WATCH: Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt gets you pumped for the 2016 MLB Draft

It's narrated by Mike Schmidt, a Hall of Famer who was taken in 1971

The 2016 Major League Baseball first-year player draft begins on Thursday night. It can be seen on MLB Network starting at 7 p.m. ET (more info here). How will it begin? Here's a sneak preview, narrated by Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt:

Man, that's cool.

Schmidt was drafted in 1971 by the Phillies in the second round. Yes, the second round. Not only that, but he was picked immediately after fellow Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett.

45 years ago today George Brett (#5) & Mike Schmidt (#6) were selected with consecutive 2nd round draft picks. pic.twitter.com/7wKZE0WIYd

— Baseball Photos (@Baseball_Photos) June 8, 2016

A sampling of the names that were taken before Brett and Schmidt in the 1971 draft:

• Danny Goodwin (first overall, White Sox)
• Jay Franklin (2nd, Padres)
• Tommy Bianco (3rd, Brewers)

OK, this could take a while. Lightning round of players who were drafted before the two Hall of Famers and never made the bigs: Condredge Holloway, Roger Quiroga, Ed Kurpiel, David Sloan, Neil Rasmussen, Jeff Wehmeier, William Daniels, Dale Soderholm and Willie Boynton.

For those wondering if any players before the Schmidt/Brett tandem panned out, yes, there were a few. Frank Tanana went 13th overall to the Angels, Jim Rice went 15th overall to the Red Sox and Rick Rhoden went 20th overall to the Dodgers.

Perhaps the most painful pick? After Brett and Schmidt, the Senators took William Amason, who never made it past Class A. That's quite the drop off.

Anyway, just some fun facts along with a reminder that the MLB draft rarely unfolds how even the foremost experts expect.