Five Worst First-Round Draft Picks By Dodgers

By Paul Banks

Many writers have a favorite Shakespeare quote, and this gem from Hamlet is near the top of my list. "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so."

The five former ballplayers listed below were all in their own way quite good. They were better at the amateur level than most of their peers, which is why the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted them. However, none of them came close to reaching the expectations that accompany a first-round draft pick.

Being a high draft pick by the Dodgers did not keep Mike Piazza from launching a Hall of Fame career.Photo byDan Schlossberg

The next edition of the MLB Draft will be here next month, and the Dodgers are slated to pick 23rd. Here is a link to who we think they'll pick. For his sake and the sake of the franchise, hopefully he won't someday end up on a list like this.

Here, in no particular order, are the five worst first-round picks in Dodgers history.

Bill Bene, RHP, fifth overall, 1988, California State University, Los Angeles.

Never made it to the major leagues, and after nine seasons in the minors he was found guilty of fraud and tax evasion. He did so in a rather unique and notorious manner. In 2012, Bene was sentenced to six months in prison for selling illegal karaoke jukeboxes and failing to report the more than $600,000 in income to the IRS.

Lifetime in nine minor league seasons: 15-30, 5.58 ERA, 1.946 WHIP.

Kiki Jones, RHP, 15th overall, 1989, Hillsborough High School (Tampa, FL).

Dominant during his first professional season at the Rookie Great Falls Dodgers in 1989 (8-0 1.92, 0.973), injuries and legal problems derailed his career. In 1992, Jones was arrested for falsely reporting his car stolen and collecting the insurance money.

The Dodgers released him the next year.

Ryan Luzinski, C, 32nd overall, 1992, Holy Cross High School, Willingboro, NJ.

As they had once before, Dodgers hoped to match the success of this late-round pick of a catcher out of Pennsylvania.

You know the other story: As a personal favor from his childhood friend, Tommy Lasorda, automobile magnate Vince Piazza helped get his son, Mike, drafted in the 62nd round.

While Mike Piazza became the Dodgers backstop on his way to the Hall of Fame, Luzinski stagnated in the minors and was eventually dealt to Baltimore. The offspring of Hall of Very Good slugger Greg Luzinski, it was hoped the son would also rise, but he never rose above AAA.

Best season in the Dodgers organization (1996 at three levels): .311/.371/.443

Chris Anderson, RHP, 18th overall, 2013, Jacksonville University.

Not a lot of return on investment with this hurler, who received a $2,109,900 signing bonus. Anderson did advance to the AAA-OKC Dodgers in 2016, but was rocked during his three appearances, to the tune of 15 runs allowed in 6 1/3 innings. Released the following spring, he was signed by the Minnesota Twins who then released him after just three games (18.90).

Best season in Dodgers organization (2013 Great Lake Loons): 3-0, 1.96, 1.217.

Ronnie Walden, LHP, ninth overall, 1990, Blanchard High School, Oklahoma City, OK.

You really have to feel for this guy, who told The Oklahoman in 1999 that when he retired, his arm was so damaged he would never be able to play catch with his kids. He reached this sad state after just seven career minor league outings (1-4, 1.47, 1.174).

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.” He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.