MiLB Top 10 Prospects Flashback: 2001 Appalachian League

The Rookie-level Appalachian League seldom receives the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, but it happened twice in three years from 1999 to 2001, when Josh Hamilton and Joe Mauer (No. 1) graced the league.

The Appy League class of 1999 featured Carl Crawford in addition to Hamilton, but the 2001 group outshines the Rays duo with Mauer and David Wright (No. 10), who both developed into franchise icons who remained with their drafting teams until retiring after the 2018 season.

2001 Appalachian League Top 10 Prospects

No.	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1	Joe Mauer	C	Elizabethton	Twins	7,960	52.5
2	Dan Denham	RHP	Burlington	Indians	—	—
3	Jason Bourgeois	2B	Pulaski	Rangers	761	0.3
4	J.D. Martin	RHP	Burlington	Indians	125	0.6
5	Bryan Digby	RHP	Danville	Braves	—	—
6	Kris Honel	RHP	Bristol	White Sox	—	—
7	Manny Tejada	RHP	Elizabethton	Twins	—	—
8	Rashad Eldridge	OF	Burlington	Indians	—	—
9	David Wright	3B	Kingsport	Mets	6,872	52
10	Jonny Gomes	OF	Princeton	Rays	4,009	7.3

Mauer hit .400 in his pro debut with Elizabethton, using an “effortless swing that sprays line drives up the middle and to the opposite field.” He showed an ability to “stay inside of the ball” and had an “excellent eye.” Mauer hit .306 in the big leagues and won three American League batting titles plus the 2009 MVP award. One manager summarized Mauer’s work behind the plate: “Defensively, everything is there.”

Wright hit .300 with four homers in 36 games in his pro debut, showing good “mobility” at third base, “above-average power” and an “outstanding work ethic.” One manager said of Wright: “He has a very good approach at the plate, especially with pitch recognition.” Wright delivered on his potential by compiling a 133 OPS+ in the big leagues that ranks eighth among third basemen since 1947.

Other great prospect years in Appalachian League history were 1982 (Dwight Gooden, Kirby Puckett and Stan Javier), 1984 (Greg Maddux, Jay Bell and Jeff Blauser), 1990 (Jim Thome, Mike Lieberthal and Tony Clark) and 1998 (CC Sabathia and Rafael Furcal).

Appalachian League All-Time BA No. 1 Prospects

Players listed with career major league plate appearances/innings and FanGraphs WAR. Stats for active players current through mid August.

Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1982	Stan Javier	OF	Johnson City	Cardinals	5,755	19.4
1983	Glenn Braggs	OF	Paintsville	Brewers	2,609	6.3
1984	Shawn Abner	OF	Kingsport	Mets	902	-1.3
1985	Gregg Jefferies	SS	Kingsport	Mets	6,072	20.2
1986	Derek Parks	C	Elizabethton	Twins	125	-0.5
1987	Willie Banks	RHP	Elizabethton	Twins	610	1.6
1988	Steve Avery	LHP	Pulaski	Braves	1,555	18.4
1989	Manny Alexander	SS	Bluefield	Orioles	1,387	-3.0
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1990	Jim Thome	3B	Burlington	Indians	10,313	69.1
1991	Manny Ramirez	OF	Burlington	Indians	9,774	66.4
1992	Al Shirley	OF	Kingsport	Mets	—	—
1993	Damon Hollins	OF	Danville	Braves	762	-0.5
1994	Glenn Williams	SS	Danville	Braves	43	0.3
1995	Chris Fussell	RHP	Bluefield	Orioles	136	-1.2
1996	Kevin McGlinchy	RHP	Danville	Braves	79	1.7
1997	Luis Rivera	RHP	Danville	Braves	7	0.5
1998	Rafael Furcal	2B	Danville	Braves	7,237	33.1
1999	Josh Hamilton	OF	Princeton	Rays	4,350	27.9
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
2000	Adam Wainwright	RHP	Danville	Braves	2,122	41.4
2001	Joe Mauer	C	Elizabethton	Twins	7,960	52.5
2002	Jeff Francoeur	OF	Danville	Braves	5,661	5.8
2003	Adam Miller	RHP	Burlington	Indians	—	—
2004	Mitch Einertson	OF	Greeneville	Astros	—	—
2005	Brandon Snyder	C/3B	Bluefield	Orioles	211	0.2
2006	Travis Snider	OF	Pulaski	Blue Jays	1,971	3.3
2007	Cole Rohrbough	LHP	Danville	Braves	—	—
2008	Tim Beckham	SS	Princeton	Rays	1,751	4.3
2009	Julio Teheran	RHP	Danville	Braves	1,373	22.1
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
2010	Carlos Perez	LHP	Danville	Braves	823	7.1
2011	Miguel Sano	3B/SS	Elizabethton	Twins	2,132	8.7
2012	Byron Buxton	OF	Elizabethton	Twins	1,440	7.9
2013	Amed Rosario	SS	Kingsport	Mets	1,497	4.3
2014	Ozzie Albies	SS	Danville	Braves	1,676	9.9
2015	Kyle Tucker	OF	Greeneville	Astros	241	0.1
2016	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	3B	Bluefield	Blue Jays	611	0.2
2017	Kevin Maitan	SS	Danville	Braves	—	—
2018	Wander Franco	SS	Princeton	Rays	—	—
2019	Francisco Alvarez	C	Kingsport	Mets	—	—