The Reds Mike Leake got the 2009 draft class off to a roaring start by beginning his first professional season in the major leagues. Reliever Drew Storen of the Nationals didn't spend much time in the minor leagues before Joining Leake as a major leaguer with Washington. And, of course, everyone knows Stephen Strasburg's story.
Next up: Atlanta's Mike Minor.
Braves starter Kris Medlen has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow opening the door for Minor to join the club and make his first major league start Monday against Houston. The Astros are a good team for anyone to start their career against - only Pittsburgh has scored fewer runs this year.
From Vanderbilt, Minor was the seventh overall pick of the 2009 draft by the Braves, the second collegiate pitcher taken after the Nationals selected Strasburg with the first overall picks. Minor's promotion mean that all of the first four collegiate pitchers taken in the first round of the 2009 draft have made the major leagues within their first professional season.
After Minor, Leake was taken by Cincinnati with the 8th pick and Storen by the Nationals with the 10th pick. The Indians Alex White was the next college pitcher selected with pick #15, although the Royals Aaron Crow was playing semi-pro ball when they selected him with the twelfth pick.
