News broke Wednesday that Kyle Parker was designated for assignment in order to make room for Gerardo Parra on the 40-man roster. Parker was the club’s first-round pick in 2010 but he never developed into the big-league hitter the Rockies envisioned.
The Rockies decision to cut loose Parker got me thinking about their track record with their first-round draft choices.
It’s not good. Yes, the Rockies have struck gold in the later rounds — think Nolan Arenado (2009, second round), Charlie Blackmon (2008, second round) and Corey Dickerson (2010, eighth round). But there have been far too many busts and too much wasted money.