As the draft continues, it’s not too early to take stock of how things have unfolded so far. Every team should feel like it’s gotten better—draft day has a way of lifting optimism across the league—but some selections stand out more than others.
Ignoring the top of the board (where most teams could have thrown a dart and landed a future star), here are some of my favorite value picks through the first three rounds:
Pick 11 — Los Angeles Dodgers — CF Torii Hunter
In a league starved for well-balanced center fielders, Hunter is a dream. A strong bat, elite glove, premium athleticism—it’s all there. I had him going a bit later in my mock, but once the draft began, it felt inevitable he’d rise.
The Dodgers don’t need him to be the best hitter in their lineup—his ratings suggest he won’t be—but they did need a stabilizing force in center field, and they now have one. This pick makes an already dangerous team even more formidable.
Pick 16 — Chicago Cubs — 2B José Vidro
This is the definition of best player available. There’s risk—Vidro still needs to grow into his frame—but if he fills out, he’s going to be a monster. A full-on, udder-splitting beast.
The Cubs grabbed a guy who could be hitting second for them for a decade. High contact, huge gap potential, polished approach… Vidro looks like the next cornerstone of that lineup, likely ready by early 1998, if not sooner.
Pick 23 — Cincinnati Reds — P Derek Lowe
I’ll say it: I flat-out missed him in my mock. I shouldn’t have—Lowe was one of my top five arms in this class, and the fact that he lasted until the end of the first round is going to make some teams look foolish.
He’s durable, poised, and projectable. I’m going on record: when we look back on this draft class in a decade, Lowe will be considered one of the top four pitchers in it.
Pick 37 — Detroit Tigers — CF Adrian Brown
Let’s acknowledge the risk right away—Brown is not close to ready. He needs to fill out in multiple areas before he even smells the big leagues. But Detroit is a perfect landing spot: patient, methodical, and comfortable developing raw athletes.
At this point in the draft, Brown’s upside makes this a steal. If the Tigers are willing to wait—and they should be—they could have a top-of-the-order center fielder by the early 2000s.
Pick 42 — Chicago White Sox — C Eli Marrero
This is everyone’s trendy favorite, and I’m honestly surprised he didn’t come off the board sooner. Marrero is a rare unicorn: a player who can play catcher and center field, and play excellent defense at both.
Will he hit enough to be a starter? Maybe not. But his flexibility is so valuable that it might not matter. Add in legitimate power, and if he avoids injury, he may never spend another day in the minors.
Pick 49 — New York Yankees — 3B Kevin Orie
I projected him as a high second-rounder, so seeing him slip to the third was a bit of a shock. The Yankees should be thrilled.
The positives: solid defensive third baseman, intriguing gap power, physically mature, mentally steady.
The negatives: he’s unlikely to ever make an All-Star team.
But New York doesn’t need an All-Star—they need competence. As they crawl back to respectability, Orie is a perfect immediate starter who won’t embarrass himself.
Pick 61 — New York Mets — P José Cabrera
Plenty of relievers were still available here, but only one brought the possibility of three green ratings—stuff, movement, and control. Cabrera checks all three boxes, and that’s what sets him apart.
The Mets do what the Mets always do: draft smart, target quality, avoid panic. Cabrera is the exact type of reliever who becomes a quietly indispensable arm for a playoff contender.