San Diego Padres: Top Five First-Round Picks In Franchise History

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ST. LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 17: Reliever Tim Stauffer #46 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium on August 17, 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals beat the Padres 7-6. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

With the 2018 MLB draft approaching fast, let’s take a look at some of the most successful first-round picks in San Diego Padres history.

The San Diego Padres will select their first-round pick within the first 10 picks of the draft this year. It will be the 27th time in franchise history.

Taking a quick glance at every player selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round brings mostly agony to die-hard Friar faithful. However, with every Matt Bush story that comes out of the draft, one can find a story of success. With that being said, let’s take a look at the top five first-round picks in San Diego draft history.

For this purpose, we will look at the success each player had while with the Padres, excluding performances once on other franchises. For instance, San Diego selected first baseman Derrek Lee with the 14th overall pick in the 1993 draft and hit 331 career home runs. However, he played just 22 games with the Padres before being sent to the Miami Marlins in exchange for starting pitcher Kevin Brown. Lee is not included on this list.

#5) Tim Stauffer, RHP, University of Richmond (VA)

Originally drafted out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles, Tim Stauffer was the fourth overall pick in the 2003 draft by Padres. The former Richmond Spider needed just a season and a half in the minors before making his major league debut on May 11th, 2005.

Stauffer went six innings in his debut against the Cincinnati Reds, giving up four hits, two runs, and three walks while striking out five and earning the victory.

He pitched nine seasons with the San Diego Padres, compiling a 32-34 record with a 3.87 ERA and 3.99 FIP. Over 575 innings (73 starts, 183 appearances in total), Stauffer posted a 435/193 K/BB ratio.

His most successful season came in 2010 when Stauffer was used mainly as a reliever. Appearing in 37 games (seven starts), Stauffer went 6-5 with a 1.85 ERA and struck out 19% of hitters he faced. Opposing batters struggled to hit the ball well against him and managed just three home runs and a .217 average across 82.2 innings.

Stauffer was rewarded by being named the Opening Day starter in 2011 (9-12, 3.73 ERA) before elbow injuries derailed his entire 2012 season.

Things fell apart after his days in San Diego came to an end in 2014. Stauffer pitched for one more season (Minnesota Twins and New York Mets), giving up 18 earned runs in 20.2 innings.

SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 14: Khalil Greene #3 of the San Diego Padres stands ready at bat during the game against the San Francisco Giants against at SBC Park on September 14th, 2005 in San Francisco, California. The Padres won 5-4. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

#4) Andy Hawkins, RHP, Midway High School (Waco, TX)

The Padres used their fifth overall pick in the 1978 draft to take a fly on a right-handed pitcher out of Waco, Texas, Andy Hawkins. Hawkins pitched in San Diego for seven seasons (1982-1988), compiling a 60-58 record and a 3.84 earned run average.

He is the only pitcher in the history of the franchise to be the winning pitcher on record in a World Series game. After Ed Whitson was thrashed for five hits and three runs in 0.2 innings, Hawkins was brought in in relief.

Hawkins went 5.2 innings, giving up just one hit while refusing to give a run or a walk. Behind a 3-4 day at the plate from Kurt Bevacqua, including a three-run home run, the Padres would go on to win game two of the series, 5-3.

His most dominant season with the Friars came in 1985. Hawkins started 33 games, tossed two shutouts, and compiled an 18-8 record. Despite walking 65 hitters and striking out only 69, Hawkins limited opposing batters to an average of one hit per inning and finished with a 3.15 ERA.

Hawkins finished his career with two and a half seasons in New York (Yankees) and a half season with the Oakland Athletics. His name can’t be mentioned without remembering his claim to fame as a major league pitcher. No, it wasn’t his World Series victory with the Padres, but his infamous “no-hitter” on July 1, 1990, at Comiskey Park. Hawkins pitched eight innings of no-hit baseball as his Yankees still managed to lose the game, 4-0.

