Top 1st Round Draft Picks in MLB History

With the latest MLB First-Year Player Draft kicking off July 17, the eyes of the baseball world will be on this year’s crop of elite prospects. And while the range of outcomes for first-round picks is particularly wide, it’s more likely than not that most players taken in Round 1 of this year’s draft will be lucky to make it 10 years in the league.

That said, every team has hit at least one proverbial home run with a first-round selection over the years. Here’s a team-by-team historical breakdown of the best first-round picks in Major League Baseball history (FanGraphs WAR used in headers; statistics as of July 4):

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Arizona Diamondbacks

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Max Scherzer (11th overall, 2006)195-98, 3.15 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 68.1 WAR

Scherzer is easily the Diamondbacks’ best first-round pick even though he hasn’t worn an Arizona uniform since 2009. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is on the fast track to Cooperstown despite not really hitting his stride until his mid-20s. Justin Upton (32.4 WAR) is the only other Diamondbacks first-rounder to have accumulated more than 30 WAR to date.

Atlanta Braves

Top 1st Round Pick: SS Chipper Jones (1st overall, 1990)

.303 AVG, 468 HRs, 1,623 RBIs, 85.3 WAR

In home-run parlance, this is a no-doubter. Jones – who was drafted as a shortstop but didn’t stay there – put together a sensational major-league career that saw him win an MVP award in 1999 and finish in the top-10 five other times while playing his entire career in Atlanta. Adam Wainwright (46.6 WAR) and Dale Murphy (46.5) are a distant second and third, respectively.

Baltimore Orioles

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Mike Mussina (20th overall, 1990)

270-153, 3.68 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 82.8 WAR

It might be easy to overlook the Orioles as strong drafters, but they’re one of only a handful of teams with three first-rounders at 49 WAR or higher. Mussina is the best of an impressive bunch, combining perennial Cy Young contention with one of the best gloves at his position. Shortstop Bobby Grich (71.1 WAR) is the best position player, taken 19th overall in 1967.

Boston Red Sox

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Roger Clemens (19th overall, 1983)

354-184, 3.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 139.2 WAR

Regardless of whether you think Rocket Roger belongs in the Hall of Fame (and he does), you cannot deny that he is the most successful first-rounder in the history of the storied Red Sox franchise. Those seven Cy Young Awards are just the tip of an awesome iceberg – and nobody is particularly close, with runner-up Jim Rice (47.7) a whopping 91.5 WAR behind.

Chicago White Sox

Top 1st Round Pick: 1B Frank Thomas (7th overall, 1989)

.301 AVG, 521 HRs, 1,704 RBIs, 73.8 WAR

Thomas stands out here, not only as the top WAR earner among White Sox first-rounders, but also as part of a stretch in which Chicago parlayed four straight top-10 picks (Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura, Thomas, Alex Fernandez) into a combined 186.2 career WAR. Wiry lefty Chris Sale (45.5 WAR) deserves honorable mention here as a 2010 first-round gem. 

Chicago Cubs

Top 1st Round Pick: OF Rafael Palmeiro (22nd overall, 1985)

.288 AVG, 569 HRs, 1,835 RBIs, 71.9 WAR

Exhibits A and B for why compensation picks matter: The top two players on the Cubs’ all-time first-rounder list were taken with selections provided due to Chicago losing free agents. And coming in second on this list: Josh Donaldson (46.2 WAR), taken with a pick the Cubs received for losing Juan Pierre in 2007; Donaldson never saw the field with Chicago.

Cincinnati Reds

Top 1st Round Pick: SS Barry Larkin (4th overall, 1985)

.295 AVG, 198 HRs, 960 RBIs, 70.5 WAR

Were it not for Larkin and his Hall-of-Fame career in Cincinnati, the Reds might rank among the worst teams in baseball with regard to first-round picks. Larkin spent his entire 19-year career in the Queen City, earning nine Silver Slugger awards, three Gold Gloves and the National League MVP award in 1995. No other Reds first-rounder has amassed more than 26 WAR.

Cleveland Indians

Top 1st Round Pick: OF Manny Ramirez (13th overall, 1991)

.312 AVG, 555 HR, 1,831 RBIs, 69.3 WAR

The guy affectionately known as ManRam established himself as an offensive force in his eight seasons with Cleveland, reaching four All-Star Games while knocking in an absurd 165 runs in a sensational 1999 season. He and gregarious left-hander CC Sabathia (62.3 WAR) helped solidify the Indians as one of the top drafting teams in baseball in the 1990s. 

Colorado Rockies

Top 1st Round Pick: 1B Todd Helton (8th overall, 1995)

.316 AVG, 369 HRs, 1,406 RBIs, 61.8 WAR

The Rockies made the most of a subpar opening round at the 1995 draft, selecting the player that would ultimately provide the most WAR of any non-pitcher in Round 1. Helton was a foundational piece of some of the best Rockies teams in franchise history, reaching the All-Star Game five straight times while earning a Gold Glove three times in that span.

