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Boston Red Sox top-10 greatest MLB amateur draft picks of all-time

By Sean Penney

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 29: A glove and balls sit on the infield before a game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 29: A glove and balls sit on the infield before a game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 26: Wade Boggs looks on during his number 26 retirement ceremony before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park on May 26, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 26: Wade Boggs looks on during his number 26 retirement ceremony before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park on May 26, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Wade Boggs (1976, 7th round)

If drafting Betts in the 5th round was a great value, Wade Boggs in the 7th round is an absolute steal.

Boggs spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Boston, finishing third in the 1982 Rookie of the Year race and making eight of his 12 career All-Star appearances during his tenure here.

Despite his numerous accolades that paved his way to Cooperstown, Boogs always seemed a bit underrated because he lacked the flashy home run totals in an era when power threats were surging across baseball. It’s not that Boggs couldn’t hit home runs, as he proved by blasting 24 in 1987. He simply wasn’t trying to swing for the fences at the expense of his primary goal – getting on base.

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His philosophy paid off as few were as adept as Boggs when it came to avoiding outs. He won five batting titles and led the league in on-base percentage six times. Boggs owned a slash line of .338/.428/.462 during his years in Boston and won six Silver Sluggers.

While some fans haven’t forgiven Boggs for leaving to join the rival Yankees, he spent most of his career – certainly the best years of his career – with the Red Sox. His 70.8 fWAR compiled during those 11 years in Boston places him third among position players in franchise history.

Boggs is one of only 10 players to have their number retired by the organization. His No. 26 hangs on the right field facade at Fenway Park alongside only two other players (Fisk, Rice) who were drafted by the Red Sox.

When factoring in where he was selected, it’s tough to top the value that the Red Sox received by drafting Boggs.

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