Outfielder is a broad statement. I didn’t have the ability to narrow this down to who was drafted as a left, center or right fielder but that is ok. Just as short stops end up frequently moving, so do center fielders. If they have a good arm they move to right and if their arm is lesser, they often move to left. Both are expected to be power positions and typically, better defenders play right. If a player is more of a speedy player, he often plays left field or becomes the looked down upon, but useful, 4th outfielder.
There are a higher percentage of players that never make it to the majors drafted as outfielders because they have competition. Shortstops, third baseman, even catchers and second baseman occasionally move out to the outfield due to lack of defensive ability or outgrowing a position. Players already playing the outfield in high school or college are often lacking in something to make them outfielders. This gives them a smaller margin for failure and puts more pressure on their defensive ability and even more, on their bat.
When a player is drafted as an outfielder, they are either expected to be center fielders or have the bat to be a corner outfielder. With some of these players drafted as corner outfielders, some of them also have to move to first base due to lack of range and speed but that usually occurs later in their career or due to injury. Adam Dunn and Tony Clark are a couple of examples of that, but it actually occurred less than I expected.
|
1st round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
2.17% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
19.35% |
21.74% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
12.90% |
6.52% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
16.13% |
4.35% |
0.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
35.48% |
17.39% |
0.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
16.13% |
47.83% |
0.00% |
||
|
1st supp |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
22.22% |
6.25% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
0.00% |
6.25% |
0.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
50.00% |
12.50% |
0.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
27.78% |
75.00% |
100.00% |
||
|
2nd round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
2.17% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
5.56% |
8.70% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
16.67% |
2.17% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
5.56% |
2.17% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
27.78% |
0.00% |
66.67% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
27.78% |
13.04% |
0.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
16.67% |
71.74% |
33.33% |
||
|
3rd round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
2.38% |
14.29% |
||
|
Superstar |
11.54% |
2.38% |
14.29% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
3.85% |
7.14% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
0.00% |
2.38% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
0.00% |
4.76% |
0.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
15.38% |
4.76% |
0.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
69.23% |
76.19% |
71.43% |
||
|
4th round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
4.00% |
2.22% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
8.00% |
2.22% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
0.00% |
2.22% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
4.00% |
6.67% |
25.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
32.00% |
13.33% |
25.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
52.00% |
73.33% |
50.00% |
||
|
5th round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
5.26% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
10.53% |
3.13% |
33.33% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
5.26% |
12.50% |
0.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
78.95% |
84.38% |
66.67% |
||
|
6th round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
0.00% |
4.17% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
5.71% |
0.00% |
11.11% |
||
|
Part-time player |
5.71% |
2.08% |
11.11% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
5.71% |
2.08% |
0.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
82.86% |
91.67% |
77.78% |
||
|
7th round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
3.23% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
12.20% |
3.23% |
0.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
19.51% |
3.23% |
16.67% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
68.29% |
90.32% |
83.33% |
||
|
8th round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
2.94% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
2.94% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
14.71% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
2.94% |
0.00% |
20.00% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
76.47% |
100.00% |
80.00% |
||
|
9th round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
2.63% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
5.26% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
10.53% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
2.63% |
5.88% |
33.33% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
78.95% |
94.12% |
66.67% |
||
|
10th round |
OF |
OF |
OF |
||
|
4-yr |
HS |
JC |
|||
|
All-time great |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Superstar |
3.13% |
0.00% |
8.33% |
||
|
Occasional All-Star |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
||
|
Starter-Solid Regular |
3.13% |
3.23% |
0.00% |
||
|
Part-time player |
0.00% |
3.23% |
0.00% |
||
|
Bench warmer |
15.63% |
3.23% |
16.67% |
||
|
Minor leaguer |
78.13% |
90.32% |
75.00% |