Detroit Tigers

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Justin Verlander (2nd overall, 2004) 

236-132, 3.29 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 74.1 WAR

Seven years after using the first overall pick on a pitcher (Matt Anderson) who would earn -1.2 career major-league WAR, the Tigers made up for it – and then some. Verlander, taken No. 2 in 2004, was an immediate success, winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2006 as the precursor to a pair of Cy Young Awards (and three second-place finishes).

Houston Astros

Top 1st Round Pick: C Craig Biggio (22nd overall, 1987)

.281 AVG, 291 HRs, 1,175 RBIs, 65.5 WAR

The Astros have been blessed with an impressive cache of high first-round picks – and to their credit, they’ve made mostly good use of them. But their best Round 1 pick of all was actually taken 22nd overall – and Biggio’s move from catcher to second base to center field was just one of several impressive feats the New York native pulled off during an impressive career.

Kansas City Royals

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Zack Greinke (6th overall, 2002)

221-136, 3.43 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 74.8 WAR

Greinke’s 2022 decision to return to the team that drafted him 20 years earlier is a nice full-circle moment that allows him to build on his franchise-leading WAR in a Royals uniform. It hasn’t always been a smooth ride for the Apopka High School alum, but winning the 2009 Cy Young Award and finishing top-10 four other times sure does make for a nice HOF resume.

Los Angeles Angels

Top 1st Round Pick: OF Mike Trout (25th overall, 2009) 

.303 AVG, 333 HRs, 863 RBIs, 80.0 WAR

We won’t revisit the ridiculousness of Trout lasting until the 25th pick in his draft year. Let’s focus instead on a different absurdity involving that magic number: Trout would lead 25 other teams in WAR despite the fact that he doesn’t turn 31 until August 7. The Trout WAR train might have slowed down in recent years, but it’s still firmly on the tracks.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Top 1st Round Pick: LHP Clayton Kershaw (7th overall, 2006) 

190-86, 2.49 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 73.8 WAR

It’s a rare thing for the Dodgers to find themselves picking in the top-10 – and that’s probably a good thing for the rest of the league. Kershaw overcame a hum-drum rookie season with emphasis, boasting the fewest H/9 in the majors in Year 2 – and it only got better from there, with the crafty lefty winning three Cy Young Awards in a four-year span from 2011-14.

Miami Marlins

Top 1st Round Pick: 1B Adrian Gonzalez (1st overall, 2000) 

.287 AVG, 317 HRs, 1,202 RBIs, 43.5 WAR

Sure, the Marlins were quite bad at the turn of the century – but give the franchise credit for turning high picks in 1999 and 2000 into eventual World Series hero Josh Beckett and Gonzalez. Unfortunately, the personable first baseman never saw the field with the Marlins, getting traded to Texas in 2003 in a deal that brought Ugueth Urbina to Florida.

Milwaukee Brewers

Top 1st Round Pick: SS Robin Yount (3rd overall, 1973) 

.285 AVG, 251 HRs, 1,406 RBIs, 77.4 WAR

Given how the Brewers drafted in the mid-1970s, it’s a wonder they still don’t have a World Series title. After taking Young with the No. 3 pick in 1973, Milwaukee landed another future Hall of Famer in Paul Molitor with the third pick in 1977. The two enjoyed several sensational seasons together with the Brewers, but ultimately fell short of winning a championship there.

Minnesota Twins

Top 1st Round Pick: C Joe Mauer (1st overall, 2001) 

.306 AVG, 143 HRs, 923 RBIs, 55.2 WAR

It’s generally good for baseball when a first overall pick pans out – and it’s safe to say that the Twins’ No. 1 choice in 2001 fits that bill. The St. Paul native was an instant fan hit as a local boy making good – and while his offensive peak (culminating in his MVP win in 2009) was brief, he remained productive into his mid-30s while spending his entire career in Minnesota.

New York Yankees

Top 1st Round Pick: SS Derek Jeter (6th overall, 1992) 

.310 AVG, 260 HRs, 1,311 RBIs, 71.3 WAR

Could it be anyone else? The much-ballyhooed sixth pick in the 1992 draft needed a few years of minor-league seasoning but was well worth the wait, slashing .310/.370/.430 en route to the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1996 and skyrocketing into superstardom from there. It didn’t hurt that Jeter spent his whole career in the Bronx, winning five titles in pinstripes.

New York Mets

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Dwight Gooden (5th overall, 1982) 

194-112, 3.51 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 53.0 WAR

This is a fascinating list, with Gooden finishing just ahead of David Wright (49.2) and fellow 80s star Darryl Strawberry (42.2). Gooden essentially racked up the majority of WAR in his first five major-league seasons, capped by one of the greatest pitching performances in modern MLB history (24-4, 1.53 ERA, 229 ERA+, 16 CG, 8 SO, 268 Ks). 

Oakland Athletics

Top 1st Round Pick: OF Reggie Jackson (2nd overall, 1966) 

.262 AVG, 563 HRs, 1,702 RBIs, 74.0 WAR

The 1966 draft is well known for producing one of the only No. 1 overall picks not to reach the majors. A’s fans, however, will remember this event for who went No. 2. Jackson scuffled in his first taste of major-league action in 1967 but caught fire in Year 2 and didn’t look back, going on to win the American League MVP award in 1973 while being named an All-Star 14 times.

