The 2022 MLB Draft is over, and it’s time to pick the bones out of the two-day event held at Xbox Plaza in Los Angeles. Weeks of speculation and rumors finally came to a head last weekend when dreams were made, with 616 players selected in the 20 rounds of the 2022 MLB Draft.
But what happened to the star names who were favored to get the 1st pick, and did the favorites win? Let’s take a look at the main headlines of the weekend.
Who was the 1st Pick in the 2022 MLB Draft?
The first name selected at the 2022 MLB draft was Jackson Holliday. The Orioles opted to go for the 18-year-old shortstop, favoring the infield as opposed to the outfield as they have in the two previous drafts.
Halliday is a power-hitting left-handed batsman with a strong and developing throwing (right) arm. His selection was a surprise in some ways but not in others. As I alluded to, the Orioles have opted for the outfield in the previous two drafts, and it was obvious that they needed to strengthen elsewhere this time around.
So this meant that the likes of Druw Jones and Termarr Johnson were overlooked. A little over a month ago, Jones was the favorite with MLB odds of -150, with Johnson next at +250. Holliday was a +400 outsider with the best MLB betting sites.
The selection of Holliday made the headlines for more reasons than just being the opening pick. Alongside 2nd pick Druw Jones, the selections of Holliday and Jones were the first time in history that the sons of former MLB players were the first two picks in the draft.
The moment Jackson Holliday became the No. 1 pick. #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/eu24Lj9u67
— MLB (@MLB) July 18, 2022
Holliday is the son of seven-time MLB All-Star Matt Holliday, while Jones is the son of five-time MLB All-Star Andruw Jones. In total, four sons of former MLB players were drafted in the first round. The other two were Carl Crawford’s son, Justin, who went to the Philadelphia Phillies, and Lou Collier’s son, Cam, who went to the Cincinnati Reds.
What Happened To Druw Jones?
Druw Jones was heavily favored to be the 1st pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, but in the end, had to settle for being the 2nd. This means Jones ended up at the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Missing out on the 1st pick is not a reflection on Jones. The talented outfielder was regarded as one of the hottest prospects on the High School circuit, and it’s mainly down to the Orioles’ need to strengthen other areas that he missed out on top billing.
With the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 #MLBDraft, the @Dbacks select OF Druw Jones, the son of Braves legend Andruw. pic.twitter.com/UZkCqmm0Nj
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2022
Jones shouldn’t be too worried about it, though. He may have missed out on the prestige that goes with being 1st pick, but he can console himself with the $8.165 million deal he is reported to have agreed with his new employers.
If Jones is half as successful as his father, he will be worth the money. He’s from an impressive Baseball bloodline, and with a 6ft 4 in the frame, weighing in at 180 pounds, he’s an impressive athlete who is only going to get stronger and quicker.
The Diamondbacks will certainly need the help of Jones when he starts playing. They are currently bottom of the NL West with a win percentage of just .435. They do have the misfortune of having to play in the same division as the LA Dodgers, who just happen to be one of the MLB favorites in the betting to win the 2022 World Series. The latest odds can be found below.
| 2022 MLB World Series; Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | +350 | +350 |
| LA Dodgers | +450 | +450 |
| Houston Astros | +600 | +600 |
| New York Mets | +750 | +800 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +1100 | +1200 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +1100 | +1100 |
| San Diego Padres | +1200 | +1200 |
| Atlanta Braves | +1200 | +1200 |
| Boston Red Sox | +2200 | +2500 |
| Minnesota Twins | +2500 | +2200 |
| St Louis Cardinals | +3000 | +2500 |
| San Francisco Giants | +3300 | +3300 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +3300 | +3300 |
| Chicago White Sox | +3300 | +3300 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +3500 | +4000 |
What happened to Termarr Johnson?
Describing his move to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Termarr Johnson said, "they're getting the best player in the Draft." This, despite being the overall 4th pick.
That’s the sort of confidence that you would want from a guy like Johnson, who is widely regarded as the purest hitter in the 2022 MLB Draft. What he lacks in other areas of this game, Johnson certainly makes up for in confidence and hitting ability. And when he’s getting comparisons made between himself and the likes of Wade Boggs, he has a lot to live up to.
Termarr Johnson speaks to the media, including our own @AlexJStumpf after being selected by the #Pirates with the 4th pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. pic.twitter.com/ijAqKbT5Zf
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPghSports) July 18, 2022
Johnson certainly has the personality and self-belief to succeed in the MLB. And he won’t let missing out on being 1st pick affect him, that’s for sure.
For the record and to fill in the blanks, Kumar Rocker was the 3rd pick of the draft. His selection by the Texas Rangers has been met with derision in some areas of the media. Some have described it as the Draft Day Shocker.
Twelve months ago, Rocker was the 10th pick by the Mets and failed to sign. So to see him selected third this year certainly raised an eyebrow or ten!
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