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2016 MLB Draft: Who Was Drafted In Round 1?

Published on: June 10, 2016 at 10:47 AM
By Dustin Murrell

While Major League Baseball fans were busy voting-in their favorite players for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, young athletes who hoped to be a part of future MLB All-Star Game festivities were waiting for their own names to be called in the 2016 MLB Draft. This year, 17 college players and 17 high school students were selected in the first round of a draft that gets considerably less hype than the NFL or NBA Draft.

Unlike the NBA or NFL, most of the players selected in the 2016 MLB Draft won’t be key players in the majors anytime soon. Many athletes that are drafted — even as early as the first round — never make it out of the minor leagues. Round 1 and Round 2 (including Lottery Rounds) were completed on Thursday, with the rest of the draft taking place on Friday and Saturday. Below is a quick look at the Top 10 selections for this year’s draft, and a complete list of those drafted in Round 1.

#1. Philadelphia Phillies — Mickey Moniak (OF): Mickey turned 18-years-old less than a month ago, making him the youngest player drafted in the Top 10. The No. 1 overall draft pick attended high school at La Costa Canyon HS in Encinitas, California. He bats left, throws right and has committed to UCLA before being selected by the Phillies. In the video below, he shares a story about a tattoo that his childhood friend must get now that Moniak has been drafted into the MLB.

#2. Cincinnati Reds — Nick Senzel (3B): After an impressive 2 years at Tennessee, Senzel won MVP honors in the Cape Cod League after dominating at the plate. Considering that the Reds are currently one the MLB’s ten worst teams when it comes to hits, batting average and on-base percentage, it’s not a surprise that they chose a potentially strong bat with their first pick. He is now the highest pick in the Tennessee Volunteers’ history for the MLB Draft. Nick bats and throws right.

#3. Atlanta Braves — Ian Anderson (RHP): Anderson garnered attention playing for Team USA’s 18 and under club, pitching fast balls ranging from 91-95 MPH. He was the first of four high school pitchers to be drafted in the Top 10, coming out of Shenendehowa High School in New York. Hitting and pitching right-handed, he also turned 18-years-old last month, making him less than two weeks older than Mickey Moniak.

#4. Colorado Rockies — Riley Pint (RHP): On paper, Riley Pint looks a lot like Ian Anderson: an 18-year-old, right-handed, high school pitcher who some thought could go No.1 overall in the 2016 MLB Draft. Out of Kansas, he can regularly throw a fast-ball 93-97 MPH, having reached a top speed of 102.

#5. Milwaukee Brewers — Corey Ray (OF): With undeniable hitting and athletic ability, many expected Ray to be the first position player to be drafted in 2016. He was originally drafted in Round 33 by the Mariners out of high school in 2013, but is now the highest drafted player ever out of Louisville. At 5-feet, 11-inches, the lefty is one of just two players drafted in the first round who fall short of the 6-foot mark (along with Anthony Kay, also 5-feet, 11-inches, and drafted by the New York Mets at No. 31). Born in 1994, he’s the oldest player drafted in the Top 10, and is only a week younger than Dakota Hudson, who went No. 34 overall to the Cardinals.

#6. Oakland A’s — A.J. Puk (LHP): A history of inconsistency and back spasms are likely the only things that kept Puk from going No. 1 overall. He was still the first left-handed pitcher drafted in 2016, and the tallest (Puk is 6-feet, 7-inches, as is RHP Forrest Whitley, who went No. 17 to the Houston Astros).

#7. Miami Marlins — Braxton Garrett (LHP): The second LHP of the draft went next, when the Marlins took Garrett out of Florence High School in Alabama. While his curve ball is his best pitch, his fast ball has reached speeds of 94 MPH, which is expected to improve with some serious strength training. Braxton will be 19-years-old in August.

#8. San Diego Padres — Cal Quantrill (RHP): Cal only started three games at Stanford last year, but was once again on everyone’s radar after returning from Tommy John surgery. Quantrill’s father Paul pitched in the Majors from 1992-2005 for a total of 7 teams, his longest tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1996-2001. He was traded briefly to the Padres from the Yankees in 2005, and then dealt to the Marlins before retiring. Cal is the only Canadian-born pick in Top 10.

#9. Detroit Tigers — Matt Manning (RHP): Matt’s father was also a professional athlete: Rich Manning, who played in the NBA from 1995-1997. Because of his involvement in basketball, Manning got a late start to the baseball season at Sheldon High School in Sacramento, but still throws a fastball at speeds reaching 97 MPH. Prior to the draft, he had committed to Loyola.

#10. Chicago White Sox — Zack Collins (C): Collins was the first catcher selected in the 2016 MLB Draft, having previously been selected by the Reds in Round 27 back in 2013. His strong commitment to the Miami Hurricanes earned him a Top 10 selection 3 years later.

  • #11 — Seattle Mariners: Kyle Lewis (OF, Mercer)
  • #12 — Boston Red Sox: Jason Groome (LHP, Barnegat HS)
  • #13 — Tampa Bay Rays: Joshua Lowe (3B, Pope HS)
  • #14 — Cleveland Indians: Will Benson (OF, Westminster Schools)
  • #15 — Minnesota Twins: Alex Kirilloff (OF, Plum Senior HS)
  • #16 — Los Angeles Angels: Matt Thaiss (C, Virginia)
  • #17 — Houston Astros: Forrest Whitley (RHP, Alamo Heights High School)
  • #18 — New York Yankees: Blake Rutherford (OF, Chaminade Prep HS)
  • #19 — New York Mets: Justin Dunn (RHP, Boston College)
  • #20 — Los Angeles Dodgers: Gavin Lux (SS, Indian Trails HS)
  • #21 — Toronto Blue Jays: TJ Zeuch (RHP, Pittsburgh)
  • #22 — Pittsburgh Pirates: Will Craig (3B, Wake Forrest)
  • #23 — St. Louis Cardinals: Delvin Perez (SS, Colegio Individualizado PJ Education School)
  • #24 — San Diego Padres: Hudson Sanchez (SS, Carroll HS)
  • #25 — San Diego Padres: Eric Lauer (LHP, Kent State)
  • #26 — Chicago White Sox: Zach Burdi (RHP, Louisville)
  • #27 — Baltimore Orioles: Cody Sedlock (RHP, University of Illinois)
  • #28 — Washington Nationals: Carter Kieboom (SS, Walton HS)
  • #29 — Washington Nationals: Dane Dunning (RHP, Florida)
  • #30 — Texas Rangers: Cole Ragans (LHP, North Florida Christian HS)
  • #31 — New York Mets: Anthony Kay (LHP, Connecticut)
  • #32 — Los Angeles Dodgers: Will Smith (C, Louisville)
  • #33 — St. Louis Cardinals: Dylan Carlson (OF, Elk Grove HS)
  • #34 — St. Louis Cardinals: Dakota Hudson (RHP, Mississippi State)

Major Leage Baseball’s official website has a complete and updated list of every selection from the 2016 MLB Draft. Having started on Thursday, June 9, the MLB Draft continues Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11.

[Image via WSBC /Twitter]

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