# 1974 Major League Baseball draft

The 1974 Major League Baseball draft took place prior to the 1974 MLB season. The draft saw the San Diego Padres select Bill Almon first overall.

## First round selections

| = All-Star | = Baseball Hall of Famer |
The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.
| Pick | Player | Team | Position | Hometown/School |
| 1 | Bill Almon | San Diego Padres | SS | Brown University |
| 2 | Tommy Boggs | Texas Rangers | RHP | Austin, Texas |
| 3 | Lonnie Smith | Philadelphia Phillies | OF | Compton, California |
| 4 | Tom Brennan | Cleveland Indians | RHP | Lewis University |
| 5 | Dale Murphy | Atlanta Braves | C | Portland, Oregon |
| 6 | Butch Edge | Milwaukee Brewers | RHP | Sacramento, California |
| 7 | Scot Thompson | Chicago Cubs | OF | Renfrew, Pennsylvania |
| 8 | Larry Monroe | Chicago White Sox | RHP | Mt. Prospect, Illinois |
| 9 | Ron Sorey | Montreal Expos | 3B | Dayton, Ohio |
| 10 | Mike Miley | California Angels | SS | Louisiana State University |
| 11 | Rod Scurry | Pittsburgh Pirates | LHP | Sparks, Nevada |
| 12 | Dennis Sherrill | New York Yankees | SS | Miami, Florida |
| 13 | Garry Templeton | St. Louis Cardinals | SS | Santa Ana, California |
| 14 | Ted Shipley | Minnesota Twins | SS | Vanderbilt University |
| 15 | Kevin Drake | Houston Astros | OF | Lompoc, California |
| 16 | Lance Parrish | Detroit Tigers | 3B | Diamond Bar, California |
| 17 | Cliff Speck | New York Mets | RHP | Beaverton, Oregon |
| 18 | Willie Wilson | Kansas City Royals | OF | Summit, New Jersey |
| 19 | Terry Lee | San Francisco Giants | 2B | San Luis Obispo, California |
| 20 | Eddie Ford | Boston Red Sox | SS | University of South Carolina |
| 21 | Rick Sutcliffe | Los Angeles Dodgers | RHP | Kansas City, Missouri |
| 22 | * Jerry Johnson | Oakland Athletics | C | Austin, Texas |
| 23 | Steve Reed | Cincinnati Reds | RHP | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| 24 | Rich Dauer | Baltimore Orioles | 3B | University of Southern California |
* Did not sign

## Other notable selections

| = All-Star | = Baseball Hall of Famer |
| Round | Pick | Player | Team | Position |
| 2 | 38 | Butch Wynegar | Minnesota Twins | Catcher |
| 3 | 56 | Pete Vuckovich | Chicago White Sox | Pitcher |
| 5 | 99 | Jim Morrison | Philadelphia Phillies | Third baseman |
| 5 | 119 | Steve Henderson | Cincinnati Reds | Shortstop-Third baseman |
| 6 | 131 | Ed Whitson | Pittsburgh Pirates | Pitcher |
| 8 | 171 | Mark Clear | Philadelphia Phillies | Pitcher |
| 9 | 214 | Ron Oester | Cincinnati Reds | Shortstop |
| 10 | 220 | Mickey Mahler | Atlanta Braves | Pitcher |
| 10 | 231 | Mark Fidrych | Detroit Tigers | Pitcher |
| 11 | 256 | Scott Sanderson* | Kansas City Royals | Pitcher |
| 12 | 263 | Bump Wills* | San Diego Padres | Second baseman |
| 12 | 268 | Jim Gantner | Milwaukee Brewers | Shortstop |
| 14 | 317 | Bob Welch | Chicago Cubs | Pitcher |
| 14 | 325 | Mickey Hatcher* | Houston Astros | Outfielder |
| 19 | 432 | Hubie Brooks* | Montreal Expos | Shortstop |
| 19 | 447 | Steve Bartkowski* | Baltimore Orioles | First baseman |
| 28 | 585 | Paul Molitor* | St. Louis Cardinals | Shortstop |
| 36 | 667 | Eric Show* | Minnesota Twins | Pitcher |
* Did not sign

## Background

With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one. Twelve of the first 13 and a total of 16 first round selections went on to become major leaguers, including Lonnie Smith (Philadelphia), Dale Murphy (Atlanta), Garry Templeton (St. Louis), Lance Parrish (Detroit), Willie Wilson (Kansas City) and Rick Sutcliffe (Los Angeles).
Three players from the June regular phase were among the ones who got away. Pitcher Bob Welch (Chicago Cubs, 14th round), infielder Paul Molitor (St. Louis, 28th round) and pitcher Eric Show (Minnesota, 36th round) turned down pro offers for college scholarships.