Great Plains League Overall No. 1 draft picks

[littleten]

In 2018, the USA Today posted a story of which players they felt were the best of the MLB No. 1 overall draft selections. Of the 53 players selected (through 2018) as the overall top pick since baseball's draft began in 1965, 46 — or 88% — have reached the majors, while three have not — catcher Steven Chilcott (1966), pitcher Brien Taylor (1991) and pitcher Mark Appel (2013). Three are still in the minors.

So who are the best of the No. 1 picks? The USA Today posted the following Top 10.

1 - Alex Rodriguez, 1993
2 - Ken Griffey Jr., 1987
3 - Chipper Jones, 1990
4 - Bryce Harper, 2010
5 - Darryl Strawberry, 1980
6 - Joe Mauer, 2001
7 - Adrian Gonzalez, 2000
8 - Harold Baines, 1977
9 - David Price, 2007
10 - Justin Upton, 2005

How will No. 1 overall picks fare in a OOTP fictional simulation?

I set up a 2-league, 24-team (w/ AAA, AA and A affiliates) league based in the Great Plains Region. I then set the league to sim for 120 years, starting in 2020, and will be posting how those top pick's careers played out.

I hope (and think) this will be an interesting read as we move along.

[littleten]

Player: DOUG PETERSON
Born: Houston, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 5-10, 175, Right-handed relief pitcher
Year Drafted: 2020 by the Kansas City BBQs from Thomasville H.S. in Arkansas
Pre-Drafted notes: Senior season at Thomasville in 16 starts went 13-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 210 Ks in 132 IP
Year Retired: 2039 at 38-years old
Years played in GPBL: 11
Teams played for in GPBL: 9
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 555 (5 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 39-23-12
ERA: 4.01
Innings pitched: 910 1/3
Hits: 854
Walks: 315
Strikeouts: 685
Opponents batting average: .248
Career WAR: 0.0
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 6
Wins-Losses: 0-1
ERA: 5.91
—
Times playing on league champion: 1 (2031)
Times an All-Star selection: 2
Career earnings: $16,015,000 (+$11,550,000 signing bonus)
—

Doug Peterson bounced up and down in the BBQs minor league system his first few seasons. After 70 starts and a 17-33 mark, he was moved into a relief role in 2023 and posted a 2.72 ERA in 27 appearances and was a September call-up.

Had the best season of his career in 2027 (one of two All-Star game selections) with the Amarillo Marksmen when he made 58 middle relief appearances and posted 106 IP, 2.29 ERA, 88 Ks and a 4-2 record. He also allowed 9-of-37 inherited runners to score.

He could never really find a true home, with 160 games with Amarillo and 130 with the Arlington Tomcats being tops for his career. Pitched in 365 minor league games. He suffered through a couple of prolonged back injuries in his final years before retiring in 2039 after five games and seven innings with the Brownsville Browns.

His shinning moment would have to be in the 2031 season when he appeared in 44 games with National League champion Arlington after being claimed off waivers from the Corpus Christi Explorers. Peterson was on the postseason roster, but didn't make an appearance in the Tomcats' first World Series title, a 4 games to 1 victory over the Tulsa Gauchos.

[littleten]

Player: RICH “Turtle” MITCHELL
Born: Refugio, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-2, 190, Left-handed pitcher
Year Drafted: 2021 by the Hutchinson Zebras from Clemson University
Pre-Drafted notes: In his 2 years at Clemson, 35 starts, 22-4 record, 1.72 ERA, 244 IP, 288 Ks
Year Retired: 2034 at 35-years old
Years played in GPBL: 7
Teams played for in GPBL: 2
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 103 (42 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 10-17-0
ERA: 4.45
Innings pitched: 301 2/3
Hits: 309
Walks: 99
Strikeouts: 249
Opponents batting average: .260
Career WAR: 3.3
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 2
Wins-Losses: 1-0
ERA: 1.13
—
Times playing on league champion: 0
Times an All-Star selection: 0
Career earnings: $12,535,000 (+6,300,000 signing bonus)
—

Rich Mitchell moved up the professional ladder quickly in the Hutchinson minor league system and was a mid-season call-up in the 2023 season and appeared in 28 games, then 32 games in 2024. However, in his third start in 2025 (Ranked the GPBL No. 3 prospect) after making the big squad out of spring training, Mitchell suffered the first of 16 different injuries that cost him three months or more in a season over the rest of his career.

