Can You Name The Last 25 MLB First Overall Picks?
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Sports
We'll be honest and upfront with you - if you can ace this quiz, you just may be the most knowledgeable Major League Baseball (MLB) fan ever. Whereas the NFL, NBA, and even NHL Drafts receive plenty of fanfare and media attention, the same can't quite be said about the annual MLB Amateur Draft. For starters, the draft takes place two months into the MLB season as opposed to in the offseason, as is the case with the other three major professional leagues. It's hard to get casual fans to care about a draft to begin with, let alone when it takes place while actual meaningful games are being played. Most fans care about their team's performance on the field that day rather than young players who may or may not even make the team in the future.
Beyond that, it's a 40-round draft as opposed to the others, which are seven or less. MLB teams have as many as eight minor league affiliates and they need to round out those rosters with young players fresh out of college or high school. The draft itself takes place over the course of three days and it's easy to see why fan interest could be low. However, like the other drafts, the first round is always of interest. While fans might not know players taken in the mid-to-late rounds, there's often considerable buzz about the top-end talent available. Many of those players become superstars, while others are never heard from again. How well do you know the top players taken in each of the past 25 drafts?
Who was the first overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft?
The 2017 MLB Amateur Draft took place from June 12 to 14 and the Minnesota Twins had the first overall pick due to the fact they had the worst record during the 2016 season. With a pair of prominent high school pitchers available, the Twins instead opted to draft a burgeoning high school shortstop from California. He signed with the team shortly after and was optioned to the Gulf Coast League Twins, the team's Rookie-ball affiliate. In his first minor league season, the 18 year old hit four home runs and stole 18 bases in 21 attempts, while posting a .279 batting average.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft?
The Philadelphia Phillies have been awful for the better part of the past decade and, in the process, have stunted the progress of some immensely-talented prospects. However, the hope is the team's first overall selection in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft is too talented to stumble at the professional level. That doesn't seem to be the case through his first full professional season, however, as he recorded a dismal .236 batting average through 123 games with the Phillies' Single-A affiliate the Lakewood BlueClaws.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft?
The 2015 MLB Amateur Draft is perhaps the last one in which a sure-fire, can't-miss prospect with national attention was taken first overall. The Arizona Diamondbacks had the top pick in the draft and selected a shortstop out of Vanderbilt University who came into the league with quite an impressive pedigree, but the team dealt him less than a year later to the Atlanta Braves in a deal for pitcher Shelby Miller. The player has a .248 career batting average through 171 MLB games and struggled in his first full season.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft?
The Houston Astros received the second overall pick in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft all because they couldn't agree to terms with this player, who they selected first overall a year prior. Several prominent players have since emerged from the first round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft, but this first overall pick is not one of them. Drafted out of high school, he opted to hold out on the Astros and was instead selected 17th overall in 2015 by the Cleveland Indians. He's currently pitching miserably in Single-A and likely wishing he accepted the $5 million offer from the Astros.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft?
The Astros selected first overall for the second of what would become three consecutive years in 2013 and drafted this right-handed pitcher out of Stanford University. He has yet to reach the MLB level and struggled at AAA this past season, but remains an intriguing prospect given his size (6-foot-5) and strong arm. He was traded to the Phillies in 2015 as the Astros realized he likely wasn't going to reach his potential. What stings most about the pick is the fact an All-Star third baseman was selected second overall.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft?
Although the Astros essentially wasted first overall picks in the next two years, the franchise made the most of its top pick in 2012 with the selection of this shortstop from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. He didn't reach the MLB until 2015, but he won the American League Rookie of the Year award that season after hitting 22 home runs and driving in 68 runs. He now has three consecutive 20-plus home run seasons and was named an All-Star in 2017.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft?
Six eventual MLB All-Stars were selected in the first round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft, including this first overall pick, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of the University of California Los Angeles. He impressed in his first two big league seasons and had a breakthrough campaign in 2015, when he won 19 games and struck out 202 batters in 208 innings, while recording an impressive 2.60 ERA. He finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting that season.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft?
