Hidden Gems Of Recent Drafts: AL East
Every draft class promises franchise altering players, whether they are drafted in the first round or in the tenth. First overall picks such as Bryce Harper have lived up to the hype and been a difference maker in the MLB. Other superstars such as Jacob DeGrom, drafted in the ninth round, have proven to be diamonds in the rough. In a division loaded with talent such as the AL East, it’s surprising to find out just how late these names were picked in their respective drafts.
Aaron Judge- 2013 MLB Draft, Rd.1 Pick 32, New York Yankees
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Although still being selected in the first round, getting Aaron Judge with the 32nd pick is an absolute steal for the New York Yankees. Judge is the reigning American League MVP and widely considered as a top player in all of baseball. It’s hard to believe that 31 players were selected before him.
Aaron Judge has carved out quite the career for himself so far. He has five All-Star appearances, three Silver Sluggers, and an AL MVP. The former Rookie of the Year has also won the Home Run Derby. Known for his power, Judge has 242 career home runs and 542 RBIs.
Brandon Lowe- 2015 MLB Draft, Rd.3 Pick 87, Tampa Bay Rays
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Brandon Lowe has been one of the Rays’ top players since joining them in 2018. He provides a lot of pop at the plate for a second baseman. Getting this type of talent with the 87th pick in the draft is quite the accomplishment for the Rays.
Currently in his sixth season, Lowe has already amassed 100 career home runs and 285 RBIs. At the age of 24, Lowe was selected to his first All-Star Game. In 2020 and 2021, he finished top 10 in MVP voting. Getting this production from a third round pick is very solid.
Jarren Duran- 2018 MLB Draft, Rd.7 Pick 220, Boston Red Sox
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Jarren Duran has always been seen as a key piece to the team’s future since being drafted in 2018. Although drafted at 220, Duran has been a prized asset for Boston. With his dangerous speed and his ability to reach base, Duran’s value exceeds that of a seventh round pick.
This season has been a breakout year for Duran as he is showing why he belongs in the starting outfield for the Red Sox. He is currently batting .297 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. Duran has also tallied 23 stolen bases. Although his career is still young, Duran is looking like a steal at pick 220 for Boston.
Jordan Romano- 2014 MLB Draft, Rd.10 Pick 294, Toronto Blue Jays
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Over the past few seasons Jordan Romano has really established himself as one of the best arms out of the bullpen. For the amount of success he has seen in the big leagues, it’s hard to believe he wasn’t drafted until the 294th pick.
Romano has been selected to the All-Star Game the past two seasons with Toronto. As Toronto continues to establish themselves as contenders, it is definitely helpful to have an arm like Romano on the roster. In 200 career innings pitched, he has an 18-13 record with an ERA of 2.61. Romano has 90 career saves and 253 strikeouts. As he continues to flourish, Jordan Romano has proved he could’ve been selected a lot earlier.
Cedric Mullins- 2015 MLB Draft, Rd.13 Pick 403, Baltimore Orioles
Courtesy of Matt Slocum (AP Photo) (Getty Images)
It’s incredibly hard to believe that a player of this caliber wasn’t drafted until the 13th round. Cedric Mullins has been a star in the MLB and is considered a top outfielder in the league. Not a lot of players drafted that late can say that they’ve accomplished all that Mullins has.
Mullins has 63 home runs and 200 RBIs in his career. He also has 89 stolen bases and an All-Star appearance in 2021. The Silver Slugger has also finished top 10 in the MVP race. It’s pretty hard to find a player drafted past the 400th pick that can work their way up into the MVP conversation.
