A hidden gem

The expansion Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies stock their rosters 33 years ago today by selecting 72 players ahead of the teams’ inaugural 1993 seasons.

As typical with such drafts, most of the 72 are players whose careers are best remembered only by family members and really close friends.

Still, there is one future Hall of Famer among the 72 – Trevor Hoffman, a onetime light-hitting, error-prone infielder whom the Florida Marlins pluck from the Cincinnati Reds' minor league system.

The Reds are in the midst of converting Hoffman into a relief pitcher when the Marlins grab him with their fourth pick.

Not that the Marlins take advantage of their steal of a pick as they trade Hoffman and his promising changeup, along with two fringe players, to San Diego in the middle of the ’93 season for power-hitting outfielder Gary Sheffield and serviceable relief pitcher Rich Rodriguez.

Hoffman saves 552 games for the Padres from 1993-2008 before retiring in 2010 with a then-record 601 saves.

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