The hard-throwing lefty returned at the end of the '25 season to go 2-0 in a pair of AAA starts and 2-0 in two starts with the Zebras, including a win over the El Paso Bats (8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K) in the final game of the regular season to help give his team confidence moving into the playoffs.

In the NLDS against the Pasadena Red Raiders, Mitchell won Game 3 (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6K), but Hutchinson lost the series 3 games to 2.

It looked as if he might be back on track.

However, in the 2026 spring training a radial nerve compression began a long list — from a finger blister to a torn flexor tendon and about everything in between — of injuries that cut Mitchell's frustrating career short at just 35-years old.

Besides the solid game against El Paso, Mitchell's top moments were helping clubs to a pair of AAA league championships.

Pitched in 317 AAA games, including 122 starts (53-38, 3.50), 927 innings and 887 strikeouts.

[littleten]

Player: MARC OBERLEY
Born: Terrell, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-7, 195, Right-handed pitcher
Year Drafted: 2022 by the Corpus Christi Explorers from MacArthur (Irving) H.S. in Texas
Pre-Drafted notes: In three years at MacArthur, 41 starts, 32-0 with a 0.47 ERA and 562 Ks in 339 IP
Year Retired: 2039 at 35-years old
Years played in GPBL: 12
Teams played for in GPBL: 5
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 312 (224 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 86-65-2
ERA: 3.96
Innings pitched: 1,408 1/2
Hits: 1334
Walks: 335
Strikeouts: 1193 (7.6 K/9)
Opponents batting average: .246
Career WAR: 23.8
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 9 (4 starts)
Wins-Losses: 1-4
ERA: 4.78
—
Times playing on league champion: 2 (2027, 2031)
Times an All-Star selection: 0
Career earnings: $111,095,000 (+14,850,000 signing bonus)
—

Marc Oberley will go down in history of one of the greatest high school pitchers in the state of Texas, all you have to do is look at the numbers … truly dominating.

Oberley made a steady, but too slow for his liking, climb through the Corpus Christi system — finishing runner-up for the GPBL AA Pitcher of the Year in 2025. He finally made his GPBL debut early in 2026 — that season he made 23 starts with the Explorers, going 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA.

He had career-highs in victories (13) and innings pitched (194 1/3) in 2027, helping Corpus Christi to its first GPBL championship (he went 1-1 in a pair of postseason starts). Then in 2031, now with the Arlington Tomcats, he was 8-3 in 13 starts, but didn't make any appearances in the postseason as the team went on to win the title.

In his final five years in the league, he made a combined 76 appearances (all but 15 out of the bullpen) for two different teams and missed the entire 2037 season after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in spring training.

Oberley tied for the league lead in games started twice (33 in both 2027 and 2034) and finished in the Top 10 in ERA just once (2030, 9th, 3.71).

[littleten]

Player: DAVID “Fingers” DELONG
Born: Waco, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-1, 200, Right-handed pitcher
Year Drafted: 2023 by the Corpus Christi Explorers from the University of Houston (was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 28th overall pick in 2022, but returned to the Cougars for his senior season)
Pre-Drafted notes: In four years at Houston, 53 starts, 30-12 with a 2.02 ERA and 441 Ks in 420 1/3 IP
Year Retired: 2037 at 37-years old
Years played in GPBL: 12
Teams played for in GPBL: 2
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 321 (250 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 101-79-3
ERA: 3.94
Innings pitched: 1,566 2/3
Hits: 1,524
Walks: 298
Strikeouts: 1,208
Opponents batting average: .251
Career WAR: 23.2
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 14 (10 starts)
Wins-Losses: 3-3 (3-0 in four starts in 2031 playoffs – 18 IP, 16 K)
ERA: 3.39
—
Times playing on league champion: 2 (2027, 2031)
Times an All-Star selection: 3 (2029, 2031, 2033)
Career earnings: $59,905,000 (+6,300,000 signing bonus)
—

David DeLong, after a solid four-year collegiate career at the University of Houston, is named GPBL AA Pitcher of the Year in 2025 after going 17-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 27 starts. He makes the Show in 2026, making eight relief appearances with Corpus Christi. In 2027, he makes 51 relief appearances (3-2, 2 saves, 2.81 ERA) as the Explorers win the championship.

