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

By Nick Stevens

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 24: Hall of Famer Dave Winfield is introduced at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 24, 2016 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 24: Hall of Famer Dave Winfield is introduced at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 24, 2016 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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San Diego Padres
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.

https://twitter.com/Friar_Faithful/status/840073308565471232

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.

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