The first player with Alabama roots picked in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft in 2023 already has reached the big leagues.
A former Florence High School standout, Grant Taylor zipped through the minor leagues after the Chicago White Sox chose him from LSU at No. 51 two years ago to make his MLB debut on June 10. In 14 appearances with the White Sox, the right-hander has three saves. In 14.1 innings, Taylor has allowed 13 hits and three walks while striking out 17.
Taylor boosted to 35 the first-from-Alabama draft picks who have reached the Major Leagues after 60 drafts. Twelve have reached the MLB All-Star Game, including former Springville High School and Auburn pitcher Casey Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 who is representing the Detroit Tigers at the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday night.
Who’ll be the next to join Taylor and Mize as the first player from an Alabama high school or college selected in the First-Year Player Draft?
The answer will come on Sunday.
That’s when the first 105 selections in this year’s draft will be made, starting at 5 p.m. CDT Sunday at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Cumberland, Georgia. ESPN will televise the first-round picks, with MLB Network televising the entire opening night.
The first pick with Alabama baseball roots likely will be Auburn outfielder/catcher Ike Irish or Hewitt-Trussville High School shortstop Steele Hall. Both are widely expected to go within the first 20 selections on Sunday.
In his third season at Auburn, Irish hit .364 with a .710 slugging percentage as he had 13 doubles, two triples and 19 home runs in 2025. During his career, Irish had a .350 batting average in 160 games with the Tigers.
Irish became Auburn’s seventh consensus All-American selection in baseball. Three of the other six – Frank Thomas in 1989, Gabe Gross in 2000 and Mize in 2018 – were the first players with Alabama baseball roots picked in their draft years.
A Tennessee signee, Hall won the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Baseball and Class 7A Player of the Year awards with the Huskies in 2025. Hall posted a .484 batting average in his final season at Hewitt-Trussville with 46 runs, 14 doubles, eight home runs and 35 RBIs.
The first player drafted from Alabama has come straight from a high school 27 times. Auburn has provided the first pick eight times, Alabama seven, Jacksonville State and South Alabama three apiece and Troy and the University of Mobile once each. Ten times, the first player picked from Alabama has been a former state prep star who was selected from an out-of-state college.
The Washington Nationals hold the first pick in this year’s draft. Predictions for the No. 1 pick have centered on LSU pitcher Kade Anderson and Stillwater (Oklahoma) High School shortstop Ethan Holliday.
After the first three rounds on Sunday, the draft will resume at 10:30 a.m. Monday for the remaining 17 rounds. The second day of the draft will be livestreamed on MLB.com.
A year-by-year look at the first player with Alabama baseball roots selected in each summer draft:
1965: Pitcher Rick James, Coffee High School in Florence, by the Chicago Cubs at No. 6. James reached the Major Leagues in 1967, making his big-league debut at age 19, and pitched in three games for the Cubs. But that was the extent of James’ MLB career. He pitched in the minors until 1970.
1966: Outfielder Carlos May, Parker High School in Birmingham, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 18. May had a 10-year MLB career and represented the White Sox at the MLB All-Star games in 1969 and 1972.
1967: Outfielder Jimmy McMath, Druid High School in Tuscaloosa, by the Chicago Cubs at No. 22. McMath reached the Major Leagues in 1968, making his big-league debut at age 19, and played in six games for the Cubs. But that was the extent of McMath’s MLB career. He played in the minors until 1971.
1968: First baseman Donald Dickerson, Ensley High School in Birmingham, by the New York Mets at No. 21. Dickerson played in four minor-league seasons, with Double-A his highest level.
1969: Outfielder Alvin McGrew, Parker High School in Birmingham, by the Cleveland Indians at No. 15. McGrew played in eight minor-league seasons, with Triple-A his highest level.
1970: Pitcher/shortstop Jim Browning, Emma Sansom High School in Gadsden, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 11. Browning pitched in six minor-league seasons, with Double-A his highest level.
1971: Shortstop Condredge Holloway, Lee High School in Huntsville, by the Montreal Expos at No. 4. Holloway did not play professional baseball. Instead, he went to Tennessee to play football, then had a Hall of Fame career as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League.