#3) Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson University

Before joining the San Diego Padres, Khalil Greene was the 2002 NCAA Player of the Year at Clemson University. He was an outstanding defensive shortstop and one of the more exciting players of the 2002 draft class. The Padres selected Greene with their 13th overall pick who made his major league debut just over one year later.

Greene finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2004 (behind Jason Bay of the Pirates) after hitting .273 with 15 home runs, 31 doubles, and posting career highs in OBP (.349) and OPS (.795).

Over his six-year career with the Padres, Greene belted 84 home runs and compiled a 9.3 WAR in 659 games.

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His 2007 season was his last full year in the majors (played 105 games in 2008 and 77 in 2009 with the St. Louis Cardinals). Greene hit a career-high 27 home runs, 44 doubles, 97 RBI, and scored 89 runs.

Unfortunately, Greene’s career ended abruptly after the 2009 season. After suffering for years from social anxiety disorder and self-harm, Greene walked away from the game and has quietly lived out his life with his family. While Greene was a pleasure to watch on the baseball diamond, he’s a reminder that baseball players are also human and more important matters take precedent.

KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 08: MLB Hall of Fame star Dave Winfield attends the 2012 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Kauffman Stadium on July 8, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images) /

#2) Andy Benes, RHP, University of Evansville

The Padres selected Andy Benes with the number one overall pick in the 1988 draft, making his debut one year later against the Atlanta Braves. Benes struck out seven hitters in six innings, beginning his claim to fame as a San Diego pitcher, finishing with the second most strikeouts in franchise history.

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Over his seven-year Padres’ career, Benes worked a 69-74 record, 3.57 ERA, and a 1.24 WHIP. He pitched 15 complete games and eight shutouts in 186 career starts. Benes compiled 1,036 strikeouts across 1,235 innings in San Diego, finishing behind only Jake Peavy on thePadres’ career strikeout list.

A workhorse on the mound, Benes pitched at least 192 innings per season for four straight years (1990-1993). A 1993 All-Star, Benes notched 15 wins twice, once in 1991, arguably his best season with the Friars. Finishing sixth in Cy Young voting, Benes pitched to a 3.03 ERA and struck out 167 hitters in 223 innings. He also posted one of the lowest WHIPS of his career, 1.13.

Benes was traded in 1995 to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for LHP Ron Villone and OF Marc Newfield. He would go on to pitch eight more years, winning 86 more games and striking out another 964 batters. He will forever be remembered for throwing the very first pitch in Arizona Diamondbacks’ history.

#1) Dave Winfield, OF, University of Minnesota.

Selected fourth overall in 1973, Dave Winfield was immediately a contributing member of the San Diego Padres’ big league roster. Playing with the Friars from 1973-1980, Winfield appeared in 1,117 games, slashing .284/.357/.464/.821 with 154 home runs, 179 doubles, and 39 triples.

During his tenure in San Diego, Winfield appeared in four All-Star games and won two Gold Glove Awards. In 2000, he was inducted into the San Diego Padres’ Hall of Fame and his number 31 was retired the next year. He also became the first San Diego Padre to be enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Winfield hit more than 20 home runs in five of his eight seasons, including 34 in his premier 1979 season. In 159 games, Winfield hit .308 with a career-high .395 OBP and .953 OPS. His 118 runs driven in led the league as he contributed 27 doubles, 10 triples, and 184 total hits. He finished third in MVP voting that season.

Next: Top Strikeout Pitchers In Franchise History

Currently, the Padres have four former first-round picks on their 40-man roster including, Cory Spangenberg (2011), Travis Jankowski (2012), Hunter Renfroe (2013), and Eric Lauer (2016).

Will this year’s seventh overall pick be the next Sean Burroughs or the next Dave Winfield? Only time will tell. In the meantime, tune into the 2018 MLB on June 4th to find out who the Padres select!

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