Three players who have been the first from an Alabama high school or college picked in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft have reached milestones in 2024.
Justin Foscue from Grissom High School and Jordan Beck from Hazel Green High School have made their big-league debuts this season. Foscue was the first player with Alabama baseball roots picked in the 2020 draft, and Beck got that honor in 2022.
Gunnar Henderson from Morgan Academy was the first player from an Alabama high school or college chosen in the 2019 draft. After winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2023, Henderson will start at shortstop for the American League in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night.
RELATED: GUNNAR HENDERSON JOINS ALABAMA’S MLB ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS
Foscue and Beck boosted to 34 the first-from-Alabama draft picks who have reached the Major Leagues. And after 59 drafts, Henderson is the 11th to make it to the All-Star Game.
Who’ll be the next to join Henderson, Foscue and Beck as the first player from an Alabama high school or college selected in the First-Year Player Draft?
The answer should come on Sunday.
That’s when the first 74 selections in this year’s draft will be made, starting at 6 p.m. CDT Sunday at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. ESPN and MLB Network will televise the first- and second-round picks.
The first pick with Alabama baseball roots likely will be Oxford High School shortstop Carter Johnson or Alabama pitcher Ben Hess. A Crimson Tide commitment, Johnson is a two-time first-team All-State selection and participated in the MLB Draft Combine in June. A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Hess struck out 106 in 68.1 innings in the 2024 season.
The first player drafted from the state has come straight from a high school 27 times. Auburn has provided the first pick eight times, Alabama six, Jacksonville State and South Alabama three apiece and Troy and the University of Mobile once each. Ten other times, the first player picked from Alabama has been a former state prep star who was selected from an out-of-state college.
The Cleveland Guardians hold the first pick in this year’s draft. Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana is considered the favorite to go No. 1 on Sunday.
One player with Alabama baseball roots has been the No. 1 pick in baseball’s main June/July draft – pitcher Casey Mize (Springville, Auburn) in 2018 by the Detroit Tigers.
The draft will resume at 1 p.m. Monday for the third through 10th rounds before concluding with the 11th through 20th rounds starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The second and third days of the draft will be livestreamed on MLB.com.
On Tuesday night, Henderson will play in the MLB All-Star Game. The other All-Stars who also were the first player with Alabama baseball roots chosen in a draft have been Carlos May, picked in the 1966 draft; Britt Burns, 1978; Bo Jackson, 1982; Lance Johnson, 1984; Jeff Brantley, 1985; Gregg Olson, 1988; Frank Thomas, 1989; Josh Donaldson, 2007; David Dahl, 2012; and Tim Anderson, 2013.
Thomas is one of three Hall of Famers who have been the first player picked from an Alabama high school or college, although he is the only one in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jackson is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, and Condredge Holloway, the 1971 representative, is in the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame.
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A year-by-year look at the first player with Alabama baseball roots selected in each summer draft:
1965: Pitcher Rick James, Coffee High School in Florence, by the Chicago Cubs at No. 6. James reached the Major Leagues in 1967, making his big-league debut at age 19, and pitched in three games for the Cubs. But that was the extent of James’ MLB career. He pitched in the minors until 1970.
1966: Outfielder Carlos May, Parker High School in Birmingham, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 18. May had a 10-year MLB career and represented the White Sox at the MLB All-Star games in 1969 and 1972.
1967: Outfielder Jimmy McMath, Druid High School in Tuscaloosa, by the Chicago Cubs at No. 22. McMath reached the Major Leagues in 1968, making his big-league debut at age 19, and played in six games for the Cubs. But that was the extent of McMath’s MLB career. He played in the minors until 1971.
1968: First baseman Donald Dickerson, Ensley High School in Birmingham, by the New York Mets at No. 21. Dickerson played in four minor-league seasons, with Double-A his highest level.
1969: Outfielder Alvin McGrew, Parker High School in Birmingham, by the Cleveland Indians at No. 15. McGrew played in eight minor-league seasons, with Triple-A his highest level.
