Looking Back At The Montreal Expos’ Last Draft

Earlier today I decided to take a look back at Montreal’s picks in the 2004 draft. It was the organization’s last draft before moving to Montreal and I was curious to see how many of the players chosen were still knocking around in the professional ranks somewhere.

(Chances are someone has covered this already, though a little Googling didn’t turn anything up. Someone did do a post earlier this season on the dwindling number of active former Expos in the majors, but this is a little bit different.)

The Expos drafted fifty players in 2004. Each player falls into at least one of several categories:

1) Players with major league experience
2) Players drafted, signed, and still active
3) Players drafted, signed, and no longer active
4) Players drafted, did not sign, and reentered the draft
5) Players drafted, did not sign, and were not drafted again

Number four gets a little tricky, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. For now, let’s just say that there were a few guys who REALLY didn’t want to play for the Expos.

1) Players with major league experience

Five players from Montreal’s 2004 draft have played in the major leagues, including three of the first four selections. First-rounder Bill Bray is currently working out of Cincinnati’s bullpen, while third-rounder Ian Desmond has established himself as the starting shortstop in Washington, where he leads all sixes in putouts and errors. Fourth-rounder Collin Balester was called up yesterday to help fill in for the injured Luis Atilano, and I saw one report that said he will be given the chance to stick around in the bullpen for the time being.

Robert Mosebach and Brett Campbell fit two categories: Mosebach appeared in the major leagues, but only after turning down the Expos in 2004, reentering the draft, and signing with the Angels in 2005 as a ninth round pick. He got to the majors for three games last season and has spent 2010 in Triple-A Salt Lake. Campbell reached the majors with the Nationals in 2006 and last played for Double-A Harrisburg in 2007. Wikipedia says that he was taken by the Brewers in the Rule V draft, but released before the start of the 2008 season.

Round 1, Pick 13 – Bill Bray, LHP, College of William & Mary
Current Team: Cincinnati Reds
Major Leagues: 2006-08, 2010
Major League Totals: 8-8 W-L, 140 G, 4.04 ERA, 116 SO, 50 BB, 120.1 IP, 112 ERA+
Minor League Totals: 8-9 W-L, 103 G, 3.56 ERA, 168 SO, 39 BB, 124 IP

Round 3, Pick 84 – Ian Desmond, SS, Sarasota (FL) High School
Current Team: Washington Nationals
Major Leagues: 2009-10
Major League Totals: 112 G, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 9 SB, .257/.298/.422/.720
Minor League Totals: 638 G, 50 HR, 237 RBI, 127 SB, .259/.326/.388/.714

Round 4, Pick 114 – Collin Balester, RHP, Huntington Beach (CA) High School
Current Team: Washington Nationals
Major Leagues: 2008-10
Major League Totals: 4-11 W-L, 22 G, 5.87 ERA, 70 SO, 42 BB, 110.1 IP, 73 ERA+
Minor League Totals: 36-39 W-L, 143 G, 4.32 ERA, 497 SO, 242 BB, 675.1 IP

Round 12, Pick 354 – Robert Mosebach, OF, Hillsborough Community College
Current Team: Salt Lake (Los Angeles Angels, AAA)
Major Leagues: 2009
Major League Totals: 0-0 W-L, 3 G, 7.71 ERA, 2 SO, 3 BB, 2.1 IP, 67 ERA+
Minor League Totals: 39-32 W-L, 159 G, 3.94 ERA, 403 SO, 210 BB, 672 IP

* Did not sign with the Expos/Nationals. He reentered the draft the following year and was selected by the Angels in the ninth round.

Round 34, Pick 1014 – Brett Campbell, RHP, Kennesaw State University
Last Team: Harrisburg (Washington, AA), 2007
Major Leagues: 2006
Major League Totals: 0-0 W-L, 4 G, 10.38 ERA, 4 SO, 2 BB, 4.2 IP
Minor League Totals: 11-16 W-L, 162 G, 3.89 ERA, 227 SO, 103 BB, 215.1 IP

2) Players drafted, signed, and still active

The four players here are scattered around the Nationals organization – only Ivany and Lowrance are currently teammates. I’m most interested by the guy at the bottom, Brian Peacock. A 39th round pick who spent his first season in Rookie ball and his second at Class A Savannah, he has played at High Class A Potomac for the last four seasons. In late May, he suffered a scare when he was hit in the head by a pitch, lost consciousness, and had to be airlifted to a local hospital. Si weeks later, he suffered a compound fracture of his right pinky finger.