1972: Shortstop Gary Blackwell, B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 45. Blackwell played in five minor-league seasons, with Triple-A his highest level.
1973: First baseman/outfielder Rickey Hughes, Gaston High School in Gadsden, by the Montreal Expos at No. 56. Hughes played in two minor-league seasons, with Single-A his highest level.
1974: Pitcher Jim Loftin, B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 46. Loftin spurned the Athletics to attend South Alabama. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 14th round in 1978. He played in one minor-league season at the Rookie level.
1975: Pitcher Ted Barnicle, Jacksonville State, by the San Francisco Giants at No. 8. Barnicle pitched in seven minor-league seasons, with Triple-A his highest level.
1976: Pitcher Joe Beckwith, Auburn, by the Cleveland Indians at No. 278. Beckwith did not sign with the Indians and returned to Auburn for another season. In the 1977 draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers chose Beckwith with the 46th pick. Beckwith had a seven-year MLB career and won a World Series ring with the Kansas City Royals in 1985.
1977: Pitcher Sammy Davis, Jacksonville State, by the Cleveland Indians at No. 37. Davis played in three minor-league seasons, with Single-A his highest level.
1978: Pitcher Britt Burns, Huffman High School in Birmingham, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 70. Burns pitched in eight seasons with the White Sox after reaching the big leagues at age 19. He represented Chicago at the 1981 MLB All-Star Game and won 18 games in his final season. But a hip injury brought his career to a premature end at age 26.
1979: Catcher Richard Frazier, Butler High School in Huntsville, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 87. Frazier did not play professional baseball.
1980: Pitcher Jay Tibbs, Huffman High School in Birmingham, by the New York Mets at No. 27. Tibbs pitched in seven MLB seasons, although none with the Mets. He compiled a 39-54 record for the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates.
1981: Pitcher Bryan Kelly, Alabama, by the Detroit Tigers at No. 146. Kelly pitched in two MLB seasons with the Tigers, appearing in six games in 1986 and five games in 1987.
1982: Shortstop Bo Jackson, McAdory High School in McCalla, by the New York Yankees at No. 50. Jackson did not sign with the Yankees. He went to Auburn, became a two-time All-American in football and won the 1985 Heisman Trophy. After being the first player picked in the 1986 NFL Draft, Jackson instead signed with the Kansas City Royals, who chose him in the fourth round of the baseball draft in 1986. Jackson played in eight MLB seasons and represented the Royals as an outfielder at the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, during which he hit a home run.
1983: First baseman Dave Magadan, Alabama, by the New York Mets at No. 32. Magadan played in 16 MLB seasons after reaching the big leagues with the Mets in 1986. After his playing days ended, he spent 20 seasons as an MLB hitting coach.
1984: Outfielder Lance Johnson, South Alabama, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 139. Johnson played in 14 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the Cardinals in 1987 and stole a base in the World Series that season. Johnson led the American League in triples four times and hits once with the Chicago White Sox and the National League in triples once and hits once with the New York Mets. Johnson represented the Mets at the MLB All-Star Game in 1996.
1985: Pitcher Jeff Brantley, Berry High School (drafted from Mississippi State) by the San Francisco Giants at No. 134. Brantley pitched in 14 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the Giants in 1988. He went to the All-Star Game in 1990 and led the National League in saves in 1996 with the Cincinnati Reds.
1986: Outfielder Jim Morrisette, Fairhope High School, by the New York Mets at No. 76. Morrisette played in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A.
1987: Outfielder Ed Smith, Warrior High School, by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 101. Smith played in three minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Single-A.
1988: Pitcher Gregg Olson, Auburn, by the Baltimore Orioles at No. 4. Olson pitched in 14 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the Orioles after 16 minor-league relief appearances in 1988. Olson represented Baltimore at the MLB All-Star Game in 1990, when he saved 37 games.
1989: First baseman Frank Thomas, Auburn, by the Chicago White Sox at No. 7. Thomas played in 19 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues with the White Sox in 1990. Thomas represented the White Sox in five MLB All-Star games, won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1993 and 1994 and entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, his first year of eligibility.
1990: Pitcher Mike Zimmerman, South Alabama, by the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 27. Zimmerman played 10 minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A.
