The 2007 draft class was a bad thing and a good thing (for me). The negative impact of that class, the repercussions of which are only now starting to fade into the past, is one of the main reasons that I started this blog. I was so desperate for positive news from the farm that I started to really look at the system in-depth and thought that I would share my findings. The rest is, as they say, history.
Well, I was game to look at the 2007 class for the first time in a very long while. I planned to post my findings last week, but about halfway through my research, I found myself curled up in the dark in the fetal position calling for my mommy due to bad farm system flashbacks. (Actually, I just ran out of time, but the other makes for a better story.)
In any event, it was an amazingly poor class and time has not softened the wounds. Here is how it all played out. Keep tissues and antacid on hand (and perhaps a shot of the best whiskey available). I have indicated in parentheses whether the player was drafted out of college (C), junior college (JC) or high school (HS). Those who signed with the Astros are in bold.
[UPDATE: I've been asked by a few people how many players out of a draft can generally be expected to make it to the major leagues. This excellent post from Baseball America's Matt Eddy analyzed 22 drafts from 1987 through 2008 and found that approximately one in six drafted players who sign are expected to make it to the majors. Naturally, some will only make it for a cup of coffee, but it at least gives you an idea of what has happened in the past.]
1. The Astros lost the first round pick for signing Carlos Lee to a 6-year $100 million contract. Lee was an All-Star in 2007 and gave the team three 100+ RBI seasons before the descent in his skills (and his hustle) bottomed out in 2012. He was traded to Miami that season for current Astros 3B Matt Dominguez and LHP Rob Rasmussen in July of that year. Rasmussen was later traded to the Dodgers for RHP John Ely who never threw a pitch for the Astros and was released in November 2013. So, just think of Matty D as your 2007 first round pick if it will make you feel any better.
2. The Astros also lost their second round pick for signing RHP Woody Williams to a 2-year $12.5 million contract. For the first six million, Astros fans got eight wins (to 15 losses) and a league-leader in allowing home runs in 2007. When Williams was released in March 2008, he received a 6.5 million parting gift and the fans got bupkes.
3. 3B Derek Dietrich (HS) - Did not sign
Dietrich went on to be drafted by Tampa Bay in 2010 and was traded to Miami for Yunel Escobar. Dietrich made his MLB debut for Miami in 2013. Now primarily a second baseman, he hit .316/.396/.622 in 26 games in the minors in 2014 and .228/.326/.386 in 49 games for the big league club.
4. RHP Brett Eibner (HS) - Did not sign
Eibner was drafted (as an outfielder) by the Royals out of the University of Arkansas in the second round in 2010. In 2014, he played between their High A and AAA clubs, hitting a combined .238/.325/.378.
5. OF Collin DeLome (C) - Released in 2012
DeLome played in the organization from 2007 until his release after playing in 10 games in 2012. He went on to play in the Braves organization and in independent ball in 2012 and 2013 and has a lifetime batting line of .256/.321/.467.
6. RHP David Dinelli (JC) - Released in 2008
Dinelli played in the system for two seasons and then spent four seasons in independent ball. He has a career ERA of 5.12 and WHIP of 1.708.
7. 2B Russell Dixon (C) - Released in 2010
Dixon played in the Astros system from 2007 through 2009 as an outfielder and was released prior to the 2010 season. His batting line was .238/.308/.329.
8. RHP Chad Bettis (HS) - Did not sign
Bettis was drafted by the Rockies in the second round in 2010 out of Texas Tech and made his major league debut August 1, 2013. In 2014, he was 0-2 with a 9.12 ERA and 2.108 WHIP in 21 games at the major league level. In AAA, he had a 3.09 ERA and a 1.193 WHIP in 20 games (5 starts).
9. RHP Luis Pardo (C) - Released in 2008
Pardo played two seasons with the Astros, was briefly signed and then released by the Reds in early 2009, and then played in independent ball in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He has a lifetime ERA of 5.98 and WHIP of 1.723.
10. 2B/3B Matt Cusick (C) - Traded in 2008
Cusick was traded to the Yankees in July of 2008 for LaTroy Hawkins and played with the Yankees and Angels organizations through 2011 and in independent ball in 2012. He has a lifetime batting line of .280/.366/.411. Hawkins was with the Astros for the remainder of 2008 and 2009 and had a 1.71 ERA and 1.091 WHIP in 89 games.