In 2028, he is traded with 2022 No. 1 pick Marc Oberley to the Arlington Tomcats in December.

In 2029, posts career-highs in wins (17) and innings pitched (202), and then in 2031, ties for the top spot in the National League in wins (16-9, 4.15). Over the next three season goes 28-27 and then a number of injuries in 2035 start the decline to his retirement in 2037.

Best two games of his career: 7/6/2029: 1-hit shutout against the Kansas City BBQs; 5/3/2031: 2-hit shutout against the El Paso Bats with 13 strikeouts.

Ranks 8th in games started (217) and 9th in innings pitched (1,287 1/3) on the all-time Arlington list. In 2043 in his only time on the Hall of Fame ballot, received 1.4% of the vote.

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Player: BRUCE ONORATI
Born: Laredo, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-4, 200, Right-handed pitcher
Year Drafted: 2024 by the El Paso Bats from Fulton High School in Knoxville, Tennessee
Pre-Drafted notes: In four years at Fulton, 53 starts, 34-4 with a 0.97 ERA and 560 Ks in 397 2/3 IP
Year Retired: 2041 at 36-years old
Years played in GPBL: 12
Teams played for in GPBL: 9
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 341 (110 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 53-42-10
ERA: 4.02
Innings pitched: 934
Hits: 913
Walks: 212
Strikeouts: 794
Opponents batting average: .252
Career WAR: 14.3
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 15 (5 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 4-3-1
ERA: 4.78
—
Times playing on league champion: 3 (2028, 2029, 2032)
Times an All-Star selection: 2 (2030, 2031)
Career earnings: $67,630,000 (+11,220,000 signing bonus)
—

Bruce Onorati, after a top-notch high school career, makes a steady climb through the El Paso minor league system. He appears in 11 games in relief for the Bats in 2027, then 58 more in 2028, going 7-4 with five saves and an 3.20 ERA.

In 2029 he breaks into the starting rotation and in 30 starts (12-6, 3.77) and helps the Bats to the first of back-to-back titles. Makes 31 starts in 2030, posts a 14-6 mark with a 3.46 ERA, a league-leading three shutouts and earns the first of consecutive All-Star Game appearances. After the 2031 season (25 GS, 10-6, 3.16), Onorati is traded to the Tulsa Gauchos during midseason of 2032, thus missing out on the third title in five years by El Paso.

From this point on, until a torn rotator cuff ends his career in 2041, he is used exclusively out of the bullpen for seven different clubs, but never registers more than 46 innings in any season.

In his only time on the Hall of Fame ballot, gets 1.0% of the vote in 2047.

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Player: ZACH KRAFT
Born: Lexington, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-1, 200, Right-handed pitcher
Year Drafted: 2025 by the El Paso Bats from the University of Texas
Pre-Drafted notes: In one year at Texas, 18 starts, 10-3 with a 2.10 ERA and 186 Ks in 124 1/3 IP
Year Retired: 2040 at 37-years old
Years played in GPBL: 15
Teams played for in GPBL: 1 (played entire career with El Paso)
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 448 (448 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 167-153-0
ERA: 3.82
Innings pitched: 2,743
Hits: 2,352 (career 1.14 WHIP)
Walks: 779
Strikeouts: 2,558
Opponents batting average: .228
Career WAR: 46.5
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 18 (18 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 9-5-0
ERA: 2.94
—
Times playing on league champion: 3 (2028, 2029, 2032)
Times an All-Star selection: 5 (2031, 2032, 2033, 2035, 2036)
Career earnings: $265,905,000 (+5,250,000 signing bonus)
—

Zach Kraft was drafted after a solid freshman season at the University of Texas. Began his GPBL career with 13 starts (9-2) in 2026 after a mid-season call up. After going 7-17 in 32 starts in his first full season in 2027, had seasons of 11-10 and 16-8 in the following two years, each helping led the Bats to the playoffs and a championship.

Won the first of two National League Pitcher of the Year awards in 2031 after going 14-11 with a league-best 2.45 ERA. Put together a solid 2032 campaign (17-9, 2.88) to help El Paso win its third title in five seasons. Despite a 9-14 mark, posted a league-leading 2.85 ERA and was awarded his second N.L. Pitcher of the Year. Over his career also placed in the Top 3 for the award a trio of times.

