2001 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 2001 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.

"We've had a chance to follow him (Joe Mauer) for the past three or four years. We know a lot about his makeup and skill level. This is a natural for the Minnesota Twins. I don't know if you could write a better script." - Minnesota Twins General Manager Terry Ryan (June 5, 2001)
2001

First Round Draft Picks

# Selected By Name Position College or Hometown
1. Twins Joe Mauer C St. Paul, MN
2. Cubs Mark Prior RHP University of Southern California
3. Rays Dewon Brazelton RHP Middle Tennessee State University
4. Phillies Gavin Floyd RHP Severna Park, MD
5. Rangers Mark Teixeira 3B Georgia Tech
6. Expos Joshua Karp RHP University of California
7. Orioles Chris Smith LHP Cumberland University
8. Pirates John Van Benschoten RHP Kent State University
9. Royals Johnathan Griffin RHP Marshall, TX
10. Astros Chris Burke SS University of Tennessee
11. Tigers Kenneth Baugh RHP Rice University
12. Brewers Michael Jones RHP Phoenix, AZ
13. Angels Casey Kotchman 1B Seminole, FL
14. Padres Jacob Gautreau 1B-3B Tulane University
15. Blue Jays Gabe Gross LF Auburn University
16. White Sox Kris Honel RHP Bourbonnais, IL
17. Indians Daniel Denham RHP Antioch, CA
18. Mets Aaron Heilman RHP University of Notre Dame
19. Orioles Mike Fontenot 2B Louisiana State University
20. Reds Jeremy Sowers LHP Louisville, KY
21. Giants Brad Hennessey RHP Youngstown State University
22. Diamondbacks Jason Bulger RHP Valdosta State University
23. Yankees John-Ford Griffin RF Florida State University
24. Braves Joseph McBride LHP Sylvania, GA
25. Athletics Bobby Crosby SS Long Beach State
26. Athletics Jeremy Bonderman RHP Pasco, WA
27. Indians William Horne RHP Marianna, FL
28. Cardinals Justin Pope RHP University of Central Florida
29. Braves Joshua Burrus SS Marietta, GA
30. Giants Noah Lowry LHP Pepperdine University

2001 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.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Joe Mauer commented about being the first pick overall, "I followed Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett and all those guys. This is kind of a fairy tale. Right now, I just want to enjoy this."

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the Division I home run leader John Van Benschoten eighth overall, but Mickey White (the team's Scouting Director) commented after the draft, "He's definitely a hitting prospect, but we felt he was an even better pitching prospect. I saw John take the pitcher's mound and I saw him step in the batting cage. He seemed to have a greater presence about him when he was on the mound. He just looks like a pitcher to me, someone who can become a very successful pitcher."

     

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