2008 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 2008 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.

"I'll tell you one thing — the kid (Tim Beckham) wants to work. He's a great kid. He wants to work. He's never going to shy away from it. And that's going to make him better. He'll be good because of his work ethic." - Tampa Bay Rays Infield Coach Tom Foley on MLB.com (Bill Chastain, 02/23/09)

2008

First Round Draft Picks

#

Selected By Name

Position

College or High School

1.

Devil Rays

Tim Beckham

SS

Griffin High School (GA)

2.

Pirates

Pedro Alvarez

3B

Vanderbilt University

3.

Royals

Eric Hosmer

1B

American Heritage High School (FL)

4.

Orioles

Brian Matusz

P

University of San Diego

5.

Giants

Buster Posey

C

Florida State University

6.

Marlins

Kyle Skipworth

C

Patriot High School (CA)

7.

Reds

Yonder Alonso

1B

University of Miami

8.

White Sox

Gordon Beckham

SS

University of Georgia

9.

Nationals

Aaron Crow

P

University of Missouri

10.

Astros

Jason Castro

C

Stanford University

11.

Rangers

Justin Smoak

1B

University of South Carolina

12.

Athletics

Jemile Weeks

2B

University of Miami

13.

Cardinals

Brett Wallace

1B

Arizona State University

14.

Twins

Aaron Hicks

OF

Wilson High School (CA)

15.

Dodgers

Ethan Martin

P

Stephens County High School (GA)

16.

Brewers

Brett Lawrie

3B/C

Brookswood High School (Canada)

17.

Blue Jays

David Cooper

1B

University of California

18.

Mets

Ike Davis

1B

Arizona State University

19.

Cubs

Andrew Cashner

P

Texas Christian University

20.

Mariners

Josh Fields

P

University of Georgia

21.

Tigers

Ryan Perry

P

University of Arizona

22.

Mets

Reese Havens

SS

University of South Carolina

23.

Padres

Allan Dykstra

1B

Wake Forest University

24.

Phillies

Anthony Hewitt

SS

Salisbury High School (CT)

25.

Rockies

Christian Friedrich

P

Eastern Kentucky University

26.

Diamondbacks

Daniel Schlereth

P

University of Arizona

27.

Twins

Carlos Gutierrez

P

University of Miami

28.

Yankees

Gerrit Cole

P

Orange High School (CA)

29.

Indians

Lonnie Chisenhall

3B

Pitt Community College (PA)

30.

Red Sox

Casey Kelly

SS

Sarasota High School (FL)

31.

Twins

Shooter Hunt

P

Tulane University

32.

Brewers

Jake Odorizzi

P

Highland High School (IL)

33.

Mets

Bradley Holt

P

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

34.

Phillies

Zach Collier

OF

Chino Hills High School (CA)

35.

Brewers

Evan Frederickson

P

University of San Francisco

36.

Royals

Mike Montgomery

P

Hart High School (CA)

37.

Giants

Conor Gillaspie

3B

Wichita State University

38.

Astros

Jordan Lyles

P

Hartsville High School (SC)

39.

Cardinals

Lance Lynn

P

University of Mississippi

40.

Braves

Brett DeVall

P

Niceville High School (FL)

41.

Cubs

Ryan Flaherty

SS

Vanderbilt University

42.

Padres

Jeff Dacker

OF

Sunrise Mountain High School (AZ)

43.

Diamondbacks

Wade Miley

P

Southeastern Louisiana University

44.

Yankees

Jeremy Bleich

P

Stanford University

45.

Red Sox

Bryan Price

P

Rice University

46.

Padres

Logan Forsythe

3B

University of Arkansas

2008 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 2008 draft was televised and fans watched the event in person at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Did you know that the first player taken during the 2008 Amateur Draft (from any round) to make it to the show was Conor Gillaspie?

     

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