Note: the text on this page is an amalgam of commentary from Michael Rawdon, Darcy Paquet, and Glenn Ellingson.

1) Nomar Garciaparra, SS, born 7/23/73, age 26

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1994    A/Sarasota      105     295/356/419      1    10     6      5/2
  1995    AA/Trenton      513     267/338/384      8    50    42    35/12
  1996    R/Fort Myers     14     286/375/571      0    14    21      0/0
          AAA/Pawtucket   172     343/387/733     16    14    21      3/1
          AL/Boston        87     241/272/471      4    14    21      5/0
  1997    AL/Boston       684     306/342/534     30    35    92     22/9
  1998    AL/Boston       604     323/362/584     35    33    62     12/6
  1999    AL/Boston       532     357/418/603     27    51    39     14/3

Quite simply, Nomar Garciaparra is the best thing to happen to the Red Sox since Carl Yastrzemski. His career is on a HOF trajectory: he had an amazing rookie season and has improved every season since then. Even the departure of Vaughn's "protection" couldn't slow down Garciaparra. The only number not trending in the right direction is at bats, as small injuries have dented his playing time. Hopefully he will remain fairly healthy and continue to delight us for many more years.

3) Brian Rose, RHP, born 2/13/76, age 24

  Year    Team            G     GS     IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1995    A/Michigan     21     20    136    3.44   127     31    105    5
  1996    AA/Trenton     27     27  163.2    4.01   157     45    115   21
  1997    AAA/Pawtucket  27     26  190.2    3.02   188     46    116   21
          AL/Boston       1      1      3   12.00     5      2      3    0 
  1998    AAA/Pawtucket   6      6   17.2    7.64    24      4     17    5
          AL/Boston       8      8   37.2    6.93    43     14     18    9
  1999    AL/Boston      22     18     98    4.87   112     29     51   19

After winning the International League Pitcher of the Year award in 1997, an arm injury cost him almost all of 1998. He returned very strong early in 1999, but faded rapidly and was eventually demoted to Pawtucket, where he pitched sparingly (28 IP). 2000 will be Rose's chance to prove that his 1999 fade was only fatigue after missing 1998, rather than the league "figuring him out" the second time around. If he can stay healthy, Rose still has a lot of potential.

  Year    Team            G     GS     IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1995    A/Utica        12     12     65    5.68    76     39     35    1
  1996    A/Lowell       14     14   81.1    5.09    85     37     63    7
  1997    A/Michigan     26     26  153.2    4.22   142     80    158    8
  1998    A/Sarasota     20     13     76    6.75    70     72     64    6

After a decent 1997, Welch developed some serious control problems in 1998, walking almost a batter per inning! He appears to have left the game after 1998.

  Year    Team            G     GS     IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1994    R/Fort Myers    4      3   18.2    0.96    11      4     14    1
  1995    A/Sarasota     24     24  146.2    3.25   147     37     70    5
  1996    AA/Trenton     22     21  119.2    5.72   126     56     89   17
  1997    AA/Trenton     29     29  178.2    4.94   208     79    121   18
  1998    AAA/Pawtucket  23     23  139.1    4.91   161     50     88   22
          AL/Boston       6      0     11    9.82    16      9      2    2
  1999    A/Sarasota      1      0      3    0.00     2      1      2    0
          AA/Trenton      7      7   35.1    2.55    32      6     18    2
          AAA/Pawtucket   3      3     14    5.14    11      7      5    2

Although his stats at Pawtucket were overall not that impressive, Barkley pitched well in stretches and thus was called up for a short stint on the major league club in 1998. Barkley had only 10 starts in 1999 due to injury. He hasn't allowed fewer hits than IP since Rookie ball, he's never been particularly dominating, and he seems to have a problem with the home run. But he is a lefty, so if he returns healthy, anything can happen!

Mamott was a bit older than many of his peers in the Sox class of 1994, and struggled from the outset at Michigan and Utica in 1996, posting ERAs of 6.00 and above and struggling mightily with his control. He appears to have retired following that one year in pro ball.