1991: Outfielder/first baseman Joe Vitiello, Alabama, by the Kansas City Royals at No. 7. Vitiello played in 282 games across seven MLB seasons after reaching the big leagues in 1995. He hit .248 with 26 home runs.
1992: Pitcher B.J. Wallace, Monroe Academy (drafted from Mississippi State), by the Montreal Expos at No. 3. Wallace pitched in three minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A. Wallace was a member of the U.S. team at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. He never recovered from shoulder surgery after his second pro season.
1993: First baseman Andy Rice, Parker High School in Birmingham, by the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 42. Rice played six minor-league seasons, reaching as high as High-A.
1994: First baseman/outfielder Terrence Long, Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, by the New York Mets at No. 20. Long played in eight MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 1999. With the Oakland Athletics in 2001 and 2002, he played in all 162 games each season to lead the Majors.
1995: Shortstop Mark Bellhorn, Auburn, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 35. Bellhorn played in 10 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 1997. He won a World Series ring as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
1996: Shortstop Joe Espada, University of Mobile, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 45. Espada played 10 minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A. He’s now the manager of the Houston Astros.
1997: Pitcher Eric DuBose, Patrician Academy in Butler (drafted from Mississippi State), by the Oakland Athletics at No. 21. DuBose pitched in five MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2002. DuBose spent his entire Major League career with the Baltimore Orioles and pitched in 52 games, with 27 starts.
1998: Pitcher/shortstop Mike Fischer, South Alabama, by the Los Angeles Dodgers at No. 66. Fischer pitched in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A.
1999: Catcher Jorge Soto, Troy, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 93. Soto played in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as High-A.
2000: Pitcher Chris Bootcheck, Auburn, by the Anaheim Angels at No. 20. Bootcheck pitched in seven MLB seasons. He made his first big-league appearance with the Angels in 2003 and his last with the New York Mets in 2013.
2001: Outfielder Gabe Gross, Northview High School (Dothan) and Auburn, by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 15. Gross played in seven MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2004. He played in the 2008 World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays.
2002: Catcher Jeremy Brown, Alabama, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 35. Brown played in one MLB season, appearing in five games with the Athletics in 2006. He played one more minor-league season in Triple-A after his big-league work.
2003: Outfielder Jai Miller, Selma High School, by the Florida Marlins at No. 113. Miller played in three MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2008. He played with a different team in each season – Marlins in 2008, Kansas City Royals in 2010 and Oakland Athletics in 2011 – and appeared in 28 games.
2004: Pitcher Taylor Tankersley, Alabama, by the Florida Marlins at No. 27. Tankersley pitched in four MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2006. He spent his entire big-league career with the Marlins.
2005: Outfielder Colby Rasmus, Russell County High School, by the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 28. Rasmus played in 10 MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2009. He was the first player in Major League history to have an extra-base hit in each of his first six postseason games.
2006: Pitcher Kasey Kiker, Russell County High School, by the Texas Rangers at No. 12. Kiker pitched in seven minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Double-A.
2007: Catcher Josh Donaldson, Faith Academy in Mobile and Auburn, by the Chicago Cubs at No. 48. Donaldson retired after his 13th MLB season in 2023. He represented the Oakland Athletics in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game and the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2015 and 2016 MLB All-Star games. Donaldson won the American League Most Valuable Player Award for the 2015 season.
2008: Outfielder Destin Hood, St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, by the Washington Nationals at No. 55. Hood played in one MLB season, with 13 games for the Miami Marlins in 2016. Hood played in the minors through the 2019 season.
2009: Outfielder Kentrail Davis, Theodore High School (drafted from Tennessee), by the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 39. Davis played in six minor-league seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A.
2010: Outfielder Todd Cunningham, Jacksonville High School and Jacksonville State, by the Atlanta Braves at No. 53. Cunningham played in 67 games across three MLB seasons, reaching the big leagues in 2013.
2011: Pitcher Jed Bradley, Huntsville High School (drafted from Georgia Tech), by the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 15. Bradley pitched in one MLB season, appearing in six games for the Atlanta Braves in 2016.
