Evaluating the St. Louis Cardinals’ draft classes (1985-2004)

1995 MLB draft

Top pick/WAR leader: Matt Morris, RHP (20.4)

(Round 1, Pick 12)

The Cardinals drafted Matt Morris out of college with the hope that he could find some control, and for the most part, he did that when he arrived in the major leagues. Morris finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Scott Rolen in 1997 with his 3.19 ERA, and after missing 1999 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and pitching out of the bullpen in 2000, Morris pitched a complete season in 2001 and notched a major league-leading 22 wins along with a career-best 3.16 ERA. He was an All-Star in 2001 and 2002.

The Cardinals let Morris walk in free agency after 2005, and he pitched for parts of three more seasons with the San Francisco Giants, where he battled injuries, and with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Other signed draftees who made the major leagues

Chris Richard, OF/1B (1.8); Matt DeWitt, RHP (0.2); Kerry Robinson, OF (-0.5); Britt Reames, RHP (-0.8)

1996 MLB draft

Top pick/WAR leader: Braden Looper, RHP (8.2)

(Round 1, Pick 3)

Braden Looper’s career was contrary to the usual pitching prospect. Drafted and developed purely as a reliever, Looper became a full-time starter late in his career, at age 32, and had never started a game in the majors before that. With the Cardinals in 1998, Looper pitched only 3.1 innings at the beginning of the season before being sent down and later traded to the Florida Marlins for Edgar Renteria.

Looper eventually became a closer for the Marlins and later the New York Mets. The Cardinals signed Looper after the 2005 season to serve as a setup man, and in 2007, Looper became a starter and had a 4.94 ERA. He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for 2009, where he pitched poorly and soon retired.

Other signed draftees who made the major leagues

Stubby Clapp, 2B/LF (-0.1); Brent Butler, IF (-0.3)

1997 MLB draft

Top pick/WAR leader: Adam Kennedy, 2B (20.9)

(Round 1, Pick 20)

Adam Kennedy signed for the lowest bonus of any first-rounder in the 1997 draft ($650,000). After a promotion to St. Louis in August of 1999, Kennedy hit .255 in 102 at-bats. In 2000, the Cardinals traded him to the Anaheim Angels in the Jim Edmonds deal. He had his best season in 2002, a year in which he also hit three home runs in one postseason game in the ALCS. He hit .312 that year.

Kennedy returned to the Cardinals in 2007 and played parts of two seasons with them, hitting .252 in 618 at-bats. He played in the major leagues for four other teams before retiring in 2012.

Other signed draftees who made the major leagues

Rick Ankiel, LHP/OF (9.1); Jason Karnuth, RHP (0.1); Justin Brunette, LHP (0.1); Jose Rodriguez, LHP (-0.5)

1998 MLB draft

Top pick/WAR leader: J.D. Drew, OF (44.9)

(Round 1, Pick 5)

J.D. Drew was the subject of major league controversy before his professional career even began. The Philadelphia Phillies took him second overall in the 1997 draft despite warnings from his agent, Scott Boras, that Drew wouldn’t sign. Indeed, he turned down the Phillies’ offer and played with an independent league, leading Phillies fans to lambast Drew when he played against them.

The Cardinals selected Drew the next year, and he hit .282 in his six years with the Cardinals. He had trouble staying healthy, though, and he required trips to the disabled list every year with St. Louis. His lone year in Atlanta was also his best, as he hit .305 with 31 home runs. Injuries continued to dog Drew later in his career, keeping him from fulfilling the potential teams saw in him, but he still put together some productive seasons.

 Other signed draftees who made the major leagues

Jack Wilson, SS (23.5); Les Walrond, LHP (0.7); Esix Snead, OF (0.2); Bud Smith, LHP (-0.3); Steve Stemle, RHP (-0.3); Chad Hutchinson, RHP (-0.5)

1999 MLB draft

Top pick: Chance Caple, RHP (N/A)

(Round 1, Pick 30)

Chance Caple struggled throughout the minor leagues and never advanced past High-A. He arrived out of Texas A&M with a 12-to-6 curveball, but injuries and ineffectiveness hindered his career. He missed 2001 with Tommy John surgery, then broke his finger while sitting in a dugout and being hit by a line drive. An elbow strain bothered him when he returned after six more weeks on the shelf, and he never found a rhythm in the pros, with a career 4.36 ERA.

WAR leader: Albert Pujols, 1B (99.4)

(Round 13, Pick 402)

What is there to say about Albert Pujols that hasn’t been repeated a million times? “The Machine” is one of the greatest players to ever don a Cardinals uniform. The accolades speak for themselves: 11-time All Star. Three-time MVP. Six-time Silver Slugger winner. Two-time Gold Glove winner. He’s fifth all-time in home runs. The Cardinals figured they had something special after Pujols won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2001, but his career has surpassed the imagination of even the wildest dreamer.

Pujols is spending his final season with the Cardinals after 10 years in Los Angeles with the Angels and Dodgers, as he returned to the team where he found by far his most success. From 2001 to 2011, Pujols had an eye-popping .328 batting average and 445 home runs. He became a more one-dimensional player as his career went on, and power was eventually his only carrying tool. But fans who saw Pujols in his prime witnessed a legend the likes of whom may never be seen again.

 Other signed draftees who made the major leagues

Coco Crisp, OF (28.9); Chris Duncan, OF (2.8); Mike Crudale, RHP (1.7); Bo Hart, 2B (1.1); Ben Johnson, OF (0.2); Josh Pearce, RHP (-0.3); Jimmy Journell, RHP (-0.4)