3rd round pick also does not equal gamble. For example, from the 2005 draft (randomly selected) there is Brett Gardner alone who has >5 WAR 10 years into their pro careers.
From the 2000 draft, just 2 players have >5 WAR.
So (1) I'm not sure we've closed the door on Purke - he may still be a starter, he may have value as a RP, and (2) I kind of reject the notion that you can call him a "gamble" unless you're saying his chances of success were less than 1 or 2 out of 30 or whatever it is for any 3rd round pick.
Reason 2.
EDIT: I also think that he doesn't have to do much at the MLB level to justify the pick. I liked it at the time and still do, he's well worth the shot.
