Are these the greatest 1st overall MLB Draft picks?

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, and are hoping that the player they take will be a pillar of their success for the next two decades. Teams expect players taken that high to be with the big league club within two or three years, and to cement their legacy shortly thereafter. We’ll take a look at the best picks at the top of the draft in MLB history.

Swanson was taken with the first pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but was interestingly traded to the Atlanta Braves six months later. Swanson proved to be a fixture in the Braves’ middle infield, and quickly established himself as one of the premier fielding shortstops in the game. He left Atlanta to sign with the Chicago Cubs in the offseason.

Correa is probably more popular for the wild ride he had in free agency this past winter. His agent came to terms with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets, but both deals were nixed due to concerns with his health. As a result, he returned to the Minnesota Twins, after seven great years with the Houston Astros.

Cole has had a very successful major league career, as he’s made an All-Star team with three different franchises. The Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros and New York Yankees have all seen what he can do firsthand. The Yankees are hoping that Cole can maintain his dominant form through the postseason, as New York looks for its first World Series title since 2009.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Harper’s ascension in the baseball world. He was tabbed as the next special talent while he was still a teenager, which put a target on his back early. Harper hit 22 home runs as a 19-year-old rookie in 2012, and has not looked back. He’s won two MVP awards in his career.

A year before bringing Harper into the fold, the Washington Nationals selected Strasburg at the top of the 2009 Draft. The pitcher was said to have an electric arm, and that proved to be the case when he arrived at the big club. Strasburg was named World Series MVP in 2019 after a stellar performance at the highest stage.

There seemed to be something unique brewing with Price at Vanderbilt University. The lefty had a swagger about him that helped him perform well during the College World Series, which got the attention of the Tampa Bay Rays. Price would lead all of MLB in ERA twice in his career. He spent half of his 14-year career with the Rays.

The Upton brothers were dynamic players in MLB for a long time. While B.J. had a solid career of his own, it was Justin who was taken first in the 2005 Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The organization from shift Upton from shortstop to the outfield, where his natural athleticism shined. He’s been an All-Star four times in his career.

There are some stories that seem too unrealistic to be true, and Mauer’s certainly qualifies. The hometown hero usually never gets to play for the MLB club in his city, but the Minnesota native did indeed get to play for the Twins. He would remain loyal to them, spending his entire 15-year career with the team, hitting .306 in that time.

The young core of the Florida Marlins seemed to be getting stronger when they took Gonzalez first in the 2000 Draft. However, he wouldn’t play one inning for them, and struggled to find his footing with the Texas Rangers as well. Gonzalez would finally make a name for himself with the San Diego Padres, which he parlayed into success with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers as well.

Burrell’s stint with the Philadelphia Phillies was an eventful one. His tenure started with the team hoping to establish a foundation, and ended with a World Series championship in 2008. The former first-overall pick was a thumper in the middle of that lineup, providing solid production alongside Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

There wasn’t anything supremely glamorous about Erstad’s game, which makes sense considering his background. He starred in both football and baseball at the University of Nebraska, and his grind-it-out approach made him perfect for the top of any lineup. He was part of the 2002 Anaheim Angels team that won the World Series.

Rodriguez is quite possibly the greatest first-pick of all time. The Hall of Famer didn’t start out raking, but broke out in a massive way at age 20 in 1996. He finished second in the league in MVP voting. Rodriguez hit 686 home runs in his career, was a 14-time All-Star, and won a World Series in 2009 with the New York Yankees.

Most people will remember the Atlanta Braves’ 1990’s run of dominance for their supreme pitching talent, but Jones’ presence in the middle of the order provided a stabilizing presence during that time. Jones was a threat to hit home runs, but was a difficult player to put away with two strikes. He spent his entire 19-year career with the Braves.

Many fans would point to Griffey Jr.’s swing as the sweetest in baseball history. “The Kid”, as he was known even as he got older, would make the game look effortless at the plate and in centerfield. It was also abundantly clear that he enjoyed his time at the major league level, as he was always smiling and wore his hat backwards during batting practice.

It seemed like everything Strawberry did was magnified. Whether it was his dynamic play on the field, or his personal demons off it, he didn’t go halfway on anything. Strawberry broke in winning Rookie Of The Year in 1983. He would play on three World Series champions, once with the New York Mets in 1986, and twice in the late 1990’s with the New York Yankees.

Baines is often overlooked as a premier hitter in baseball history, but he played at an extremely high clip for a very long time. He is best remembered for his time with the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Baines hit 384 home runs in his career, and finished up with strong .289 average in 22 seasons.