This is probably a clown question (that's how this player referred to a question once asked by a reporter) given the All-Star status of this player. The first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft is now one of the best overall players in the game and certainly one of the most well-known. He was highly-touted out of high school and won Rookie of the Year in 2012 after hitting 22 home runs and driving in 59 runs. He won National League MVP in 2015 after he led the league in home runs (42), on-base percentage (.460), and runs (118).
Who was the first overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft?
The Washington Nationals had the fortune of selecting first overall in back-to-back years where there was a high-profile prospect up for grabs. In 2010, the team selected a future All-Star outfielder, and in 2009 it had the fortune of selecting this San Diego State University alumnus, who quickly reached the big leagues one year after being drafted, which is an accomplishment in itself. He has since become a four-time All-Star and finished ninth in National League Cy Young voting in 2014.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft?
Some first overall picks rise to stardom, some never make the big leagues, and even fewer eventually do so after a long career in the minor leagues. That was the case with the first overall pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, who appeared in five MLB games in 2013, but didn't become a full-time player until 2015. In fact, he has only really developed into more than a bench player this season after being dealt to the Baltimore Orioles. While he's at least a serviceable player at this point, the selection hurts given that six of the top 11 picks in the draft became All-Stars.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft?
Before the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros, the Tampa Bay Rays had consecutive first overall picks. While the team didn't exactly make the most out of its top pick in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, it selected a future All-Star left-handed pitcher out of Vanderbilt University in 2007. The pitcher debuted in 2008 and was an American League All-Star for the first time in 2010. He has since been an All-Star in four other seasons and won the Cy Young award in 2012 following a 20-win season.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2006 MLB Draft?
The 2006 MLB Amateur Draft produced a number of future All-Stars, including late-round picks such as J.D. Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt, who were taken in the 36th and 49th rounds respectively. Future National Football League (NFL) players Riley Cooper, Jake Locker, and Kyle Williams were also taken in the draft, but obviously opted to play football. The first overall pick was a right-handed pitcher drafted out of the University of Tennessee. While he wasn't much of a star as a starting pitcher, he has since become a serviceable relief pitcher.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft?
Six of the top seven selections in the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft have become MLB All-Stars at some point in their careers, including the first overall pick, who was the only player of the group drafted out of high school. He made his MLB debut in 2007 when he was still only 19 years old and earned his first of four All-Star appearances two years later. In 2011, as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, he finished fourth in National League MVP voting after hitting 31 home runs and driving in 88 runs.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft?
The first overall pick in the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft has been surrounded by controversy throughout his career. He was arrested shortly after being drafted as a shortstop for felony assault resulting from a bar fight and struggled at the plate in his first season, which caused the Padres to convert him to a pitcher. He squandered multiple opportunities with other franchises and faced numerous alcohol-related charges and, in 2012, was arrested for driving while impaired and nearly killing a 72 year old motorcyclist. After serving three years in prison, he returned and finally, 12 years after being drafted, made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers as a relief pitcher.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2003 MLB Draft?
The 2003 MLB Amateur Draft won't be remembered as one of the better drafts of all-time, but it did produce some talented players in Aaron Hill, Rickie Weeks, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and John Danks. The first overall pick from that year is far from one of the worst ever top selections, but he had a less-than-impressive career. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted the outfielder out of Adolfo Camarillo High School and he went on to have a 10-year career in which he hit 109 home runs to go along with a .283 batting average.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2002 MLB Draft?
The 2002 MLB Amateur Draft produced quality players such as Zack Grienke, Prince Fielder, Scott Kazmir, and Cole Hamels, but the first overall selection in the draft is far from a household name. A right-handed pitcher out of Ball State University, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and appeared in only 26 MLB games through five seasons. He retired following the 2010 season with a career win-loss record of 1-9 to go along with a 5.62 ERA. He allowed 98 hits in 81 and two-thirds innings and struck out only 54 batters, while allowing 31 walks.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2001 MLB Draft?