2012: Outfielder David Dahl, Oak Mountain High School, by the Colorado Rockies at No. 10. Dahl has played in seven Major League seasons in a career dogged by injuries. Dahl represented Colorado at the MLB All-Star Game in 2019. He played in 19 games for the Philadelphia Phillies and 76 for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs last season but has not played in 2024.
2013: Shortstop Tim Anderson, Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa (drafted from East Central Community College), by the Chicago White Sox at No. 17. Anderson spent eight seasons as the shortstop for the White Sox after reaching the big leagues in 2016. Anderson won the American League batting crown in 2019, played in the MLB All-Star Game in 2021 and was the starting American League shortstop in the 2022 All-Star Game. Anderson played in 31 games for the Los Angeles Angels this season before getting released.
2014: Pitcher Cody Reed, Ardmore High School, by the Arizona Diamondbacks at No. 54. Reed pitched in five minor-league seasons, reaching as high as High-A.
2015: Shortstop Mikey White, Spain Park High School and Alabama, by the Oakland Athletics at No. 63. White played in six minor-league seasons in the Athletics’ farm system, reaching as high as the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.
2016: Pitcher Braxton Garrett, Florence High School, by the Miami Marlins at No. 7. Garrett made his MLB debut in 2020 by starting two games for the Marlins. He pitched in eight games in 2021 and 17 in 2022 for Miami, before going 9-7 in 30 starts in 2023. Garrett pitched his first MLB shutout in 2024, but was limited to only seven games by forearm and elbow problems. The left-hander will not pitch in 2025 after having elbow surgery in December.
2017: Pitcher Kyle Wright, Buckhorn High School (drafted from Vanderbilt), by the Atlanta Braves at No. 5. Wright pitched in 21 games in four MLB seasons after reaching the big leagues in 2018. In 2022, Wright led the National League with 21 pitching wins as Atlanta won the World Series. But he made only five starts in 2023 before being sidelined by an injury, did not pitch in 2024 and has 23 innings in the Kansas City Royals’ minor-league system in 2025 as he starts his comeback.
2018: Pitcher Casey Mize, Springville High School and Auburn, by the Detroit Tigers at No. 1. Mize reached the big leagues with three games in the shortened 2020 season. Mize missed most of the 2022 season and all of the 2023 campaign after undergoing elbow and back surgeries. This season, he’s on the American League staff for the MLB All-Star Game.
2019: Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Morgan Academy in Selma, by the Baltimore Orioles at No. 42. Henderson made his MLB debut on Aug. 31, 2022. In 2023, he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Henderson was the starting shortstop for the American League in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.
2020: Second baseman Justin Foscue, Grissom High School in Huntsville (drafted from Mississippi State), by the Texas Rangers at No. 14. Foscue reached the big leagues in 2024, but he sustained an oblique injury getting his first MLB hit. Foscue has played in 18 MLB games,
2021: Pitcher Maddux Bruns, USM-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, by the Los Angeles Dodgers at No. 29. The left-hander has been hampered by injuries, and a preseason back injury had Bruns starting the 2025 season in the Arizona Complex League. He joined the Great Lakes Loons of the High-A Midwest League in June. In 192.2 minor-league innings, Bruns has struck out 257 and walked 156.
2022: Outfielder Jordan Beck, Hazel Green High School (drafted from Tennessee), by the Colorado Rockies at No. 38. Beck reached the big leagues on April 30, 2024. He’s hitting .266 with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases as the Rockies’ left fielder this season.
2023: Pitcher Grant Taylor, Florence High School (drafted from LSU), by the Chicago White Sox at No. 51. The White Sox drafted Taylor even though he missed the 2023 season because of Tommy John surgery. The right-hander blasted through the minor leagues in 46 innings and made his MLB debut on June 10. Taylor has three saves for the White Sox in 2025.
2024: Pitcher Ben Hess, Alabama, by the New York Yankees at No. 26. The earliest selection from the Crimson Tide in 33 years, Hess owned the highest career strikeout rate in Alabama history at 13.3 per nine innings (with 205 strikeouts in 138.1 innings.) The right-hander has a 4-2 record in 11 starts with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A South Atlantic League this season, with 72 strikeouts in 49.1 innings.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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