award at
second base , and lead the
National League in
batting average , and
stolen bases .
Charles Leesman , 11th round, 330th overall by the
Chicago White Sox
Nathan Eovaldi , 11th round, 337th overall by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
Dustin Antolin , 11th round, 339th overall by the
Toronto Blue Jays
Michael Stutes , 11th round, 346th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
Matt Langwell , 11th round, 351st overall by the
Cleveland Indians
Matt Clark , 12th round, 375th overall by the
San Diego Padres
Ryan Weber , 12th round, 376th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
Daniel Webb , 12th round, 378th overall by the
Arizona Diamondbacks
Juan Perez , 13th round, 387th overall by the
San Francisco Giants
Mitch Harris , 13th round, 395th overall by the
St. Louis Cardinals
Rob Wooten , 13th round, 398th overall by the
Milwaukee Brewers
Tony Campana , 13th round, 401st overall by the
Chicago Cubs
Erik Davis , 13th round, 405th overall by the
San Diego Padres
B. J. Rosenberg , 13th round, 406th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Kohn , 13th round, 409th overall by the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Louis Coleman , 14th round, 421st overall by the
Washington Nationals
Michael Schwimer , 14th round, 436th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
David Phelps , 14th round, 440th overall by the
New York Yankees
Jason Gurka , 15th round, 446th overall by the
Baltimore Orioles
Joey Butler , 15th round, 453rd overall by the
Texas Rangers
Casey Coleman , 15th round, 461st overall by the
Chicago Cubs
Tyler Moore , 16th round, 481st overall by the
Washington Nationals
Justin Miller , 16th round, 483rd overall by the
Texas Rangers
Kolten Wong , 16th round, 486th overall by the
Minnesota Twins
Billy Burns , 16th round, 490th overall by the
Atlanta Braves
Thad Weber , 16th round, 493rd overall by the
Detroit Tigers
T. J. House , 16th round, 501st overall by the
Cleveland Indians
Brad Glenn , 17th round, 514th overall by the
Oakland Athletics
Daniel Coulombe , 17th round, 517th overall by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
Tom Koehler , 18th round, 538th overall by the
Florida Marlins
Allen Webster , 18th round, 547th overall by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
Jeff Beliveau , 18th round, 551st overall by the
Chicago Cubs
Collin McHugh , 18th round, 554th overall by the
New York Mets
Nick Vincent , 18th round, 555th overall by the
San Diego Padres
Tyler Cloyd , 18th round, 556th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
Brian Flynn , 18th round, 562nd overall by the
Boston Red Sox
Steve Lombardozzi Jr. , 19th round, 571st overall by the
Washington Nationals
Xavier Scruggs , 19th round, 575th overall by the
St. Louis Cardinals
David Rollins , 19th round, 577th overall by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
Steve Susdorf , 19th round, 586th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
Aaron Barrett , 20th round, 606th overall by the
Minnesota Twins
Ryan Lollis , 20th round, 613th overall by the
Detroit Tigers
Pat Venditte , 20th round, 620th overall by the
New York Yankees
Alex Meyer , 20th round, 622nd overall by the
Boston Red Sox
Ryan Carpenter , 21st round, 623 overall by the Tampa Bay Rays, but did not sign
Lucas Luetge , 21st round, 638th overall by the
Milwaukee Brewers
Logan Watkins , 21st round, 641st overall by the
Chicago Cubs
Blaine Hardy , 22nd round, 655th overall by the
Kansas City Royals
Preston Guilmet , 22nd round, 664th overall by the
Oakland Athletics
Chris Schwinden , 22nd round, 674th overall by the
