The Major League Baseball amateur draft has seen 52 Coloradoans drafted in the first two rounds since its inception in 1965. In total, 798 Colorado High School players have been drafted, with five taken in 2026, headed by 3rd round pick, pitcher Ethan Wachsmann of Grandview, going to the Twins in the 3rd round.
Several interesting notes of first and second round picks over the years include:
- Sandy Vance was the first Colorado player ever taken, drafted by the California Angels in 1965. Vance was born in Lamar and moved to California at a young age and attended Stanford. Oddly, he was drafted four times in the 2nd round, being overall pick numbers 31, 32, 33, and 33. He ultimately signed with the Dodgers in 1968. He pitched in the majors for parts of two seasons with the Dodgers.
- Three players were taken in with the first overall pick. Danny Jackson (Aurora Central) was taken by the Royals first overall in the 1982 January secondary draft. Jeff King (Rampart) was taken in 1986 by the Pirates and Luke Hochevar (Fowler) was drafted by the Royals in 2006.
- Steve Dunning who was born in Denver (Indians – 1970) and John Stearns of Thomas Jefferson HS (Phillies – 1973) were taken with the 2nd overall pick in the 1st
- Kyle Sleeth was drafted out of Northglenn HS #3 overall in 2003 and is the highest drafted Coloradoan to not make it to the majors.
- 14 of the 52 drafted in the first two rounds didn’t make the major leagues, not including Walker Martin, a 2nd round pick by the giants in 2023 out of Eaton, who is still active in the minors.
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