Are MLB’s Number One Picks Living up to Expectations.
On May 11, less than a year after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him first overall in the 2023 Major League Draft, flamethrowing right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes pitched in his first Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Will he live up to the high expectations like fellow number one draft picks who have excelled in their craft, or wash out without making the requisite impact like other rising stars from the past 12 drafts?
MLB Draft Overview
Like other sports, baseball’s amateur draft is an inexact science. All 30 teams extensively scout the top high school and college players nationwide and then put those they feel are strong organizational fits on their draft boards. While some of the numerous draftees have the hard work and skillset to climb the ladder to the top level, others get stuck at a certain minor league level, and many players leave the sport without even getting a glimpse of what it is like to be a Major League player. Usually, the earlier a player is taken, the greater the chance that he will develop and contribute to the MLB team in some fashion. That is especially true for number-one picks, who are supposed to have transformative, franchise-altering impacts; yet even some fail to pan out as hoped.
Top Pick Tiers
Superstars
Dansby Swanson, Carlos Correa, and Adley Rutschman are all elite-level talents who have fully lived up to their status as the number-one pick. Swanson and Correa are talented shortstops who have moved on to new teams (Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins) after playing major roles in their former teams (Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros) journey to win the World Series. These two veteran players have received many
accolades and look set to continue their success for the next few years. In contrast, Rutschman is more or less just getting started. The San Francisco Giants’ turnaround coincided with Buster Posey’s promotion just like the Baltimore Orioles and Rutschman’s. He has become one of the best young catchers in the league and a pivotal part of an Orioles’ squad with big expectations this season.
