2023 MLB draft day 1 results: who did the teams pick? Complete list
Day one of the 2023 MLB Draft saw teams offer few surprises in their picks, as LSU sets a new record as the first program with the first two picked.
The 2023 MLB Draft has given us few surprises but still some noteworthy picks. LSU provided the top two picks as expected, setting a new high-water mark for college baseball as they become the first program to provide both the first and second overall players.
There was some question over whether Pittsburgh would go for a pure hitter or take a chance on a potential two-way star in Paul Skenes. In the end, they went for the pitcher and although it wasn’t a surprise it certainly was a noteworthy choice on several fronts.
Historically, pitchers taken first overall have a propensity to struggle in MLB. But Skenes is a different beast, not only throwing some of the best stuff off the mound that the league has seen in years but also providing true power with the bat, setting up a potential Ohtani-point-two situation in Pittsburgh.
With Skenes off the board, the Washington Nationals did the only thing that anyone expected them to do: the took the other one. LSU’s Dylan Crews may be the purest five-tool player that the draft has seen since Bryce Harper, and while for many it made more sense for him to wind up with the Pirates and Skenes with the Nats, once the one was gone, Washington did not hesitate for one moment.
The rest of the round went pretty much as predicted, with no team willing to take a chance or break character at this early stage. The only surprises were Kyle Teel and Jacob Gonzalez going as low as they did, with both thought of as potential top-ten material.
Another surprise was LSU’s Ty Floyd being taken in the Compensatory picks by the Reds. Seen as a third-rounder, he shot up a very long way indeed, leapfrogging one of the best contact hitters and a shoo-in Gold Glover in team mate Tré Morgan, who provided a surprise of his own in not going in either round one or two.
One great moment was when Arjun Nimmala went to Toronto in the twentieth spot, becoming the first Indian to ever be drafted in MLB history. His father is a huge cricket fan and put him in baseball since it was the closest bat-and-ball game that was available when the family immigrated. Groundbreaking and heartwarming, Nimmala has shown himself to be a top prospect.
Here are all of the picks taken on Day One.
Round One
- 1. Pirates: Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State
- 2. Nationals: Dylan Crews, OF, Louisiana State
- 3. Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin (Ind.) HS
- 4. Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
- 5. Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS, Southport, N.C.
- 6. Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
- 7. Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
- 8. Royals: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
- 9. Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
- 10. Marlins: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS, Portland, Ore.
- 11. Angels: Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
- 12. D-backs: Tommy Troy, SS, Stanford
- 13. Cubs: Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
- 14. Red Sox: Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
- 15. White Sox: Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
- 16. Giants: Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, Madison HS, Vienna, Va.
- 17. Orioles: Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt
- 18. Brewers: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
- 19. Rays: Brayden Taylor, 3B, Texas Christian
- 20. Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS, Dover, Fla.
- 21. Cardinals: Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
- 22. Mariners: Colt Emerson, SS/3B, Glenn HS, New Concord, Ohio
- 23. Guardians: Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS
- 24. Braves: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
- 25. Padres: Dillon Head, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, Ill.
- 26. Yankees: George Lombard Jr., SS/3B, Gulliver Prep, Pinecrest, Fla.
- 27. Phillies: Aidan Miller, SS, Mitchell HS, New Port Richey, Fla.
- 28. Astros: Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick
- 29. Mariners: Jonny Farmelo, OF, Westfield HS, Chantilly, Va.
Competitive Balance Round A
- 30. Mariners: Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian HS, Sharpsburg, Ga.
- 31. Rays: Adrian Santana, SS, Doral (Fla.) Academy
- 32. Mets: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga.
- 33. Brewers: Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue-Medford HS, N.Y.
- 34. Twins: Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian Academy, Kissimmee, Fla.
- 35. Marlins: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.
- 36. Dodgers: Kendall George, OF, Atascocita HS, Texas
- 37. Tigers: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner HS, Drexel Hill, Pa.
- 38. Reds: Ty Floyd, RHP, Louisiana State
- 39. Athletics: Myles Naylor, 3B, St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS, Ontario, Canada
Round 2
- 40. Nationals: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
- 41. Athletics: Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers
- 42. Pirates: Mitch Jebb, SS, Michigan State
- 43. Reds: Sammy Stafura, SS, Walter Panas HS, N.Y.
- 44. Royals: Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour HS, Ill.
- 45. Tigers: Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
- 46. Rockies: Sean Sullivan, LHP, Wake Forest
- 47. Marlins: Kemp Alderman, OF, Ole Miss
- 48. D-backs: Gino Groover, 3B, NC State
- 49. Twins: Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona St.
- 50. Red Sox: Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers HS, St. Louis
- 51. White Sox: Grant Taylor, RHP, Louisiana State
- 52. Giants: Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS, Eaton, Colo.
- 53. Orioles: Mac Horvath, OF, North Carolina
- 54. Brewers: Mike Boeve, 3B, Nebraska-Omaha
- 55. Rays: Colton Ledbetter, OF, Mississippi State
- 56. Mets: Brandon Sproat, RHP, Florida
- 57. Mariners: Ben Williamson, 3B, William & Mary
- 58. Guardians: Alex Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS, R.I.
- 59. Braves: Drue Hackenberg, RHP, Virginia Tech
- 60. Dodgers: Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
- 61. Astros: Alonzo Tredwell, RHP, UCLA
Competitive Balance Round B
- 62. Guardians: Andrew Walters, RHP, Miami
- 63. Orioles: Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Florida St.
- 64. D-backs: Caden Grice, LHP, Clemson
- 65. Rockies: Cole Carrigg, C, San Diego State
- 66. Royals: Carson Roccaforte, OF, Louisiana Lafayette
- 67. Pirates: Zander Mueth, RHP, Belleville East HS, Belleville, Ill.
Compensation Picks
- 68. Cubs: Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas (Compensation for Willson Contreras signing with the Cardinals)
- 69. Giants: Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State (Compensation for Carlos Rodón signing with the Yankees)
- 70. Braves: Cade Kuehler, RHP, Campbell (Compensation for Dansby Swanson signing with the Cubs)