» June 2, 1998:
The Phillies select University of Miami 1B Pat Burrell with the 1st pick in the First–Year Player Draft. Burrell's .888 slugging percentage is 2nd in NCAA history. The Athletics follow by taking Michigan State P Mark Mulder at No. 2; the Cubs take high school OF Corey Patterson with No. 3; Stanford P Jeff Austin is grabbed by the Royals at No. 4; and last year's top pick, J.D. Drew is selected by the Cardinals as No. 5. Drew will debut in September. The 19-year-old Patterson will get a record $3.7 million from the Cubs, but will sign too late to play in 1998, while Mulder will pocket $3.2 million from the A's. Picking 9th, the Padres select Sean Burroughs, son of former MLer Jeff Burroughs. Drew Henson, Michigan QB, drops to the 3rd round where the Yanks take him. » July 12, 2000: The Yankees obtain P Denny Neagle and OF Mike Frank from the Reds in exchange for 3B Drew Henson, OF Jackson Melian, and Ps Brian Reith and Ed Yarnall.
» March 21, 2001: The Yankees reobtain 3B prospect Drew Henson, along with OF Michael Coleman, from the Reds for hot prospect OF Wily Mo Pena and cash. Henson agrees to a 6-year $17 million dollar contract that calls for him to leave the University of Michigan football program and to bypass the NFL. The 21-year-old Henson, a QB, had been projected as a #1 draft choice. Henson will break his hand in April and be out of action till June 14.
» June 5, 2002:
High school players dominate the first round picks of the amateur as 16 of the 30 first rounders are prep stars. After Ball State righty Bryan Bullington is taken with the first pick, the next seven are high schoolers. Tampa Bay takes SS Melvin Upton with the #2 pick; the Reds take P Chris Gruler #3; the O's take LHP Adam Lower #4; the Expos choose P Clint Everts #5; KC takes SS Don Greinke #6; and the Brewers pick first baseman Prince Fielder, son of Cecil, with #7. Detroit takes SS Scott Moore at #8; and the Rockies take British Columbian P Jeff Francis #9. The Padres pick Clemson SS Khalil Greene with the #`13 pick; and the A's, picking #16, take OSU 1B Nicholas Swisher, son of Steve. With the 21st pick the Cubs choose Bob Brownlee, the #1 collegiate pitcher a year ago before injuries hit. On the 12th round, the Twins select Marshalltown's Jeff Clement, the high school home run champion with a record 71 this year. He broke the mark of 70 set by Drew Henson in 1998.
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