On Monday night, the Houston Astros made 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa the latest player selected first overall in the MLB draft. The No. 1 spot has seen its fair share of hits and misses over the years. Here's a look at how the past 10 players selected first are faring in their professional careers.
2011 Pittsburgh Pirates: Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
Cole, who was drafted by the Yankees out of high school only to turn them down, was taken by the Pirates after a mediocre junior campaign at UCLA. He went 6- with a 3.31 ERA but was considered to have the best stuff of any pitcher in the draft. He is currently playing Class A ball and is 3-1 with a 2.6 ERA in nine starts.
2010 Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, Outfielder, College of Southern Nevada
The fanfare around Harper was unparalleled after the phenom got his GED after his sophomore year of high school and attended junior college for one season in order to become eligible for the draft a year early. It seems to have paid off. At just 19-years-old, Harper made his major league debut this season and is hitting .28 with five homers.
2009 Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
Before Harper, Strasburg was the prize of the draft after dominating college baseball and lighting up the radar gun. He rewarded the Nationals almost immediately after signing. Following a stint in the minors that saw him post a 1.43 ERA in 10 starts, Strasburg made his debut in June 2010. He underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of the season but has bounced back. This year he is 6-1 with a 2.35 ERA.
2008 Tampa Bay Rays: Tim Beckham, Shortstop, Griffin High School
Beckham has shown flashes of talent in the minors but has been largely inconsistent. This season, through May 23, he is hitting just .204 in Triple-A.
2007 Tampa Bay Rays: David Price, RHP, Vanderbilt
The Rays got a quick return on their investment in Price. In his first full professional season, Price made his debut with the Rays and was a key component of their run to the World Series in 2008. He finished second in Cy Young voting in 2010 and this season is 7-4 with a 2.44 ERA.
2006 Kansas City Royals: Luke Hochevar, RHP, Fort Worth Cats
After pitching at Tennesse, Hochevar played with the Independent League's Cat instead of signing with the Dodgers. He signed with the Royals a year later after they took him No. 1. However, Hochevar hasn't pitched like a top selection. He's a career 33-49 with a 5.41 ERA.
2005 Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton, Shortstop, Great Bridge High School
Upton managed to beat his brother B.J., who was selected second overall three years earlier, by being the first pick in 2005. He debuted in the majors at age 19 in 2007. His breakout year came in 2009 when he hit .300 with 26 homers and 6 RBIs.
2004 San Diego Padres: Matt Bush, Shortstop, Mission Bay High School
One of the biggest busts in the draft's history, Bush should never have been selected first overall, but was because San Diego knew they could sign him for less money than other top prospects. After failing to hit, he was converted to a pitcher but blew out his arm. He was traded to Toronto, released, then signed with Tampa Bay. After multiple run-ins with the law, he is out of professional baseball.
2003 Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Delmon Young, Outfielder, Adolfo Camarillo High School
Young's problem wasn't his talent but his temper. He dominated the minor leagues but was suspended 50 games for throwing a bat at an umpire. Traded to Minnesota and now with Detroit, Young is a career .287 hitter.
2002 Pittsburgh Pirates: Bryan Bullington, RHP, Ball State University
In the running for biggest bust of the last 10 years, Bullington, like Bush, was selected because the Pirates thought they had a better chance of signing him than fellow prospects B.J. Upton, Prince Fielder, Cole Hamels and Nick Swisher. In total, he pitched 1.2 innings for Pittsburgh, with a career record of 1-9 and a 5.62 ERA. He now pitches professionally in Japan.
