The major leagues held their draft for first-year players this week.

Among those taken will be some of the sport’s future greats. But many of those taken, even in the first round, will never make it to the majors. Of those who were selected in the first round last year, two—St. Louis’ J.D. Drew and Detroit’s Jeff Weaver—have already made a splash at the big league level.

Below are the 30 athletes who were chosen in the first round. All have potential to be stars. Is the next Alex Rodriguez (first overall pick, 1993) among them? Time will tell.

1. Josh Hamilton, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, of- A fine all-around athlete who the Devil Rays drafted out of high school (Athens Drive HS in Raleigh, North Carolina), making his the first prep player to be the initial overall selection since Rodriguez. Hit .529 with 13 homers in his senior year, and has fine defensive skills in the outfield. He also pitched, but is expected to play right field as a pro. GM Chuck Lamar, who thinks Hamilton is a five-tool player, could tell he was an exceptional talent before he even saw him play in a game. "I went in to see him play and he was able to take batting practice separately, by himself, a few hours before the game," he said. "In scouting, I guess like any other business, when you see something special your heart goes pitter-patter. And when he got in that cage and started swinging that bat, I knew he was a special kid."

2. Josh Beckett, Florida Marlins, rhp- Another taken out of high school, Beckett went 10-1, 0.46 with Spring HS in Texas, while fanning more than two batters per inning (155 K’s in 75 1/3 frames). Has a fastball reputed to be in the upper-90’s, and a sharp breaking ball. Fine control, and is a fierce competitor. Lets his emotions show on the field. Beckett, the first right-handed pitcher to be drafted out of high school since Bill Gullickson in 1979, has signed on with Texas A & M, and there is no guarantee that he will go with the Marlins. Beckett does sound eager to play in the majors, though, saying he would like to be an All-Star in 2001. "He is much more advanced than most pitchers coming out of high school," GM Dave Dombrowski said. "He has two dominant pitches, a fastball and a curve, and he has been working on a slider and a changeup."

3. Eric Munson, Detroit Tigers, c- A left-handed hitting catcher who provides a powerful bat. He is .340-14-38 with USC so far this year despite missing time because of a hand injury. Needs work on his defense, and to shake the injury bug. "We think this kid can help get us to the place that we would ultimately like to go, and that's the postseason and World Series," GM Randy Smith said. "We're very excited that Munson was there for us to take. We think we have an outstanding collegiate player with a lot of experience. "We'll move him as rapidly as his bat dictates, but I think there's a chance that we can see him next year (in Detroit). Obviously he has some pull-power, but we think he can hit the ball all over the field. He has a very special bat, and him playing in the new Comerica Park intrigues us."

4. Corey Myers, Arizona Diamondbacks, ss- Yet another prep star, this one at Desert Vista High School in Arizona. His stats this year, .560-22-77, reflect his awesome power. Most did not expect him to be taken this early in the draft. Myers, who may end up at third base eventually, signed with the Diamondbacks the day he was drafted, and will go to the Rookie League mini-camp in Missoula, Montana. "He was the guy we wanted," GM Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "Everyone felt the same way that the risk (of trying to let him slide to the 31^st pick in the draft) wasn't worth it. We knew this will be one of those picks that the experts will say they didn't see coming. We weren't supposed to take Corey at this position, but that's OK. We've done lots of things we weren't supposed to and it's worked out."

5. B.J. Garbe, Minnesota Twins, of- An outstanding athlete who won the Gatorade national high school player of the year award. The Twins took him out of Moses Lake (WA) High School, where he went .500-6-22 this year, with an OBP of close to .700 and a slugging average of .939 and 19 stolen bases. Also a fine pitcher, although he will be tried as an outfielder. Garbe is expected to sign with the Twins even though he has the option of playing baseball at Stanford. "We think he's a five-tool talent (hitting for average and power, baserunning, good glove and arm)," scouting director Mike Radcliff said. "We think he should be a guy who will contribute in all phases of the game."

6. Josh Girdley, Montreal Expos, lhp- The fifth of six high school players taken, he went 8-2, 0.44 with 178 strikeouts in 17 games this year. He struck out an amazing 29 batters in a 10-inning loss. He thinks his curve ball is his pitch, which is the farthest along. "He's not your typical high-school pitcher who lights up the radar guns," GM Jim Beattie said. "He's not your typical left-hander, either. "He's very impressive and a good athlete, very mature standing up and handling things."

7. Kyle Snyder, Kansas City Royals, lhp- Went just 8-5, 3.82 in his final year with North Carolina, but has a blazing fastball and a wicked slider. Fanned 102 in 96 2/3 innings. An imposing 6-8, 215. The Royals say he was the one they wanted, but he may not be easy to sign.

