BoSox Injection
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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 – OCTOBER 09: Former Boston Red Sox player Jim Rice throws out the ceremonial first pitch before game four of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 09: Former Boston Red Sox player Jim Rice throws out the ceremonial first pitch before game four of the American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on October 9, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Jim Rice (1971, 1st round)

Remember when we talked about how great Fred Lynn was as a rookie? Jim Rice was almost as great, finishing as the runner-up to his teammate in the Rookie of the Year race and third on the MVP ballot.

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Lynn may have gotten off to a slightly better start but Rice had the better overall career, especially if we’re focusing on the years in Boston. Rice spent all 16 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Red Sox.

Rice bashed 25+ homers seven times in his career, leading the league on three occasions. His career-high of 46 home runs came in his MVP campaign of 1978 when he also led the league with 139 RBI, 213 hits, 15 triples, a .600 SLG and .970 OPS.

The eight-time All-Star finished in the top-five on the MVP ballot six times but only took home the hardware once.

Rice is fourth in franchise history with 2089 games played. His many years of strong production in Boston is why he ranks seventh among position players in franchise history with 50.8 fWAR.

Rice’s No. 14 will forever hang at Fenway as one of 10 numbers retired by the franchise.

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