Draft Retrospective: Best yet to come from 2011

With the 2013 MLB Draft starting Thursday, we thought we’d take the next few days to run down how some of the more intriguing picks out of the top rounds from the last few Drafts have fared. On Monday, we looked at 2009. On Tuesday, we looked at 2010.

Today, we turn our attention to 2011.

The 2011 Draft had some noteworthy storylines, ranging from two UCLA Bruins being selected in the first three picks to two Oklahoma pitchers being taken in the top seven. The Rays punched up their farm system with a league-high 10 picks in the first and sandwich rounds, starting with Taylor Guerrieri at №24 and finishing with James Harris at 60. But with only one full-time Major Leaguer among its ranks thus far, the book on the Class of 2011 still largely remains to be written.

1. Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh (2013: Triple-A Indianapolis) — The 6-foot-4 right-hander has shot up the Pirates’ ladder and should be expected to make his Major League debut within the next few months before taking a more permanent role in the rotation next season.
2. Danny Hultzen, Seattle (2013: Triple-A Tacoma) — The southpaw got Mariners fans excited by going 3–1 with a 2.78 ERA through his first four starts in the hitter-happy PCL this season. But he’s been shut down ever since with a rotator cuff strain and tendinitis.
3. Trevor Bauer, Arizona (2013: Triple-A Columbus, MLB Indians) — Bauer was shipped to the Indians system as part of the deals that sent Shin-Soo Choo to Cincinnati and Didi Gregorius to Arizona last offseason. He’s played the role of spot starter at the Major League level this season, going 1–2 with a 2.76 ERA in three starts for the Tribe but hasn’t shown enough consistent command (11-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 16 1/3 innings) to earn a more permanent spot.
4. Dylan Bundy, Baltimore (2013: injured) — MLB.com’s №2 prospect has yet to take the field due to elbow stiffness but has been cleared to begin throwing again. He will not undergo surgery.
5. Bubba Starling, Kansas City (2013: Class A Lexington) — The Royals were slow to bring the center fielder along by not allowing him to make his full-season debut until this year. He’s struggled at the plate so far, batting .206 with a .649 OPS in 49 games for Lexington.
6. Anthony Rendon, Washington (2013: Double-A Harrisburg, Triple-A Syracuse, MLB Nationals) — Rendon, who turns 23 on Thursday, tore up the Eastern League (.319/.461/.603) and even earned a promotion to The Show when Ryan Zimmerman hit the DL. He made a short stop in Syracuse but is back in the big leagues — this time as a second baseman — due to Danny Espinosa’s recent injury.
7. Archie Bradley, Arizona (2013: Class A Advanced Visalia, Double-A Mobile) — At 7–1 with a 1.18 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 12 starts between two levels, the 20-year-old right-hander has made a case to claim the best statistical season by a pitcher in the Minors thus far.
8. Francisco Lindor, Cleveland (2013: Class A Advanced Carolina) — The reviews on the 19-year-old’s defense have always been high, but he looks like he’s taking the next step forward at the dish (.306/.375/.427) so far with the Mudcats.
9. Javier Baez, Chicago (2013: Class A Advanced Daytona) — The Puerto Rico native has a lot of pop in his bat for a shortstop, although that’s not necessarily where he’ll stick given Starlin Castro’s place there for the Cubs. Through 51 games at Daytona, 33 of his 59 hits have gone for extra bases. He’s walked, though, just 23 times in 577 career plate appearances.
10. Cory Spangenberg, San Diego (2013: Class A Advaned Lake Elsinore) — Spangenberg finds himself back in the Cal League after a concussion and hitting woes kept him from having a solid first full season. He’s improved in his second trip with the Storm however — his OPS is nearly 150 points higher — and his speed continues to be his calling card.
11. George Springer, Houston (2013: Double-A Corpus Christi) — The University of Connecticut product could be the game’s next big thing, given his start to 2013. His 17 homers in the Texas League lead all Minor Leaguers, a hopeful sign for any Astros fan desperately looking for one.
12. Taylor Jungmann, Milwaukee (2013: Double-A Huntsville) — Jungmann has yet to take off and, with a 4.78 ERA in 10 starts with the Stars, will need more seasoning before he or the Brewers can even entertain any thoughts about a promotion.
13. Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets (2013: Class A Savannah) — The Mets have taken a similar approach to the Royals with their 2011 first-rounder, allowing Nimmo to finally make his full-season debut this season. He missed nearly a month in May, however, with a hand contusion and a back issue.
14. Jose Fernandez, Miami (2013: MLB Marlins) — The first member of the Class of 2011 to become a full-time Major Leaguer, Fernandez has been one of the few bright spots for the Fish this season and remains a candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, despite having never previously pitching higher than Class A Advanced.
15. Jed Bradley, Milwaukee (2013: Class A Advanced Brevard County)
16. Chris Reed, LA Dodgers (2013: Double-A Chattanooga)
17. C.J. Cron, LA Angels (2013: Double-A Arkansas)
18. Sonny Gray, Oakland (2013: Triple-A Sacramento) — The A’s only pick in the first or supplemental rounds, Gray was merely OK (4.14 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) in his first full season in the Texas League a year ago, but the right-hander is trending up once more after a solid start (2.40 ERA, 1.26 WHIP in 10 appearances) with the River Cats.
19. Matt Barnes, Boston (2013: Double-A Portland)
20. Tyler Anderson, Colorado (2013: Class A Advanced Modesto)
21. Tyler Beede, Toronto (2013: did not sign, Vanderbilt) — Beede was the highest selected player who elected not to sign in 2011. The Auburn, Mass., native instead chose to play at Vanderbilt, where he went 14–0 with a 2.20 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings and was named a Golden Spikes Award finalist Tuesday. He will be draft eligible next season.
22. Kolten Wong, St. Louis (2013: Triple-A Memphis) — The University of Hawaii product forms just one part of a very strong Cardinals system and has performed admirably at each step up the ladder. He’s already garnered a handful of honors — Texas League All-Star, Futures Game selection, AFL Rising Star — and should join Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez in making his Major League debut by this September at the latest.
23. Alex Meyer, Washington (2013: Double-A New Britain) — Meyer moved to the Twins organization last offseason in the trade that sent Denard Span to the Nationals. He’d be the top prospect in the system if not for stellar sluggers Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. As it stands, the 6-foot-9 titan is MLB.com’s №38 prospect and remains part of a promising future for those in Minnesota.
24. Taylor Guerrieri, Tampa Bay (2013: Class A Bowling Green)
25. Joe Ross, San Diego (2013: Class A Fort Wayne)
26. Blake Swihart, Boston (2013: Class A Advanced Salem)
27. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati (2013: Class A Dayton) — The Reds chose to bring the right-hander along slowly, not allowing him to make his full-season debut until this year in the Midwest League. He did not perform well out of the gate, going 0–3 with a 5.48 ERA in five April starts but has since shown flashes of dominance. He was 5–0 with a 1.96 ERA in May for the Dragons.
28. Sean Gilmartin, Atlanta (2013: Triple-A Gwinnett) — The left-hander advanced to Triple-A in his first full season and finds himself back there once again, where he’s been mostly solid. At 23, it’s still early in his professional development, and plenty of time remains for him to pitch his way into the already logjammed Atlanta rotation.
29. Joe Panik, San Francisco (2013: Double-A Richmond) — Panik has shown an ability to hit for average and reach base at every level, and that’s continued in the Eastern League where he’s batting .286 with a .375 OBP.
30. Levi Michael, Minnesota (2013: Class A Advanced Fort Myers)
31. Mikie Mahtook, Tampa Bay (2013: Double-A Montgomery) — The tools are there for the Rays’ №11 prospect, even if the results necessarily haven’t been quite yet. The LSU product is batting just .240 for the Biscuits this season, but he’s shown some pop as well as speed. Of his 53 hits thus far, 24 have gone for extra bases, including seven triples.
32. Jake Hager, Tampa Bay (2013: Class A Advanced Charlotte)
33. Kevin Matthews, Texas (2013: injured) — The left-hander has yet to pitch in 2013 due to an impingement in his left shoulder.
