2004 Amateur Draft : First Round Picks

The first draft was held on June 8-9, 1965. The Major League franchises were able to choose from all high school seniors and college players.

Initially there were supposed to be three amateur drafts held each season. That original plan changed in 1964 and was reduced to two drafts with the first phase being held after High School graduations. The second phase was held in January of the following year and involved players who were drafted earlier, but were not signed by their franchise.

In 1986 the two-phase draft system was changed and instead of holding a second phase draft in January, franchises who could not sign their first round selections were awarded a supplemental first round pick the following amateur draft.

The first pick of the first round is awarded to the worst team in the American or National League. Each season the two leagues alternate the first pick and proceed through the first round in reverse order of finish from the previous season's standings.

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present the 2004 first round draft selections, the team they were chosen by, their position(s), and their college or home town at the time of the amateur draft.

"He (Matt Bush) has as good an arm as there is in baseball. And I'm talking the big leagues and minor league ball." - Scouting Director Bill Gayton (AllStarStats.com)

2004

First Round Draft Picks

# Selected By Name

Position

College or High School

1.

Padres

Matt Bush

SS

Mission Bay High School

2.

Tigers

Justin Verlander

P

Old Dominion University

3.

Mets

Philip Humber

P

Rice University

4.

Devil Rays

Jeff Niemann

P

Rice University

5.

Brewers

Mark Rogers

P

Mount Ararat High School

6.

Indians

Jeremy Sowers

P

Vanderbuilt University

7.

Reds

Homer Bailey

P

La Grange High School

8.

Orioles

Wade Townsend

P

Rice University

9.

Rockies

Chris Nelson

SS

Redan High School

10.

Rangers

Thomas Diamond

P

University of New Orleans

11.

Pirates

Neil Walker

C

Pine Richland High School

12.

Angels

Jered Weaver

P

Long Beach State University

13.

Nationals

Bill Bray

P

College of William and Mary

14.

Royals

Billy Butler

3B

Wolfson Senior High School

15.

Diamondbacks

Stephen Drew

SS

Florida State University

16.

Blue Jays

David Purcey

P

University of Oklahoma

17.

Dodgers

Scott Elbert

P

Seneca High School

18.

White Sox

Josh Fields

3B

Oklahoma State University

19.

Cardinals

Chris Lambert

P

Boston College

20.

Twins

Trevor Plouffe

SS

Crespi Carmelite High School

21.

Phillies

Greg Golson

OF

Connally High School

22.

Twins

Glen Perkins

P

University of Minnesota

23.

Yankees

Philip Hughes

P

Foothill High School

24.

Athletics

Landon Powell

C

University of South Carolina

25.

Twins

Steve Waldrop

P

Farragut High School

26.

Athletics

Richard Robnett

OF

California State University, Fresno

27.

Marlins

Taylor Tankersley

P

University of Alabama

28.

Dodgers

Blake DeWitt

2B

Sikeston High School

29.

Royals

Matt Campbell

P

University of South Carolina

30.

Rangers

Eric Hurley

P

Wolfson Senior High School

2004 First Round Draft Picks



The players who DO NOT have links to their Major League statistics DID NOT make it to the Major League level.

The #1 draft pick, Matt Bush, was the first high school shortstop selected with the top pick since the Seattle Mariners took Alex Rodriguez during the 1993 Draft.

The game of baseball is evolving, not just on the field, but off the field as well as illustrated by this June 7, 2004, USA Today excerpt: "The selection, which continues on Tuesday, was a bit of a surprise by the Padres, who said in the days leading up to the draft that they narrowed their choices to three college players: Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew, and right-handers Jered Weaver of Long Beach State and Jeff Niemann of Rice. Signability likely played a major role in the Padres' final decision. Agent Scott Boras represents Drew and Weaver."

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