The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. The draft marked the first time three players from the same university were chosen in the first ten picks.
Source: MLB.com 2004 Draft Tracker
Yovani Gallardo, 2nd round, 46th overall by the Milwaukee BrewersSeth Smith, 2nd round, 50th overall by the Colorado RockiesAnthony Swarzak, 2nd round, 61st overall by the Minnesota TwinsHunter Pence, 2nd round, 64th overall by the Houston AstrosDustin Pedroia, 2nd round, 65th overall by the Boston Red SoxKurt Suzuki, 2nd round, 67th overall by the Oakland AthleticsJason Vargas, 2nd round, 68th overall by the Florida MarlinsWade Davis, 3rd round, 75th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysAdam Lind, 3rd round, 83rd overall by the Toronto Blue JaysIan Desmond, 3rd round, 84th overall by the Montreal ExposJ. A. Happ, 3rd round, 92nd overall by the Philadelphia PhilliesChris Iannetta, 4th round, 110th overall by the Colorado RockiesRoss Ohlendorf, 4th round, 116th overall by the Arizona DiamondbacksCasey Janssen, 4th round, 117th overall by the Toronto Blue JaysLucas Harrell, 4th round, 119th overall by the Chicago White SoxRyan Webb, 4th round, 127th overall by the Oakland AthleticsJames Parr, 4th round, 131th overall by the Atlanta BravesJake McGee, 5th round, 135th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysMark Lowe, 5th round, 153rd overall by the Seattle MarinersBen Zobrist, 6th round, 184th overall by the Houston AstrosTroy Patton, 9th round, 274th overall by the Houston AstrosJustin Maxwell, 10th round, 291st overall by the Texas RangersCory Wade, 10th round, 298th overall by the Los Angeles DodgersSteve Pearce, 10th round, 305th overall by the Boston Red Sox, but did not signSam Fuld, 10th round, 306th overall by the Chicago CubsMichael Saunders, 11th round, 333rd overall by the Seattle MarinersAndy Sonnanstine, 13th round, 375 overall by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysDexter Fowler, 14th round, 410th overall by the Colorado RockiesNick Adenhart, 14th round, 413th overall by the Anaheim AngelsWill Venable, 15th round, 439th overall by the Baltimore Orioles, but did not signMark Reynolds, 16th round, 476th overall by the Arizona DiamondbacksLorenzo Cain, 17th round, 496th overall by the Milwaukee BrewersJ. P. Arencibia, 17th round, 513th overall by the Seattle Mariners, but did not signJerry Blevins, 17th round, 516th overall by the Chicago CubsCory Luebke, 18th round, 532nd overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but did not signMark Trumbo, 18th round, 533rd overall by the Anaheim AngelsDavid Price, 19th round, 568th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not signMicah Owings, 19th round, 576th overall by the Chicago Cubs, but did not signJesse Litsch, 24th round, 717th overall by the Toronto Blue JaysDallas Braden, 24th round, 727th overall by the Oakland AthleticsJustin Ruggiano, 25th round, 748th overall by the Los Angeles DodgersJonathan Sánchez, 27th round, 820th overall by the San Francisco GiantsTyler Flowers, 27th round, 821st overall by the Atlanta Braves, but did not signBrad Lincoln, 28th round, 826th overall by the Texas Rangers, but did not signJaime García, 30th round, 889th overall by the Baltimore Orioles, but did not signJake Arrieta, 31st round, 918th overall by the Cincinnati Reds, but did not signJeff Gray, 32nd round, 967th overall by the Oakland AthleticsMike Dunn, 33rd round, 999th overall by the New York YankeesDavid Hernandez, 34th round, 1016th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but did not signTodd Frazier, 37th round, 1100th overall by the Colorado Rockies, but did not signJames Russell, 1113th round, 1097th overall by the Seattle Mariners, but did not signKyle Blanks, 42nd round, 1241st overall by the San Diego PadresTony Sipp, 45th round, 1333rd overall by the Cleveland IndiansChris Davis, 50th round, 1496th overall by the New York Yankees, but did not signPat White, 4th round, 113th overall by the Anaheim Angels, but did not signMatt Moore, 22nd round, 653rd overall by the Anaheim Angels, but did not signMatt Cassel, 36th round, 1087th overall by the Oakland Athletics, but did not signBrian Brohm, 49th round, 1451st overall by the Colorado Rockies, but did not signThe San Diego Padres stayed close to home with the first overall pick of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, tabbing high school shortstop Matt Bush from Mission Bay (CA) High School. Bush, the first high school shortstop taken first overall since the Seattle Mariners chose Alex Rodriguez in 1993, batted .450 with 11 home runs, 35 RBI and 12 stolen bases during his senior year. The 18-year-old helped lead the Buccaneers to two San Diego Section Division III championships in three years, setting state records for career hits (211) and runs scored (188) in the process.
Huston Street, drafted in the supplemental first round, was the first 2004 draftee to make the major leagues. Justin Verlander was the first 2004 draftee to be selected to an All-Star Game in 2007. Dustin Pedroia, drafted in the second round, was the first 2004 draftee to be selected to start an All-Star Game and the first to win a World Series championship and the first to win a League MVP Award.
Three members of the 2003 NCAA Champions Rice Owls pitching staff were selected within the first eight picks. The Baltimore Orioles could not reach an agreement with Wade Townsend leading to Tampa Bay drafting him in 2005.
Nick Adenhart, who was selected in the 14th round by the Anaheim Angels, was killed in a car accident a day after his only start of the 2009 season.
During the 2012 season, first round picks Philip Humber, Homer Bailey, and Jered Weaver threw no hitters (Humber's was a perfect game).