Kraft's had arguably his best season of his career in 2036 when he went 18-7 with a 2.44 ERA and led the league in both innings pitched (225) and strikeouts (234). On 9/2/2039, he recorded his 2,500th career punch out. The season also produced his best game as a pro, a 1-hit shutout against Arlington with 10 Ks and just 1 BB. In June of 2040, suffers a second partially tore labrum (the other occurred in 2037) and in October of that year announced his retirement.

Holds the top spot all-time in the El Paso record books in wins (167), starts (448) and innings pitched (2,743). In 2047, he received his biggest percentage of votes for the Hall of Fame (22.7%).

[littleten]

Player: MATT ROY
Born: El Paso, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-0, 175, Left fielder
Year Drafted: 2026 by the Baytown Tigers from Long Beach State University
Pre-Drafted notes: In senior season Long Beach State, hit .299 with 65 runs, 9 doubles, 9 triples, 16 home runs, 55 RBIs and 36 stolen bases
Year Retired: 2026 at 21-years old
Years played in GPBL: 0
Teams played for in GPBL: 0
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 0
At-bats: 0
Runs: 0
Doubles: 0
Triples: 0
Home Runs: 0
RBIs: 0
Stolen Bases: 0
Average: 0
OBP: 0
Career WAR: 0.0
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 0
Average: .000
Home Runs: 0
RBIs: 0
—
Times playing on league champion: 0
Times an All-Star selection: 0
Career earnings: (+$7,623,000 signing bonus)
—

Matt Roy was a standout two-sport athlete at Long Beach State University — a three-year stater at corner back in football and led the baseball squad his senior season from his left field spot.

In 61 games with the Class A Harlingen Minutemen in 2026, batted .292 with 54 runs, nine doubles, three triples, six home runs (including two lead-off blasts), 34 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and an .812 OPS.

Roy, the No. 4 minor league prospect, also recorded a 21-game hitting streak and was selected to the GPBL All-Star Futures Game. He helped the Minutemen to a 103-38 record and a Class A World Series championship.

But despite the fantastic start to his professional baseball career, Roy decides in the off-season to take his talents back to the gridiron and hopes of a high draft placement in the 2027 NFL Draft.

[littleten]

Player: DAN MACKINNON
Born: Omaha, NE
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-1, 195, Left fielder
Year Drafted: 2027 by the Sioux Falls Cattle Dogs from Wake Forest University
Pre-Drafted notes: In three seasons at Wake Forest, hit .304 in 146 games with 181 runs, 36 doubles, 19 triples, 49 home runs, 161 RBIs and 108 stolen bases
Year Retired: 2040 at 34-years old
Years played in GPBL: 10
Teams played for in GPBL: 2
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 1,055 (798)
At-bats: 3,291
Runs: 409
Doubles: 156
Triples: 20
Home Runs: 159
RBIs: 486
Stolen Bases: 12
Average: .249
OBP: .325
Career WAR: 15.7
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 19 (19)
Average: .284
Home Runs: 4
RBIs: 12
—
Times playing on league champion: 0
Times an All-Star selection: 0
Career earnings: 41,825,000 (+$6,300,000 signing bonus)
—

Dan MacKinnon accomplished a lot of good things coming up through the Sioux Falls minor league system before a cup of coffee with the big club late in 2031.

He was the Class A Championship Series Most Valuable Player for the Midland Explosion in 2027 and the All-Star Futures Game MVP in 2028. In 2029, he was solid again for Midland in the playoffs, winning both the Division and League Series MVP. Then in 2032, he was the MVP of the AAA All-Star Game while with the Brooklyn Hammerheads.

In 2035, he had his best pro season when he hit .268 with a career-high 31 homers and 93 RBIs. He had a three-home run game that season with six RBIs against Oklahoma City on 8/25. In 2036, had 24 HRs and 71 RBIs during the regular season and during the playoffs, went 19-of-59 (.322) in 15 games with three doubles, three homers and 10 RBI — was named GPBL American League Division Series MVP.

