The 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 5 and 6.
The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be selected in the first round and the first to be chosen number one overall. The back-stop was a member of the USA Junior National Team and won a gold medal at the world tournament in Taiwan in 1999. He was also a High School football standout as a quarterback and signed a letter of intent to play football at Florida State University before being drafted.
Right-handed pitcher Mark Prior of the University of Southern California was selected by the Chicago Cubs with the second overall pick in the draft. Prior, who was previously selected in the supplemental first round of the 1998 draft by the Yankees, was the first college player chosen in the 2001 draft. Prior won numerous National Player of the Year awards after going 15-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 202 strikeouts to lead the Trojans to a College World Series berth in his junior year.
Kelly Shoppach, 2nd round, 48th overall by the Boston Red SoxJ.J. Hardy, 2nd round, 56th overall by the Milwaukee BrewersBrandon League, 2nd round, 59th overall by the Toronto Blue JaysDan Haren, 2nd round, 72nd overall by the St. Louis CardinalsRyan Theriot, 3rd round, 78th overall by the Chicago CubsScott Hairston, 3rd round, 98th overall by the Arizona DiamondbacksRicky Nolasco, 4th round, 108th overall by the Chicago CubsJeff Keppinger, 4th round, 114th overall by the Pittsburgh PiratesJosh Barfield, 4th round, 120th overall by the San Diego PadresKyle Davies, 4th round, 135th overall by the Atlanta BravesBrendan Harris, 5th round, 138th overall by the Chicago CubsRyan Howard, 5th round, 140th overall by the Philadelphia PhilliesC.J. Wilson, 5th round, 141st overall by the Texas RangersJim Johnson, 5th round, 143rd overall by the Baltimore OriolesRyan Raburn, 5th round, 147th overall by the Detroit TigersSkip Schumaker, 5th round, 164th overall by the St. Louis CardinalsEdwin Jackson, 6th round, 190th overall by the Los Angeles DodgersChad Tracy, 7th round, 218th overall by the Arizona DiamondbacksDan Johnson, 7th round, 221st overall by the Oakland AthleticsKevin Youkilis, 8th round, 243rd overall by the Boston Red SoxLuke Scott, 9th round, 277th overall by the Cleveland IndiansGeovany Soto, 11th round, 318th overall by the Chicago CubsDan Uggla, 11th round, 338th overall by the Arizona DiamondbacksJason Bartlett, 13th round, 390th overall by the San Diego PadresChris Young, 16th round, 493rd overall by the Chicago White SoxJonny Gomes, 18th round, 529th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysZach Duke, 20th round, 604th overall by the Pittsburgh PiratesJake Mauer, 23rd round, 677th overall by the Minnesota TwinsMatt Albers, 23rd round, 686th overall by the Houston AstrosCharlie Haeger, 25th round, 763rd overall by the Chicago White SoxManny Parra, 26th round, 778th overall by the Milwaukee BrewersNick Blackburn, 29th round, 857th overall by the Minnesota TwinsJoey Gathright, 32nd round, 949th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysChad Gaudin, 34th round, 1009th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysRajai Davis, 38th round, 1134th overall by the Pittsburgh PiratesQuan Cosby, 6th round, 179th overall by the Anaheim AngelsCedric Benson, 12th round, 370th overall by the Los Angeles DodgersMatt Ware, 21st round, 639th overall by the Seattle MarinersBrandon Jones, 28th round, 845th overall by the New York Yankees, but did not signBrooks Bollinger, 50th round, 1480th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not sign