After a somewhat respectable 1995 campaign pitching relief for Sarasota (66.1 IP, 57H, 46BB, 79SO, 3.26 ERA), McLaughlin was demoted to Michigan, where his ERA nearly doubled. In 1997 he pitched 9 innings for the Atlanta A+ Durham organization, and appears to have retired after that.

Had a decent OBP but only got 47 AB in 1994 at Fort Wayne. He seems to have retired after that.

In 1995 Allison showed some promise as a slap-hitting second baseman with speed and patience. All of those traits seem to have vanished in 1996 at Trenton as he didn't hit, didn't walk much, and barely broke even in stolen base attempts. A demotion to Sarasota didn't produce any major improvement, and he apparently retired after the 1997 season.

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1994    R/Fort Myers     50     180/339/380      1     9    16      1/0
  1995    A/Utica         111     198/313/288      1    14    34      0/2
  1996    A/Michigan      335     322/395/570     18    38    88      3/2
  1997    DNP
  1998    A/Sarasota      127     244/327/480      7    15    38      1/0
          AA/Trenton       91     242/330/462      5     9    35      0/0
  1999    A/Sarasota      289     197/326/377     13    44   102      0/0

Sapp had a tremendous season in Michigan in 1996, but injuries have been the story since then. He still draws walks and has some power, but he is making less and less contact, he's not moving up the minor league ladder, and he has moved from catcher to first base. He's probably on the verge of no longer being a prospect.

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1994    R/Fort Myers    206     272/349/383      1    23    27     32/8
  1995    A/Michigan      438     283/397/438      9    79    85    41/13
  1996    AA/Trenton      454     267/329/385      6    38    75     34/8
  1997    AAA/Pawtucket   481     212/295/326     11    57   121    20/14
  1998    AAA/Pawtucket   131     221/348/321      2    26    23     11/1
          AL/Boston       124     226/276/395      3     6    28      4/0
  1999    AAA/Pawtucket   172     291/361/424      1    16    36      4/2
          AL/Boston       107     280/313/346      0     5    20      2/1

Sadler has proven himself to be a flexible and capable vaccuum cleaner in the middle infield and even in CF. He's also lightning-fast, although he never learned to steal bases (the Sox don't appear able to teach basestealing). These skills are enough to make Sadler a valuable utility player; he still needs to get on base more reliably before he'll be a valuable everyday player. At this point, though, it looks like Sadler is in the major leagues to stay for a while.

Sanitago mastered the Gulf Coast League in 1994 and 95 at the tender age of 19, but had trouble in short season Utica in 1995. Still, he showed a certain raw talent (say, 24 Ks and only 3 BB in 25 innings at Fort Myers in 1995). Alas, he seems to have left pro baseball after the 1995 season.

Pavano battled through several shoulder and arm injuries to post some amazing numbers in the minor leagues, striking out 147 batters while walking only 34 in 161 innings in Pawtcket in 1997. He was voted the International League's best pitching prospect in that year.

Pavano's Red Sox career came to an end in the days before the 1997 expansion draft, when he was traded along with Tony Armas, Jr. to the Expos for 1997 NL Cy Young Award Winner Pedro Martinez. To be traded for a player of Martinez' caliber is surely a tremendous compliment, and although Pavano was disappointed at being traded (being a New England native himself), his future in Montreal looks to be very bright. In 1998 Pavano posted a 4.21 ERA, giving up 130 hits in 134.2 innings while striking out 83 and walking 43. 1999 was not a good year for Pavano, as his ERA soarded to 5.63, but he is still a talented pitcher with a bright future.

Jacobs showed some flair at Class A Utica in 1995, posting a 2.71 ERA in 86.1 IP and good control. He was then one of the players-to-be-named-later (along with OF Marc Lewis) in the Mike Stanton deal and went to Atlanta on August 31, 1995 in exchange for RHP Matt Murray. But the Sox laughed last as Jacobs struggled through a rough 1996 campaign in A-ball, being converted to a reliever, posting a 5.26 ERA and walking a lot of people. He apparently retired at the end of the 1996 season.

