Red Sox select Michael Chavis; expectations of the 26th pick
By Joe Meehan
With the 26th pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, the Red Sox selected shortstop Michael Chavis out of Sprayberry Senior High School in Marietta, Ga. Conor Duffy wrote a piece for BSI covering everything you need to know about Chavis, who appears to have the versatility to move around the infield.
So what can we expect from the 26th pick? Let’s take a look at the previous 26th picks from the years 2000-2011 (we’ll give the 2012 and 2013 picks some more time to develop).
- 2000: Corey Smith, SS, Indians
- 2001: Jeremy Bonderman, RHP, Athletics
- 2002: John McCurdy, SS, Athletics
- 2003: Brian Snyder, 3B, Athletics
- 2004: Richie Robnett, CF, Athletics
- 2005: Craig Hansen, RHP, Red Sox
- 2006: Bryan Morris, RHP, Dodgers
- 2007: James Simmons, RHP, Athletics
- 2008: Daniel Schlereth, LHP, Diamondbacks
- 2009: Eric Arnett, RHP, Brewers (Trout at 25)
- 2010: Kyle Parker, OF, Rockies
- 2011: Blake Swihart, C, Red Sox
Not the sexiest group.
Smith, McCurdy, Snyder, Robnett, Simmons, and Arnett never made it past Triple-A and most are now out of the league, including Arnett who was picked one spot behind Mike Trout.
Bonderman had a decent career in Detroit and retired last year in Seattle. I covered Hansen and his failures in an article yesterday. Morris has carved out a major league relief role and was recently traded to Miami. Schlereth had a brief two-year stint in the majors with the Tigers, but is now in the minors with the Pirates.
Parker and Swihart probably represent the best chance for success of this group. Parker is currently in Triple-A with the Rockies and is batting .294, while Swihart is a top catching prospect for the Sox in Double-A Portland batting .302.
Here’s to hoping Chavis (and Swihart while we’re at it) can buck the trend of the 26th pick. Also, if I’m the A’s and end up with the 26th pick at any time in the future, I’m trading it. They clearly don’t do their best work from that spot.