1970: Pitcher/shortstop Jim Browning, Emma Sansom High School in Gadsden, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 11. Browning pitched in six minor-league seasons, with Double-A his highest level.
1971: Shortstop Condredge Holloway, Lee High School in Huntsville, by the Montreal Expos at No. 4. Holloway did not play professional baseball. Instead, he went to Tennessee to play football, then had a Hall of Fame career as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League.
1972: Shortstop Gary Blackwell, B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 45. Blackwell played in five minor-league seasons, with Triple-A his highest level.
1973: First baseman/outfielder Rickey Hughes, Gaston High School in Gadsden, by the Montreal Expos at No. 56. Hughes played in two minor-league seasons, with Single-A his highest level.
1974: Pitcher Jim Loftin, B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 46. Loftin spurned the Athletics to attend South Alabama. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 14th round in 1978. He played in one minor-league season at the Rookie level.
1975: Pitcher Ted Barnicle, Jacksonville State, by the San Francisco Giants at No. 8. Barnicle pitched in seven minor-league seasons, with Triple-A his highest level.
1976: Pitcher Joe Beckwith, Auburn, by the Cleveland Indians at No. 278. Beckwith did not sign with the Indians and returned to Auburn for another season. In the 1977 draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers chose Beckwith with the 46th pick. Beckwith had a seven-year MLB career and won a World Series ring with the Kansas City Royals in 1985.
1977: Pitcher Sammy Davis, Jacksonville State, by the Cleveland Indians at No. 37. Davis played in three minor-league seasons, with Single-A his highest level.
1978: Pitcher Britt Burns, Huffman High School in Birmingham, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 70. Burns pitched in eight seasons with the White Sox after reaching the big leagues at age 19. He represented Chicago at the 1981 MLB All-Star Game and won 18 games in his final season. But a hip injury brought his career to a premature end at age 26.
1979: Catcher Richard Frazier, Butler High School in Huntsville, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 87. Frazier did not play professional baseball.
1980: Pitcher Jay Tibbs, Huffman High School in Birmingham, by the New York Mets at No. 27. Tibbs pitched in seven MLB seasons, although none with the Mets. He compiled a 39-54 record for the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates.
1981: Pitcher Bryan Kelly, Alabama, by the Detroit Tigers at No. 146. Kelly pitched in two MLB seasons with the Tigers, appearing in six games in 1986 and five games in 1987.
1982: Shortstop Bo Jackson, McAdory High School in McCalla, by the New York Yankees at No. 50. Jackson did not sign with the Yankees. He went to Auburn, became a two-time All-American in football and won the 1985 Heisman Trophy. After being the first player picked in the 1986 NFL Draft, Jackson instead signed with the Kansas City Royals, who chose him in the fourth round of the baseball draft in 1986. Jackson played in eight MLB seasons and represented the Royals as an outfielder at the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, during which he hit a home run.
1983: First baseman Dave Magadan, Alabama, by the New York Mets at No. 32. Magadan played in 16 MLB seasons after reaching the big leagues with the Mets in 1986. After his playing days ended, he spent 20 seasons as an MLB hitting coach.
1984: Outfielder Lance Johnson, South Alabama, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 139. Johnson played in 14 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the Cardinals in 1987 and stole a base in the World Series that season. Johnson led the American League in triples four times and hits once with the Chicago White Sox and the National League in triples once and hits once with the New York Mets. Johnson represented the Mets at the MLB All-Star Game in 1996.
1985: Pitcher Jeff Brantley, Berry High School (drafted from Mississippi State) by the San Francisco Giants at No. 134. Brantley pitched in 14 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the Giants in 1988. He went to the All-Star Game in 1990 and led the National League in saves in 1996 with the Cincinnati Reds.
1986: Outfielder Jim Morrisette, Fairhope High School, by the New York Mets at No. 76. Morrisette played in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A.
1987: Outfielder Ed Smith, Warrior High School, by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 101. Smith played in three minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Single-A.
