Today marks the beginning of the 2011 MLB entry draft. The first round will be tonight at 7 PM tonight on the MLB Network. The Red Sox will have two selections in the first round with the number 19 and 26 picks in compensation forVictor Martinez and Adrian Beltre.
If your looking for a history of draft choices I suggest the Baseball-Reference Draft Preview. You can see how many players at each draft selection have played in the majors so far, who are the best all time at each selection and even what is the total WAR of every player ever selected at each position.
The #19 pick has been successful with 32 of 46 selections making the majors so far. There is also a total WAR of 284.8, which is one of the top totals outside of the top 6 choices. A lot of that talent though comes from one pick. The last time the Red Sox selected with the #19 pick was 1983 when they took Roger Clemens.
In the #26 pick the history is a bit less flashy. Only 21 of 46 selected have made the majors so far. The total WAR is only 110.0 with Alan Trammell being the best ever selected at that spot. The last time the Red Sox took in the 26th spot was 2005 when they took relief pitcher Craig Hansen.
Trying to project who the Red Sox will take in the MLB draft is an effort in futility, but the crop this year is considered less top heavy as drafts of the past and has more depth. Looking at this mock from The Hardball Timesthey suspect the Red Sox will go with left handed outfielder Brandon Nimmo, but there are many possibilities including Blake Swihart who is projected to the Sox at 26. He is considered the best high school catching prospect this year.
Later this week I’ll try to do a full review on this years selections as well as any sign-ability concerns.