For comparison sake Jim Thome was also taken in the 13 round. Mike Piazza was taken in the last round or next to last round as a favor by Tommy Lasorda. Jake Peavy was taken in the 15th round - a ton and half of pitchers were taken before him. Overlooking someone in the MLB draft is closer to the rule than the exception.
I believe his ‘low’ draft status may have been because of fielding concerns. He is not a “5 tool player”. Teams aren’t going to draft an Edgar Martinez type player with a high pick. If there is a question about his fielding skill he’s not going high.
Second Pujols has
always been a hitter. He has mashed it at every level. And from everything I’ve read (and that’s been quite a bit) he has always been a big guy. There was no Bondsian body transformation that would indicate steriod/HGH use.
I know we are all a little skeptical but some athletes are just special. I think Pujols is one of those guys. And I haven’t seen any evidence, circumstantial or otherwise, that would make me think differently.
I think it's on you to bring more to the table than he was late round draft and now he's a home run hitting future Hall of Famer.