1988: Pitcher Gregg Olson, Auburn, by the Baltimore Orioles at No. 4. Olson pitched in 14 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the Orioles after 16 minor-league relief appearances in 1988. Olson represented Baltimore at the MLB All-Star Game in 1990, when he saved 37 games.
1989: First baseman Frank Thomas, Auburn, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 7. Thomas played in 19 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the White Sox in 1990. Thomas represented the White Sox in five MLB All-Star games, won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1993 and 1994 and entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
1990: Pitcher Mike Zimmerman, South Alabama, by the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 27. Zimmerman played 10 minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A.
1991: Outfielder/first baseman Joe Vitiello, Alabama, by the Kansas City Royals at No. 7. Vitiello played in 282 games across seven MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 1995. He played in 282 games in seven seasons and hit .248 with 26 home runs.
1992: Pitcher B.J. Wallace, Monroe Academy (drafted from Mississippi State), by the Montreal Expos at No. 3. Wallace pitched in three minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A. Wallace was a member of the U.S. team at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. He never recovered from shoulder surgery after his second pro season.
1993: First baseman Andy Rice, Parker High School in Birmingham, by the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 42. Rice played six minor-league seasons, reaching as high as High-A.
1994: First baseman/outfielder Terrence Long, Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, by the New York Mets at No. 20. Long played in eight MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 1999. With the Oakland Athletics in 2001 and 2002, he played in all 162 games each season to lead the Majors.
1995: Shortstop Mark Bellhorn, Auburn, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 35. Bellhorn played in 10 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 1997. He won a World Series ring as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
1996: Shortstop Joe Espada, University of Mobile, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 45. Espada played 10 minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A. He’s now the manager of the Houston Astros.
1997: Pitcher Eric DuBose, Patrician Academy in Butler (drafted from Mississippi State), by the Oakland Athletics at No. 21. DuBose pitched in five MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2002. DuBose spent his entire Major League career with the Baltimore Orioles and pitched in 52 games, with 27 starts.
1998: Pitcher/shortstop Mike Fischer, South Alabama, by the Los Angeles Dodgers at No. 66. Fischer pitched in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A.
1999: Catcher Jorge Soto, Troy, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 93. Soto played in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as High-A.
2000: Pitcher Chris Bootcheck, Auburn, by the Anaheim Angels at No. 20. Bootcheck pitched in seven MLB seasons. He made his first big-league appearance with the Angels in 2003 and his last with the New York Mets in 2013.
2001: Outfielder Gabe Gross, Auburn, by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 15. Gross played in seven MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2004. He played in the 2008 World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays.
2002: Catcher Jeremy Brown, Alabama, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 35. Brown played in one MLB season, appearing in five games with the Athletics in 2006. He played one more minor-league season in Triple-A after his big-league work.
2003: Outfielder Jai Miller, Selma High School, by the Florida Marlins at No. 113. Miller played in three MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2008. He played with a different team in each season – Marlins in 2008, Kansas City Royals in 2010 and Oakland Athletics in 2011 – and appeared in 28 games.
2004: Pitcher Taylor Tankersley, Alabama, by the Florida Marlins at No. 27. Tankersley pitched in four MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2006. He spent his entire big-league career with the Marlins.
2005: Outfielder Colby Rasmus, Russell County High School, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 28. Rasmus played in 10 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2009. He was the first player in Major League history to have an extra-base hit in each of his first six postseason games.
2006: Pitcher Kasey Kiker, Russell County High School, by the Texas Rangers at No. 12. Kiker pitched in seven minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A.
2007: Catcher Josh Donaldson, Faith Academy in Mobile and Auburn, by the Chicago Cubs at No. 48. The third baseman for the New York Yankees, Donaldson retired after his 13th MLB season in 2023. He represented the Oakland Athletics in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game and the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2015 and 2016 MLB All-Star games. Donaldson won the American League Most Valuable Player Award for the 2015 season.
2008: Outfielder Destin Hood, St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, by the Washington Nationals at No. 55. Hood played in one MLB season, with 13 games for the Miami Marlins in 2016. Hood played in the minors through the 2019 season.