Philadelphia Phillies

Top 1st Round Pick: 2B Chase Utley (15th overall, 2000) 

.275 AVG, 259 HRs, 1,025 RBIs, 64.5 WAR

The Phillies hit a first-round gold mine in a three-year span early in the new century, taking Utley 15th overall in 2000 and following that up by selecting Cole Hamels with the No. 17 pick in 2002. They’re the top two Philadelphia first-rounders in terms of WAR, with Utley owning a small edge by virtue of his six All-Star nods and four Silver Slugger awards.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Top 1st Round Pick: OF Barry Bonds (6th overall, 1985) 

.298 AVG, 762 HRs, 1,996 RBIs, 162.8 WAR

Andrew McCutchen. Jason Kendall. Gerrit Cole. Richie Hebner. These four players rank second through fifth in terms of Wins Above Replacement among players taken by Pittsburgh in the first round. Their combined WAR: 154.1. We just wanted to put Bonds’ absurd career WAR total into perspective, because there isn’t much to say about the man that hasn’t already been said.

San Diego Padres

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Dave Winfield (4th overall, 1973) 

.283 AVG, 465 HRs, 1,833 RBIs, 64.2 WAR

Please do not write in to tell us that we’ve gotten Winfield’s position wrong. The multi-sport wizard was actually selected as a pitcher but was quickly converted to a full-time hitter – and the results speak for themselves, with Winfield crafting a wonderful Hall of Fame career that included 12 All-Star nods, six Silver Slugger awards and seven Gold Gloves.

San Francisco Giants

Top 1st Round Pick: 1B Will Clark (2nd overall, 1985)

.303 AVG, 284 HRs, 1,205 RBIs, 56.5 WAR

Being a Giants fan in the mid-1980s was difficult – until it wasn’t. San Francisco turned things around thanks in large part to landing Will Clark and Matt Williams with high first-round picks in consecutive years. They rank 1-2 in WAR among first-round SF draftees; Clark settled into a role as a dependable option after age 30 but had four top-five MVP finishes in his 20s.

Seattle Mariners

Top 1st Round Pick: SS Alex Rodriguez (1st overall, 1993) 

.295 AVG, 696 HRs, 2,086 RBIs, 117.6 WAR

It takes a lot to topple Ken Griffey Jr. in any offensive category – but A-Rod is no ordinary challenger. The 1993 No. 1 pick needed a couple of seasons to get going, but when he did, he became the most gifted offensive player in baseball. Unfortunately, Rodriguez was no longer in Seattle by that time – which is probably why most M’s fans have fonder memories of Junior.

St. Louis Cardinals

Top 1st Round Pick: C Ted Simmons (10th overall, 1967)

.285 AVG, 248 HRs, 1,389 RBIs, 50.3 WAR

The Cardinals have cornered the market on “decent” first-round picks, with 11 players having accumulated 20+ WAR. And yet, Simmons sits alone at the top of a modest WAR list, staking his reputation as one of the best offensive catchers of his era. Simmons finished with eight All-Star appearances and one Silver Slugger award; his 1,389 RBIs rank fifth among Cs.

Tampa Bay Rays

Top 1st Round Pick: 3B Evan Longoria (3rd overall, 2006) 

.266 AVG, 325 HRs, 1,107 RBIs, 57.6 WAR

Given how long the Rays struggled before clawing their way to respectability, it’s no surprise that seven of their top-10 first-round picks in terms of WAR were taken fourth overall or higher. Longoria tops that list at the moment, serving as the team’s offensive heart and soul over 10 seasons in Tampa. No other Rays first-rounder has amassed more than 40 WAR so far.

Texas Rangers

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Kevin Brown (4th overall, 1986)

211-144, 3.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 67.8 WAR

The Georgia Institute of Technology should have a sign which reads: “Future Texas Rangers Welcome Here”. The Rangers’ top two first-round draftees in terms of WAR have both come from GIT: Brown, drafted in 1986, and Mark Teixeira (50.6 WAR), taken 15 years later. Brown won 78 games in eight years with the Rangers, throwing 40 complete games.

Toronto Blue Jays

Top 1st Round Pick: RHP Roy Halladay (17th overall, 1995)

203-105, 3.38 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 64.2 WAR

For a team that has often boasted rosters full of home-grown talent, it’s a small wonder that Halladay is so far ahead of the pack. Granted, the late Hall of Famer did rack up more than 200 victories with great rate stats – but the fact that the next-closest Blue Jays first-rounder is nearly 30 WAR behind (Shawn Green, 34.7) is a true testament to Doc’s dominance.

Washington Nationals

Top 1st Round Pick: OF Bryce Harper (1st overall, 2010)

.281 AVG, 282 HRs, 800 RBIs, 42.6 WAR

While the comparisons to Trout are long gone (it’s hard to believe the guy has nearly twice the WAR of Harper at this point in their careers), Harper has still been an incredible major leaguer. He already has a pair of MVP awards on his mantel and is just now riding into his 30s, which should mean ample opportunity to build on his slim franchise WAR lead.

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