11. C/RHP Roberto Bono (HS) - Traded in 2009
Bono played in the Astros system from 2007 through 2009 before being included in a trade to the Marlins for RHP Matt Lindstrom in December 2009. He then played in the Marlins organization in 2010 and in independent ball in 2011, and ended his career with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.510 WHIP. Lindstrom pitched in 58 games for Houston in 2010 with a 4.39 ERA, 1.650 WHIP and 23 saves.
12. 1B Brian Pellegrini (C) - Released in 2011
Pellegrini played in the Astros system 2007 through 2010 and started the 2011 season on the DL before being released in May of that year. He had a .254/.358/.377 batting line.
13. LHP Chad Jones (HS) - Did not sign
This is one of the more remarkable stories associated with the players from the 2007 draft class. Jones was drafted again in the 50th round in 2010 by the Brewers and did not sign. Fast-forward to the 2013 draft and Jones was drafted by and signed with the Reds. What happened in between is a helluva story. He pitched in 16 games in 2013 (8.76 ERA and 2.757 WHIP) but did not pitch in 2014, although he is still shown on MiLB.com as being active in the Reds organization.
14. 3B Craig Corrado (C) - Released in 2010
Corrado played from 2007 to 2009, transitioning to a second baseman, before being released in March 2010. He had a .260/.292/.333 batting line.
15. RHP Matt Fitts (C) - Did not sign.
Fitts was drafted by Oakland in the 16th round in 2008 and played for them for two seasons, putting up a 4.92 ERA and a 1.580 WHIP.
[Are you still with me? Grab another shot of your best whiskey because, overall, it gets worse from here.]
16. OF Devon Torrence (HS) - Released in 2012
Torrence only played in the Houston system in 2007 and 2008, but did not receive his technical release until 2012. In the interim, he pursued a football career. In 2014, he played in one game in the Royals organization before being released and also played in two games in independent ball. His lifetime batting line is .152/.294/.171.
17. RHP Mason Roberts (JC) - Released in 2008
Roberts had a 10.50 ERA and a 2.611 WHIP in 12 games in 2007.
18. RHP Brian Espersen (C) - Released in 2008
Esperson had a 9.00 ERA and a 2.409 WHIP in 12 games in 2007.
19. C John Fixler (C) - Voluntary retirement in 2011
In five seasons in the Astros system, from 2007 through 2011, Fixler had a .229/.308/.402 batting line and a 26% caught stealing rate.
20. RHP Kyle Greenwalt (HS) - Released in 2012
Greenwalt pitched in the Astros system from 2007 through 2011 and then in independent ball in 2012 and 2013 and ended with a career 5.07 ERA and 1.478 WHIP.
21. C Kyle Miller (JC) - Released in 2009
Miller played from 2007 through 2009 as a corner infielder and put up a .234/.289/.376 batting line.
22. OF Drew Anderson (C) - Released in 2008
Anderson played in 2007 at second base with a .222/.294/.380 batting line.
23. 3B Charlie Gamble (C) - Released in 2008
Gamble had a .237/.305/.347 batting line in 2007.
24. SS Philip Stringer (C) - Released in 2008
Stringer played at second base and third base in 2007, hitting .166/.246/.205.
25. C Kevin Carkeek (C) - Released in 2008
Carkeek played in the Astros system for two seasons, hitting .215/.299/.296 with a 41% caught stealing percentage.
26. C Sal Iacono (C) - Released in 2008
Iacono played for two seasons, hitting .190/.312/.250 with a 34% caught stealing percentage.
27. RHP Brett Robinson (C) - Released in 2009
Robinson pitched in 61 games in 2007 and 2008 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.548 WHIP.
28. OF Jared Pitts (C) - Released in 2008
Pitts had a .181/.278/.262 batting line in his one season in 2007.
29. 2B Travis Sweet (C) - Released in 2008
Sweet played the outfield for the Astros in 2007 and 2008, hitting .210/.289/.359.
30. RHP Danny Gil (C) - Released in 2008
Gil played one season in the Astros system and had a 10.94 ERA and a 1.975 WHIP in 15 games. After his release, he was signed by the Nationals in 2008 and had a 2.12 ERA and 1.118 WHIP in 12 games before being released in 2009.
