Colorado Rockies 2004 Draft: A very good draft after some bad ones

The Colorado Rockies had some better draft picks later in the 2004 Draft

Some of the best players that came after the Colorado Rockies drafted Chris Nelson in the first round of the 2004 Draft include:

• Catcher Neil Walker, 11th overall pick, Pirates (later became a second baseman, 19.6 rWAR)
• Pitcher Jered Weaver, 12th overall pick, Angels (three-time All-Star, 34.6 rWAR)
• Third baseman Billy Butler, 14th overall pick, Royals (later became a first baseman, one-time All-Star, 11.9 rWAR)
• Shortstop Stephen Drew, 15th overall pick, D-Backs (15.9 rWAR)
• Pitcher Gio González, 38th overall pick, White Sox (two-time All-Star, 28.6 rWAR)
• Pitcher Huston Street, 40th overall pick, A’s (future Rockie, two-time All-Star, 14.5 rWAR)

Before the Rockies picked in the second round, the Brewers drafted pitcher Yovani Gallardo. He was a one-time All-Star with a career 22.1 rWAR but the Rockies had a good second round pick.

With their second round pick, the Rockies drafted outfielder Seth Smith out of the University of Mississippi.

Smith, who was later given the affectionate nickname “Mr. Late Night”, spent parts of 11 seasons in the majors, five of which came with the Rockies. He made his debut in 2007 in mid-September but was on the Rockies playoff roster. In the playoffs, he went three-for-six in his pinch hit appearances in the playoffs.

Smith was a key contributor to the 2009 Rockies as he helped that Rockies make it to the playoffs by hitting .293/.378/.510 with an OPS+ of 122 and an rWAR of 2.3. The Rockies traded him to Oakland after the 2011 season.