2009: Outfielder Kentrail Davis, Theodore High School (drafted from Tennessee), by the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 39. Davis played in six minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A.
2010: Outfielder Todd Cunningham, Jacksonville High School and Jacksonville State, by the Atlanta Braves at No. 53. Cunningham played in 67 games across three MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2013.
2011: Pitcher Jed Bradley, Huntsville High School (drafted from Georgia Tech), by the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 15. Bradley pitched in one MLB season, appearing in six games for the Atlanta Braves in 2016.
2012: Outfielder David Dahl, Oak Mountain High School, by the Colorado Rockies at No. 10. Dahl has played in seven Major League seasons in a career dogged by injuries. Dahl represented Colorado at the MLB All-Star Game in 2019. He played in 19 games earlier this season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
2013: Shortstop Tim Anderson, Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa (drafted from East Central Community College), by the Chicago White Sox at No. 17. Anderson spent eight seasons as the shortstop for the White Sox after reaching the big leagues in 2016. Anderson won the American League batting crown in 2019, played in the MLB All-Star Game in 2021 and was the starting American League shortstop in the 2022 All-Star Game. The Miami Marlins released Anderson after he’d played in 65 games this season.
2014: Pitcher Cody Reed, Ardmore High School, by the Arizona Diamondbacks at No. 54. Reed pitched in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as High-A.
2015: Shortstop Mikey White, Spain Park High School and Alabama, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 63. White played in six minor-league seasons in the Athletics’ farm system, reaching as high as the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.
2016: Pitcher Braxton Garrett, Florence High School, by the Miami Marlins at No. 7. Garrett made his MLB debut in 2020 by starting two games for the Marlins. He pitched in eight games in 2021 and 17 in 2022 for Miami, before going 9-7 in 30 starts in 2023. Garrett pitched his first MLB shutout in 2024.
2017: Pitcher Kyle Wright, Buckhorn High School (drafted from Vanderbilt), by the Atlanta Braves at No. 5. Wright pitched in 21 games in four MLB seasons after reaching the big leagues in 2018. In 2022, Wright led the National League with 21 pitching wins as Atlanta won the World Series. But he made only five starts in 2023 before being sidelined by an injury and will not pitch in 2024.
2018: Pitcher Casey Mize, Springville High School and Auburn, by the Detroit Tigers at No. 1. Mize reached the big leagues with three games in the shortened 2020 season before going 7-9 with a 3.71 earned-run average in 30 starts for the Tigers in 2021. He had pitched in only two games in 2022 when his season was ended by Tommy John surgery. Mize returned to the Tigers’ rotation in 2024.
2019: Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Morgan Academy in Selma, by the Baltimore Orioles at No. 42. Henderson made his MLB debut on Aug. 31, 2022. In 2023, he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Henderson will be the starting shortstop for the American League in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night.
2020: Second baseman Justin Foscue, Grissom High School in Huntsville (drafted from Mississippi State), by the Texas Rangers at No. 14. Foscue reached the big leagues in 2024, but he suffered an oblique injury getting his first MLB hit. After two months out of action, Foscue has returned to the field with Texas’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.
2021: Pitcher Maddux Bruns, USM-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, by the Los Angeles Dodgers at No. 29. Bruns is pitching for the High-A Great Lakes Loons this season, but he has been sidelined since May 21. In 160 minor-league innings, Bruns has struck out 221.
2022: Outfielder Jordan Beck, Hazel Green High School (drafted from Tennessee), by the Colorado Rockies at No. 38. Beck reached the big leagues on April 30, 2024, but he’s been sidelined since breaking his left hand on May 25. Beck has hit two MLB homers after getting 33 in the minors.
2023: Pitcher Grant Taylor, Florence High School (drafted from LSU), by the Chicago White Sox at No. 51. The White Sox drafted Taylor even though he missed the 2023 season because of Tommy John surgery. Taylor returned to the mound on May 10 and has worked in five games this season.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.