Every MLB team's best draft pick

From blue-chip prospects to late-round surprises, talent can come from just about anywhere in the MLB Draft. Every team has at least one pick they hit a home run with in their history – let’s review them below.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt

Amazingly, Paul Goldschmidt wasn’t drafted until the eighth round in 2009 (246th overall). In 2013, Goldschmidt led the NL in homers (36) and RBIs (125) en route to a second-place finish in the MVP voting. He was a six-time All-Star in Arizona before failing to get the nod in his first year as a Cardinal.

Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones

Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones was the first overall pick in 1990, and though he didn’t make the majors full-time until 1995, he would validate the hype.

Jones was second in the Rookie of the Year voting before winning MVP honors in 1999. In 2008, at age 36, Jones led the majors in batting average (.364).

Baltimore Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr.

Cal Ripken Jr. (48th overall, 1978) was the face of the Orioles’ franchise for most of his playing career. The two-time MVP, enshrined in Cooperstown in 2007, is most famous for breaking Lou Gehrig’s "Iron Man" streak for most consecutive games played.

Boston Red Sox: Wade Boggs

Wade Boggs was drafted straight out of high school, hence why he was a seventh-round selection in 1976. Over his 10 years in Boston, Boggs led the majors in batting average four times and on-base percentage and intentional walks six times. The 12-time All-Star was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Chicago Cubs: Greg Maddux

Though only one of his four Cy Young victories came with the Cubs, Hall of Famer Greg Maddux is still the best draft pick the storied franchise ever made (31st overall, 1984).

"Mad Dog" led the majors in ERA and WHIP four times over his illustrious 23-year career and retired with 355 victories (133 in Chicago).

Chicago White Sox: Frank Thomas

Though the White Sox deserve credit for finding Mark Buehrle, a 214-game winner, in the 38th round in 1998, Hall of Famer Frank Thomas is the best draft pick the South Siders ever made.

Selected seventh overall in 1989, the Auburn product became known as "The Big Hurt" and established himself as one of baseball’s all-time great first basemen.

Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Bench

It’s hard to find a better catcher than Johnny Bench, and the 36th overall pick of 1965 was a Red for his entire 17-year career. This is a no-brainer.

Cleveland Indians: Jim Thome

Jim Thome was drafted 333rd overall in 1989 but hit 612 home runs – the eighth-most in MLB history – over a 22-year career. 337 of those were for the Indians.  

Colorado Rockies: Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado, a perennial MVP candidate, was drafted 59th overall in 2009. He’s won a Gold Glove every year since entering the majors in 2013.

Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander

He’s no longer a Tiger, but Justin Verlander is still shaping what could be a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Houston Astros.

The second-overall pick from 2004 had a career year with Detroit in 2011 (24-5, 2.40 ERA), winning Cy Young and MVP honors. Verlander added a second Cy Young award to his mantle in 2019.

Houston Astros: Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio (22nd overall, 1987) was a force at the top of the Astros’ lineup for two decades. A seven-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover, and five-time Silver Slugger at second base, Biggio was inducted into Cooperstown in 2015.

Kansas City Royals: George Brett

George Brett, a second-round selection in 1971, was the face of the Royals’ franchise for most of his 21-year career. The 13-time All-Star led the AL in batting average three times, including his 1980 MVP campaign (.390). He became a Hall of Famer in 1999.

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout

The Angels have had a lot of swings-and-misses in their draft history, but Mike Trout (25th overall in 2009) became a no-doubt home run for this team. Trout just turned 28 and has already won three MVP Awards.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Mike Piazza

It’s a toss-up between three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw (seventh overall, 2006) and Mike Piazza, the greatest offensive catcher of all-time, but the latter gets the nod because of where he was drafted.

Piazza, who became a Hall of Famer in 2016, was taken in the 62nd round in 1988, and only because manager Tommy Lasorda was doing a friend a favor.

Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton

There is perhaps no more powerful man in the majors than Giancarlo Stanton (76th overall, 2007), who cranked 59 homers en route to MVP honors in 2017. He hit 267 longballs over eight years in Miami before being dealt to the Yankees in 2018.

Milwaukee Brewers: Robin Yount

Robin Yount was selected third overall by the Brewers in 1973 and didn’t fail to deliver on the hype. He won two MVP Awards over his 20-year career, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

Minnesota Twins: Kirby Puckett

Despite playing just 12 seasons, Kirby Puckett is one of the greatest Twins ever.

Taken third overall in 1982, Puckett compiled six Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers, as well as 10 All-Star game nods. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by glaucoma, but he was still elected to Cooperstown in 2001.

New York Mets: David Wright

David Wright (38th overall, 2001) averaged 25 homers and 99 RBI while batting .296 per 162-game season. But injuries derailed what might have been a Hall of Fame career.

New York Yankees: Derek Jeter

Part of the "Core Four" that debuted in 1995, Derek Jeter (sixth overall, 1992) helped the Yankees win five World Series titles from 1996 to 2009. He was a near-unanimous Hall of Fame selection in 2020, and is widely considered one of the greatest shortstops ever.

Oakland Athletics: Rickey Henderson

Rickey Henderson, the greatest base-stealer of all-time and one of the best ever at his position, was drafted 96th overall by the A’s in 1976.

Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt

The Phillies drafted four of their core players from their 2008 World Series team between 1996 and 2002 (Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels), but their best draft pick ever was clearly Mike Schmidt (30th overall, 1971).

Schmidt won three MVP Awards over 18 years, all in Philadelphia, and retired with 548 home runs. He was also a 10-time Gold Glover.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Dave Parker

The Pirates found Dave Parker in the 14th round in 1970, and he became one of the linchpins to their 1979 World Series-winning team. Parker won MVP honors in 1978 when he hit .334 (led MLB) with 30 homers and 117 RBI.

San Diego Padres: Tony Gwynn

With all due respect to Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, selected fourth overall by San Diego in 1973, there’s only one "Mr. Padre," and that's the legendary Tony Gwynn. A five-time MLB batting champ, Gwynn (58th overall, 1981) was one of baseball’s greatest hitters.

San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner

The Giants have made a habit of nailing the first round, finding Buster Posey (fifth overall, 2008) and Will Clark (second overall, 1985), among others, but Madison Bumgarner gets the nod here.

The 10th overall pick from 2007 won 119 games in 11 years in San Francisco and was anything but a shrinking violet in the postseason. He’ll begin a new chapter in Arizona in 2020.

Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. was considered a can’t-miss prospect in 1987, and the Mariners were lucky enough to draft him first overall.

The 13-time All-Star led the AL in homers four times with Seattle and retired with 630 four-baggers to his credit, seventh all-time.

St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols is sixth all-time in homers (656) and climbing. A savvy selection by St. Louis (402nd overall in 1999), Pujols won three MVP Awards as a Cardinal.

Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria

Evan Longoria (third overall, 2006) won the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year Award and provided Gold Glove-level defense for the Rays for 10 years.

Texas Rangers: Mark Teixeira

Mark Teixeira (fifth overall, 2001) wasn’t able to deliver the Rangers a World Series (he won with the Yankees in 2009), but he scored two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers in Texas. He retired in 2016 with 409 home runs.

Toronto Blue Jays: Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay (17th overall, 1995) won two Cy Young Awards in his Hall of Fame career, and tallied 148 of his 203 career victories for the Blue Jays.

Washington Nationals: Gary Carter

The Expos/Nationals franchise has drafted several Hall of Famers, including Gary Carter, Tim Raines, and Andre Dawson, and some potential candidates for enshrinement in Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. But the nod for best selection in franchise history goes to Carter (53rd overall, 1972). He was arguably one of the best catchers ever and spent 12 of his 19 seasons in Montreal.

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