1996 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 1996 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.

"Kris (Benson) pitched a heck of a game. You have to keep in mind, though, that a good high school righthander could hold that Thunderbird lineup to three runs." - Portland Gryphons Manager Joel Roberts (2000)
1996

First Round Draft Picks

# Selected By Name Position College or Hometown
1. Pirates Kris Benson RHP Clemson University
2. Twins Travis Lee 1B San Diego State University
3. Cardinals Braden Looper RHP Wichita State University
4. Blue Jays Billy Koch RHP Clemson University
5. Expos John Patterson RHP Orange, TX
6. Tigers Seth Greisinger RHP University of Virginia
7. Giants Matt White RHP Waynesboro, PA
8. Brewers Chad Green OF University of Kentucky
9. Marlins Mark Kotsay OF Cal State Fullerton
10. Athletics Eric Chavez 3B San Diego, CA
11. Phillies Adam Eaton RHP Snohomish, WA
12. White Sox Bobby Seay LHP Sarasota, FL
13. Mets Robert Stratton OF Santa Barbara, CA
14. Royals Dee Brown OF Marlboro, NY
15. Padres Matt Halloran SS Fredericksburg, VA
16. Blue Jays Joe Lawrence SS Lake Charles, LA
17. Cubs Todd Noel RHP Maurice, LA
18. Rangers R.A. Dickey RHP University of Tennessee
19. Astros Mark Johnson RHP University of Hawaii
20. Yankees Eric Milton LHP University of Maryland
21. Rockies Jake Westbrook RHP Danielsville, GA
22. Mariners Gil Meche RHP Lafayette, LA
23. Dodgers Damian Rolls 3B Kansas City, KS
24. Rangers Sam Marsonek RHP Tampa, FL
25. Reds John Oliver OF Lehman, PA
26. Red Sox Josh Garrett RHP Richland, IN
27. Braves A.J. Zapp 1B Greenwood, IN
28. Indians Danny Peoples 1B University of Texas
29. Devil Rays Paul Wilder OF Raleigh, NC
30. Diamondbacks Nick Bierbrodt LHP Long Beach, CA

1996 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 Pittsburgh Pirates first pick overall was Kris Benson who was the recipient of the Baseball America College Player of the Year Award and a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team.

Kris Benson and Billy Koch were both from Clemson University making this the first time since the 1978 Amateur Draft and only the second time in history where two players from the same school were drafted in the top four selections.

     

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