This Day in Baseball History: A-Rod drafted 1st overall by the Mariners in 1993
Alex Rodriguez's professional baseball career officially began on June 3, 1993, when he was selected first overall in the 1993 draft by the Seattle Mariners.
An emotional A-Rod was selected after his senior year of high school where he played at Westminster Christian High School. He would go on to become the highest-paid player at the time when he signed a mammoth 10-year, $252-million deal with the Texas Rangers in 2000.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Ironically, A-Rod will suit up against the team that drafted him Wednesday in Seattle, and has a chance to take sole possession of second on the all-time RBI list. Rodriguez and slugger Barry Bonds are deadlocked at 1,996 RBIs (RBI has been an official statistic since 1920) and surpassing Bonds would certainly be special for A-Rod on his draft anniversary.
Other notable first-rounders from the 1993 class include Billy Wagner (12th overall by Houston Astros), Chris Carpenter (15th overall by Toronto Blue Jays), Torii Hunter (20th overall by Minnesota Twins), and Jason Varitek (21st overall by Twins).
The 2015 First-Year Player Draft will commence June 8.