Although the majority of the players taken in the first round of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft either never played in the MLB or didn't make much of an impact, the top two selections in the draft became All-Stars. The Minnesota Twins held the first overall pick and used it to draft a local catcher from St. Paul, Minnesota's Cretin-Derham Hall High School. He has since become one of the franchise's all-time great players, winning an American League MVP, five Silver Sluggers, three Batting Titles, and three Gold Gloves.
Who was the first overall pick in the 2000 MLB Draft?
Only three players selected in the first round of the 2000 MLB Amateur Draft went on to play in a MLB All-Star Game, but one of those players is the first overall pick, a first baseman selected out of Chula Vista High School in California. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins, but was traded to the Texas Rangers before playing his first big league game. He has since played for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1999 MLB Draft?
Like 2004 first overall pick Matt Bush, this player has had his fair share of personal troubles. He battled alcoholism and substance abuse early in his career, but a trade to the Texas Rangers helped him turn his life around in 2008. He led the American League in RBIs that season with 130 and finished seventh in MVP voting. Two years later, he won the MVP award after leading the American League in batting average (.359) and posting 32 home runs and 100 RBIs.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft?
The Philadelphia Phillies held the first overall pick in the 1998 MLB Amateur Draft and desperately needed offensive firepower in the infield. Consequently, the team selected a first baseman out of the University of Miami. The player primarily played left field throughout the bulk of his big league career, although he did become the offensive star that Philadelphia had anticipated. Throughout his 12-year career, he hit 292 home runs, recorded 976 RBIs, and had a batting average of .253. He had a career-best season in 2005 in which he had 32 home runs and 117 RBIs.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft?
The first overall pick in the 1997 MLB Amateur Draft had an impressive first few seasons in the MLB as a relief pitcher, but lasted only parts of seven seasons in the league. While he finished his career with a 15-7 record, he had a sub-par 5.19 ERA and an abysmal WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of 1.59. Making matters worse, the Rice University alumnus was the only player drafted in the top five that didn't become an All-Star during his career.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1996 MLB Draft?
Perhaps known more for his past marriage to an outspoken model than his play on the field, this first overall pick is a right-handed pitcher drafted out of Clemson University. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1999 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates and continued to play with the team until 2004, when he was traded to the New York Mets. He retired following the 2010 season after a nine-year career in which he won 70 games and had an ERA of 4.42.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1995 MLB Draft?
Six future MLB All-Stars were selected in the top 13 picks of the 1995 MLB Amateur Draft, including this first overall pick, who was drafted as an outfielder out of the University of Nebraska by the California Angels. A two-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove recipient, the outfielder and North Dakota native played 14 seasons in the MLB and accumulated 124 home runs, 699 RBIs, and had a career batting average of .282. He retired in 2009 as a member of the Houston Astros.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1994 MLB Draft?
Believe it or not, the MLB Amateur Draft used to be longer than 40 rounds. At one point, it was 60 rounds; the first overall pick in the 1994 draft was actually drafted out of high school in the 57th round of the 1991 draft, but opted to attend Florida State University. After a successful collegiate career, he was drafted by the Mets, but didn't quite live up to expectations. Through his seven-year MLB career, he posted a record of 40-58 and gave up 1,029 hits in 941 and two-third innings, while only striking out 619 batters.
Who was the first overall pick in the 1993 MLB Draft?
Chances are you've heard of the first overall pick in the 1993 MLB Amateur Draft, even if you're not a baseball fan. He was a star with the Seattle Mariners, the team that drafted him, as well as the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. He was also implicated in a steroid scandal that hurt his reputation league-wide and is currently dating Jennifer Lopez. On the field, he has led the MLB in home runs in five separate seasons and ranks fourth all-time in career home runs with 696.