We had a top farm system throughout the late '90s and early '00s despite always picking at the end of the draft. It has only been recently that Atlanta's farm system has declined.
Breaking down the drafts the only way it matters: who has reached the majors?
2014: Incomplete. Closest: No. 5 Chris Diaz (before injury)
2013: None (No. 2 pick traded, No. 5 pick suspended) Closest: No. 1 Jason Hursh, No. 8 Kyle Wren.
2012: No. 2 Alex Wood, No. 22 Shae Simmons. NOTE: No. 4 suspended, No. 7 & 9 cut, No. 15 retired.
2011: No. 2 Nick Ahmad (ARIZ); No. 8 Tommy La Stella, No. 17 Gus Schlosser.
2010: No. 2b Andrelton Simmons, No. 5 Phil Gosselin, No. 6 Joey Terodoslavich, No. 11 Chasen Shreve, No. 23 Evan Gattis.
2009: No. 1 Mike Minors; No. 3 David Hale.
2008: No. 2b Zeke Spruill (ARIZ); No. 3 Craig Kimbrel, No. 7 Paul Clemens (HOU), No. 8 Brett Oberholtzer, No. 10 J.J. Hoover (CIN).
2007: No. 1 Jason Heyward; No. 2b Freddie Freeman; No. 3 Brandon Hicks (SF, OAK); No. 4 Cory Gearrin; No.33 Craig Kimbrel (DNS).
2006: No. 1.5 Cory Rasmus; No. 10 Kris Medlen.
2005: No. 1 Joey Devine; No. 2a Yunel Escobar; No. 3 Jordan Schafer; No. 22 Tommy Hanson; No. 33 Tyler Flowers (CHI A).
People, that's a pretty dang good track record despite two FUBAR drafts ('06 Cody Johnson, '08 Bret DuVal/Tyler Stovall 1-2).