Round 6, Pick 174 – Devin Ivany, C, University of South Florida
Current Team: Harrisburg (Washington Nationals, AA)
Minor League Totals: 518 G, 41 HR, 218 RBI, 39 SB, .247/.306/.376/.682

Round 7, Pick 204 – Marvin Lowrance, OF, Golden West College
Current Team: Harrisburg (Washington Nationals, AA)
Minor League Totals: 678 G, 77 HR, 304 RBI, 15 SB, .267/.360/.433/.793

Round 8, Pick 234 – Leonard Davis, 3B, Fresno Community College
Current Team: Syracuse (Washington Nationals, AAA)
Minor League Totals: 651 G, 94 HR, 321 RBI, 53 SB, .271/.327/.474/.802

Round 39, Pick 1164 – Brian Peacock, C, Manatee Community College
Current Team: Potomac (Washington Nationals, A+), 2010
Minor League Totals: 383 G, 31 HR, 150 RBI, 30 SB, .238/.306/.383/.689

3) Players drafted, signed, and no longer active

This is the biggest section, with nineteen players. I was surprised by the guys who washed out after a season or two in short season, although I suppose that might’ve been because they were all taken within five picks, so it seemed like there were a ton of them. Also interesting are the six guys who went on to independent leagues. Kinda shows the important role that the indies play in the modern game. As recently as twenty years ago, these guys would’ve had to give up the game after being released. Now, they get another chance to play. None of them are making the majors, but I think some guys need to say goodbye on their own terms.

Round 2, Pick 54 – Erick San Pedro, C, University of Miami (FL)
Last Team: Birmingham (Chicago White Sox, AA), 2008
Minor League Totals: 168 G, 3 HR, 43 RBI, .195/.277/.258/.536

Round 5, Pick 144 – William Bunn, RHP, East Carolina University
Last Team: Brockton (Independent), 2008
Minor League Totals: 15-18 W-L, 109 G, 5.65 ERA, 287 SO, 189 BB, 299.1 IP

Round 9, Pick 264 – Brandon Conway, SS, Frederick Community College
Last Team: Vermont (Washington Nationals, Short Season), 2006
Minor League Totals: 98 G, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 1 SB, .169/.223/.213/.436

Round 10, Pick 294 – Duron Legrande, OF, North Carolina A&T State University
Last Team: Vermont (Washington Nationals, Short Season), 2004
Minor League Totals: 37 G, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 10 SB, .144/.212/.151/.363

Round 11, Pick 324 – David Trahan, RHP, Alvin Community College
Last Team: Sioux City (Independent), 2009
Minor League Totals: 20-36 W-L, 214 G, 4.44 ERA, 320 SO, 191 BB, 403.1 IP

Round 13, Pick 384 – David Travis, 2B, Southern Wesleyan University
Last Team: Vermont (Washington Nationals, Short Season), 2005
Minor League Totals: 36 G, 2 HR, 13 RBI, .148/.210/.252/.462

Round 14, Pick 414 – Lyndsey Simmons, C, New York Technical College
Last Season: Fullerton (Independent), 2005
Minor League Totals: 31 G, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .152/.280/.190/.469

Round 16, Pick 474 – Thomas Wilson, LHP, Catawba College
Last Team: Evansville (Independent), 2007
Minor League Totals: 12-8 W-L, 99 G, 4.05 ERA, 137 SO, 71 BB, 166.2 IP

Round 17, Pick 504 – John Poppert, C, East Carolina University
Last Team: Syracuse (Washington Nationals, AAA), 2009
Minor League Totals: 191 G, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 4 SB, .201/.277/.315/.592

Round 18, Pick 534 – Matthew Perks, RHP, Mercer County Community College
Last Team: Yuma (Independent), 2008
Minor League Totals: 8-8 W-L, 58 G, 4.30 ERA, 107 SO, 73 BB, 171.2 IP

Round 19, Pick 564 – Benjamin Cox, RHP, Lamar University
Last Team: Connecticut (San Francisco, AA), 2007
Minor League Totals: 11-16 W-L, 131 G, 3.42 ERA, 206 SO, 120 BB, 228.2 IP

Round 22, Pick 654 – Aaron Jackson, RHP, St. Augustine (FL) High School
Last Team: Pensacola (Independent), 2009
Minor League Totals: 22-28 W-L, 140 G, 4.48 ERA, 274 SO, 167 BB, 409.2 IP

Round 23, Pick 684 – Ryan Harrison, RHP, South Carroll (MD) High School
Last Team: Hagerstown (Washington Nationals, A), 2008
Minor League Totals: 9-11 W-L, 88 G, 5.31 ERA, 122 SO, 71 BB, 188 IP

Round 25, Pick 744 – Steven Cook, RHP, University of North Carolina
Last Team: Savannah (Washington Nationals, A), 2006
Minor League Totals: 7-13 W-L, 47 G, 5.18 ERA, 91 SO, 29 BB, 144.1 IP

Round 26, Pick 774 – Gabriel Suarez, SS, South Mountain College
Last Team: Lancaster (Houston Astros, A+), 2009
Minor League Totals: 357 G, 5 HR, 94 RBI, 40 SB, .243/.299/.297/.596

Round 28, Pick 834 – Chris Lugo, RHP, The Hudson School
Last Team: Hagerstown (Washington Nationals, A), 2009
Minor League Totals: 17-16 W-L, 153 G, 3.85 ERA, 272 SO, 100 BB, 348.2 IP

Round 35, Pick 1044 – Rudy Garza, RHP, Hill Junior College
Last Team: Savannah (Washington, A), 2006
Minor League Totals: 4-9 W-L, 50 G, 5.56 ERA, 76 SO, 37 BB, 100.1 IP

