MLB draft: Top 10 No. 1 choices of all time
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With the buzz of this year’s MLB draft centered on surefire No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg, I decided to take a look back at previous No. 1 overall picks to see how they fared in the MLB.
From the first draft back in 1965, when Kansas City selected outfielder Rick Monday out of Arizona State, until later tonight, when the Nationals will no doubt make the flame-throwing Strasburg the top pick, there have been spot-on picks such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, as well as epic busts like Brien Taylor and Steve Chilcott who never even reached the majors.
I have ranked my top 10 first overall picks, and if the hype is legitimate, Strasburg will find his way onto the list before too long.
10: Jeff Burroughs in 1969 by the Washington Senators
Career: 16 seasons, .261 BA, 240 HR, 882 RBI
9: Andy Benes in 1988 by the San Diego Padres
Career: 14 seasons, 155-139, 3.97 ERA, 2,000 Ks
8: B.J. Surhoff in 1985 by the Milwaukee Brewers
Career: 19 seasons, .282 BA, 188 HR, 1,153 RBI
7: Mike Moore in 1981 by the Seattle Mariners
Career: 14 seasons, 161-176, 4.39 ERA, 1,667 Ks
6: Darryl Strawberry in 1980 by the New York Mets
Career: 17 seasons, .259 BA, 335 HR, 1,000 RBI
5: Joe Mauer in 2001 by the Minnesota Twins
Career: Six seasons, .322 BA, 56 HR, 336 RBI
4: Harold Baines in 1977 by the Chicago White Sox
Career: 22 seasons, .289 BA, 384 HR, 1,628 RBI
3: Chipper Jones in 1990 by the Atlanta Braves
Career: 16 seasons, .311 BA, 415 HR, 1,402 RBI
2: Alex Rodriguez in 1993 by the Seattle Mariners
Career: 16 seasons, .305 BA, 561 HR, 1,629 RBI
1: Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987 by the Seattle Mariners
Career: 21 seasons, .287 BA, 617 HR, 1,788 RBI
-- Joel Reuter