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1994    R/Fort Myers     83     193/250/337      1     4    19      1/1
  1995    A/Michigan       69     116/256/188      0    11    28      1/0
          A/Utica          74     243/333/500      3     4    17      1/0
  1996    R/Fort Myers     25     400/500/720      1     3     4      0/0
          A/Sarasota       37     270/341/432      1     1     6      0/0
          A/Bakersfield    69     203/282/333      2     7    21      0/0
  1997    A/Sarasota      169     195/274/331      6    11    51      4/2
  1998    A/Sarasota        5     200/200/600      0     0     3      0/0

I'm guessing that Bazzani has retired after a sub-.200 1997 and only 5 at-bats in 1998.

Pitched well at Utica in 1994 (3.29 ERA), and again at Sarasota in 1995 (3.54 ERA). Didn't strike out an awful lot of people, but it was hard to argue with the results. Apparently Malloy disagreed, though, as he departed pro ball after the 1995 season.

Apparently did not sign with the Sox. A "Bobby Moore" started pitching with the Rangers organization in 1995, posting so-so ERAs but impressive K:BB ratios in Class A-ball in 95 and 96. 1998 yielded a 5.23 ERA in 74 innings at A+ Charlotte, after which he apparently quit.

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1994    R/Fort Myers     95     274/358/453      3    10    20      5/3
          A/Utica          65     169/316/246      1    14    21     11/1
  1995    A/Michigan      422     268/338/393     11    40    93     29/5
  1996    A/Sarasota      407     246/320/327      1    38    86     24/5
  1997    AA/Trenton      385     301/372/496     14    41    89     20/7
          AAA/Pawtucket   113     319/391/619      7    12    27      4/2
          AL/Boston        24     167/167/208      0     0    11      1/0
  1998    AAA/Pawtucket   340     253/322/415     14    27    92     12/9
  1999    AAA/Pawtucket   467     268/341/531     30    51    128    14/6

Coleman generated a great deal of excitement in 1997, rocketing through Trenton and Pawtucket to reach the majors in September. 1998 was a different story, however, as he started the season extremely weak and then battled a mid-season injury. He eventually began to hit again, and his overall numbers are respectable for a center fielder with excellent defense, but concerns were raised about his attitude and his commitment to hard work. Coleman appears to have gotten back on track in 1999, and will probably spend much of 2000 in Boston (I believe he's out of options). After the aquisition of Carl Everett, though, Coleman will have to fight for playing time. How he responds to playing sparingly may determine his future in Boston.

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1994    R/Fort Myers    168     250/314/357      4    12    33      1/0
  1995    A/Michigan      382     233/319/393     13    38    93      9/1
  1996    A/Sarasota      416     257/317/428     14    31    84     15/2
  1997    AA/Trenton      357     216/271/389     14    26    94     13/1
  1998    R/Fort Myers     15     467/500/600      0     1     3      0/0
          A/Sarasota       13     308/438/538      0     3     1      0/0
          AA/Trenton       28     107/161/214      1     2    12      0/0 
  1999    A/Augusta       128     297/374/508      6    16    21      0/0

DeRosso has gone from 3B to OF to DH/1B, and he has not moved up in the system. No longer a prospect.

Apparently never signed with the Sox, and ended up in the Orioles organization by 1996, hitting moderately well (with a lot of walks) with their low A-ball teams. He hit 269/398/301 in 156 AB in AA ball in 1997, and did not play in 1998.

Pitched one inning for A/Utica in 1994, gave up one earned run, and then vanished.

23) Casey Child, CF, apparently never signed.

24) Bobby Butler, LHP

Pitched 46 innings at Fort Myers in 1995, putting up a 5.01 ERA as a swingman, and then apparently retired.

Lewis began his career hitting well (325/354/457) at Fort Myers in 1994, but struggled in promotions to Lynchburg in 94, and Michigan in 95. He went back to short season Class A Utica in 1995 and got back on track hitting with decent power and stealing some bases.