Suffered three separate injuries during the 2039 season, became a free agent and signed a minor league deal with the Amarillo Marksmen, before playing in 68 games and hitting just .192 with the big club. He retired shortly after the season ended.

[littleten]

Player: NICK HOUSTON
Born: Houston, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-2, 190, Shortstop
Year Drafted: 2028 by the Sioux Falls Cattle Dogs from Dallas Baptist University
Pre-Drafted notes: In senior year at Dallas Baptist, hit .299 in 50 games with 58 runs, 13 doubles, 5 triples, 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and 36 stolen bases
Year Retired: 2043 at 37-years old
Years played in GPBL: 14
Teams played for in GPBL: 1 (played entire career with Sioux Falls)
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 2,028 (1,965)
At-bats: 7,847
Runs: 992
Doubles: 470
Triples: 52
Home Runs: 244
RBIs: 980
Stolen Bases: 117
Average: .278
OBP: .324
Career WAR: 51.3
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 19 (19)
Average: .250
Home Runs: 3
RBIs: 8
—
Times playing on league champion: 0
Times an All-Star selection: 7 (2030, 2032-2037)
Times Platinum Stick Award: 5 (2032, 2034, 2036, 2037, 2039)
Career earnings: 206,065,000 (+$6,300,000 signing bonus)
—

Nick Houston was a steady, above average shortstop for Sioux Falls his entire 14-year career. He jumped from AA to the "Bigs" in 2029, but hit just .209 in 64 games. Over the next few seasons, he posted numbers of .279-15-57 and .299-16-82, the registered a career-high average of .308 in 2032.

The seven-time All-Star and five-time Platinum Stick Award winner at SS had his best season in 2037 when he hit .280 with 31 homers and 100 RBIs while starting all 162 games.

Collected his 2,000th career hit on 6/7.2041. Over his career, had three games with five hits, played 146 games games or more in a season from 2030-2040 and smacked seven grand slams.

In 2043, his final campaign, had signed a minor league contract with the Lubbock Missions and played 112 games at AAA, but two stints on the disabled list due to a herniated disc forced Houston to hang up the cleats and uniform for good. Received 4.3% of the votes in his only appearance on the Hall of Fame Ballot in 2048.

Ranks in the Top 10 of many offensive categories in Sioux Falls history, including the top spot in games played (2,028) and at-bats (7,847).

Biggest disappointment occurred in 2036 when the Cattle Dogs reached the World Series, but fell to the Pasadena Red Raiders - Houston's only appearance in the championship series.

[littleten]

Player: MIKE RAPOSA
Born: Richardson, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-2, 200, Right-handed pitcher
Year Drafted: 2029 by the Killeen Railhawks from North Carolina State University
Pre-Drafted notes: Two years at NC State, 32 starts, 17-6 with a 1.78 ERA and 259 Ks in 212 2/3 IP
Year Retired: 2043 at 36-years old
Years played in GPBL: 12
Teams played for in GPBL: 7
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 319 (175 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 45-76-5
ERA: 4.96
Innings pitched: 1,119
Hits: 1,047
Walks: 616 (Career 5.2 walks per nine innings)
Strikeouts: 1,064
Opponents batting average: .245
Career WAR: 6.3
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 6 (1 start)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 1-1-0
ERA: 6.75
—
Times playing on league champion: 0
Times an All-Star selection: 0
Career earnings: 12,375,000 (+$6,300,000 signing bonus)
—

Mike Raposa had a couple of solid collegiate season for the Wolfpack, and in his very first season with the Class A San Diego Ghosts, helped the squad to the championship.

Reached the Railhawks as a September call-up in 2031 and 2032, appearing in eight and seven games respectively. In 2033, pitched in 32 games (including nine starts) and then in 2034 found a spot in the starting rotation full time, but went 4-15 in 30 starts with a 5.55 ERA.

He was 9-10 in 2035, and in 2036, posted career-bests with 10 wins, 178 innings and a National League leading 34 starts, but also walked a league-high 97.

From the 2037 season on, suffered through many abdominal strains and a potential career-threatening stretched elbow ligament in 2038.

After seven seasons with Killeen, was traded to Corpus Christi on 7/11/2037 and spent the rest of his career bouncing from team to team, but control issues continued to haunt him until a ruptured finger tendon in 2041 forced him to retire.