Major League Draft Picks Who Skipped Minors

By Patrick Mondout

Here is the list of players who were drafted but who went straight to the majors without playing in the minors. A number of these players eventually returned to the minors (Brian Milner played a total of two major league games). We also have the #1 overall picks and late round gems.

 

Pick/Year	Player	Pos	Team	School
1/1967	*Mike Adamson	RHP	Orioles	University of Southern California
2/1970	Steve Dunning	RHP	Indians	Stanford University
1/1971	*Pete Broberg	RHP	Senators	Dartmouth College
2/1971	*Burt Hooton	RHP	Cubs	University of Texas
3/1971	*Rob Ellis	3B	Brewers	Michigan State University
1/1972	Dave Roberts	3B	Padres	University of Oregon
1/1973	*Dick Ruthven	RHP	Phillies	Cal State Fresno
1/1973	David Clyde	LHP	Rangers	Houston, Texas
4/1973	Dave Winfield	OF	Padres	University of Minnesota
11/1973	Eddie Bane	LHP	Twins	Arizona State University
1/1978	Bob Horner	3B	Braves	Arizona State University
4/1978	Mike Morgan	RHP	Athletics	Las Vegas, Nevada
20/1978	Tim Conroy	LHP	Athletics	Monroeville, Pennsylvania
7th round/1978	Brian Milner	C	Blue Jays	Southwest HS, Texas
8/1985	Pete Incaviglia	OF	Expos	Oklahoma State University
8/1988	Jim Abbott	LHP	Angels	University of Michigan
2/1993	Darren Dreifort	RHP	Dodgers	Wichita State University
5/1995	**Ariel Prieto	RHP	Athletics	Fajardo Regional College, Cuba
3rd round/1989	John Olerud	1B	Blue Jays	Washington State University
2nd round/2000	Xavier Nady	OF	Padres	University of California

* Secondary phase
** Pitched in the independent Western League before being drafted.
Players such as Chan Ho Park and Ichiro Suzuki have joined the majors straight from Asia, but do not belong on this list as they were not drafted.