The 2026 MLB Draft is just around the corner, and while it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the future, it's also important to take a moment to reflect on the past. In this article, I'll be taking a look at each club's best Draft pick from the past 10 years, and what makes these players so special. From MVP candidates to Cy Young winners, All-Stars to Rookies of the Year, these players have left their mark on the game. But what makes them stand out? Let's dive in and find out.
The Best of the Best
American League East
Boston Red Sox: Roman Anthony
In my opinion, the Red Sox's best pick of the past decade is Roman Anthony. The Florida high school product was seen as a power-over-hit guy, but he cleaned up his offensive game and became the game's top prospect before his 2025 big league callup. As a rookie, he slashed .292/.396/.463 in 71 games, becoming the third-youngest player in AL/NL history to homer and draw four walks in the same game. A left oblique injury truncated that season, and a torn tendon in his right ring finger has sidelined him since early May. But his potential is undeniable, and I think we'll be hearing a lot more from him in the years to come.
Baltimore Orioles: Gunnar Henderson
Gunnar Henderson tops the list for the Orioles. He was their second-round pick in 2019, and while Adley Rutschman has earned an All-Star nod this year, Henderson still tops Rutschman in career bWAR (22.5 vs. 16.6) and wRC+ (126 vs. 115). Henderson has been a steady performer, and I think we'll see him continue to improve and make an impact for the Orioles.
American League Central
Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber
Shane Bieber is a standout pick for the Guardians. He stood out more with his control than his stuff at UC Santa Barbara, and the Guardians helped him significantly improve his velocity and breaking pitches as a pro. This led to a pair of All-Star nods in 2019 and 2021, sandwiched around an AL Cy Young Award and pitching triple crown in 2020. While he has dealt with elbow issues and Tommy John surgery in recent years, I think we'll see him return to form and make an impact for the Guardians.
Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr.
Bobby Witt Jr. is a no-doubt face of the franchise for the Royals. He signed an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension in February 2024, and after early inconsistencies, he has become one of baseball's best five-tool talents. His power and speed make him a force to be reckoned with, and I think we'll see him continue to make an impact for the Royals.
American League West
Los Angeles Angels: Zach Neto
Zach Neto is a steady performer for the Angels. He represented the first in a run of Angels first-round picks to race to the big leagues, and the No. 13 pick in 2022 has been a consistent performer since making his big league debut on April 15, 2023. With back-to-back 5+ WAR seasons in 2024 and '25, and 49 homers and 56 steals combined over those two seasons, Neto is a player to watch.
Houston Astros: Jeremy Peña
Jeremy Peña is one of the best defensive shortstops in the 2018 college class. He came with questions about his offensive impact, but he still became the highest-drafted position player ever from the University of Maine. Four years later, he swatted 22 homers during the regular season, became the first rookie shortstop ever to win a Gold Glove, and the second rookie ever to win both Championship Series and World Series MVP awards. Peña is a player to watch in the years to come.
National League East
Atlanta Braves: Michael Harris II
Michael Harris II is a standout pick for the Braves. Several teams preferred him as a pitcher as the 2019 Draft approached, but the Braves went for the offensive upside and it has paid off. Signed for slightly under slot in the third round, Harris currently stands fourth among all draftees from his class with 17.1 WAR, and I think we'll see him continue to improve and make an impact for the Braves.
Miami Marlins: Michael King
Michael King is a low-drafted player who has exceeded expectations. He went 353rd overall in 2016, and the Yankees helped him upgrade his secondary pitches. He has had three strong seasons as a reliever in the Bronx and has become a quality starter the last three years after joining the Padres in the Juan Soto deal. King is a player to watch in the years to come.
National League Central
Chicago Cubs: Nico Hoerner
Nico Hoerner wasn't a consensus first-rounder when the Cubs popped him 24th overall out of Stanford in 2018, but he was the first player from that Draft to reach the big leagues and has accrued more bWAR (23.1) than any pick that year. He's a reliable hitter with gap power and basestealing savvy, and I think we'll see him continue to make an impact for the Cubs.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes is a standout pick for the Pirates. The No. 1 overall pick in 2023 made it to the big leagues in May 2024, started the All-Star Game that summer, and won Rookie of the Year honors. He topped that with an ERA title and Cy Young Award in 2025, and I think we'll see him continue to make an impact for the Pirates.
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll
Corbin Carroll is a dynamic player for the Diamondbacks. Slightly overlooked in 2019 due to his lack of size, the 16th overall pick rose through the ranks to become the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year and help Arizona to its second World Series appearance. At his best, Carroll is still one of the fastest and most dynamic players in the sport, and I think we'll see him continue to make an impact for the Diamondbacks.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Will Smith
Will Smith is a standout pick for the Dodgers. After batting .235 in his first two seasons at Louisville, Smith blossomed into the best all-around catcher in the 2016 Draft, yet somehow lasted 32 picks. He has lived up to his billing by starring on both sides of the ball for the Dodgers, and I think we'll see him continue to make an impact for the team.
In conclusion, the past 10 years have been a time of great drafting and development for MLB teams. From MVP candidates to Cy Young winners, these players have left their mark on the game, and I think we'll see them continue to make an impact in the years to come. But the question remains: who will be the next big star to emerge from the Draft? Only time will tell.
