The history of the #7 draft pick

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesThe lure of the seventh pick is obvious. In 2006, the Dodgers took Clayton Kershaw. However, Clayton is not at this point the most valuable player chosen seventh overall. Though it’s probably only a matter of time (Kershaw still being only in his twenties), that honor currently belongs to Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, chosen by the Chicago White Sox in 1989, and who played 16 seasons for them. Only one of the six men chosen before him, was worth even two bWAR, #1 pick, pitcher Ben McDonald.

If we look at the 52 picks in this spot, since the draft as we know it began in June 1965, here is the breakdown of their resulting careers to date. Some of which, of…