1986 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 1986 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.

"Half of Jeff King's (first round / first pick during the 1986 Amateur Draft) extra-base hits last year were extra-base hits." - Broadcaster / Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner
1986

First Round Draft Picks

# Selected By Name Position College or Hometown
1. Pirates Jeff King 3B University of Arkansas
2. Indians Greg Swindell LHP University of Texas
3. Giants Matt Williams SS University of Nevada at Las Vegas
4. Rangers Kevin Brown RHP Georgia Tech
5. Braves Kent Mercker LHP Dublin, OH
6. Brewers Gary Sheffield SS Tampa, FL
7. Phillies Brad Brink RHP University of Southern California
8. Mariners Patrick Lennon SS Whiteville, NC
9. Cubs Derrick May OF Newark, DE
10. Twins Derek Parks C Upland, CA
11. Padres Thomas Howard OF Ball State University
12. Athletics Scott Hemond C University of South Florida
13. Astros Ryan Bowen RHP Hanford, CA
14. Red Sox Greg McMurtry OF Brockton, MA
15. Expos Kevin Dean OF Vallejo, CA
16. Angels Roberto Hernandez RHP University of South Carolina
17. Reds Scott Scudder RHP Blossom, TX
18. Tigers Phil Clark C Crockett, TX
19. Dodgers Mike White OF Loudon, TN
20. White Sox Grady Hall LHP Northwestern University
21. Mets Lee May OF Cincinnati, OH
22. Angels Lee Stevens OF Lawrence, KS
23. Cardinals Luis Alicea 2B Florida State University
24. Royals Tony Clements SS Chino, CA
25. Angels Terence Carr OF Salisbury, MD
26. Blue Jays Earl Sanders RHP Jackson State University

1986 First Round Draft Picks



The players who DO NOT have links (#14-#15, #19-#21, #24-#26) to their Major League statistics DID NOT make it to the Major League level.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jeff King first overall during the 1986 amateur draft and successfully signed him for $160,000.

The 1986 Amateur Draft was the final year where there were two phases: a regular phase and a secondary phase. Beginning in 1987, the Rule 4 draft was added and a one phase June draft became standard.