1989 MLB Draft yields four future Hall of Famers

The 1989 MLB Draft is famous for producing some of the greatest players in the history of the game.

On June 5, 1989, four future Hall of Fame inductees were selected in the MLB Draft. Frank Thomas was taken with the seventh overall pick by the White Sox; Jeff Bagwell was selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round; Trevor Hoffman was drafted by the Reds in the 11th round; Jim Thome was tabbed by the Indians in the 13th round.

Out of the 13 draft classes to feature multiple Hall of Famers since the start of the Draft in 1965, the 1989 MLB Draft is one of three to feature four Hall of Famers, along with the 1976 and 1977 draft classes.

Debuting in 1990, Thomas would truly break out the following season. Leading both leagues in walks and OPS, Thomas would be awarded a Silver Slugger Award and finish third in the American League MVP voting. Only two years later, Thomas would win his first of two AL MVP Awards, eventually becoming the 11th player in MLB history to win the award in back-to-back seasons.

Before being drafted by the Red Sox, Bagwell would make a name for himself at the University of Hartford along with time spent in the Cape Cod League with other future MLB talents.

“I got my chance in the Cape Cod League. … A lot of players from the best programs in the summer came to play there,” Bagwell told Sports Illustrated. “Albert Belle was playing there. Frank Thomas. I only hit about .205 that year, but I looked at those guys and decided I could play with them.”

Bagwell never got to play with the Red Sox as the team would deal him to the Houston Astros in August of 1990 for relief pitcher Larry Andersen. Bagwell would make the Astros’ Opening Day roster in 1991 as the starting first baseman. He would go on to be named the NL Rookie of the Year.

Spending his entire 15-year career with the Astros, Bagwell won the 1994 National League MVP Award while earning four All-Star selections and three Silver Slugger Awards. He would be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Hoffman was originally drafted as a shortstop by the Reds but would be converted into a pitcher after then-scout of the Reds Jeff Barton saw his skills better suited on the mound.

“He had the best arm I’d ever seen,” Barton told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “When you see someone with those kinds of tools, you don’t (pass) by them. Those are the tools that impact the game.”

Before getting the opportunity to make his major league debut for Cincinnati, Hoffman would be selected by the Florida Marlins in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft with the eighth overall pick. Making his MLB debut in April of 1993, Hoffman again would have to relocate after being traded to San Diego in a deal that sent – among others – All-Star slugger Gary Sheffield to Florida.

In San Diego, Hoffman would blossom into one of the game’s greatest closers, finishing in the Top 10 in his league’s Cy Young Award voting four times along with six All-Star selections during his tenure with the team.

Hoffman would retire after the 2010 season, finishing his 18-year career as the all-time major league leader in saves with 601 before this record would be broken by Mariano Rivera less than a year later. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Drafted in the 13th round, Thome is the fourth-lowest draft pick ever to be elected to the Hall of Fame, only trailing Ryne Sandberg (20th), John Smoltz (22nd) and Mike Piazza (62nd).

Debuting for Cleveland in 1991, Thome would spend the first 12 seasons of his career with the team that drafted him. During his time in Cleveland, Thome would accumulate 337 home runs and 937 runs batted in along with three All-Star selections.

Thome would become one of the league’s most feared power hitters, averaging an impressive 39 home runs per season for his 22-year career. He currently sits at number eight on the all-time home run list with 612.

Thome was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018, the same year as his Draft classmate Hoffman.

Aidan Shephard was an intern in the Jim Murray Sports Communications Scholars Program at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum