Colorado Rockies 2001 Draft: They could have had David Wright if not for Mike Hampton

The Colorado Rockies didn’t have much success in the 2001 MLB Draft

Denny Neagle and Mike Hampton didn’t pan out for the Colorado Rockies as the Rockies traded Hampton to the Marlins after just two seasons (he signed an eight-year deal). Neagle only played with the Rockies for three of his five-year contract due to injuries and Neagle getting arrested.

Among the top five picks of the 2001 draft that the Colorado Rockies did not have a crack at drafting included:

• 1st overall pick C Joe Mauer, Minnesota, 55.2 rWAR (six-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger winner, three-time Gold Glove winner, and three-time batting champion).
• 2nd overall pick RHP Mark Prior, Cubs, 16.6 rWAR (one-time All-Star, 3rd in NL Cy Young voting in 2003 before injuries derailed his career)
• 5th overall pick 3B Mark Teixeria, Texas, 50.6 rWAR (three-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove winner, three-time Silver Slugger winner)

But one of the first-round picks that the Colorado Rockies could have drafted was future All-Star third baseman David Wright.

Wright was the player the Mets drafted with one of their comp picks from the Rockies. Wright played parts of 14 seasons in the majors (all with the Mets) and was a seven-time All-Star, a three-time finisher in the top 10 for NL MVP voting, and a two-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner.

If Wright didn’t have injuries derail his career, he would be an easy Hall of Famer but he’s most likely borderline.

The Rockies, with the last pick of the first round, drafted infielder Jayson Nix. He played parts of seven seasons in the majors but only 22 games with the Rockies and a career 1.6 rWAR. Not a great pick for the Rockies.

The Colorado Rockies didn’t sign their second-round pick in the 2001 MLB Draft.

In the second round of the 2001 MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies, without their higher second-round pick due to signing Denny Neagle, only had one second-round pick.

It was the penultimate pick of the second round and it was only there as a comp pick for when they lost pitcher Julián Tavárez to the Chicago Cubs.

With that pick drafted left-handed pitcher David Taylor. Taylor didn’t sign and, eventually, he was drafted by the Cubs a few years later in the 7th round. He made two (2) appearances at Rookie-ball … and his career was over.

The two best players drafted above Taylor that the Rockies could have taken in the first round were J.J. Hardy and Dan Haren.

Hardy was drafted with the 11th pick of the second round by Milwaukee and he played in parts of 13 seasons in the majors. He was a two-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, and a Silver Slugger winner. He had a career 28.1 rWAR.

Dan Haren was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals just three picks before Taylor in the second round. Haren spent parts of 14 seasons in the majors and he was a three-time All-Star and had two top 10 finishes in Cy Young Award voting.

Overall, in the rest of the draft (50 rounds), the Rockies had four of their picks make it to the majors. Three of the four picks weren’t even signed by the Rockies. The only other pick was outfielder Cory Sullivan.

Sullivan spent parts of four seasons with the Rockies from 2005 through 2008. His best season came in 2005 when he played in 139 games and he had a 0.8 rWAR season. Overall in his career, he had a 0.9 rWAR. Currently, he is a TV pre- and post-game analyst for the Rockies.

Other than him, the Rockies literally got 22 games and -0.4 rWAR out of Jayson Nix and that is it.

Next up in our draft series is the 2002 Draft where the Rockies were a bit more successful with their picks.