Round 40, Pick 1194 – Melvin Perez, 3B, George Washington (NY) High School
Last Team: GCL Nationals (Washington Nationals, R), 2005
Minor League Totals: 27 G, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .194/.299/.239/.538

Round 50, Pick 1483 – Joel Collins, C, Cardinal Carter High School
Last Team: Lynchburg (Pittsburgh, A+), 2009
Minor League Totals: 101 G, 11 HR, 42 RBI, .264/.371/.458/.829

4) Players drafted, did not sign, and reentered the draft

I’m not sure what’s more interesting about this particular group: that three of the players who didn’t sign with the Expos later went on to be drafted in the first ten rounds, or that three of the players who didn’t sign with the Expos were drafted by the Nationals the following year and again did not sign. I definitely get more of a chuckle out of the second one.

Round 15, Pick 444 – Michael Wlodarczyk, LHP, Boston College
Last Team: Montgomery (Tampa Bay Rays, AA), 2009
Minor League Totals: 26-31 W-L, 153 G, 3.84 ERA, 410 SO, 201 BB, 508.1 IP

*Selected by the Devil Rays in the seventh round in 2005.

Round 20, Pick 594 – Wendell Yost, LHP, Averett College
Last Team: Potomac (Washington Nationals, A+), 2007

Round 21, Pick 624 – Ibrahim Lopez, OF, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

*Selected by the Nationals in the 46th round in 2005 (did not sign).

Round 29, Pick 864 – Steven Hirschfeld, RHP, Grand County (UT) High School
Current Team: New Britain (Minnesota, AA)
Minor League Totals: 18-14 W-L, 74 G, 2.93 ERA, 188 SO, 73 BB, 255 IP

*Selected by the Rockies in the 25th round in 2005 (did not sign); selected by the Twins in the ninth round in 2007.

Round 31, Pick 924 – Paul Treadaway, RHP, Archbishop Hannan High School

*Selected by the Nationals in the 42nd round in 2005 (did not sign).

Round 32, Pick 954 – Matthew Averitt, RHP, New Mexico Junior College

*Selected by the Nationals in the 35th round in 2005(did not sign).

Round 37, Pick 1104 – James Gant, RHP, Mississippi State University
Last Team: Lexington (Houston, A), 2006
Minor League Totals: 2-4 W-L, 51 G, 4.35 ERA, 83 SO, 50 BB, 89 IP

*Selected by the Astros in the 29th round in 2005.

Round 41, Pick 1224 – Joseph Dunigan, OF, St. Ignatius College Prep
Current Team: West Tenn (Seattle, AA), 2010
Minor League Totals: 356 G, 55 HR, 213 RBI, 70 SB, .255/.317/.453/.770

*Selected by the Mariners in the fifth round in 2007.

Round 42, Pick 1253 – Brent Gaphardt, LHP, Dundalk Community College
Last Team: Pulaski (Seattle, R), 2008
Minor League Totals: 0-1 W-L, 13 G, 3.55 ERA, 23 SO, 9 BB, 25.1 IP

*Selected by the Mariners in the 21st round in 2006.

5) Players drafted, did not sign, and were not drafted again

Brendan Murphy was the only player on this list with professional experience. He wasn’t drafted again after 2004 but ended up in the Frontier League, where he has spent the last three seasons. I also found Gale interesting. The son of former major league pitcher and coach Rich Gale, the Phillips Exeter product passed up the pros for North Carolina and was not redrafted. His brother, Chris, was drafted by the Pirates in 2000 and spent some time playing independent ball.

Round 24, Pick 714 – Steven Hornostaj, SS, St. David Catholic High School
Round 27, Pick 804 – Ladd Hall, RHP, Arizona State University

Round 30, Pick 894 – Brendan Murphy, 1B, Garden City Community College
Current Team: Kalamazoo (Independent), 2010
Minor League Totals: 174 G, 33 HR, 138 RBI, 3 SB, .295/.365/.506/.872

*Murphy did not sign with the Expos/Nationals and it does not appear he was redrafted. His only listed professional experience is in the independent Frontier League.

Round 33, Pick 984 – Christopher Whisenhunt, LHP, Ft. Worth Christian (TX) HS
Round 36, Pick 1074 – Stephen Nicholas, LHP, Troy University
Round 38, Pick 1134 – Daniel Cooper, RHP, Costa Mesa (CA) High School
Round 43, Pick 1282 – Andrew Gale, RHP, Phillips Exeter Academy
Round 44, Pick 1311 – Philip Valle, SS, Bellevue Christian (WA) High School
Round 45, Pick 1340 – Austin Reilly, SS, Ft. Worth Country Day (TX) High School
Round 46, Pick 1369 – Robert Molinaro, SS, American Heritage School
Round 47, Pick 1398 – Jonathan Del Franco, RHP, Bridgewater-Raritan (NJ) HS
Round 48, Pick 1427 – Carlos Ceron, RHP, Miami Dade College
Round 49, Pick 1455 – Patrick Kanakevich, RHP, Georgetown Prep High School