Historic 1st Round run on starters

The 2022 DMBL draft saw a record 11 starting pitchers drafted in the 1st Round -- including an unprecedented 8 in a row -- making for the highest percentage of 1st Round SPs in at least a decade.

Recent expansion from 16 to 20 franchises in 2021 helped set the record but even still, 10 SPs were chosen within the first 16 picks; two were also eligible at RP but most likely will be SPs. Even if the two swingmen aren't considered SPs, it still would be a record 9 SPs.

Whether it's a shift from offense in the past decade, a dearth of good SPs or a weak 2022 draft class for batters, the 11 SPs comprised 55% of the Round 1 picks, the highest percentage since the 2000 draft. Over the past decade, the 1st round averaged 6.4 SP drafted, almost 38% of picks. Going back 20 years, the average was 5.5 SPs, or about 35%.

Only three times have as many as 8 SPs been drafted in Round 1:

• 2014, 47.1% of 17 1st Round picks
• 2012, 50.0% of 16 1st Round picks
• 2000, 57.1% of 14 1st Round picks

* In the 2014 draft, there were 17 selections in Round 1 due to ownership changes without a dispersal draft.

The 2007 draft had 7 SPs chosen, which accounted for 50% of the 14 picks made, including the first four.

This year, Alek Manoah went first overall to the Rockland (formerly Race Point) Racers. The 24-year-old is the first SP taken 1st since 2014 when the late Jose Fernandez was selected by Brick City (now Poovey Farms).

Newark nabbed National League Rookie of the Year 2B Jonathan India at No. 2 and then 8 straight SPs went before another 2B was drafted: Brendan Rodgers by Poovey Farms at No. 11. The first player chosen that wasn't a SP or 2B was CF Akil Baddoo, chosen at No. 13 by Hoboken.

At No. 3, Loudon snagged the first and only ineligible prospect drafted in Round 1, SP Shane Baz, who was followed by the first left-hander, Carlos Rodon, to Hopatcong. The next two picks were swingmen who are likely to start, lefty Ranger Suarez to Marietta and Drew Rasmussen to Hillsborough. Three more young starters were next with Luis H. Garcia going to Erie at No. 7, Nestor Cortez to Marietta at No. 8 and Shane McClanahan to Empire City at No. 9. Livingston added to its deep rotation with Chris Flexen with the 10th pick to round out the 8-pick run on starting pitchers.

After Poovey selected Rodgers, San Francisco used the 12th pick on Alex Wood, the 10th SP drafted in Round 1, followed by Baddoo. Sardine City drafted 1B Rhys Hoskins, left unprotected by Philly, with the 14th pick to make it the first back-to-back bats in Round 1 and the start a brief run of offense. At No. 15, Avisail Garcia returned to Tucson, where he won a batting title and helped the King Snakes to a title in 2018. El Paso snagged a young catcher in Tyler Stephenson with the 16th pick.

J.D. Davis became another trivia answer as one of the few DMBL players to be selected in the 1st round for a second time. Philly grabbed him at No. 17 and the 3B also was chosen in 2020 at No. 2 overall by Hopatcong (after Yordan Alvarez went No. 1 to Hillsborough). Minutes later, Zac Gallen joined him in DMBL lore: The last SP of Round 1 went at No. 18 to Philly, which had left him unprotected. He also was drafted No. 8 overall in 2020 by Blue Ridge.

With all the pitchers going in Round 1, arguably the top bats available in the 2022 draft based solely on numbers finished out the round. At No. 19, Marietta chose C Buster Posey, 34, who announced 2022 will be his final DMBL season, and defending champion Vancouver tapped 30-year-old 1B Frank Schwindel with the 20th and final selection.

PICK	TEAM	PLAYER	POS
1	RR	Alek Manoah	SP
2	NWK	Jonathan India	2B
3	LOU	Shane Baz	SP
4	HPG	Carlos Rodon	SP
5	MAR	Ranger Suarez*	SP/RP
6	HIL	Drew Rasmussen	SP/RP
7	ERI	Luis H. Garcia	SP
8	ALN	Nestor Cortes	SP
9	EC	Shane McClanahan	SP
10	LIV	Chris Flexen	SP
11	POO	Brendan Rodgers	2B
12	SF	Alex Wood*	SP
13	HBK	Akil Baddoo	CF
14	SCS	Rhys Hoskins	1B
15	TUC	Avisail Garcia	RF
16	EP	Tyler Stephenson	C
17	PHI	J.D. Davis	3B
18	ARK	Zac Gallen	SP
19	MAR	Buster Posey	C
20	VAN	Frank Schwindel	1B