SPORTS

Top 30 No. 1 overall draft picks in MLB history

The Tigers have the No. 1 overall pick in June's MLB Draft for the second time ever, first since 1997, when they took right-handed pitcher Matt Anderson out of Rice. Here's a look at the top 30 top picks in MLB history, going by the WAR metric provided by Baseball-Reference.com. (Spoiler alert: Anderson didn't make the cut.)
The Tigers have the No. 1 overall pick in June's MLB Draft for the second time ever, first since 1997, when they took right-handed pitcher Matt Anderson out of Rice. Here's a look at the top 30 top picks in MLB history, going by the WAR metric provided by Baseball-Reference.com. (Spoiler alert: Anderson didn't make the cut.)
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No. 1: Alex Rodriguez, 1993, Seattle Mariners, 117.8 WAR.
No. 1: Alex Rodriguez, 1993, Seattle Mariners, 117.8 WAR.
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No. 2: Chipper Jones, 1990, Atlanta Braves, 85.2 WAR.
No. 2: Chipper Jones, 1990, Atlanta Braves, 85.2 WAR.
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No. 3: Ken Griffey Jr., 1987, Seattle Mariners, 83.8 WAR.
No. 3: Ken Griffey Jr., 1987, Seattle Mariners, 83.8 WAR.
Jeff Carlick, Getty Images
No. 4: Joe Mauer, 2001, Minnesota Twins, 55.0 WAR (and counting).
No. 4: Joe Mauer, 2001, Minnesota Twins, 55.0 WAR (and counting).
Ricardo Arduengo, Getty Images
No. 5: Adrian Gonzalez, 2000, Florida Marlins, 42.4 WAR (and counting).
No. 5: Adrian Gonzalez, 2000, Florida Marlins, 42.4 WAR (and counting).
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No. 6: Darryl Strawberry, 1980, New York Mets, 42.2 WAR.
No. 6: Darryl Strawberry, 1980, New York Mets, 42.2 WAR.
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No. 7: Harold Baines, 1977, Chicago White Sox, 38.7 WAR.
No. 7: Harold Baines, 1977, Chicago White Sox, 38.7 WAR.
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No. 8: B.J. Surhoff, 1985, Milwaukee Brewers, 34.4 WAR.
No. 8: B.J. Surhoff, 1985, Milwaukee Brewers, 34.4 WAR.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
No. 9: David Price, 2007, Tampa Bay Rays, 33.5 WAR (and counting).
No. 9: David Price, 2007, Tampa Bay Rays, 33.5 WAR (and counting).
Leon Halip, Getty Images
No. 10: Rick Monday, 1965, Kansas City A's, 33.1 WAR.
No. 10: Rick Monday, 1965, Kansas City A's, 33.1 WAR.
Harry How, Getty Images
No. 11: Darin Erstad, 1995, California Angels, 32.4 WAR.
No. 11: Darin Erstad, 1995, California Angels, 32.4 WAR.
Al Bello, Getty Images
No. 12: Justin Upton, 2005, Arizona Diamondbacks, 31.9 WAR (and counting).
No. 12: Justin Upton, 2005, Arizona Diamondbacks, 31.9 WAR (and counting).
Duane Burleson, Getty Images
No. 13: Andy Benes, 1988, San Diego Padres, 31.6 WAR.
No. 13: Andy Benes, 1988, San Diego Padres, 31.6 WAR.
Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
No. 14: Josh Hamilton, 1999, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 28.3 WAR.
No. 14: Josh Hamilton, 1999, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 28.3 WAR.
Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
No. 15: Mike Moore, 1981, Seattle Mariners, 28.2 WAR.
No. 15: Mike Moore, 1981, Seattle Mariners, 28.2 WAR.
Gary Newkirk, Getty Images
No. 16: Bryce Harper, 2010, Washington Nationals, 27.2 WAR (and counting).
No. 16: Bryce Harper, 2010, Washington Nationals, 27.2 WAR (and counting).
Patrick Smith, Getty Images
No. 17: Floyd Bannister, 1976, Houston Astros, 26.6 WAR.
No. 17: Floyd Bannister, 1976, Houston Astros, 26.6 WAR.
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No. 18: Tim Belcher, 1983, Minnesota Twins, 26.1 WAR.
No. 18: Tim Belcher, 1983, Minnesota Twins, 26.1 WAR.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
No. 19: Stephen Strasburg, 2009, Washington Nationals, 25.4 WAR (and counting).
No. 19: Stephen Strasburg, 2009, Washington Nationals, 25.4 WAR (and counting).
Mitchell Layton, Getty Images
No. 20: Bob Horner, 1978, Atlanta Braves, 21.9 WAR.
No. 20: Bob Horner, 1978, Atlanta Braves, 21.9 WAR.
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No. 21: Ben McDonald, 1989, Baltimore Orioles, 20.9 WAR.
No. 21: Ben McDonald, 1989, Baltimore Orioles, 20.9 WAR.
J.D. Cuban, Getty Images
No. 22: Pat Burrell, 1998, Philadelphia Phillies, 18.9 WAR.
No. 22: Pat Burrell, 1998, Philadelphia Phillies, 18.9 WAR.
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images
No. 23: Carlos Correa, 2012, Houston Astros, 17.9 WAR (and counting).
No. 23: Carlos Correa, 2012, Houston Astros, 17.9 WAR (and counting).
Jennifer Stewart, Getty Images
No. 24: Jeff Burroughs, 1969, Washington Senators, 17.8 WAR.
No. 24: Jeff Burroughs, 1969, Washington Senators, 17.8 WAR.
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No. 25: Jeff King, 1986, Pittsburgh Pirates, 16.8 WAR.
No. 25: Jeff King, 1986, Pittsburgh Pirates, 16.8 WAR.
Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images
No. 26: Phil Nevin, 1992, Houston Astros, 15.9 WAR.
No. 26: Phil Nevin, 1992, Houston Astros, 15.9 WAR.
Ted Mathias, Getty Images
No. 27: Gerrit Cole, 2011, Pittsburgh Pirates, 14.2 WAR (and counting).
No. 27: Gerrit Cole, 2011, Pittsburgh Pirates, 14.2 WAR (and counting).
Jeff Curry, Getty Images
No. 28: Kris Benson, 1996, Pittsburgh Pirates, 12.9 WAR.
No. 28: Kris Benson, 1996, Pittsburgh Pirates, 12.9 WAR.
David Seelig, Getty Images
No. 29: Shawon Dunston, 1982, Chicago Cubs, 11.5 WAR.
No. 29: Shawon Dunston, 1982, Chicago Cubs, 11.5 WAR.
Vincent Laforet, Getty Images
No. 30: Ron Blomberg, 1967, New York Yankees, 9.4 WAR.
No. 30: Ron Blomberg, 1967, New York Yankees, 9.4 WAR.
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