8. Bobby Bradley, Pittsburgh Pirates, rhp- Pitched for Wellington (FL) High School, where he went 12-1, 0.38 with 156 K’s and 13 walks in 92 innings as a senior. He had eight one-hitters in the season. Has a great curve ball, although his size (6-1, 175) is a concern. He’s expected to sign although he has the option of going t Florida State. "There was no question from the first time I saw him that this was a guy I'd love to draft," scouting director Mickey White said. "He has a very loose arm and throws quality pitches. He has an outstanding breaking ball. He's thrown his fastball up to 94 mph, but he's more comfortable at 90 or 91. He can change speeds. He's very athletic. He's like having an extra infielder on the mound. "He just knows how to pitch. He needs some fine-tuning, but he's very advanced for a high school pitcher."

9. Barry Zito, Oakland Athletics, lhp- Is 11-2 this year at USC. Used curveball and fine control, primarily, but nevertheless posted some big strikeout numbers 146 in 104 2/3 innings, with three 16-K performances. He says he will sign, although he could return to USC if he wished to. "If I'm in the eighth inning and I only have four or five strikeouts, then I don't have my best stuff," Zito said. Zito was drafted by Texas last year, but the Rangers did not want to pay a $350,000 signing bonus. They’re probably sorry about that now.

10. Ben Sheets, Milwaukee Brewers, rhp- Went 14-1, 3.11 with 158 strikeouts and 31 walks in 115 2/3 innings in 1999 campaign at Northeast Louisiana. Has devastating curve; fanned 20 in one game. Still just 20 years old. The Brewers considered Sheets the second-best pitcher in the draft next to Beckett, and were pleased when he lasted as long as he did. "We just have to hope he's as good as we think he is," scouting director Ken Califano said. "For me, he's definitely a quick guy to the big leagues. "He has three above-average pitches (fastball, curve, changeup) with command. We think he can be a No. 1 or No. 2 starter (in the big leagues)."

11. Ryan Christenson, Seattle Mariners, c- The athlete from Arlington (CA) High School is perhaps the best all-around catcher available. He combines excellent defensive skills with strength at the plate. Senior stats so far: .507-7-40. "(He is a) take-charge guy, a winner," scouting director Frank Mattox said. "He could probably fit into the middle of our lineup. He's got power, he'll hit home runs, he's got a good throwing arm, and he's a good receiver. We think he can be a front-line catcher."

12. Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies, rhp- At 18 years old, the hard-throwing hurler still needs some polish. But he does throw in the mid-90s, and has a nice, 6-4, 210 frame. Will graduate from Englewood High School (FL). His numbers this season: 8-2, 0.80, with 131 strikeouts in 78 innings. Walked more batters (34) than the number of hits given up (25). Compared by many to Curt Schilling. Myers was a successful boxer as a child, and that may have helped him in some other areas. "His competitiveness was No. 1," scouting director Mike Arbuckle said. "He really goes after hitters. He's got a lot of confidence. His presence on the mound tells you he intends to dominate that day."

13. Mike Paradis, Baltimore Orioles, rhp-This Clemson pitcher also throws in the mid-90s. Is 6-1 with 84 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings. He put an end to Florida State’s 21-game winning streak this year. "He's a power pitcher with a sinker that fits Camden Yards," GM Frank Wren said.

14. Ty Howington, Cincinnati Reds, lhp- Big (6-4, 220) hurler from Hudson’s Bay HS (WA), can throw hard but needs work. As a senior, he went 12-3, 2.19. Struck out 149 and walked 24 in 84 innings. Howington is happy to be with the Reds, and hopes to sign soon. "Ty is an exciting, young, powerful pitcher with a great breaking ball and a great feel for pitching," scouting director DeJon Watson said. "He has a chance to be a solid No. 3, if not No. 2, starter in the big leagues."

15. Jason Stumm, Chicago White Sox, rhp- Went 11-0, 0.84 for Centralia (WA) High School, with 94 strikeouts in 61 innings of work. Checks in at 6-2, 200 pounds. Compared by some to Roger Clemens.

16. Jason Jennings, Colorado Rockies, rhp- The 20-year-old athlete both pitched and played designated hitter for Baylor. On the mound, he was 10-1, 2.45 and 132 strikeouts; at the plate he swatted .383-16-55. Has imposing size at 6-2, 235. Jennings never missed a start in three years at Baylor. Earned the nickname "Diesel" for his propensity to eat up innings. Throws in the low 90s. Expected to sign. "He's got the makeup; he's a blue-collar player," scouting director Pat Daugherty said. "He's sharp. He's an academic All-American. We're going to get him to (single A) Asheville this season. "He's pitched in international competition. He's a winner. We think he's close to helping us. With him, we don't have to sit and wait for five or six years as we would with a high-school player."

17. Rick Asadoorian, Boston Red Sox, of- A right-handed hitter and thrower from Northbridge High School. Has speed, and probably needs more work on his offense than his defense at this point. 6-2, 180.

