The
Colorado Rockies are a
Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in
Denver,
Colorado. They play in the
National League West division. The Rockies have participated in MLB's annual June draft since 1992. Officially known as the "
First-Year Player Draft",[1] the Rule 4 Draft is MLB's primary mechanism for assigning players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur clubs to its franchises. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.[1] In addition, teams which lost
free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded
compensatory or supplementary picks.[2] Since the franchise was established as an
expansion team in 1992, the Rockies have selected 31 players in the first round. The First-Year Player Draft is unrelated to the
1992 expansion draft through which the Rockies filled their roster.
Of the 31 players selected in the first round by the Rockies, 18 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 12 of these have been right handed, and 6 have been left-handed. The Rockies have also selected six
outfielders, four
shortstops, and one player each at
catcher,
first base, and
third base. The Rockies have never selected a
second baseman in the first round.[3] The Rockies have drafted 16 players out of high school, and 14 out of college. Colorado has drafted seven players from high schools or colleges in the state of
California, with five coming from
Texas and three from
Tennessee.[3] The Rockies' 2002 selection—
Jeff Francis—is the only selection from outside the United States.
The Rockies have received nine compensatory picks, including seven selections made in the supplemental round of the draft since the franchise's first draft in 1992.[3] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[2][7][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[8] The Rockies have failed to sign their first round pick only once—2000 selection Matt Harrington—for which they received the 44th overall pick in the 2001 draft.[9]
V Through the 2012 draft,
free agents were evaluated by the
Elias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation-eligible. If a team offered
arbitration to a player but that player refused and subsequently signed with another team, the original team was able to receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent left in this way, his previous team received a supplemental pick and a compensatory pick from the team with which he signed. If a "Type B" free agent left in this way, his previous team received only a supplemental pick.[8] Since the 2013 draft, free agents are no longer classified by type; instead, compensatory picks are only awarded if the team offered its free agent a contract worth at least the average of the 125 current richest MLB contracts.[44] However, if the free agent's last team acquired the player in a trade during the last year of his contract, it is ineligible to receive compensatory picks for that player.[45]
a The Rockies lost their original first-round pick in 1998 to the
Houston Astros as compensation for signing free agent
Darryl Kile. The lost pick was the 17th overall selection.[46]
c The Rockies gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1998 for losing free agent
Andrés Galarraga.[46]
d The Rockies gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1998 for losing free agent
Walt Weiss.[46]
e The Rockies lost their original first-round pick in 2001 to the
New York Mets as compensation for signing free agent
Mike Hampton. The lost pick was the 17th overall selection.[9]
f The Rockies gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2001 for failing to sign draft pick Matt Harrington.[9]
The
Colorado Rockies are a
Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in
Denver,
Colorado. They play in the
National League West division. The Rockies have participated in MLB's annual June draft since 1992. Officially known as the "
First-Year Player Draft",[1] the Rule 4 Draft is MLB's primary mechanism for assigning players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur clubs to its franchises. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.[1] In addition, teams which lost
free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded
compensatory or supplementary picks.[2] Since the franchise was established as an
expansion team in 1992, the Rockies have selected 31 players in the first round. The First-Year Player Draft is unrelated to the
1992 expansion draft through which the Rockies filled their roster.
Of the 31 players selected in the first round by the Rockies, 18 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 12 of these have been right handed, and 6 have been left-handed. The Rockies have also selected six
outfielders, four
shortstops, and one player each at
catcher,
first base, and
third base. The Rockies have never selected a
second baseman in the first round.[3] The Rockies have drafted 16 players out of high school, and 14 out of college. Colorado has drafted seven players from high schools or colleges in the state of
California, with five coming from
Texas and three from
Tennessee.[3] The Rockies' 2002 selection—
Jeff Francis—is the only selection from outside the United States.
The Rockies have received nine compensatory picks, including seven selections made in the supplemental round of the draft since the franchise's first draft in 1992.[3] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[2][7][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[8] The Rockies have failed to sign their first round pick only once—2000 selection Matt Harrington—for which they received the 44th overall pick in the 2001 draft.[9]
V Through the 2012 draft,
free agents were evaluated by the
Elias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation-eligible. If a team offered
arbitration to a player but that player refused and subsequently signed with another team, the original team was able to receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent left in this way, his previous team received a supplemental pick and a compensatory pick from the team with which he signed. If a "Type B" free agent left in this way, his previous team received only a supplemental pick.[8] Since the 2013 draft, free agents are no longer classified by type; instead, compensatory picks are only awarded if the team offered its free agent a contract worth at least the average of the 125 current richest MLB contracts.[44] However, if the free agent's last team acquired the player in a trade during the last year of his contract, it is ineligible to receive compensatory picks for that player.[45]
a The Rockies lost their original first-round pick in 1998 to the
Houston Astros as compensation for signing free agent
Darryl Kile. The lost pick was the 17th overall selection.[46]
c The Rockies gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1998 for losing free agent
Andrés Galarraga.[46]
d The Rockies gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1998 for losing free agent
Walt Weiss.[46]
e The Rockies lost their original first-round pick in 2001 to the
New York Mets as compensation for signing free agent
Mike Hampton. The lost pick was the 17th overall selection.[9]
f The Rockies gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2001 for failing to sign draft pick Matt Harrington.[9]