1978 Major League Baseball draft

The 1978 Major League Baseball draft was held June 6–8, 1978, consisting of 48 rounds, during which a total of 779 players were selected by 26 Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations.[1] The first overall selection was Bob Horner, drafted by the Atlanta Braves.

1978 Major League Baseball draft
Overview
First selectionBob Horner
Atlanta Braves
First round selections26
Hall of Famers
2

Four of the selected players made their professional debuts in MLB without first playing in Minor League Baseball: third baseman Horner from Arizona State University, Oakland High School pitchers Tim Conroy and Mike Morgan, and catcher Brian Milner from Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

In addition to Horner, the Braves also selected future major-leaguer players Matt Sinatro (2nd round), Steve Bedrosian (3rd round), Rick Behenna (4th round), Jose Alvarez (8th round) and Gerald Perry (11th round).

Others notable players drafted included Lloyd Moseby and Dave Stieb (Toronto), Mike Marshall and Steve Sax (Los Angeles), Cal Ripken Jr. and Mike Boddicker (Baltimore), Kirk Gibson (Detroit), Kent Hrbek (Minnesota) and Hubie Brooks (New York Mets).[2]

First round selections

The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Fame
Pick Player Team Position School
1Bob HornerAtlanta Braves3BArizona State University
2Lloyd MosebyToronto Blue Jays1BOakland High School (Oakland, California)
3Hubie BrooksNew York MetsSSArizona State University
4Mike MorganOakland AthleticsRHPValley High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
5Andy HawkinsSan Diego PadresRHPMidway High School (Hewitt, Texas)
6Tito NanniSeattle MarinersOFChestnut Hill Academy High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
7Bob CummingsSan Francisco GiantsCBrother Rice High School (Chicago, Illinois)
8Nick HernandezMilwaukee BrewersCHialeah High School (Hialeah, Florida)
9Glenn FranklinMontreal ExposSSChipola Junior College
10Phil LansfordCleveland IndiansSSWilcox High School (Santa Clara, California)
11Rod BoxbergerHouston AstrosRHPUniversity of Southern California
12Kirk GibsonDetroit TigersOFMichigan State University
13Bill HayesChicago CubsCIndiana State University
14Tom BrunanskyCalifornia AngelsOFWest Covina High School (West Covina, California)
15Robert HicksSt. Louis Cardinals1BTate High School (Pensacola, Florida)
16Lenny FaedoMinnesota TwinsSSJefferson High School (Tampa, Florida)
17Nick EsaskyCincinnati RedsSSCarol City High School (Carol City, Florida)
18Rex HudlerNew York Yankees[Compensation 1]SSBullard High School (Fresno, California)
19Brad GarnettPittsburgh Pirates1BDeSoto High School (DeSoto, Texas)
20Tim ConroyOakland Athletics[Compensation 2]LHPGateway High School (Monroeville, Pennsylvania)
21Gerry AubinPittsburgh Pirates[Compensation 3]OFDougherty Comprehensive High School (Albany, Georgia)
22Robert BoyceBaltimore Orioles3BDeer Park High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
23Rip RollinsPhiladelphia Phillies1B-RHPAllegheny High School (Sparta, North Carolina)
24Matt WintersNew York Yankees[Compensation 4]OFWilliamsville High School (Williamsville, New York)
25Buddy BiancalanaKansas City RoyalsSSRedwood High School (Greenbrae, California)
26Brian RyderNew York YankeesRHPShrewsbury High School (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts)

Compensation picks
  1. Pick from Chicago White Sox as compensation for signing of free agent Ron Blomberg
  2. Pick from Texas Rangers as compensation for signing of free agent Mike Jorgensen
  3. Pick from Los Angeles Dodgers as compensation for signing of free agent Terry Forster
  4. Pick from Boston Red Sox as compensation for signing of free agent Mike Torrez

Other notable players
= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer

[4]

Round Pick Player Team Position
2 37 Danny Heep Houston Astros OF
2 39 Mel Hall Chicago Cubs OF
2 48 Cal Ripken Jr. Baltimore Orioles 3B
2 52 Steve Balboni New York Yankees 1B
3 53 Steve Bedrosian Atlanta Braves RHP
3 70 Britt Burns Chicago White Sox LHP
3 74 Bobby Bonner Baltimore Orioles SS
4 85 Rob Deer San Francisco Giants OF
4 92 Mike Witt California Angels RHP
5 106 Dave Stieb Toronto Blue Jays OF
6 151 Mike Marshall Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
6 152 Mike Boddicker Baltimore Orioles RHP
8 196 Tim Wallach* California Angels 1B
9 229 Steve Sax Los Angeles Dodgers SS
15 377 Mark Langston* Chicago Cubs LHP
15 381 Gary Redus Cincinnati Reds SS
16 415 Frank Viola* Kansas City Royals LHP
17 432 Kent Hrbek Minnesota Twins 1B
18 447 Eric Snow San Diego Padres RHP
18 460 John Stuper Pittsburgh Pirates RHP
19 475 Kevin McReynolds* Milwaukee Brewers OF
20 511 Ryne Sandberg Philadelphia Phillies INF
21 531 Dave Dravecky Pittsburgh Pirates LHP
23 577 Howard Johnson* New York Yankees RHP
24 594 Rick Leach Philadelphia Phillies 1B
39 758 Vance Law Pittsburgh Pirates SS
47 778 Ron Reeves Cleveland Indians RHP

* Did not sign

References
  1. Henderson, Joe (June 9, 1978). "2 Tampa Pitchers Picked; Draft Ends". The Tampa Tribune. p. 6-C. Retrieved August 26, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  2. "Background on the 1978 MLB Draft". Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  3. "MLB First Round Draft Picks - 1978". Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  4. "1978 Baseball Draft by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
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