Looking Back at the Draft: 1993

The year is 1993.

Iraq refuses to allow UNSCOM inspectors to use its own aircraft to fly into Iraq, and begins military operations in the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait and in the Iraqi No-Fly Zones. On President Bush's last day in office, U.S. forces fire approximately 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Baghdad factories linked to Iraq's illegal nuclear weapons program. Iraq then informs UNSCOM that it will be able to resume its flights. Bill Clinton is sworn in as President. Pakistani national murders two CIA employees and wounds three outside of CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The Buffalo Bills lose their third consecutive Super Bowl. Islamic terrorists set off a bomb in the parking garage of the World Trade Center, killing 6 and injuring over 1,000. North Korea announces that it plans to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and refuses to allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites. Iraq refuses to allow UNSCOM weapons inspectors to install remote-controlled monitoring cameras at 2 missile engine test stands. Over 1,000 Somalis and 18 Americans are killed during a battle in Mogadishu. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) passes legislative bodies in the US, Mexico and Canada.

The Cleveland Indians go 76-86 in their last year in Municipal Stadium. Albert Belle hits 38 home runs, Carlos Baerga drives in 114 and Kenny Lofton steals 70 bases as the core of the mid-90's Indians is in place.

Indians 1st round pick: With the 11th pick in the 1st round, the Indians selected 6'6", 225lb righthanded pitcher Daron Kirkreit out of Cal. Kirkreit pitched for Team USA in the 1992 Olympics, and spent 9 seasons in the minors, never reaching the major leagues. He only appeared in one game in AAA, spending most of his career in the lower levels of the minors and even spent time in the independent leagues.

Best 1st round pick: With the 1st overall pick in the draft, the Seattle Mariners selected a Miami high school shortstop named Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod has 582 career home runs and counting, and has won two Gold Gloves, ten Silver Sluggers and three AL MVP Awards. He's also nearly bankrupted one franchise with his outrageous contract, admitted using PED's and has never been accused of playing the game "the right way," but is still the best player to come out of 1993's draft.

Honorable mention: San Diego selected 1B Derek Lee with the 14th pick in the 1st round. Lee will pass 300 career home runs this year, has three Gold Gloves and led the NL in OPS in 2005 with the Cubs...Flamethrowing lefty Billy Wagner was chosen 12th overall by the Astros. Wagner has amassed 386 career saves, has a lifetime WHIP of just 1.01 and ERA of 2.39...Using the 20th overall pick that they acquired from the Reds as compensation for losing free agent pitcher John Smiley, the Twins selected Gold Glove outfielder Torii Hunter. Hunter has three all star selections to his credit in addition to winning nine Gold Gloves.

Indians best pick: With their 24th round pick, the Indians chose 1B Richie Sexson out of Prairie High School in Washington. Sexon did most of his damage as a Milwaukee Brewer after being dealt in a deadline deal for Bob Wickman and others. Sexon hit 306 career home runs, drove in 943 runs and made a pair of all star teams. He struck out a lot, but also hit plenty of home runs and was a middle of the order presence for quite a few years in the prime of his career. He was stuck behind Jim Thome in Cleveland, so the deal for a closer was a win-win for both Sexon and the Tribe. Pretty good value out of the 24th round.

Honorable mention: Other than Sexson, the only player drafted and signed by the Indians that saw significant time in the major leagues was lefthanded pitcher Steve Kline. Kline somehow managed to get an MVP vote in 2001 with the Cardinals, finishing tied with Larry Walker, Scott Rolen, Vlad Gurerro and Brian Giles with a single vote. He was 3-3 with 9 saves that season, but did post a 241 ERA+. Kline was a solid middle reliever, and finished his career with 39 saves and a career record of 34-39. Kline spent less than a season in Cleveland, as he was dealt to the Expos on deadline day in 1997 for Jeff Juden.

Best early round picks: The Phillies chose the 1997 NL Rookie of the Year in the 2nd round when they picked up Scott Rolen. Rolen has six Gold Gloves and has been selected to five all star teams...Boston selected and signed Sweet Lou Merloni in the 10th round...The Brewers took shortstop Mark Loretta in the 7th round. Loretta made two all star teams and even won a Silver Slugger with the Padres in 2005.