New York Mets
Anthony DeSclafani , 22nd round, 682nd overall by the
Boston Red Sox , but did not sign
Chris Rusin , 23rd round, 694th overall by the
Oakland Athletics
Brandon Maurer , 23rd round, 702nd overall by the
Seattle Mariners
Tommy Field , 24th round, 737th overall by the
Colorado Rockies
Taylor Jungmann , 24th round, 739th overall by the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Taylor Thompson , 25th round, 750th overall by the
Chicago White Sox
Tanner Roark , 25th round, 753rd overall by the
Texas Rangers
Jerry Sands , 25th round, 757th overall by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
Andy Burns , 25th round, 767th overall by the
Colorado Rockies
Josh Spence , 25th round, 768th overall by the
Arizona Diamondbacks
Cory Mazzoni , 26th round, 781st overall by the
Washington Nationals
Dean Anna , 26th round, 795th overall by the
San Diego Padres
Elih Villanueva , 27th round, 808th overall by the
Florida Marlins
Austin Adams , 27th round, 818th overall by the
Milwaukee Brewers
Anthony Rendon , 27th round, 820th overall by the
Atlanta Braves , but did not sign
Sonny Gray , 27th round, 821st overall by the
Chicago Cubs , but did not sign
Ryan Cook , 27th round, 828th overall by the
Arizona Diamondbacks
Hunter Cervenka , 27th round, 832nd overall by the
Boston Red Sox
Kevin Mattison , 28th round, 838th overall by the
Florida Marlins
Nate Freiman , 28th round, 843rd overall by the
Texas Rangers
Dusty Coleman , 28th round, 844th overall by the
Oakland Athletics
Chris Heston , 29th round, 871st overall by the
Washington Nationals
Keon Broxton , 29th round, 886th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Tonkin , 30th round, 906th overall by the
Minnesota Twins
James McCann , 31st round, 930th overall by the
Chicago White Sox
Mickey Storey , 31st round, 934th overall by the
Oakland Athletics
Matt Magill , 31st round, 937th overall by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
Sean Gilmartin , 31st round, 945th overall by the
San Diego Padres
John Hicks , 31st round, 949th overall by the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Justin Freeman , 32nd round, 959th overall by the
Cincinnati Reds
Sam Freeman , 32nd round, 965th overall by the
St. Louis Cardinals
Adam Conley , 32nd round, 966th overall by the
Minnesota Twins , but did not sign
Nick Christiani , 32nd round, 981st overall by the
Cleveland Indians
Travis Shaw , 32nd round, 982nd overall by the
Boston Red Sox
Shawn Armstrong , 33rd round, 992nd overall by the
Houston Astros , but did not sign
Dan Robertson , 33rd round, 1005th overall by the
San Diego Padres
Roberto Perez , 33rd round, 1011th overall by the
Cleveland Indians
Marcus Semien , 34th round, 1020th overall by the
Chicago White Sox , but did not sign
Jake Elmore , 34th round, 1038th overall by the
Arizona Diamondbacks
Andrew Taylor , 34th round, 1039th overall by the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Carson Blair , 35th round, 1072nd overall by the
Boston Red Sox
Jon Berti , 36th round, 1084th overall by the
Oakland Athletics , but did not sign
Chris Dwyer , 36th round, 1100th overall by the
New York Yankees
Adam Warren , 36th round, 1101st overall by the
Cleveland Indians
Bradin Hagens , 37th round, 1105th overall by the
Kansas City Royals
Matt Andriese , 37th round, 1113th overall by the
Texas Rangers
Dallas Beeler , 37th round, 1119th overall by the
Toronto Blue Jays
Erik Hamren , 37th round, 1121st overall by the
Chicago Cubs
Jarred Cosart , 38th round, 1156th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
Mikie Mahtook , 39th round, 1168th overall by the
Florida Marlins
