When was the last time each MLB team had the first overall pick in the draft?

Although the MLB Draft dates back to 1965, several teams have never selected first overall, while one team has nabbed the top pick on six separate occasions.

While almost all baseball fans have their attention turned solely to final stretch of the 2026 season as the pennant race takes shape, those who take a vested interest in the stars of tomorrow just got finished with their biggest event of the year.

The 2026 MLB Draft wrapped up just before the All-Star Game two weeks ago, with the Chicago White Sox selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the draft’s top selection. Though not capturing near the amount of attention that the NFL and NBA drafts do, many of the biggest stars in recent MLB history have been products of the draft’s early rounds.

Therefore, the universal truth remains in baseball that having the top pick of a draft is a coveted asset – even if it doesn’t mean quite what it may mean in the NBA, WNBA, NFL or NBA in a given year. This truth is laid bare by the fact that three top picks ultimately never reached MLB, most recently occurring with 2014’s first overall pick, Brady Aiken.

With that said, the list of first overall picks is that of several superstars, including Hall of Famers Harold Baines, Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones, as well as league MVPs Alex Rodriguez, Joe Mauer and Bryce Harper.

Despite the MLB Draft holding its inaugural event in 1965, just 23 of the league’s 30 teams have had a first overall selection, with the following clubs having never held the top draft pick:

1. Boston Red Sox
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. San Francisco Giants
6. St. Louis Cardinals
7. Toronto Blue Jays

While the Red Sox, Dodgers and Cardinals have avoided the top pick on virtue of typically being in contention, the league’s perennial bottom feeders are mainstays at the top of the MLB Draft – perhaps perfectly exemplified by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have selected first a record six times.

A handful of other teams have held a cluster of the top picks over the years, with the Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Diego Padres all having picked first five times, while the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays have led off a draft on four occasions.

With the 2026 MLB Draft in the rearview mirror, here’s a look at the last time each team selected first in the event:

1. Chicago White Sox: 2026, Roch Cholowsky, Shortstop, UCLA
2. Washington Nationals: 2025, Eli Willits, Shortstop, Fort Cobb-Braxton High School (Oklahoma)
3. Cleveland Guardians: 2024, Travis Bazzana, Second baseman, Oregon State
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: 2023, Paul Skenes, Starting pitcher, LSU
5. Baltimore Orioles: 2022, Jackson Holliday, Shortstop, Stillwater High School (Oklahoma)
6. Detroit Tigers: 2020, Spencer Torkelson, Third baseman, Arizona State
7. Minnesota Twins: 2017, Royce Lewis, Shortstop, JSerra Catholic High School (California)
8. Philadelphia Phillies: 2016, Mickey Moniak, Outfielder, La Costa Canyon High School (California)
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: 2015, Dansby Swanson, Shortstop, Vanderbilt
10. Houston Astros: 2014, Brady Aiken, Starting pitcher, Cathedral Catholic High School (California)
11. Tampa Bay Rays: 2008, Tim Beckham, Shortstop, Griffin High School (Georgia)
12. Kansas City Royals: 2006, Luke Hochevar, Starting pitcher, Tennessee
13. San Diego Padres: 2004, Matt Bush, Shortstop, Mission Bay Senior High School (California)
14. Miami Marlins: 2000, Adrian Gonzalez, First baseman, Eastlake High School (California)
15. Los Angeles Angels: 1995, Darin Erstad, Outfielder, Nebraska
16. New York Mets: 1994, Paul Wilson, Starting pitcher, Florida State
17. Seattle Mariners: 1993, Alex Rodriguez, Shortstop, Westminster Christian High School (Florida)
18. New York Yankees: 1991, Brien Taylor, Starting pitcher, East Cateret High School (North Carolina)
19. Atlanta Braves: 1990, Chipper Jones, Shortstop, Bolles High School (Florida)
20. Milwaukee Brewers: 1985, B.J. Surhoff, Catcher, North Carolina
21. Chicago Cubs: 1982, Shawon Dunston, Shortstop, Thomas Jefferson High School (New York)
22. Texas Rangers: 1973, David Clyde, Starting pitcher, Westchester High School (Texas)
23. Athletics: 1965, Rick Monday, Outfielder, Arizona State*

*selection made as Kansas City Athletics