The 2001 draft looks better than the 2000 one did.

The Twins started off by selecting home-town boy Joe Mauer over the consensus top pick Mark Prior. This looks smart in the long run. Mauer has been a fixture in Minnesota for the last few years.

Prior, on the other hand, flamed out early. The Cubs and Dusty Baker were known to abuse pitchers at this time period, and no one suffered more than Prior. He’s still trying to come back with San Diego, but hasn’t pitched in a game in a few years.

Mark Teixeira was also one of the top players, but dropped to the 5th pick because he was represented by Scott Boras. It was known that Teix wanted a MLB deal; the Rangers weren’t hesitant to give it to him. Teix has had a solid career, which has been capped with a large free agent deal with the Yankees this past off-season.

The 38th pick of the first round has to be the gem of the draft – David Wright. The All Star 3B has been a steal at this point, with just about every other team passing on him (some multiple times).

The rest of the first round has been hit or miss.

Gavin Floyd, taken 4th, looked like a bust but has re-emerged as a solid starter with the White Sox.

John Van Benschoten has been the prototypical draft pick of Pirates this decade – over drafted and under-achieving.

Dewon Brazelton also shows the lack of direction the Rays had at this time. He never pitched at a first round level and is out of baseball now.

Chris Burke has held onto MLB jobs for a while now, although he was never able to take over second base like the Astros planned. Gabe Gross is a platoon player in Tampa. Aaron Heilman is a decent reliever, who could be a decent start if he got the chance.

Casey Kotchman, part of the bounty the Braves received for Teixeira, is what he is. He’s probably the first guy of the second tier players taken in this first round. Mike Fotenot is emerging as a solid utility player – he’s almost an everyday player for the Cubs.

Oakland took Bobby Crosby and Jeremy Bonderman back to back. Crosby hasn’t lived up to potential, but Bonderman, a guy who A’s GM Billy Beane didn’t want, has been good when healthy in Detroit.

Most everyone else in the first round hasn’t made it to the majors or hasn’t earned much of a reputation.

Some of the later round picks have been solid.

The Cardinals took future All Star Dan Haren in the second round.

Boston selected Kelly Shoppach in the second round and Kevin Youkilis in the 8th round. Shoppach landed Coco Crisp, while Youkilis has been a mainstay in the Boston lineup.

The Cubs picked almost as well in the later rounds. Ricky Nolasco was drafted in the 3rd round. Unfortunately, they sent him to Florida for Juan Pierre. They also selected current catcher Geovany Soto in the 11th round – one of the steals of the draft.

The Cubs weren’t the only one to get an 11th round steal. The Diamondbacks selected Dan Uggla in the same round, but didn’t protect him in the Rule V draft. He was selected by Florida and has been a productive major league since.

Other late round picks:
Edwin Jackson (OF/P, Dodgers, 6th rd), Jason Bartlett (SS, Padres, 13th rd), Chris Young (OF, White Sox, 16th rd), Zach Duke (P, Pirates, 20th rd), Andre Ethier (OF, Athletics, 37th rd)

Some that got away:
Stephen Drew (SS, Pirates, 11th rd), Khalil Greene (SS, Cubs, 14th rd), Nick Markakis (OF, Reds, 35th rd)