1998 Amateur Draft : First Round Picks

The first draft was held on June 8-9, 1965. The Major League franchises were able to choose from all high school seniors and college players.

Initially there were supposed to be three amateur drafts held each season. That original plan changed in 1964 and was reduced to two drafts with the first phase being held after High School graduations. The second phase was held in January of the following year and involved players who were drafted earlier, but were not signed by their franchise.

In 1986 the two-phase draft system was changed and instead of holding a second phase draft in January, franchises who could not sign their first round selections were awarded a supplemental first round pick the following amateur draft.

The first pick of the first round is awarded to the worst team in the American or National League. Each season the two leagues alternate the first pick and proceed through the first round in reverse order of finish from the previous season's standings.

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present the 1998 first round draft selections, the team they were chosen by, their position(s), and their college or home town at the time of the amateur draft.

"We're going to do our best to sign Pat Burrell. The J.D. Drew negotiations could go on into the next millennium, so we can't get hung up on that.'' - Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Ed Wade (June 3, 1998)
1998

First Round Draft Picks

# Selected By Name Position College or Hometown
1. Phillies Pat Burrell 1B University of Miami
2. Athletics Mark Mulder LHP Michigan State University
3. Cubs Corey Patterson OF Harrison High School
4. Royals Jeff Austin RHP Stanford University
5. Cardinals J.D. Drew OF Tallahassee, Florida
6. Twins Ryan Mills LHP Arizona State University
7. Reds Austin Kearns RF Lafayette High School
8. Blue Jays Felipe Lopez SS Lake Brantley High School
9. Padres Sean Burroughs 3B Wilson High School
10. Rangers Carlos Pena 1B Northeastern University
11. Expos Josh McKinley SS Malvern Prepatory School
12. Red Sox Jeff Everett SS University of South Carolina
13. Brewers J.M. Gold RHP Toms River North High School
14. Tigers Jeff Weaver RHP California State University, Fresno
15. Pirates Clinton Johnston LHP Vanderbilt University
16. White Sox Robert Wells RHP Baylor University
17. Astros Brad Lidge RHP University of Notre Dame
18. Angels Seth Etherton RHP University of Southern California
19. Giants Tony Torcato 3B Woodland, CA
20. Indians C.C. Sabathia LHP Vallejo, CA
21. Mets Jason Tyner CF Texas A&M University
22. Mariners Matthew Thornton LHP Centreville, MI
23. Dodgers Bubba Crosby CF Rice University
24. Yankees Andrew Brown OF Richmond, IN
25. Giants Nate Bump RHP Pennsylvania State University
26. Orioles Rick Elder OF Marietta, GA
27. Marlins Chip Ambres OF Beaumont, TX
28. Rockies Matt Roney RHP Edmond, OK
29. Giants Arturo McDowell OF Jackson, MS
30. Royals Matt Burch RHP Virginia Commonwealth University

1998 First Round Draft Picks



The players who DO NOT have links to their Major League statistics DID NOT make it to the Major League level.

Why did the Philadelphia Phillies select Pat Burrell first overall? Perhaps it was because he played thirty-five games with the University of Miami in his final season and hit .432, slugged seventeen home runs and drove in forty-seven runs.

Did you know that Arizona State University and University of Southern California both had ten players drafted in 1998 to lead all other colleges?