31. RHP Jason Dominguez (C) - Released in 2009
Dominguez pitched in the Astros system from 2007 through the early part of 2009 and had a 3.70 ERA and a 1.131 WHIP.
32. RHP David Miller (C) - Released in 2008
Miller pitched in the Astros system in 2007 and 2008, the Blue Jays and Marlins in 2009 and in independent ball in 2010 and 2011, compiling a career 5.17 ERA and 1.702 WHIP.
33. OF Cody Phipps (HS) - Released in 2008
Phipps hit .200/.273/.200 in his one season in 2007.
34. RHP Brian Wabick (JC) - Released in 2011
Wabick had a 4.50 ERA and 1.401 WHIP in 128 games from 2007 through 2010.
35. RHP Jordan Powell (C) - Released in 2010
Powell pitched in the Astros system from 2007 through 2009 and had a 4.33 ERA and a 1.565 WHIP in 108 games.
36. OF Albert Cartwright (JC) - Traded in 2011
Cartwright played in the Astros system in 2007 through 2010 before being traded to the Phillies in January of 2011 for LHP Sergio Escalona. Escalona appeared in 49 games for Houston that year with a 2.93 ERA and 1.265 WHIP and looked to be a lock for the 2012 bullpen until a fluke injury derailed his career. Cartwright sat out 2011 with an injury, but has played in the Phillies system from 2012 through 2014. He has a career batting line of .260/.329/.380. He will be 27 at the end of this month and has yet to make his major league debut.
37. RHP Jake Leonhardt (C) - Released 2008
Leonhardt pitched for two seasons for the Astros and two more seasons in independent ball and had a lifetime 4.38 ERA and 1.502 WHIP.
38. RHP Robbie Weinhardt (C) - Did not sign
Weinhardt was drafted by the Tigers in the 10th round in 2008 and played in their minor league system from 2008 through 2013 with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.270 WHIP. He made his major league debut in July 2010 and pitched in 30 games in 2010 and 2011 with a 6.39 ERA and 1.677 WHIP. He was released by the Tigers in October 2013.
39. 3B/OF Brian Fletcher (HS) - Did not sign
Fletcher was drafted by the Royals in the 18th round in 2010 and has currently played outfield in that system from 2010 through 2014 with a .291/.347/.477 batting line. He has not made his major league debut and will be 26 later this month.
40. LHP Kyle Erdman (JC) - Did not sign
It does not appear that Erdman ever played professionally.
41. LHP Colton Pitkin (HS) - Released in 2012
Pitkin pitched in the Astros system from 2007 through 2011 and had a lifetime ERA of 4.82 and WHIP of 1.565.
42. OF Chris Turner (HS) - Released in 2009
Turner played for two seasons, 2007 and 2008, and hit .147/.211/.169.
43. OF Marques Williams (JC) - Released in 2009
Williams played from 2007 through 2009 with a .228/.285/.293 batting line.
44. SS Cat Everett (C) - Released in 2009
Everett toiled for the Astros from 2007 to 2008 and managed a .214/.320/.239 batting line during that time.
IN REVIEW ~
- The Astros signed 34 players: 8 out of the top 15, and 26 out of the bottom 29. The highest pick to sign was at #5.
- Of the 34 signed players, 30 were released, 3 were traded and 1 chose voluntary retirement.
- Of the 30 released, 19 did not play in the Astros system beyond 2008 and 6 did not play beyond 2009. The final player to be released out of the final 5 was released on April 18, 2012. Only 1 out of the 30 players who were released appears to still be active in independent ball.
- Of the 8 players who did not sign, 7 were re-drafted, 5 appear to still be active in organized baseball and 2 have made MLB debuts.
- Of the 3 players who were traded, only 1 is still active in organized baseball.
- GM Tim Purpura was fired approximately two months after the 2007 draft.
Thanks so much for reminding us of how bad the "dark days" really were. Understanding the bad helps one appreciate the good.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I feel about it. Puts the long slog back in context.
DeleteAre there draft recaps like these for any other the other drafts in recent memory...maybe say 2008 and beyond?
ReplyDeleteChris
I've already done 2012 (which you can link to at the top of the post) and I plan on recapping 2008 forward as well. I'll probably have 2008 done next week.
Delete