Best late round picks: Atlanta did well in the 11th, 17th and 18th rounds picking up an ace pitcher in Kevin Millwood, a power hitting outfielder in Jermaine Dye, and a crazy closer with their selection of John Rocker...The Cubs took Jose Molina in the 14th round, the lesser of the three catching Molina brothers...Los Angeles picked up catcher Paul Lo Duca in the 25th round. Lo Duca made four all star teams and finished his career as a .286 lifetime hitter....Sal Fasano and his moustache were chosen in the 37th round by the Royals.

The ones that got away: Cleveland took outfielder Dave Roberts in the 47th round out of UCLA, but couldn't sign him...Detroit took reliever Keith Foulke in the 14th round, but they were unable to come to terms...Minnesota took catcher Jason Varitek with their 1st round pick, but took a hard line in negotiations and didn't sign the Scott Boras client...The White Sox selected but could not sign infielder Placido Palanco in the 49th round.

Other interesting picks: Four players selected in the 1st round of the 1993 draft played for the Indians at some point in their careers. Brian Anderson (3rd overall), Trot Nixon (7th), Jeff D'Amico (23rd) and Jamey Wright (28th) have all worn Chief Wahoo on their cap at one time or another...California took future NFL MVP Marshall Faulk in the 43rd round. He made a good choice in sticking with football.

Indians June 1993 draft:

1. Daron Kirkreit, RHP

2. Casey Whitten, LHP
3. JJ Done, RHP
4. Travis Driskill, RHP
5. Kris Hanson, RHP
6. Matt Hobbie, OF
7. Seth Greisinger, RHP
8. Steve Kline, LHP
9. Greg Thomas, 1B
10. Derrick Cook, RHP
11. Jason Mackey, LHP
12. Jeffery Haag, C
13. Steven Soliz, C
14. Todd Betts, 3B
15. Roland DeLaMaza, RHP
16. Mike Neal, 3B
17. Robert Lewis, C
18. Todd Johnson, C
19. Blair Hodson, 1B
20. Brett Palmer, LHP
21. Eric Chapman, OF
22. Chris Plumlee, RHP
23. Steve Hagins, C
24. Richie Sexson, 1B
25. Robert Kulle, OF
26. Norman Williams, OF
27. Ryan Lefebvre, OF
28. Richard Prieto, 2B
29. Richard King, SS
30. Greg Tippin, 1B
31. Jamie Coons, OF
32. Richard Lemons, OF
33. Gerad Cawhorn, 3B
34. Ken Westmoreland, RHP
35. Randy Woodall, RHP
36. Rodney Holland, OF
37. Ted Warrecker, C
38. Michael Rodriguez, C
39. David Townsend, RHP
40. Ara Petrosian, RHP
41. Jason Lyman, 2B
42. Nisam Bean, SS
43. Dalton Dempsey, LHP
44. Marvin Pierce, RHP
45. Darnell Batiste, OF
46. Jeff Bell, SS
47. Dave Roberts, OF
48. David Stevenson, OF
49. Larry Dobson, OF
50. Poncho Ruiz, 2B
51. Samuel Mitchell, RHP
52. Bret Soverel, RHP
53. Aaron Gentry, SS
54. Kevin Dinnen, RHP
55. Robert Kinnee, RHP
56. Carlos Arellano, RHP
57. Angel Rodriguez, RHP
58. Tony Runion, RHP
59. Brian Basowski, OF
60. Vincent Griffin, OF
61. Brian Norris, RHP
62. Ken Vining, LHP
63. Jeffrey Kober, LHP
64. Roger Walker, C
65. Casey Swingley, RHP
66. Jason Vorhauer, 1B
67. Bryan Garrett, OF
68. Keith Cowley, 3B
69. Joseph Adams, RHP
70. Travis Peterson, OF
71. Pedro Marte, 2B
72. Jason Marshall, C

Posted in: 1993 Draft