However, he ended up being a player to be named later in the Mike Stanton deal, and along with RHP Mike Jacobs went to the Atlanta Braves organization on August 31 1995 in exchange for RHP Matt Murray. He hit rather well through several levels of the Atlanta system, but in 1998 he ended up with the Twins organization and hit 293/328/462 at age 24 in AAA Salt Lake. He was demoted to AA in 1999 and hit 260/332/401, so his prospect days appear to be over.

Struggled through a season and a half at Fort Myers in 1994 and 95 (ERAs over 4.00 both years), though he substantially improved his K:BB ratio. However, he seems to have left the game following the 1995 season.

Goodwin made his way up to A- Michigan in 1996, hitting 273/343/361 in 238 AB, but slid considerably backwards in a demotion to Lowell in 1997. He appears to have retired following the 1997 season.

29) Nathan Barns, OF, apparently never signed.

30) John McNeese, LHP

Apparently never signed with the Sox. A man with the same name played for the Cubs' class A Williamsport team in 1995, where he put up a very nice 1.86 ERA in 12 starts. However, he pitched only 14 mediocre innings in 1996, and appears to have retired thereafter.

Apparently did not sign with the Sox, although a "Dave Elliott" played for the Brewers' farm teams in 1995-99. He hit 233/336/379 at age 25 for AA Huntsville in 1999.

33) John Raifstanger, 2B/OF, age 26

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1994    A/Sarasota       18     000/000/000      0     0     8      0/0
          A/Utica         130     238/331/300      1    16    20      1/6
  1995    A/Sarasota      326     270/342/353      2    34    63      6/1
  1996    A/Michigan      345     290/398/388      5    62    48      5/4
  1997    A/Sarasota      256     230/304/316      4    27    51      7/9
  1998    A/Sarasota      145     255/391/421      4    33    37      4/3
          AA/Trenton       44     159/260/273      1     6    13      0/0

Raifstanger spent parts of 4 years in Sarasota, and made it to AA for 44 AB in 1998, but apparently retired after that year.

Maurer did not sign with the Red Sox, electing instead to go to Oklahoma State. He played a summer (1996) at Cape Cod for the Orleans Cardinals and was subsequently drafted by San Diego. He has pitched well as a reliever for San Diego in A and AA ball (career 3.06 ERA), but given his age is a marginal prospect.

36) Angel Diaz, C, apparently never signed.

37) Jack Koch, RHP, apparently never signed.

38) Joseph Robinson, SS, apparently never signed.

39) Timothy Palmer, C, apparently never signed.

40) Patrick Daneker, RHP.

Never signed with the Red Sox, but a Pat Daneker was drafted out of Virginia by the Chicago White Sox organization in 1997, and eventually made it up to pitch three games for the big league club in 1999. He is considered to be a pretty good prospect.

42) Kenneth Arnold, 3B, apparently never signed.

43) Dexter Battle, 1B, apparently never signed.

44) Michael Whitley, RHP, apparently never signed.

45) Rene Justiniano, RHP

Apparently did not sign with the Sox. He played for independent R/Butte in 1995, pitching 60 innings with a 7.50 ERA, and subsequently vanished.

Played part-time at Fort Myers, Utica and Michigan in 1994-95, and never hit much or showed any power. Seems to have left the game after 1995.

        AL/Boston                4 (also formerly Barkley)
        AAA/Pawtucket            1  
        AA/Trenton               0
        A/Sarasota               1
        Out of Baseball         13
        In Other Organizations
                Major Leagues    1
                Class AAA        1
                Class A          3
        Unsigned                22

Players Still with the Organization:

Pitchers: 3 (30%)
Hitters: 7 (70%)

Nomar alone would make this a succcessful draft; but wait, there's more! Five other players from this draft have reached the major leagues: Brian Rose, Michael Coleman, Donnie Sadler, Brian Barkley, and Carl Pavano. Pavano, Rose, Coleman, and Sadler all have decent shots to be productive major league players, and odds are that one or two may yet become stars. And perhaps best of all: five of these six major-league players are still with the Sox, and the sixth was the primary player exchanged for some guy named Pedro Martinez. You simply cannot hope to have a better draft than this.