Mets and Phils Draft Look Back: 2000-05

Written by Pierpont Willoughby | 09 June 2010

So, Mets select UNC power pitcher Matt Harvey and the Phillies draft local lefty Jesse Biddle from Germantown Friends HS in the first round of the MLB draft yesterday. With Stephan Strasburg set to make his major league debut tonight it makes us wonder when some of yesterday’s names will be wearing a major league uniform.

Let’s take a look back at how the draft’s first round has gone for the “teams to beat”  for the first 5 years of this decade……

2000

Mets take lefty pitcher Billy Traber who was never heard from again….., Phils take a UCLA second baseman with the weird name of Chase Utley. Wonder what ever happened to him???

Adrian Gonzalez goes first overall. You may remember him from circling the bases a few times in the last few days…

Michael Vick was drafted by the Rockies, but decided on another career path. I wonder if this decision not to play baseball has dogged him over the years….

2001

Phils take Gavin DeGraw Floyd right before Mark Texieria. OUCH. Mets take Aaron Heilman who had a good year or two but is best remembered for making Mets fans very happy when he was dealt to the Cubs.  Now a possible CLOSER possibility in Arizona. How bad are the D backs???

Mets later get David Wright number 38 overall in the supplemental round.

We are only looking at first round picks here, but it should be noted that in the 5^th round Phillies hit it big with Ryan Howard.

2002

The locals both go with skinny lefties in the first round of the 2002 draft. Scott Kazmir is taken 15^th and Cole Hamels is taken number 17. Nick Swisher is sandwiched in at 16. Two sons of slugging first basemen are taken in the first round also. John Mayberry Jr. who has yet to fulfill his promise and the son of Big John Mayberry who played with the Royals is selected by the Mariners and Prince Fielder, son of Cecil, is taken by the Brewers. This draft was also heavily covered in the book MONEYBALL by Michael Lewis.

2003

Delmon Young goes number one to the DEVIL RAYS. Phils have no first round draft pick, Mets select Lastings Milledge, now the worst of the Pirates dreadlocked outfielders.

2004

This draft is topped off by one of the biggest bush league decisions in recent years. Matt Bush goes number one to the Padres, who pass on Justin Verlander and Stephen Drew.  Phil Humber, a big hard thrower from Rice goes number 3 to the Mets, one of 3 Rice right handed pitchers drafted in the top 8 slots. Humber was part of the package sent to the twins for Johan Santana is now in the KC Royals farm system. Phils draft Texas high school outfielder Greg Golson with their first round pick. Golson made his MLB debut with the Phils in 2008 and spent some time with the Yankees earlier this year….

Matt Cassell was also drafted in the 34^th round by the A’s but he had other plans….