MLB Draft: A look back at the 2015 MLB Draft

The 2017 MLB Draft begins on June 12, and teams are hoping to come away with future franchise players and avoid any disappointments that can set back their organizations. Before this year’s draft takes place, let’s revisit the 2015 MLB Draft’s 10 biggest successes and its 10 biggest disappointments and how they have impacted the league:

Successes:

1. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros — In just two years time, Bregman has become the Astros’ starting third baseman. The 23-year-old and second pick overall has played in 97 games and slashed .257/.315/.431 since being called up in 2016.

2. Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox — The 22-year-old Benintendi also quickly went through the minors and is now in the big leagues as the Red Sox’s starting left fielder. The seventh pick has played in 80 games and put together a slash line of .285/.357/.433

3. Dansby Swanson, Arizona Diamondbacks — The No. 1 pick and shortstop didn’t last long in the D-backs organization, as he was traded to the Braves in a package for starter Shelby Miller. The move turned out well for the 23-year-old Swanson, as he has played in 84 games for the Braves since 2016 and is their starter at the No. 6 position.

4. Koda Glover, Washington Nationals — The 24-year-old Glover became the first pick in this draft class who was selected outside the first round to reach the majors. The 254th pick overall (eighth round) got called up to the Nationals in 2016 and is now their closer, where he has notched five saves in six opportunities.

5. Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs — After losing Dexter Fowler to the Cardinals in free agency, the Cubs needed to find a new center fielder. They now have one in the 22-year-old Happ, the ninth overall pick who has played in 13 games this year and has slashed .273/.385/.545.

6. Carson Fulmer, Chicago White Sox — The 23-year-old Fulmer got to the majors in late 2016 after being picked eighth, but went 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA in nine appearances out of the bullpen. He is currently in Triple-A, but is on the fast track to the majors again after going 5-3 with a 4.11 ERA in nine games as a starter.

7. Ben Taylor, Boston Red Sox — Taylor, a seventh-round pick (201st overall), made the Red Sox’s Opening Day roster this year, but has been demoted and called up multiple times after posting a 6.59 ERA in 11 appearances. He is in Triple-A, but the fact that he reached the majors earns him a spot on the list.

8. Brendan Rodgers, Colorado Rockies — Rodgers has been moving up at every level since he was picked third and was the first high school player taken in this draft. The 20-year-old shortstop/second baseman is currently playing in Single-A Advanced Lancaster, where he is slashing .378/.396/.685, and is ranked 11th in baseball’s Top 100 prospects — the highest ranking of any current prospect in this class.

9. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros — Tucker, who was the fifth pick and the second high school player taken behind Rodgers, has also excelled at every stop he has been in the minors. The 20-year-old outfielder is currently playing in Single-A Advanced Buis Creek, where he has a 284/.372/.544 slash line and is ranked the 30th-best prospect in all of baseball.

10. Josh Naylor, Miami Marlins — Naylor is no longer with the Marlins, but he is killing it with the Padres’ Single-A Advanced club Lake Eisinore. The 19-year-old first baseman and 12th overall pick is batting .327/.382/.528 with 35 RBI in 39 games this season.

Disappointments:

1. Brady Aiken, Cleveland Indians — Aiken was chosen 17th overall by the Indians after being selected No. 1 overall in 2014 by the Astros, but he decided to not sign with them out of high school because Houston had concerns about his health (elbow inflammation in his throwing arm) and the two sides disputed over an adjusted signing bonus ($6.5 million to $5 million). Another reason why he was picked in the middle of the first round was because he had Tommy John Surgery before the draft. He is currently playing in Single-A Lake County, but has still failed to live up to his hype as he is 1-7 with a 4.46 ERA in eight starts this year.

2. Ashe Russell, Kansas City Royals — The Royals thought they were going to get a future quality arm in Russell, who drew comparisons to Clay Buchholz by some scouts, with the 21st pick. Unfortunately, he struggled in the Royals’ rookie level in both 2015 and 2016, and has not been assigned to an affiliate this season.

3. Phil Bickford, San Francisco Giants — Bickford showcased a lot of potential playing in the Cape Cod League and he caught the Giants’ attention to draft him 18th overall. But, Pickford was traded in 2016 to the Brewers, then got hit with a 50-game suspension to start this season for testing positive for drug abuse for a second time.

4. Dillon Tate, Texas Rangers — As the third pick and the first pitcher taken in the draft, Tate seemed to be on his way to making an impact for the Rangers. But, the Rangers tried to change his mechanics and the changes hurt Tate, as he had a 5.12 ERA in Single-A Hickory in 2016. The Rangers traded Tate to the Yankees, where he is close to returning to pitching after injuring his shoulder.

5. James Kaprielian, New York Yankees — Speaking of the Yankees, they chose Kaprielian with their highest pick in more than two decades with the 16th selection in hopes that he could reach the majors as soon as 2016. He got as high as Single-A Advanced Tampa, but then was sidelined with a strained flexor muscle in his forearm and is now out for this season after needing Tommy John Surgery.

6. Tyler Jay, Minnesota Twins — Jay has had an up-and-down ride in his first two years since been the sixth overall pick and the first lefty taken off the board in the draft. As both a starter and a reliever, the 23-year-old southpaw reached Double-A Chattanooga. However, Jay and the Twins also agreed that he should be a reliever going forward, but he only made one appearance this year before having to be sidelined with biceps tendinitis.

7. Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds — The Reds came away with the first catcher in the draft and an outside candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in Stephenson at No. 11. However, Stephenson wound up suffering a wrist injury that ended his season in Single-A Dayton last year. He is back to playing, but he has to prove he can handle his first full season as a pro.

8. Kevin Newman, Pittsburgh Pirates — Despite being rated as the second best prospect by ESPN’s Keith Law during the draft process, Newman was picked 19th by the Pirates. He played like a top prospect in his first season after he had a strong first half in 2016 at Bradenton and continued to hit well following a promotion to Double-A Altoona. But, he slumped in the last month and has continued struggling at the same level this year.

9. Cornelius Randolph, Philadelphia Phillies — One od four shortstops taken in the top 10, Randolph wound up being converted to an outfielder. The 10th pick overall has reached Single-A Advanced Clearwater, but $has since been having a hard time (.201/.286/.357 with 46 strikeouts in 41 games). Though he is only 19 years old, he is still has to prove he is worth his selection.

10. Nick Plummer, St. Louis Cardinals — With the 23rd pick, the Cardinals selected one of the most dangerous high school hitters in Plummer. However, the 20-year-old outfielder has not been able to hit at any level, as he batted only .228 in rookie ball in 2015 and has a .222 average this year after missing the 2016 season with a wrist injury.