Draft success: Which MLB clubs have fared the best over the past decade
Being successful in the draft can change the hopes and futures of teams around Major League Baseball for years to come. But very few clubs have shown an ability to consistently select players who turn into future big leaguers.
We looked at the players picked by all 30 MLB teams over the past 10 years, factoring in how many of a club's draftees made it to the majors, how successful those players have become, and how often these teams have picked successfully.
Five clubs emerged ahead of the rest.
5. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinal Way might only be meant for the eyes of the organization, but St. Louis' draft success isn't a secret. The Cardinals have selected 36 players who've appeared in the majors since 2013. St. Louis' success in the draft has allowed it to remain competitive each season while still affording the pieces to swing blockbuster trades to acquire the likes of Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt.
4. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles are one of baseball's top teams, and a lot of their success is due to the draft. Baltimore has been one of the league's best at picking players over the past decade, selecting 37 players who've turned into big leaguers. The club also has first-round selections Heston Kjerstad and Jackson Holliday - among baseball's top 50 prospects - putting up terrific numbers in the minor leagues. The Orioles have benefited from so many high picks, but it's nailed those selections.
3. Cleveland Guardians
The small-market Guardians have been forced to operate with a payroll in the bottom half of the league for the past decade, so drafting well has been a key component in their success. Cleveland has picked 49 players who've appeared in the majors over the last decade, with three of them occupying spots in the Guardians' starting rotation at various points this season. Other players selected by Cleveland, like Frazier and Justus Sheffield, netted the team important pieces. The Guardians acquired Andrew Miller in 2016 - the same year he was elite in the postseason when the club reached the World Series.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Go figure. The Dodgers, who have nine division titles and a World Series since 2013, are on the list. Los Angeles has made several savvy draft selections over the past 10 years, helping it surround big-ticket free agents with homegrown talent. Forty-eight players picked by the Dodgers over the past decade have blossomed into big leaguers, with Bellinger, Buehler, and Smith having prominent roles on the team at various points. Players like Verdugo and Wong also helped L.A. acquire a franchise player in Mookie Betts via trade.
1. Houston Astros
The Astros suffered through years of mediocrity to put themselves in a position to hoard top draft choices. But picking high doesn't automatically equal success. Since 2013, 57 players selected by the Astros have appeared in the major leagues, with a number of them helping the organization become a baseball juggernaut. The 2015 and 2017 drafts were huge successes for Houston, with 26 of the picks making the majors, including Bregman, Tucker, McCormick, and Meyers.