The best late-round steals in MLB Draft history

A 20th-round pick by the Pirates in 2000, Bautista was a late bloomer. He didn't see regular playing time in the majors until 2006 and didn't have his breakout season until 2010 with Toronto at age 29. He made six consecutive All-Star appearances from 2010-2015 and finished top 10 in MVP voting four times.

The son of All-Star Gus Bell, Buddy was taken in the 16th round by the Indians in 1969. He went on to play 18 MLB seasons, making five All-Star appearances and winning six Gold Gloves at the hot corner.

Buehrle couldn't even make his high school baseball team, but after time in community college he was selected in the 38th round by the White Sox in 1998. The incredibly durable lefty threw at least 198.2 innings in 15 straight seasons, making five All-Star appearances and also winning four Gold Gloves. He won 214 games.     

Milwaukee took Cain in the 17th round in 2004 out of community college. After emerging as a solid prospect, he was traded to the Royals in 2010 along with a package of other prospects for Zack Greinke. He emerged as a key part of K.C.'s World Series squad in 2015, making the All-Star Game and finishing third in AL MVP voting. He was an All-Star for a second time with Milwaukee in 2018.

Canseco won many accolades during his 17-year career, including 1986 AL Rookie of the Year, 1988 AL MVP, four Silver Sluggers and six All-Star appearances. He was also the first 40-40 man in MLB history during his MVP campaign. He was drafted in the 15th round by Oakland in 1982. Since his retirement, Canseco has become synonymous with steroids after outing himself and several other MLB players in a tell-all book released in 2005.

A 13th-round pick in 2009 out of TCU, Carpenter has become one of the Cardinals' more reliable hitters in recent years. The infielder has made three All-Star appearances, finishing fourth in MVP voting in 2013.

Dawson went in the 11th round to the Expos in 1975 out of Florida A&M. Only two years later he won NL Rookie of the Year en route to a Hall of Fame career. He made eight All-Star appearances and won the 1987 NL MVP with the Cubs.

Goldy has become one of baseball's biggest stars after being drafted in the eighth round in 2009 out of Texas State. He made six consecutive All-Star appearances with Arizona and finished second in NL MVP voting in two of those seasons. Goldschmidt was traded to the Cardinals in 2019.

Taken in the 42nd round of the 1971 draft by the Cardinals, Hernandez is clearly one of the biggest draft steals ever. He won the 1979 NL MVP with the Cards, won 11 Gold Gloves and made five All-Star appearances over his 17-year career.

It's easy to see why Hershiser wasn't drafted highly with so-so velocity. He went in the 17th round in 1979 out of Bowling Green but emerged as a huge steal for the Dodgers after a few years. He won the 1988 Cy Young Award and made three All-Star teams over his career, finishing top five in Cy Young voting four times.

Hoffman is considered one of the greatest closers in MLB history, but he was drafted in the 11th round by the Reds in 1989 out of Arizona as a shortstop. He converted to relief pitching in 1991, and the rest is history. The Hall of Famer won two Rolaids Relief Awards and made seven All-Star appearances with 601 career saves, mostly with the Padres.

A 20th-round pick from Cal by the Blue Jays in 1989, Kent is one of the best power-hitting second basemen ever. Remembered for protecting Barry Bonds in the San Francisco lineup, Kent won the 2000 NL MVP and made five All-Star appearances over his 17-year career. He retired with 377 home runs and appeared on "Survivor" following his career.

Kinsler was drafted in the 17th round by the Rangers in 2003 out of Missouri. He quickly developed into a top prospect in the minors, to the surprise of most scouts. He played 14 seasons for five different teams, combining for more than 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases.

Drafted in the 17th round out of Arizona in 1988 by the Astros, Lofton was one of the league's premier center fielders in his prime. Traded to Cleveland prior to the 1992 season, Lofton made six consecutive All-Star appearances. He ended his 17-year career as a .299 hitter with 622 stolen bases.

Martin was under the radar as a Canadian third baseman from Chipola College in Florida, going in the 17th round to the Dodgers in 2002. He moved to catcher full time in his second minor league season and hasn't looked back since. One of the top catchers in the game since he was called up by the Dodgers in 2006, Martin has made four All-Star appearances and has 191 career home runs over 14 seasons.

Donnie Baseball was drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round in 1979. He got the most out of his ability, making six straight All-Star appearances and winning the 1985 AL MVP. He also won nine Gold Gloves.

Oswalt emerged as a top prospect for the Astros several years after being taken in the 23rd round in 1996 out of JUCO. He finished top five in Cy Young voting five times and made three All-Star appearances with the Astros. Oswalt retired with a 163-102 record and 3.36 ERA.

A 14th-round pick by the Pirates out of high school in 1970, Parker turned into a star hitter. He made seven All-Star appearances during his career and won the 1978 NL MVP. He also won three Gold Gloves.

San Diego's 15th-round pick out of high school in 1999, Peavy put together a good career despite injuries. He won the 2007 NL Cy Young and also had the lowest ERA in the league in 2004. He made three All-Star appearances over 15 seasons.

Pettitte developed a reputation as one of the best big-game pitchers during his career. He had a strong career with 256 wins and a 3.85 ERA. He finished top five in Cy Young voting four times and made three All-Star appearances. The Yankees selected Pettitte in the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB Draft.

As the legend goes, Piazza was selected in the 62nd round of the 1988 MLB Draft as a favor by Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda to Piazza's father. Piazza became arguably the best hitting catcher in history, putting together a Hall of Fame career with 427 home runs and a .308 batting average.

A JUCO draft pick in the 13th round of the 1999 draft by the Cardinals, Pujols quickly got into top shape and became an elite hitting prospect. The start of his career was arguably the best run by an MLB hitter ever with nine All-Star appearances in 10 seasons, a Rookie of the Year Award and three NL MVPs. A surefire Hall of Famer, Pujols has 656 career home runs through the 2019 season.

Texas selected Rogers in the 39th round of the 1982 draft. He had a long and productive career, mostly with the Rangers. He played 20 seasons, winning 219 games and making four All-Star appearances. He finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting in 2006 at age 41.

Ryan appeared in 27 MLB seasons after being selected in the 12th round by the Mets in 1965. He's the all-time leader in strikeouts and no-hitters, finishing with 324 wins and a 3.19 ERA over his Hall of Fame career.

The Royals selected Saberhagen in the 19th round in 1982. Over 16 seasons, he took home two Cy Young Awards, winning 167 games with a 3.34 ERA.

A 20th-round pick by the Phillies in 1978, Sandberg was traded to the Cubs in 1982. The Hall of Fame second baseman went on to make 10 straight All-Star appearances, beginning in 1984, and won one MVP.

Tampa Bay selected Shields in the 16th round in 2000. He helped turn the losing organization's fortunes around as an uber-durable pitcher over seven seasons. While he made only one All-Star appearance, Shields finished third in Cy Young voting in 2011 and threw more than 200 innings in nine consecutive seasons from 2007-2015.

Detroit took Smoltz, a Lansing native, in the 22nd round in 1985. He emerged as a top prospect before getting traded to Atlanta in 1987. Smoltz went on to have a Hall of Fame career over 21 seasons, winning 213 games, saving 154 games and posting a 3.33 ERA.

Thome had a strong career that earned him a trip to the Hall of Fame after hitting 612 home runs over his career with a terrific .956 OPS. Cleveland selected Thome in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB Draft.