The first-ever #1 pick was Rick Monday in 1965, chosen by the Kansas City Athletics. Over the years, notable #1 picks include Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, and Bryce Harper.
Teams like the San Diego Padres and New York Mets have frequently had the top pick, leveraging these opportunities to build competitive rosters.
The Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, and Colorado Rockies have never had the first pick.
The Montreal Expos never had the first pick, but their successor, the Nationals, have had it twice. The Oakland Athletics have never had the first pick, but their predecessor, the Kansas City Athletics, had the first pick in MLB draft history.
The Pittsburgh Pirates hold the record with the first overall pick six times, while the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Houston Astros each have had it five times.
MLB Number 1 Draft Picks List
| Year | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Paul Skenes | RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 2022 | Jackson Holliday | SS | Baltimore Orioles |
| 2021 | Henry Davis | C | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 2020 | Spencer Torkelson | 1B/3B | Detroit Tigers |
| 2019 | Adley Rutschman | C | Baltimore Orioles |
| 2018 | Casey Mize | RHP | Detroit Tigers |
| 2017 | Royce Lewis | SS | Minnesota Twins |
| 2016 | Mickey Moniak | OF | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 2015 | Dansby Swanson | SS | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 2014 | Brady Aiken | LHP | Houston Astros |
| 2013 | Mark Appel | RHP | Houston Astros |
| 2012 | Carlos Correa | SS | Houston Astros |
| 2011 | Gerrit Cole | RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 2010 | Bryce Harper | OF | Washington Nationals |
| 2009 | Stephen Strasburg | RHP | Washington Nationals |
| 2008 | Tim Beckham | SS | Tampa Bay Rays |
| 2007 | David Price | LHP | Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
| 2006 | Luke Hochevar | RHP | Kansas City Royals |
| 2005 | Justin Upton | SS | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 2004 | Matt Bush | SS | San Diego Padres |
| 2003 | Delmon Young | OF | Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
| 2002 | Bryan Bullington | RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 2001 | Joe Mauer | C | Minnesota Twins |
| 2000 | Adrian Gonzalez | 1B | Florida Marlins |
| 1999 | Josh Hamilton | OF | Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
| 1998 | Pat Burrell | 3B | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 1997 | Matt Anderson | RHP | Detroit Tigers |
| 1996 | Kris Benson | RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 1995 | Darin Erstad | OF | California Angels |
| 1994 | Paul Wilson | RHP | New York Mets |
| 1993 | Alex Rodriguez | SS | Seattle Mariners |
| 1992 | Phil Nevin | 3B | Houston Astros |
| 1991 | Brien Taylor | LHP | New York Yankees |
| 1990 | Chipper Jones | SS | Atlanta Braves |
| 1989 | Ben McDonald | RHP | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1988 | Andy Benes | RHP | San Diego Padres |
| 1987 | Ken Griffey Jr. | OF | Seattle Mariners |
| 1986 | Jeff King | 3B | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 1985 | B.J. Surhoff | C | Milwaukee Brewers |
| 1984 | Shawn Abner | OF | New York Mets |
| 1983 | Tim Belcher | RHP | Minnesota Twins |
| 1982 | Shawon Dunston | SS | Chicago Cubs |
| 1981 | Mike Moore | RHP | Seattle Mariners |
| 1980 | Darryl Strawberry | OF | New York Mets |
| 1979 | Al Chambers | OF | Seattle Mariners |
| 1978 | Bob Horner | 3B | Atlanta Braves |
| 1977 | Harold Baines | OF | Chicago White Sox |
| 1976 | Floyd Bannister | LHP | Houston Astros |
| 1975 | Danny Goodwin | C | California Angels |
| 1974 | Bill Almon | SS | San Diego Padres |
| 1973 | David Clyde | LHP | Texas Rangers |
| 1972 | Dave Roberts | 3B | San Diego Padres |
| 1971 | Danny Goodwin | C | Chicago White Sox |
| 1970 | Mike Ivie | C | San Diego Padres |
| 1969 | Jeff Burroughs | OF | Washington Senators |
| 1968 | Tim Foli | SS | New York Mets |
| 1967 | Ron Blomberg | 1B | New York Yankees |
| 1966 | Steve Chilcott | C | New York Mets |
| 1965 | Rick Monday | OF | Kansas City Athletics |
This table of #1 MLB Draft Picks will be updated at the end of each season.
MLB Teams Most #1 Draft Picks
| Team | #1 Picks |
|---|---|
| New York Mets | 5 |
| San Diego Padres | 5 |
| Houston Astros | 4 |
| Seattle Mariners | 4 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 |
This table of MLB teams with the most numer 1 draft picks will be updated at the end of each season.
Check out a list of MLB MVP Winners.
