MLB Draft WAR Leaders: The Best Pick from Every Draft Since 2010
A Blog By Dean
You don’t even know it yet, but this blog might lead to a X thread/blog that might result in half of MLB fans trying to ban me from the sport. I wanted to jump into it right when the idea came to my head, but I decided to finish out this blog first.
I thought it would be fun to see who the most “valuable” player from each draft was. There are more than a few surprises on this list, so enjoy!
2010 MLB Draft
Top Player: Manny Machado (3rd overall, Baltimore Orioles)
Position: Third Baseman / Shortstop
Career WAR: 57.8
Overview: I was shocked by this, but I guess it makes sense. Machado has only missed significant time once in his career. He has been one of the most consistent infielders in the game, with great defense and a powerful bat. Will be interesting to see if him or Harper finishes with a higher bWAR.
2011 MLB Draft
Top Player: Mookie Betts (5th round, 172nd overall, Boston Red Sox)
Position: Outfielder
Career WAR: 69.6
Overview: One of the greatest draft steals of all time, Betts has won MVPs, Gold Gloves, and multiple World Series titles with the Red Sox and Dodgers. He is the only player on this list that is a lock to make the Hall of Fame.
2012 MLB Draft
Top Player: Carlos Correa (1st overall, Houston Astros)
Position: Shortstop
Career WAR: 44.4
Overview: If you know anything about me, you would know that I can not stand Carlos Correa. I was always frustrated with the love that he got over Xander. Now, I will acknowledge that Xander has started to fall apart the last few years. However, I will always be a Xander man over a Correa man.
2013 MLB Draft
Top Player: Aaron Judge (32nd overall, New York Yankees)
Position: Outfielder
Career WAR: 52.2
Overview: No real surprise here.
2014 MLB Draft
Top Player: Matt Chapman (25th overall, Oakland Athletics)
Position: Third Baseman
Career WAR: 38.4
Overview: Chapman is an elite defender with multiple Gold Gloves and a strong power bat, but I was shocked when I saw him over Trea Turner. I guess the defense makes sense. If this was fWAR the ranking would be different.
Fun fact, Trea Turner was “a player to be named later” when he was sent from the Padres to Nationals. He wasn’t able to be traded yet due to him not being in the organization for one year. So, he had to do a full spring training and another half season in the Padres organization before heading to Washington.
2015 MLB Draft
Top Player: Alex Bregman (2nd overall, Houston Astros)
Position: Third Baseman
Career WAR: 39.6
Overview: Bregman played a key role in the Astros’ success, winning a World Series in 2017 and finishing as an MVP runner-up in 2019. Bregman has never really come close to matching his 2018/2019 seasons. Probably a large reason why he is still a free agent….
2016 MLB Draft
Top Player: Pete Alonso (64th overall, New York Mets)
Position: First Baseman
Career WAR: 19.8
Overview: Scott Boras needs to take this blog right now and show it to teams that are interested in signing Alonso. He will get major leverage!
2017 MLB Draft
Top Player: Daulton Varsho (68th overall, Arizona Diamondbacks)
Position: Outfielder / Catcher
Career WAR: 15.4
Overview: Let’s just say that 2017 and 2018 are pretty weak years. That being said, Varsho has had some pretty productive seasons the last three years. However, his 97 OPS+ will catch up with him eventually. I imagine Hunter Greene will top this list when I re-do it in a few years.
2018 MLB Draft
Top Player: Nico Hoerner (24th overall, Chicago Cubs)
Position: Shortstop / Second Baseman
Career WAR: 15.1
Overview: um… he has a Gold Glove… That is about it.
2019 MLB Draft
Top Player: Gunnar Henderson (42nd overall, Baltimore Orioles)
Position: Shortstop / Third Baseman
Career WAR: 16.2
Overview: Bobby Witt Jr’s incredible 2024 was not enough to top Gunnar Henderson. I imagine every year I do this it will be flip flopping between those two. Who knows, maybe Adley Rutschman will sneak his way in.
2020 MLB Draft
Top Player: Spencer Strider (4th round, 126th overall, Atlanta Braves)
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Career WAR: 7.0
Overview: Do not ever compare Paul Skenes and Spencer Strider. The mob will go after you.
2021 MLB Draft
Top Player: Jackson Merrill (27th overall, San Diego Padres)
Position: Shortstop / Outfielder
Career WAR: 4.4
Overview: Jackson Merrill > Jackson Holliday.
2022 MLB Draft
Top Player: Zach Neto (13th overall, Los Angeles Angels)
Position: Shortstop
Career WAR: 6.8
Overview: Neto made his MLB debut in 2023 and has shown flashes of being a solid everyday shortstop with both offensive and defensive upside. His biggest flaw, is that he plays for the Los Angeles Angels.
2023 MLB Draft
Top Player: Paul Skenes (1st overall, Pittsburgh Pirates)
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Career WAR: 5.9
Overview: The most recent pitcher to start as hot as Paul Skenes, was Jose Fernandez. Before that, you would have to go back to Dwight Gooden in the 1980s.
If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing below!