Brad Miller , 39th round, 1173rd overall by the
Texas Rangers
Kyle Hendricks , 39th round, 1189th overall by the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim , but did not sign
Yan Gomes , 39th round, 1192nd overall by the
Boston Red Sox , but did not sign
Donn Roach , 40th round, 1219th overall by the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Kevin Siegrist , 41st round, 1235th overall by the
St. Louis Cardinals
Jett Bandy , 41st round, 1237th overall by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
Stephen Pryor , 42nd round, 1263rd overall by the
Texas Rangers
Brad Brach , 42nd round, 1275th overall by the
San Diego Padres
Oliver Drake , 43rd round, 1286th overall by the
Baltimore Orioles
Cody Eppley , 43rd round, 1293rd overall by the
Texas Rangers
Nick Maronde , 43rd round, 1294th overall by the
Oakland Athletics
C. J. Cron , 44th round, 1320th overall by the
Chicago White Sox
Scott McGough , 46th round, 1371st overall by the
Pittsburgh Pirates
Rob Brantly , 46th round, 1378th overall by the
Washington Nationals
J. R. Graham , 46th round, 1381st overall by the
Oakland Athletics
Tony Zych , 46th round, 1386th overall by the
Chicago Cubs
Giovanni Soto , 46th round, 1390th overall by the
Philadelphia Phillies
George Springer , 48th round, 1437th overall by the
Minnesota Twins , but did not sign
Alex Dickerson , 48th round, 1432nd overall by the
Washington Nationals
Rob Scahill , 48th round, 1448th overall by the
New York Yankees
Tyler Anderson , 50th round, 1491st overall by the
Minnesota Twins
Sean Nolin , 50th round, 1492nd overall by the
Milwaukee Brewers
NFL players drafted
Notes
On September 9, 2008,
Conor Gillaspie , the 37th pick in the 2008 draft, made his Major League debut, becoming the first from his draft class to do so.
Buster Posey was the first 2008 draftee to play in post-season and eventually won the
2010 World Series , the
2012 World Series , and the
2014 World Series with the
San Francisco Giants . Posey was also named 2010
NL Rookie of the Year ,
[2] and he won 2012 National League Most Valuable Player award and the 2012, 2014 & 2015 Silver Slugger awards.
2011 Rookie of the Year
Craig Kimbrel was drafted 96th overall by the
Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round.
Ryan Westmoreland , who the
Boston Red Sox drafted in the fifth round, became one of the best prospects in baseball before having brain surgery twice to repair a
cavernous malformation .
[3]
Brothers
Caleb and
Corban Joseph were both chosen in the 2008 draft. The
New York Yankees selected Corban in the fourth round, with the 140th overall selection, out of
Franklin High School in
Franklin, Tennessee , while the
Baltimore Orioles drafted Caleb in the seventh round, with the 206th overall selection, out of
Lipscomb University .
[4]
West Virginia quarterback
Pat White was drafted in the 49th round by the
Cincinnati Reds , even though he had not played baseball since his senior year of high school in 2004, when he was drafted by the
Anaheim Angels .
Negro Leagues Special Draft
Prior to the start of the draft, the League held a special round consisting of the surviving
Negro leagues players to acknowledge and rectify their exclusion from the major leagues on the basis of race in the past. The idea of the special draft was conceived by Hall of Famer
Dave Winfield .
[5] Each major league team drafted one player from the Negro leagues. Notable in the draft were
Emilio Navarro (who, at 101 years of age at the time of the draft, was believed to be the oldest living professional ballplayer) and
Mamie "Peanut" Johnson , the first
woman ever drafted.
