The five-round major league amateur draft begins on Wednesday and the Cardinals have had notable success in the first round with the likes of Ted Simmons, Andy Van Slyke, J.D. Drew, Jack Flaherty, Garry Templeton, Matt Morris, Kolten Wong, Todd Worrell, Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn, Terry Kennedy, Brian Jordan, Stephen Piscotty, Dakota Hudson and a dozen or so others who had big-league success.
They’ve done well in rounds two through four but Round 5 has been a washout since the draft began in 1965. One fifth-round player who sounded the part — Wes Swackhamer (2004) — did not live up to his name, swack-hammering just eight homers in three seasons at Class A or lower and hitting but .