34. Brian Goodwin, Washington (2013: Double-A Harrisburg)
35. Jacob Anderson, Toronto (2013: Unassigned in Blue Jays Org) — The 20-year-old outfielder couldn’t muster anything in the way of results (.194/.271/.304, 72 strikeouts in 191 at-bats) with Rookie-level Bluefield last year. As such, the Jays held him back from making his full-season debut this year and will look for him to grow in the short season once more before a trip to Lansing is considered.
36. Henry Owens, Boston (2013: Class A Advanced Salem) — Owens, a lanky left-hander, showed some promising signs at Class A Greenville last year especially in the strikeout department, where he collected 130 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings. He seems to have taken another step forward in 2013, where he is 3–2 with a 3.53 ERA and 62 K’s in 51 frames. The southpaw could be in Double-A before his 21st birthday in July.
37. Zach Cone, Texas (2013: Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach)
38. Brandon Martin, Tampa Bay (2013: Class A Bowling Green)
39. Larry Greene, Philadelphia (2013: Class A Lakewood)
40. Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston (2013: Triple-A Pawtucket, MLB Red Sox) — A breakout spring led to calls from Red Sox Nation to have Bradley on the team’s Opening Day roster, and the outfielder indeed found himself in the lineup in Game 1, only to be optioned back down in mid-April after struggles and inconsistent playing time necessitated the move. After a successful turn with the PawSox, he’s back up with the big club now due to Shane Victorino’s trip to the DL, and the former South Carolina star hit his first Major League home run Tuesday night.
41. Tyler Goeddel, Tampa Bay (2013: Class A Bowling Green)
42. Jeff Ames, Tampa Bay (2013: Class A Bowling Green)
43. Andrew Chafin, Arizona (2013: Class A Advanced Visalia, Double-A Mobile)
44. Michael Fulmer, New York Mets (2013: DNP) — Like fellow Oklahoman Bundy, Fulmer has yet to take the mound this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee in March.
45. Trevor Story, Colorado (2013: Class A Advanced Modesto)
46. Joseph Musgrove, Toronto (2013: Unassigned in Astros Org) — The 6-foot-5 right-hander was traded to the Astros as part of a 10-player deal last July. He’s pitched in only 41 2/3 innings in the pros since being taken in 2011 and hasn’t made his official Astros organization debut yet, although that will come when short-season leagues start soon.
47. Keenyn Walker, Chicago White Sox (2013: Double-A Birmingham)
48. Michael Kelly, San Diego (2013: Class A Fort Wayne)
49. Kyle Crick, San Francisco (2013: Class A Advanced San Jose) — Crick’s stellar 2012 campaign in Augusta vaulted him to the top of the Giants’ prospect list entering 2013. Three starts into this season, however, he developed an oblique injury and has been sidelined ever since. He’ll bring a plus fastball and solid slider to the California League when he does return.
50. Travis Harrison, Minnesota (2013: Class A Cedar Rapids)
51. Dante Bichette Jr., New York Yankees (2013: Class A Charleston) — The name alone garnered some attention in 2011, and an MVP season in the Gulf Coast League only added to that. But Bichette hasn’t been able to put it together at the Class A level, which he is repeating this season. Even so, he’s posted just a .623 OPS through 53 games with the RiverDogs — a number that is 30 points lower than the one he put up in 2012.
52. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay (2013: Class A Bowling Green)
53. Dwight Smith Jr., Toronto (2013: Class A Lansing)
54. Brett Austin, San Diego (2013: did not sign, NC State) — The Padres couldn’t lure the Charlotte native away from a scholarship at NC State. The catcher/outfielder just helped lead the Wolf Pack to the Super Regionals, where it will take on Rice.
55. Hudson Boyd, Minnesota (2013: Class A Cedar Rapids)
56. Kes Carter, Tampa Bay (2013: Class A Advanced Charlotte)
57. Kevin Comer, Toronto (2013: DNP, Unassigned in Astros Org) — Like Musgrove, Comer was part of the Blue Jays movement to take young high school arms that would be projects but could be big-time prospects if everything ironed out. Also like Musgrove, Comer was sent to the Astros and has yet to make his debut with the organization.
58. Jace Peterson, San Diego (2013: Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore)
59. Grayson Garvin, Tampa Bay (2013: injured)
60. James Harris, Tampa Bay (2013: Unassigned in Rays Org)