Who They Should Have Taken: 2022

We bring you our favorite game again, this time to look at the draft from 2022. It was a good draft and a lot of fun to review, so take a look and share your comments.


Here is the link to the Draft file.











The First Overall Pick

Team: New York Yankees

Who they picked: 3B Orlando Cepeda

Who they should have picked: 3B Orlando Cepeda

Though Cepeda got out to a slow start and made owners wonder if he was going to be a bust after his first 2 seasons, Cepeda has turned it on ever since and has not looked back. Ranked the top 3B in Habla 2 years ago, Cepeda routinely smashes 40 HR and 100 RBI while playing good defense at 3rd base. Cepeda turned out to be a great 1st overall pick for the Yankees. Anytime you can get the best player at a certain position in Habla, get him.

The Second Overall Pick

Team: Colorado Rockies

Who They picked: P Art Mahaffey

This draft had a lot of good pitching in it, as you will see. At first glance, Mahaffey looks like a good pick at number 2, and he is a pretty good pick. We felt, however, that there were 3 other pitchers better at this point that would have been better to take.

Who they should have picked: P Jim Perry

Perry has struggled the last season and a half, but that doesn't take away the fact that he was a perennial Cy Young Candidate for the Reds 6 seasons in a row. In that 6 year span that was Koufax-esque, Perry never had an ERA above 3.12 and one year had a 2.39. He also had double digit wins every year, peaking at 19 in 2027 and once had an OAVG of .196. With all of that success, you would think he would turn it around and return to form soon for the Giants. Nonetheless, we think he would have been a great pick 2nd overall for the Rockies.

The Third Overall Pick

Team: Kansas City Royals

Who they Picked: P Mark Gubicza

Gubicza is another decent pick at this point in the draft, but again, we feel that there were better pitchers out there. Gubicza is still a top 10 talent, but probably not a top 3 talent. More on him to come.

Who they should have taken: P Dave Dravecky

Dave Dravecky has been lights out almost every year he has been in the majors. Since putting up a 4.80 ERA and a losing record in his Sophomore season, he has posted 5 seasons with a 3.42 ERA or better. Last season saw him go 16-9 with a 2.13 and 28 quality starts. If he were to get some more run support, he could conceivably win 25 games pitching the way he did last year. With so much success and a bright future, Dravecky would have been a great 3rd overall pick for the Royals.

The Fourth Overall Pick

Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Who they picked: 1B Kevin Hunt

The interesting thing about this pick, 4th overall is that a nearly identical player, John Karpel, who has actually out performed Hunt, was taken 114 picks later, with the 6th pick in the 4th round. That pretty much tells you what you need to know about Kevin Hunt. He has never hit .300 and has hit 20 HR only once, double digit HR only 3 times. With everyone left on the board at this point, it is much too early to take a slightly below average first baseman.

Who they should have picked: P Bobby Witt

Witt could easily be the 3rd overall pick as well. Where he hasn't shown the dominance of Dravecky, Witt has been more consistent, never having a bad year. A career 3.46 ERA and 20 or more QS in 5 of 7 seasons, as well as 98 victories in 7 seasons, make Bobby Witt a fantastic pick at 4th overall.

The Fifth Overall Pick

Team: Texas Rangers

Who they picked: RF Lance Berkman

Who they should have picked: RF Lance Berkman

Berkman is a flat out great player to stick in the middle of your lineup. With a career .308 AVG, and averaging 34 homers and 111 RBI per year, Berkman becomes a guy that pitchers hope to pitch around. An adequate outfielder who has missed only 1 game in his career, make Berkman a great pickup 5th overall for the Rangers.

The Sixth Overall Pick

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Who they picked: P Jim Perry

Perry was a fantastic pick and a steal for where they got him, considering the numbers he put up for the Reds. But, we like to stir it up, and Perry is already gone.

