Six prep pitchers go in the first 17 picks for first time in 17 years.
Video: Mickey Moniak - MLB Draft watch
See more about the top overall pick in the draftThe 2016 high school draft class has been described as being top-heavy in quality pitchers, and the first round of the Major League Baseball first year player selection Thursday proved that theory to be true.
Six high school pitchers from the United States were chosen in the first 17 picks for the first time since 1999, a draft class that included 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett. By comparison, only one high school pitcher was chosen among the top 17 picks last year.
But the high number of pitchers selected wasn't necessarily the most surprising part of Thursday's first round. The expected order of selection of the nation's prized pitchers was also thrown for a loop.
All season long,
Jason Groome of
Barnegat (N.J.) and
Riley Pint of
Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) were seen as the top two pitching prospects in the Class of 2016. If not those two, then definitely
Brax Garrett of
Florence (Ala.) would be the first high school pitcher chosen.
Riley Pint was drafted at No. 4 by the Colorado Rockies.
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
Instead,
Ian Anderson of
Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.) went with the No. 3 overall pick to the Atlanta Braves. Ironically, Anderson had seen little work this year due to an arm injury that prevented him from pitching until April 29. However, Anderson's latest outing included a season-high 16 strikeouts.
Anderson becomes the highest New York high school player chosen in the MLB Draft since Shawon Dunston of Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was chosen No. 1 overall in 1982. No New York high school pitcher has been chosen higher than Anderson in the 51-year history of the draft.
After Anderson, Pint went to the Colorado Rockies at No. 4. Groome, however, did not come off the board until the Boston Red Sox picked him at No. 12.
In between, two other prep pitchers heard their names called. Garrett went to the Marlins with the No. 7 pick while the Tigers tabbed
Matthew Manning of
Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) at No. 9.
Forrest Whitley of
Alamo Heights (San Antonio) was the last high school pitcher chosen in the first round, going to the Houston Astros.
Mickey Moniak of
La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) led off the draft as the first player chosen, by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was the first of 17 high school players chosen in the first round. Last year, 15 high school players were chosen in the first round.
All of the players chosen during the draft can be found on the MaxPreps
MLB Draft Day Report. The draft continues today with rounds 3-10 and Saturday with rounds 11-40.
