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Who was the last No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft and who has been No. 1 pick each year

The No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft can flame out, but often they end up with at least All-Star appearances under their belt. We’ve got a list of every top pick in draft history.

2020 1st overall pick in the MLB Amateur Draft Spencer Torkelson (73) goes thru drills during the Detroit Tigers spring training workout on February 27, 2021 at Tigertown in Lakeland, Florida. Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 2021 MLB Draft has arrived, and with it will bring a host of talent looking to become the next big thing. There are no guarantees for anybody, but there is a decent chance at least one or two players from this year’s class ends up getting inducted in Cooperstown 20+ years from now.

Below is a list of every No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft dating back to 1965 when the Kansas City Athletics drafted outfielder Rick Monday. Last year, the Detroit Tigers spent the No. 1 overall pick on third baseman Spencer Torkelson.

This year, the Pittsburgh Pirates hold the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, marking the fifth such time for the franchise. Their previous No. 1 picks include Gerrit Cole (2011), Bryan Bullington (2002), Kris Benson (1996), and Jeff King (1986).

There’s a handful of top prospects that could end up going No. 1 when the draft opens Sunday evening. High school shortstops Marcelo Mayer and Jordan Lawlar are the most consistently mentioned at the top of prospect rankings, but Vanderbilt pitchers Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, Louisville catcher Henry Davis, high school shortstop Kahlil Watson are in the mix as well.

Here’s a rundown of MLB Draft history at the top of the board.

Every #1 pick in MLB Draft history

Year Player Team Position Club/School
Year Player Team Position Club/School
2020 Spencer Torkelson Detroit Tigers Third baseman Arizona State University
2019 Adley Rutschman Baltimore Orioles Catcher Oregon State University
2018 Casey Mize Detroit Tigers Right-handed pitcher Auburn University
2017 Royce Lewis Minnesota Twins Shortstop JSerra Catholic High School (San Juan Capistrano, California)
2016 Mickey Moniak Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder La Costa Canyon High School (Carlsbad, California)
2015 Dansby Swanson Arizona Diamondbacks Shortstop Vanderbilt University
2014 Brady Aiken Houston Astros Left-handed pitcher Cathedral Catholic High School (San Diego, California)
2013 Mark Appel Houston Astros Right-handed pitcher Stanford University
2012 Carlos Correa Houston Astros Shortstop Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School
2011 Gerrit Cole Pittsburgh Pirates Right-handed pitcher University of California, Los Angeles
2010 Bryce Harper Washington Nationals Outfielder/Catcher College of Southern Nevada
2009 Stephen Strasburg Washington Nationals Right-handed pitcher San Diego State University
2008 Tim Beckham Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop Griffin High School (Griffin, Georgia)
2007 David Price Tampa Bay Rays Left-handed pitcher Vanderbilt University
2006 Luke Hochevar Kansas City Royals Right-handed pitcher Fort Worth Cats [b]
2005 Justin Upton Arizona Diamondbacks Shortstop Great Bridge High School (Chesapeake, Virginia)
2004 Matt Bush San Diego Padres Shortstop Mission Bay Senior High School (San Diego, California)
2003 Delmon Young Tampa Bay Devil Rays Outfielder Adolfo Camarillo High School (Camarillo, California)
2002 Bryan Bullington Pittsburgh Pirates Right-handed pitcher Ball State University
2001 Joe Mauer Minnesota Twins Catcher Cretin-Derham Hall High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
2000 Adrián González Florida Marlins First baseman Eastlake High School (Chula Vista, California)
1999 Josh Hamilton Tampa Bay Devil Rays Outfielder Athens Drive High School (Raleigh, North Carolina)
1998 Pat Burrell Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder University of Miami
1997 Matt Anderson Detroit Tigers Right-handed pitcher Rice University
1996 Kris Benson Pittsburgh Pirates Right-handed pitcher Clemson University
1995 Darin Erstad California Angels Outfielder University of Nebraska–Lincoln
1994 Paul Wilson New York Mets Right-handed pitcher Florida State University
1993 Alex Rodriguez Seattle Mariners Shortstop Westminster Christian High School (Palmetto Bay, Florida)
1992 Phil Nevin Houston Astros Third baseman California State University, Fullerton
1991 Brien Taylor New York Yankees Left-handed pitcher East Carteret High School (Beaufort, North Carolina)
1990 Chipper Jones Atlanta Braves Shortstop Bolles High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
1989 Ben McDonald Baltimore Orioles Right-handed pitcher Louisiana State University
1988 Andy Benes San Diego Padres Right-handed pitcher University of Evansville
1987 Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle Mariners Outfielder Moeller High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
1986 Jeff King Pittsburgh Pirates Third baseman University of Arkansas
1985 B.J. Surhoff Milwaukee Brewers Catcher University of North Carolina
1984 Shawn Abner New York Mets Outfielder Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania)
1983 Tim Belcher Minnesota Twins Right-handed pitcher Mount Vernon Nazarene University
1982 Shawon Dunston Chicago Cubs Shortstop Thomas Jefferson High School (Brooklyn, New York)
1981 Mike Moore Seattle Mariners Right-handed pitcher Oral Roberts University
1980 Darryl Strawberry New York Mets Outfielder Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles, California)
1979 Al Chambers Seattle Mariners Outfielder John Harris High School (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
1978 Bob Horner Atlanta Braves Third baseman Arizona State University
1977 Harold Baines Chicago White Sox Outfielder St. Michaels Middle/High School (St. Michaels, Maryland)
1976 Floyd Bannister Houston Astros Left-handed pitcher Arizona State University
1975 Danny Goodwin California Angels Catcher Southern University
1974 Bill Almon San Diego Padres Shortstop Brown University
1973 David Clyde Texas Rangers Left-handed pitcher Westchester High School (Houston, Texas)
1972 Dave Roberts San Diego Padres Third baseman University of Oregon
1971 Danny Goodwin Chicago White Sox Catcher Peoria High School (Peoria, Illinois)
1970 Mike Ivie San Diego Padres Catcher Walker High School (Atlanta, Georgia)
1969 Jeff Burroughs Washington Senators Outfielder Woodrow Wilson Classical High School (Long Beach, California)
1968 Tim Foli New York Mets Shortstop Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, California)
1967 Ron Blomberg New York Yankees First baseman Druid Hills High School (Druid Hills, Georgia)
1966 Steve Chilcott New York Mets Catcher Antelope Valley High School (Lancaster, California)
1965 Rick Monday Kansas City Athletics Outfielder Arizona State University