Just wanted to get a little perspective, because I'm as excited about the MLB Draft as anyone really should be (among people who haven't actually been drafted), on the Draft, and what it means to a professional club.
The Astros haven't had a draftee make the Majors since 2004, so let's start there and figure out how many draft picks have actually made it to the Majors, and let's put a minimum of 10 games in the Majors, lifetime. Then let's see how many played 100+ games (and the most experienced Major Leaguer in parentheses)
2004: 49 drafted / 3 major-leaguers of 10+ games / 2 major-leaguers of 100+ games (Hunter Pence with the most ML games)
2003: 41 / 4 / 1 (Josh Anderson)
2002: 48 / 2 / 0 (Pat Misch)
2001: 49 / 6 / 2 (Chris Burke)
2000: 43 / 5 / 3 (Eric Bruntlett)
1999: 42 / 4 / 4 (Jason Lane)
1998: 41 / 5 / 4 (Morgan Ensberg played in more games, but Brad Lidge gets the nod)
1997: 40 / 4 / 3 (Lance Berkman)
1996: 83 / 4 / 2 (Roy Oswalt)
1995: 86 / 8 / 1 (Aaron Miles)
Now, the Astros have had some bad drafts in the past, but still...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
