MLB Draft: Top Five First Rounds of the Last Twenty Years

When Major League Baseball drafts take place, it is extremely difficult to predict which players will turn into superstars, stars, everyday players, average players, below-average players or just plain busts. 

Some experts believe that drafting high school kids is extremely risky when it comes to early-round picks. They believe college kids have more experience and therefore a better shot at being a successful Major League ballplayer. 

Others like to find those raw high school kids, hope they can hone their skills and have them develop within their minor league system.

Whether it’s high school or college kids being drafted, many first rounds throughout history have had their fare share of successes and failures.   

These are my top five first rounds of the MLB draft from the last 20 years. 

(Excluding supplemental first round picks)

Honorable Mentions:

2004:  Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, Phil Hughes.

2000:  Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Utley, Adam Wainwright.

1992:  Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Jason Kendall.

5: 1997

1997 had a good first round. 

J.D. Drew went second overall and was followed immediately by Troy Glaus.

Many people, including myself, laughed at the deal the Angels made to get Vernon Wells, but there is no denying the numbers he put up in Toronto. Vernon was followed by Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer and L.A.’s Jon Garland. 

The Astros found the prize of the round with the 16^th pick in Lance Berkman. Later in the round, an overpaid Jayson Werth was chosen as well as utility man Adam Kennedy.  

4: 2002

Thanks to Moneyball we all know that Nick Swisher had a great OBP at Ohio State. He was drafted No. 16 overall in the first round of the 2002 MLB Draft. 

Nick was preceded by ace Zack Greinke, soon-to-be-very-rich Prince Fielder and southpaw Joe Saunders. 

Swisher was followed by Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels and San Francisco’s Matt Cain, who both have World Series rings. 

Guys like Denard Span, Jeff Francoeur and B.J. Upton rounded out a very strong 2002 first round.    

3: 1993

I put this year at number three based on the superstars it produced. 

Alex Rodriguez went No. 1 overall to the Seattle Mariners before he juiced and sold out. The middle of this round showed us the likes of Billy Wagner, Derrek Lee, Chris Carpenter and Torii Hunter. 

This was also the first year of two in which Jason Varitek was drafted in the first round.  

2: 2006

The 2006 first round already has some established MLB talent, as well as a few young guys who have plenty of time left to prove themselves. 

Evan Longoria was the prize hitter that year. Clayton Kershaw went No. 7 overall and was followed three picks later by two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.

Young guys like Max Scherzer, Drew Stubbs, Luke Hochevar and Kyle Drabek could make this first round even stronger in the future with some established success.  

1: 2005

The 2005 first round was dominated by hitting, and far and away contained the most successful talent of any first round in the last 20 years. 

Justin Upton went No. 1 overall and we all know what he has done and will continue to do. He was followed by such names as Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun and Troy Toluwitzki.

Not to mention high school guys like Andrew McCutchen, Jay Bruce and Cameron Maybin. 

You know it was a strong year when you have to wait to mention guys like Matt Garza, Jacoby Ellsbury and Colby Rasmus who were all drafted late in the first round.  

Do you think other years were more deserving? Let me know.