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Looking over the draft pool for 1968 made me start to think about the previous few drafts and the fate of the first round draft picks from those drafts.
Since we are really only a few season into the WPK, there is no way to measure long-term outcomes from any of the draft classes. But I did find myself curious just to see how first round draftees from 1965-1967 are faring thus far, which ones have made the big leagues already, which, if any, are no longer playing professionally, and how the progress of everyone else is looking.
A few things I found out in looking this over:
1- A single first-round pick from the past three drafts has indeed already hung up the cleats: shortstop Ray Mahony who was chosen #8 overall by Brooklyn in the 1966 draft. For reasons unknown, Mahony played in just a handful of games in the Rookie league in 1966, was named the 70th best prospect in the WPK the following Spring, but never played professionally after that, retiring in May of 1967.
2- On the other hand, the 1966 draft is the one that has thus far produced the most players who have already made major league rosters: three. Foremost among them is the #1 pick overall that year- starting pitcher Mike Stagner. Stagner has made 6 appearances thus far this season for the Milwaukee Cadets. Though he is currently pitching out of the 'pen, it is still felt that Stagner is a future ace in the starting rotation.
3- The Brewers currently have 4 first round picks from the 1965 draft in their farm system. But more about that in the next post.
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