Fansided

MLB Draft: Top 10 steals of all time

By David Salituro

ANAHEIM, CA - May 25: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - May 25: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 15: DH, Jim Thome #25 of the Minnesota Twins hits his second home run of the game in the seventh inning and his 600th career home run making him only the eighth player in Major League Baseball history to achieve that milestone during a MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 15, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 15: DH, Jim Thome #25 of the Minnesota Twins hits his second home run of the game in the seventh inning and his 600th career home run making him only the eighth player in Major League Baseball history to achieve that milestone during a MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 15, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

5. Jim Thome

Jim Thome’s brute strength earned him a plaque in Cooperstown, but before he was one of the best sluggers in baseball history he was an unheralded draft pick.

Thome was drafted by the Cleveland Indians as an 18-year-old in the 13th round, 333rd overall in 1989 out of Illinois Central College. He made his debut with the Indians in 1991, but it wasn’t until 1994 that he became a regular starter in the lineup. In his first 12 years with Cleveland, Thome hit 334 home runs, including a career-high 52 in 2002. He owns the longest home run in Indians history, a 511-foot shot to center field in 1999 that was later immortalized with a statue outside Progressive Field. Thome was also part of two American League pennant-winning teams in 1995 and 1997, hitting three home runs in 13 World Series games. His 17 career homers in the postseason rank seventh all-time.

Thome left Cleveland after the 2002 season, signing with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent. In his first year with the Phillies, he led the National League with 47 home runs. He spent three years in Philadelphia and parts of four years with the Chicago White Sox before ending his career with brief stints with the Dodgers, Twins and Orioles and return trips to Cleveland and Philadelphia. He became a member of the 600 home run club in 2011 and finished his career with 612 homers, eighth all-time. With the home runs, though, came lots of swings and misses; Thome ranks second all-time in strikeouts.

A five-time All-Star, Thome was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

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