Who they should have picked: SS Woodie Held

Woodie Held will quite possibly give AROD a run for his money for the title of greatest offensive shortstop in Habla history. In 6 seasons, Held has hit at least 30 homers every year and has hit 40 or more 3 times. He is no gold glover, but a solid defender. He hits like an outfielder but plays short, second, or third fairly well. With a bat and versatility like that, Held is a great pick 6th overall, and could have gone higher if Texas needed a SS.

The Seventh Overall Pick

Team: Boston Red Sox

Who they picked: SS Spike Owen

Owen is another good short stop in this draft, and is not a bad pick here. We definitely think there are better players here than Owen. If a team was in desperate need of a SS, Owen would make sense because of his awesome defense, arm, and solid bat. But as for best available, there are others.

Who they should have picked: P Mike Gubicza

Back to Gubicza. He has been a very solid middle of the rotation type starter in his career. With an ERA of 3.55, twice under 3.00, and 4 of 6 seasons of at least 20 QS, he has been a very reliable starter. He is the kind of guy you want to draft at this point of the draft, and would have been a great pickup for the Sox.

The Eighth Overall Pick

Team: Oakland A's

Who they picked: 3B Bill Mazeroski

Mezeroski has struggled for playing time in his career, only playing 2 full seasons thus far in his career. One has been spectacular, the other one only decent. Since we don't know which is the real Mazeroski, we are forced to recommend someone else here.

Who they should have taken: RP Roy Face

Face was named the best reliever in Habla in the blog rankings 2 years ago. At a time when so many bullpens are in disarray, Face would be a much welcomed addition to any team. A career 2.50 ERA and with more than a K per inning of work, Face rises to the top of the relieving core in Habla.

The Ninth Overall Pick

Team: Atlanta Braves

Who they picked: P Vern Law

It is time once again for the bust of the draft. Law looked like a for sure top 10 pitcher in this draft based on his pitches and the talent he possessed. With an ERA over 5 and no success of any kind either starting or in the bullpen, it appears that this 9th overall pick was wasted by the Braves, and it is nobody's fault but the game's.

Who they should have picked: P Art Mahaffey

And now, back to Mahaffey, who after a rough start to his career, came back to win 20 games in 2026, and then a 2.82 ERA a few years later. Another middle of the rotation type guy who has shown that he has flashes of greatness, Mahaffey would have been a good pickup at this point.

The Tenth Overall Pick

Team: Chicago White Sox

Who they picked: LF Charlie Konikowski

'Ol Charlie K is not a bad pick here for most drafts, hitting 20 homers regularly. However, this draft is deeper than most, and we like someone else here.

Who they should have picked: LF John Liska

A candidate for steal of the draft, Liska was taken with the 11th pick in the 2nd round. With 3 straight seasons of at least 32 homers, Liska has proven that he is a very solid hitter in the middle of a lineup. Liska would have been a great pickup at this pick for the White Sox.

Draft Awards

Steal of the Draft: 2B Toby Harrah (taken 23rd in the 4th round)

Bust of the Draft: P Vern Law

Best Name: There are so many great names in this draft, take your pick.

Iron Man McGinnity
Jim Bear Omens
Oddibe McDowell
Rip Repulski
Chico Esquela
Frank Funk

Player highlight: RP Frank Funk

With only 34.1 innings in the last 2 years, Frank Funk supplements his income with his other passion besides baseball...Disc Jockeying for Discos. That's right, for $29.99 an hour, you can hire Frank Funk's Funkmaster DJ service to spice up your next birthday party or Barmitsvah. He will break out the freshest licks on his more than 3,000 vinyl records to make your event a rockin' hit. For more info, just call "The Funkmaster" at 555-0123.


Draft Score (The Lower the Better)

67- A couple of busts high in the draft did them in.

Fun Facts

12 of 28 1st round picks remain on the team that drafted them.

This draft had the most cool names of any draft in history.

This draft saw more good player come out of the 2nd through 5th rounds than any draft in recent memory.

This draft had more good relievers in it than any other in recent memory.

All 3 of NYA 1st round picks (Cepeda, Pena, and Stock) remain on the Yankees as important parts of the team.