18. Richard Stahl, Baltimore Orioles, lhp- Throws a 94-mph fastball. Imposing height (6-7), but very skinny (185 pounds). Went 11-0, 2.40 with 146 strikeouts in 79 innings for Newton High School (GA) this year. Often compared to Randy Johnson, who he idolizes. Signed a letter of intent with Georgia Tech, although he seems eager to play pro ball.

19. Alexis Rios, Toronto Blue Jays, 3b-of- The first player drafted from outside the United States, Rios is a high school athlete from San Pedro Martin High School in Puerto Rico. Can hit for power despite his thin (6-5, 180) frame. Projected as an outfielder. "We thought he could have been one of the best bats, if not the best bat, in the draft," scouting director Tim Wilken said.

20. Vince Faison, San Diego Padres, of- Had signed a letter of intent to play football for Georgia, but has said he would play baseball if taken in the first round. Hit .531-6-24 as a senior for Toombs County (GA) HS, and is fast. "Vince Faison is a tremendous athlete with great speed and power," GM Kevin Towers said. "He has a chance to be a very good everyday center fielder."

21. Larry Bigbie, Baltimore Orioles, of-The 21-year-old played his college ball at Ball State University. 5-11, 185. Hit .419 with 17 homers and 54 RBI this year while stealing 21 bases. "I've got extensive experience at both the corners," Bigbie said. "But there has been a lot of talk about me in center field. I don't think playing out there would be a problem. I'm definitely ready to go; I've been looking forward to this all my life."

22. Matt Ginter, Chicago White Sox, rhp- Has a fine arm. 21-year-old who played at Mississippi State, but could opt to play defensive end at Texas A & M. He is considered to have the best slider among all college athletes, and has a fastball in the mid-90s, however those are his only two pitches. The White Sox think he could be useful in the bullpen, or could start if he develops a change-up.

23. Keith Reed, Baltimore Orioles, of- Played at Providence College. Only 20 years of age. 6-4, 215. Very fast afoot, and in swinging the bat. Had 17 home runs and 79 RBI this year. Since Providence will not play baseball next year, he is likely to sign. "His bat speed and athleticism made him a very interesting player for us," Wren said.

24. Kurt Ainsworth. San Francisco Giants, rhp- At 6-4, 178, he is still somewhat of a work-in-progress, and also a risk, given that he had Tommy John surgery two summers ago. Comes from LSU, where he is 12-5, 3.28 with 144 strikeouts in 115 innings so far this year. "We're not concerned about (the surgery)," assistant general manager Ned Colletti said. "More and more pitchers come back from this type of injury. We're certain he's fine."

25. Mike MacDougal, Kansas City Royals, rhp- From Wake Forest, where he went 13-2, 2.37 this year. He had more wins than anyone else in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and fired a no-hitter. Has a good mix of pitches. However scouts say his fastball could use some more velocity. 6-5, 187 pounds.

26. Ben Christensen, Chicago Cubs, rhp- Might have gone higher had it not been for a suspension involving a pitch that hit a player in the head for standing too close to the plate while he was warming up. Went 26-1 in his career at Wichita State. The infamous pitch may have a permanent effect on Anthony Molina, the Evansville player who was the victim, as he is currently legally blind in the left eye. In fact Molina might sue for damages. However the Cubs seem to be convinced that the incident was an aberration. "Before that incident, Ben has been an admirable kid," scouting director Jim Hendry said. "Obviously Ben made a very serious mistake in judgment that night. He did something he regrets deeply."

27. David Walling, New York Yankees, rhp- Arkansas Razorback who was taken at the age of 20. 6-5, 195. Walling says he is certain to sign. "(He’s) not an overpowering guy, but he's very crafty, very smart," Yankees scout Scott Pleis, who referred to Walling’s curve ball as probably his best pitch, said.

28. Gerik Baxter, San Diego Padres, rhp- Woodway High School (WA) graduate-to-be throws in the low 90’s. Posted 6-1, 0.73 numbers as a senior, with 18 hits and 14 walks in 48 innings while striking out 80. Baxter will decide between the Padres and the Univertsity of Texas. "Baxter is a power guy with a real good arm who we think has a chance to be a No. 1 or No. 2 starter," Towers said.

29. Omar Ortiz, San Diego Padres, rhp- Played for Texas- Pan American University. Age 21. 6-1, 180. Went 6-5, 4.32 as a junior in 1999, with 132 strikeouts in 102 innings. "We felt Ortiz was one of the more complete pitchers in the draft," Towers said. "He really knows how to pitch. He knows how to win. He’s a guy we feel could move quickly."

30. Chance Caple, St. Louis Cardinals, rhp- Texas A&M athlete who has a 6-6, 215 frame. The 20-year-old went 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA and has been clocked at 95 mph, but has a good curve and slider.

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