Colorado Rockies: A look back on Dan O’Dowd’s 1st round draft picks

DENVER, CO – JUNE 23: Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies throws out a runner against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on June 23, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 10-5. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

In 2005, Dan O’Dowd and the Rockies, arguably, had their best first round draft pick. They decided to draft a shortstop from California State-Long Beach by the name of Troy Tulowitzki.

The Rockies also had the 32nd overall pick as compensation for losing Vinny Castilla to free agency. The decided to draft Chaz Roe with that pick. He has spent parts of six seasons in the majors as a reliever (125 games) but none of them were with the Rockies.

For Tulowitzki has been hampered by injuries for most of his MLB career but he still he has a career WAR of 44.1 in 12 seasons. He has 224 career home runs, 779 RBI, a .290/.361/.495 slash line, an OPS+ of 118, ranked in MVP voting six times, a two-time recipient of the Gold Glove Award as well as a two-time recipient of the Silver Slugger Award, and a five-time All Star.

However, there were also some pretty good future MLB players in the first round of draft as well.

Andrew McCutchen*: outfielder, 11th overall pick, 10 MLB seasons, 206 home runs, 744 RBI, .289/.378/.484, 135 OPS+, five time All Star, four time Silver Slugger Award winner, one time Gold Glove Award winner, ranked four times in NL MVP voting including winning it in 2013

Jacoby Ellsbury*: outfielder, 23rd overall pick, 11 MLB seasons, 104 home runs, 512 RBI, .284/.362/.417, 103 OPS+, one time All Star, one time Gold Glove Award winner, one time Silver Slugger Award winner, ranked in MVP voting twice including coming in second in 2011.

Other notable players that came in the draft include Brett Gardner*, Michael Brantley*, and Jake Arrieta* (but he didn’t sign).

The only player that really rivals Tulo, though, is Andrew McCutchen. That’s why, last night, we put this poll out there on Twitter.

Question: Which player would you rather have? 1st option is an infielder, 12 yr career, 5x All Star, 2x Gold Glove/Silver Slugger Winner. 2nd option is an outfielder, 10 yr career, 5x All Star, 1 Gold Glove, 4x Silver Slugger. One of these players is a former Rockie, one isn’t
— Rox Pile (@RoxPileFS) May 23, 2018

Overwhelmingly, you voted for Player A, which was Troy Tulowitzki. Player B was Andrew McCutchen.

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