[6]
Player
MLB Team
Position
Negro league Team(s)
Hubert Simmons
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Shortstop
Kansas City Monarchs
Neale 'Bobo' Henderson
Baltimore Orioles
Pitcher /
Outfielder
Baltimore Elite Giants
Jim 'Fireball' Colzie
Boston Red Sox
Pitcher
Indianapolis Clowns ,
Atlanta Black Crackers
Hank Presswood
Chicago White Sox
Shortstop /
Third baseman
Cleveland Buckeyes ,
Kansas City Monarchs
Otha "Li'l Catch" Bailey
Cleveland Indians
Catcher
Birmingham Black Barons ,
Chattanooga Choo-Choos ,
Cleveland Buckeyes ,
Houston/New Orleans Eagles
Cecil Kaiser
Detroit Tigers
Pitcher /
First baseman /
Outfielder
Homestead Grays ,
Pittsburgh Crawfords
Ulysses Hollimon
Kansas City Royals
Pitcher
Birmingham Black Barons ,
Baltimore Elite Giants
Bill 'Lefty' Bell
Minnesota Twins
Pitcher
Birmingham Black Barons ,
Kansas City Monarchs
Emilio 'Millito' Navarro
New York Yankees
Shortstop /
Second baseman /
Third baseman
Cuban Stars
Irvin Castille
Oakland Athletics
Shortstop
Birmingham Black Barons
John Miles
Seattle Mariners
Third baseman /
Outfielder
Chicago American Giants
Walter Lee Gibbons
Tampa Bay Rays
Pitcher
Philadelphia Stars ,
New York Black Yankees ,
Indianapolis Clowns
Charley Pride
Texas Rangers
Pitcher
Birmingham Black Barons ,
Memphis Red Sox
Harold Gould
Toronto Blue Jays
Pitcher
Philadelphia Stars
Bob Mitchell
Arizona Diamondbacks
Pitcher
Kansas City Monarchs
James 'Red' Moore
Atlanta Braves
First baseman
Atlanta Black Crackers ,
Baltimore Elite Giants ,
Newark Eagles
Walt Owens
Chicago Cubs
Pitcher /
First baseman
Detroit Stars
Charlie Davis
Cincinnati Reds
Pitcher
Memphis Red Sox
Mack 'The Knife' Pride
Colorado Rockies
Pitcher
Memphis Red Sox ,
Kansas City Monarchs
Enrique Maroto
Florida Marlins
Pitcher
Kansas City Monarchs
Bill Blair
Houston Astros
Pitcher
Detroit Stars ,
Indianapolis Clowns
Andrew Porter
Los Angeles Dodgers
Pitcher
Baltimore Elite Giants ,
Newark Eagles ,
Indianapolis Clowns ,
Cleveland Buckeyes
Joseph B. Scott
Milwaukee Brewers
First baseman /
Outfielder
Memphis Red Sox ,
New York Black Yankees
Robert Scott
New York Mets
Pitcher /
First baseman
Memphis Red Sox ,
New York Black Yankees
Mahlon Duckett
Philadelphia Phillies
First baseman /
Second Baseman
Philadelphia Stars ,
Indianapolis Clowns
James Tillman
Pittsburgh Pirates
Catcher
Homestead Grays
'Prince' Joe Henry
St. Louis Cardinals
Second baseman /
Third Baseman
Philadelphia Stars ,
Indianapolis Clowns
Detroit Stars
Walter McCoy
San Diego Padres
Pitcher
Chicago American Giants ,
Kansas City Monarchs
Carlos Manuel Santiago
San Francisco Giants
Shortstop /
Second baseman
New York Cubans
Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson
Washington Nationals
Pitcher
Indianapolis Clowns
References
^ Brown, Maury (June 10, 2020).
"MLB Draft Returns To ESPN For First Time Since 2008" .
Forbes . Retrieved June 10, 2020 .
^ Haft, Chris (November 15, 2010).
"Posey catches NL Rookie of the Year honors" . MLB.com . Archived from
the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2014 .
^
"Boston Red Sox – Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland's long road back from brain surgery – The Boston Globe" . Boston.com. March 20, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012 .
^ Strasinger, Mike (June 9, 2008).
"Joseph brothers both selected in major league baseball draft" . Nashville City Paper. Archived from
the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2012 .
^ Tim Brown,
"Winfield's Brainchild Thrills Negro Leaguers" , Yahoo! Sports, June 4, 2008
^
2008 Special Negro Leagues Draft . MLB.com. Retrieved on January 27, 2019.
External links