One way to trace the Rockies’ history is to follow the trail of their first-round draft picks.
When considering the likes of Todd Helton, Jason Jennings and Jeff Francis, it has been a smooth, pleasant course. With Helton at first base and Jennings and Francis in the rotation, they have lived up to first-round billing.
Bill Schmidt, the team’s scouting director since 1999, will add the franchise’s 15th first-round draft pick Tuesday when baseball conducts its June draft of college, high school and previously unsigned players. But there’s even more anticipation this year because the Rockies are drafting from their highest position ever, second overall.
Schmidt isn’t altering his drafting priorities, which have zeroed in on three pitchers, two shortstops and a third baseman among the six first-round selections he has supervised.
“We’re sticking to our plan of trying to get as much quality talent we can into the organization,” Schmidt said. “There’s pressure to make good selections every year regardless of where you draft.”
Schmidt doesn’t buy the idea that with the second choice he could concentrate on drafting to a need in the farm system. His goal is to take the best player.
“I’m happy with what we’ve done in the first round,” Schmidt said. “Jeff Francis got to Denver quickly. Todd Helton is the poster player of the organization. Ian Stewart and Troy Tulowitzki are two premier players in the minor leagues at Double-A.”
Francis could be the most gratifying pick because of limited outings while playing the University of British Columbia’s schedule. He made it to the major leagues in his third season in the organization.
Tracing the Rockies’ first-round picks begins in 1992, with pitcher John Burke and Pat Daugherty in the scouting director’s chair. Burke made it to the major leagues but retired after the 1997 season.
Jamey Wright (1993) had two terms with the Rockies and is pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Pitcher Doug Million (1994) was working his way up in the organization but died of complications from an asthma attack. Helton arrived in 1995.
Pitcher Jake Westbrook (1996) is pitching for the Cleveland Indians. Pitcher Mark Mangum (1997) is out of baseball.
Pitcher Matt Roney (1998) is pitching for the Oakland Athletics. Jennings arrived in 1999, completing Daugherty’s list.
Pitcher Matt Harrington (2000) didn’t sign and the Rockies didn’t have a first-round selection in 2001.
Francis was selected in 2002, Stewart in 2003 and Tulowitzki and pitcher Chaz Roe last year. Roe is pitching for Single-A Asheville, with a 1-1 record and 3.21 ERA.
Stewart is hitting only .239 but has 15 doubles and five triples. Tulowitzki, who hasn’t played a full minor-league season, is hitting .294 with 17 doubles in Double-A.
Shortstop Chris Nelson, the first Rockies pick in 2004, also is in Asheville, hitting .286, with 13 doubles.
“Players don’t advance at the same rate,” Schmidt said of Nelson. “We have to have patience, but we still believe he’s a quality player.”
How does Schmidt’s plan of taking the best player fit into player development? It seems to work as long as the best player is a pitcher.
Bill Geivett, the Rockies director of baseball operations, considers pitching always a priority.
Marc Gustafson, director of player development, wants a blue-chip player such as Francis.
Schmidt will let them know Tuesday.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-8920-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
