Drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999 (signed for $2,000,000).
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SS Corey Myers is an outstanding hitting prospect. He set an Arizona high school record with 21 home runs this year and broke his brother Casey's state record of 62 hits. He has an excellent work ethic but may lack the mobility to play anywhere but first base or DH in the long run, though he'll try third base first. He may well join his older brother, a sophomore, at Arizona State.
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Most projections had the Diamondbacks taking Ben Sheets with the fourth overall pick in the 1999 draft, but instead they went for Myers, a local high school product. Myers wasn't considered a first-round talent by most teams and signed for a below-market $2 million, though Arizona insists he wasn't a signability pick. Perhaps the club should use that excuse, because Sheets has become an Olympic star and a top rookie candidate for 2001, while Myers has struggled as a pro. He has yet to fulfill any of the promise of a top pick, though most scouts will say that expectations were unfair because he was no more than a one-tool player to begin with. Some thought Myers could make it on his hitting alone, but his bat hasn't shown in two seasons. He started his pro career at shortstop before moving to third base because of a lack of range. That hasn't worked so far, as he made 36 errors in 2000. Some believe he might need another position change to first base. The Diamondbacks remain optimistic because Myers' willingness to learn hasn't wavered. He'll be under scrutiny with an expected return to South Bend, where he hit .125 last year.
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