The
Oakland Athletics (the A's) are a
Major League Baseball (MLB)
franchise based in
Oakland,
California. They play in the
American League West division. The Athletics had played in
Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954 and then
Kansas City from 1955 to 1967 before moving to Oakland. Since the establishment of
the Rule 4 Draft the Athletics have selected 82 players in the first round. 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]
Of these 82 players, 36 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 27 of these were right-handed, while 9 were left-handed. Fifteen
outfielders, including one
center fielder, and 14
shortstops were selected. The A's have also drafted seven
catchers, five
third basemen, four
first basemen, and one
second baseman in the first round.[3] Additionally, 23 players came from high schools or universities in the A's home state of California, followed by 10 from Texas and Florida.[3] They also drafted
Ariel Prieto in 1995, who had defected from Cuba the year before.[4] Prieto made his major league debut in 1995, one of 20 players in draft history to go directly to the majors without playing in the minor leagues.[5][6]
The Athletics have failed to sign three first-round draft picks, although they did not receive a compensation pick for any of them.[3] The first such player not signed was
Pete Broberg in 1968. The A's also failed to sign both of their draft picks in 1979,
Juan Bustabad and
Mike Stenhouse.[17][18] The Athletics have had ten compensatory picks overall since the first draft in 1965.[3] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[2][19][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[20]
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.[20] 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.[76] 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.[77]
a The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1978 from the
Texas Rangers as compensation for losing free agent
Mike Jorgensen.[35]
b The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1979 from the
Boston Red Sox as compensation for losing free agent
Steve Renko.[36]
c The Athletics lost their first-round pick in 1982 to the
Boston Red Sox as compensation for signing free agent
Joe Rudi.[78]
d The Athletics lost their first-round pick in 1989 to the
Seattle Mariners as compensation for signing free agent
Mike Moore.[79]
e The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1990 from the
Milwaukee Brewers as compensation for losing free agent
Dave Parker.[45]
f The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1990 for losing free agent
Storm Davis.[45]
g The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1990 for losing free agent Dave Parker.[45]
h The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1991 for losing free agent
Willie McGee.[46]
i The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1993 for losing free agent
Dave Stewart.[48]
j The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1997 from the
Baltimore Orioles as compensation for losing free agent
Mike Bordick.[51]
k The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1997 for losing free agent Mike Bordick.[51]
l The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1997 for losing free agent Mike Bordick.[51]
^Campbell, Morgan (February 16, 2010). "Cuba facing big-league crisis; The exodus of star players to the majors could spell trouble for the game's future in socialist country". The Toronto Star.
The
Oakland Athletics (the A's) are a
Major League Baseball (MLB)
franchise based in
Oakland,
California. They play in the
American League West division. The Athletics had played in
Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954 and then
Kansas City from 1955 to 1967 before moving to Oakland. Since the establishment of
the Rule 4 Draft the Athletics have selected 82 players in the first round. 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]
Of these 82 players, 36 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 27 of these were right-handed, while 9 were left-handed. Fifteen
outfielders, including one
center fielder, and 14
shortstops were selected. The A's have also drafted seven
catchers, five
third basemen, four
first basemen, and one
second baseman in the first round.[3] Additionally, 23 players came from high schools or universities in the A's home state of California, followed by 10 from Texas and Florida.[3] They also drafted
Ariel Prieto in 1995, who had defected from Cuba the year before.[4] Prieto made his major league debut in 1995, one of 20 players in draft history to go directly to the majors without playing in the minor leagues.[5][6]
The Athletics have failed to sign three first-round draft picks, although they did not receive a compensation pick for any of them.[3] The first such player not signed was
Pete Broberg in 1968. The A's also failed to sign both of their draft picks in 1979,
Juan Bustabad and
Mike Stenhouse.[17][18] The Athletics have had ten compensatory picks overall since the first draft in 1965.[3] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,[2][19][V] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[20]
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.[20] 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.[76] 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.[77]
a The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1978 from the
Texas Rangers as compensation for losing free agent
Mike Jorgensen.[35]
b The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1979 from the
Boston Red Sox as compensation for losing free agent
Steve Renko.[36]
c The Athletics lost their first-round pick in 1982 to the
Boston Red Sox as compensation for signing free agent
Joe Rudi.[78]
d The Athletics lost their first-round pick in 1989 to the
Seattle Mariners as compensation for signing free agent
Mike Moore.[79]
e The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1990 from the
Milwaukee Brewers as compensation for losing free agent
Dave Parker.[45]
f The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1990 for losing free agent
Storm Davis.[45]
g The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1990 for losing free agent Dave Parker.[45]
h The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1991 for losing free agent
Willie McGee.[46]
i The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1993 for losing free agent
Dave Stewart.[48]
j The Athletics gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1997 from the
Baltimore Orioles as compensation for losing free agent
Mike Bordick.[51]
k The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1997 for losing free agent Mike Bordick.[51]
l The Athletics gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1997 for losing free agent Mike Bordick.[51]
^Campbell, Morgan (February 16, 2010). "Cuba facing big-league crisis; The exodus of star players to the majors could spell trouble for the game's future in socialist country". The Toronto Star.