When the Red Sox drafted Andrew Benintendi (left) with their first pick (No. 7 overall) in last week’s draft, they bucked a five-year stretch of drafting only infielders and pitchers with their first pick. Prior to the that, the Sox had used their top pick to select some good outfielders — Jim Rice, Jacoby Ellsbury and Trot Nixon stand out — but others have failed to make an impact with the Sox.
Here’s the complete list dating back to Rice in 1971:
Draft Player Pick
2015 Andrew Benintendi 7th
2009 Reymond Fuentes 28th
2006 Jason Place 27th
2005 Jacoby Ellsbury 23rd
2003 David Murphy 17th
1999 Rick Asadoorian 17th
1993 Trot Nixon 7th
1989 Greg Blosser 16th
1986 Greg McMurtry 14th
1971 Jim Rice 15th
-COMPILED BY MICHAEL SILVERMAN/SOURCE: BASEBALL-REfERENCE.