Reds or Expos. 14th September, 2009 - 11:17 am New York Post - Derek Jeter almost ended up as a member of the Astros, Reds or Expos. On June 1, 1992, when Jeter was drafted, he did not even know the Yankees had the sixth pick in the draft. His family had been led to believe that either Houston with the first pick or the Reds with the fifth would take the shortstop from Kalamazoo Central High in Michigan. The Reds envisioned Jeter playing centerfield and then moving to shortstop following the retirement of Barry Larkin. Phil Nevin
Worst when you think the scout who wanted him quit when the Astros overrode his suggestion. Kind of stings a bit more when the baseball draft is basically a crap-shoot. Of course, Phil Nevin was the "Greg Oden" back then.
*every* professional team, *ever*, in the entire history of forever, has the same history. all 28 nfl teams passed on joe montana. twice. some teams (like the bengals) passed on him *four* times. this is not, by any stretch, exclusive to houston franchises.
Even more so in baseball. Roy Oswalt was a 23rd round pick, while Kris Benson was a first overall pick. They are all a crap shoot. In 1991, just one year before they drafted Jeter, the Yankees selected Brien Taylor with the 1st overall pick. Taylor received the biggest signing bonus in history, hurt his shoulder in a fight, and now is flat broke. At least Nevin had a decent career.
It would have been Barkley that the Rockets were going to take... Because Portland was offering the second pick and Drexler. So, the sg position was going to be filled. But yes, they still "passed" on Jordan
