Going back in time

Two years ago, I was given the chance to do a story on the Major League Baseball draft of 1994 focusing on local stars Todd Walker and Josh Booty and how their careers played out since then.

Part of that story included researching all 28 first-round picks from that draft. Remember Booty went No. 5 to Florida and Walker at No. 8 to Minnesota. On that list at No. 24 is Brian Buchanan.

Why do I bring his name up? Because Buchanan is still playing professional baseball -- and this weekend brought him to Shreveport.

Buchanan is now playing for the St. Paul Saints and trying to earn one more shot at the big leagues along the same lines as former Saints Jack Morris and Darryl Strawberry.

Buchanan never amounted to much in the majors, hitting 32 home runs in stints with Minnesota, San Diego and the New York Mets. Then again, neither did much of the first rounders in 1994.

Of the 28 players picked in the first round that year, only Walker, Jaret Wright (10), Nomar Garciaparra (12), Paul Konerko (13), Jason Varitek (14), Ramon Castro (16) and Scott Elarton (25) currently are in the big leagues.