2002 Amateur Draft : First Round Picks by Baseball Almanac

2002 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 2002 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.

"Tall, lanky build. Strong upper body. Quick, whipping arm action with fastball that tails into right-handed hitters. Little effort in delivery. Late break to curveball. Plenty of arm strength." - Major League Baseball Scouting Report

2002 First Round Draft Picks
#	Selected By	Name	Position	College or High School
1.	Pirates	Bryan Bullington	RHP	Ball State University
2.	Devil Rays	B.J. Upton	SS	Greenbrier Christian Academy
3.	Reds	Christopher Gruler	RHP	Liberty Union High School
4.	Orioles	Adam Loewen	LHP	Fraser Valley Christian High
5.	Expos	Clinton Everts	RHP	Cypress Falls High School
6.	Royals	Zack Greinke	SS	Apopka High School
7.	Brewers	Prince Fielder	1B	Eau Gallie High School
8.	Tigers	Scott Moore	SS	Cypress High School
9.	Rockies	Jeff Francis	LHP	University of British Columbia
10.	Rangers	Drew Meyer	SS/2B	University of South Carolina
11.	Marlins	Jeremy Hermida	RF	Wheeler High School
12.	Angels	Joe Saunders	LHP	Virginia Tech
13.	Padres	Khalil Greene	SS	Clemson University
14.	Blue Jays	Russ Adams	SS	University of North Carolina
15.	Mets	Scott Kazmir	LHP	Cypress Falls High School
16.	Athletics	Nick Swisher	1B	Ohio State University
17.	Phillies	Cole Hamels	LHP	Rancho Bernardo High School
18.	White Sox	Roger Ring	LHP	San Diego State University
19.	Dodgers	James Loney	1B	Lawrence Elkins High School
20.	Twins	Denard Span	CF	Tampa Catholic High School
21.	Cubs	Robert Brownlie	RHP	Rutgers University
22.	Indians	Jeremy Guthrie	RHP	Stanford University
23.	Braves	Jeff Francoeur	CF	Parkview High School
24.	Athletics	Joe Blanton	RHP	University of Kentucky
25.	Giants	Matt Cain	RHP	Houston High School
26.	Athletics	John McCurdy	SS	University of Maryland
27.	Diamondbacks	Sergio Santos	SS	Mater Dei High School
28.	Mariners	John Mayberry	1B	Rockhurst High School
29.	Astros	Derick Grigsby	RHP	NE Texas Community College
30.	Athletics	Benjamin Fritz	RHP	California State University, Fresno
2002 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.

Awards won by Bryan Bullington prior to being drafted as the first round / first pick included: 2001 USA National Team; Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America; Baseball America Freshman All-America Second Team; 2001 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Mideast Region First Team; 2000 Baseball Coaches Association All-Mideast Region Second Team; 2002 and 2001 MAC Pitcher of the Year; 2002, 2001 and 2000 First Team All-MAC; 2000 MAC Freshman of the Year; 2002 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District Five; National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pitcher of the Week April 16, 2002; Four time MAC Pitcher of the Week.

Baseball America's 2002 College All America Team was comprised of the following players: Tony Richie (catcher), Yaron Peters (first base), Russ Adams (second base - 14th pick overall), Jeff Baker (third base), Khalil Greene (shortstop - 13th pick overall), Sam Fuld (outfield), Bobby Malek (outfield), Steve Stanley (outfield), Rickie Weeks (designated hitter), Jesse Crain (utility player), Bryan Bullington (starting pitcher - 1st pick overall), Jeremy Guthrie (starting pitcher - 22nd pick overall), Tim Stauffer (starting pitcher), Brad Sullivan (starting pitcher), and Royce Ring (relief pitcher).

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