Straight to the Major Leagues

Major League baseball began its free agent draft in 1965. Twenty-one (21) players have advanced directly to the Major Leagues without first playing with any Minor League team. Other players prior to the draft accomplished this same feat, but are not as unusual as these instances where the Minor Leagues were a necessity for all up-and-coming Major League hopefuls.

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a list of those players who took part in the Amateur Draft and were brought directly into the Major Leagues.

"For a guy to be successful, you have to be like a clock spring, wound but loose at the same time." - Dave Winfield (who was brought straight to the big leagues in 1973)
Straight to the Big Leagues

In Chronological Order

Name [Click for Stats]

Debut / Box

From To [Click for Roster]

Mike Adamson

07-01-1967

University of Southern California

Baltimore Orioles

Steve Dunning

06-14-1970

Stanford University

Cleveland Indians

Burt Hooton

06-17-1971

University of Texas at Austin

Chicago Cubs

Rob Ellis

06-18-1971

Michigan State University

Milwaukee Brewers

Pete Broberg

06-20-1971

Dartmouth College

Washington Senators

Dave Roberts

06-07-1972

University of Oregon

San Diego Padres

Dick Ruthven

04-17-1973

Fresno State University

Philadelphia Phillies

Dave Winfield

06-19-1973

University of Minnesota

San Diego Padres

David Clyde

06-27-1973

Westchester High School

Texas Rangers

Eddie Bane

07-04-1973

Arizona State University

Minnesota Twins

Mike Morgan

06-11-1978

Valley High School

Oakland Athletics

Bob Horner

06-16-1978

Arizona State University

Atlanta Braves

Tim Conroy

06-23-1978

Gateway High School

Oakland Athletics

Brian Milner

06-23-1978

Texas Christian University

Toronto Blue Jays

Pete Incaviglia

04-08-1986

Oklahoma State University

Texas Rangers

Jim Abbott

04-08-1989

University of Michigan

California Angels

John Olerud

09-03-1989

Washington State University

Toronto Blue Jays

Darren Dreifort

04-07-1994

Wichita State University

Los Angeles Dodgers

Chan Ho Park

04-08-1994

Hanyang University

Los Angeles Dodgers

Ariel Prieto

07-02-1995

Fajardo Regional College

Oakland Athletics

Xavier Nady

09-03-2000

Berkeley University at California

San Diego Padres

Name [Click for Stats]

Debut / Box

From

To [Click for Roster]

Straight to the Big Leagues



Did you know that Dave Winfield was the first outfielder brought directly into the Major Leagues? Click each name above to learn who else was first from their position and create even more trivia questions.

Brian Milner was the first and still the only catcher to date brought straight into the Major Leagues. Will there be another? Share your thoughts on Baseball Fever.

A breakdown by decade reveals that one (1) player from the 1960s was drafted and sent directory into the Major Leagues, thirteen (13) from the 1970s, three (3) from the 1980s, three (3) from the 1990s, and one (1) during the new century — to date.