[illeracula]

With the 2019 1st Year Player Draft coming up next, I thought I'd take a look back at the previous 6 #1 picks, and where they are now...

2013 - Jorge Moran, Starting Pitcher, drafted #1 by the Chesapeake Blue Crabs out of Columbia U. He signed for $4,750,000. After signing in 2013 Jorge was placed on the active roster and has pitched as a starter and MR for the rest of the year. Jorge has been a full-time starter since 2014. He won 21 games in 2015, 20 games in 2016. He was traded to the Milton Brewers in 2018 and has been the anchor of their staff every since. For is career he is 98-49 3.22. At 29 years old, he is one of the games top LHP.

2014 - Gabriel Santos, Starting Pitcher, drafted #1 by the Norfolk Cavaliers out of highschool. He signed for $4,500,000. In 2018 he was rated the games #45 top prospect, but in 2019 he fell off the list. He is 23 years old and has never developed into the "ace" everyone predicted. Currently he is pitching for the Baltitmore Barons AAA Squad and has been converted to the closer role. 2019 marks his 3rd year at AAA and possible his last. He should be making his big-league debut soon. This season he is 3-0 8 SV 1.33 ERA in 17 games.

2015 - Phil Carlson, Starting Pitcher, drafted #1 by the Lewes Braves out of high school. He signed with the Braves for $9,060,000. In 2016 he was traded to the Milton Brewers. Carlson is now 22 years old and is in his 2nd season in AA. He has control issues that many believe he will never overcome. Last season he posted a 12-6 4.53 record in 27 AA starts, this season he is 3-1 5.03 in 10 starts. He is well on his way to being the biggest bust for a #1 pick.

2016 - Will Riley, Catcher, drafted #1 overall by the Ellicott City Express out of Vanderbilt U. Signed a $9,190,000 signing bonus. After one year in the minros, he was named the #1 prospect in baseball. In 2017 Riley made his big-league debut and took home the Newcomer of the Year Award. In 2017 Riley hit .291-19-85. Currently he is the #4 hitter and offensive leader of a young and exciting Express team. For his career he has played in 328 games and hit .290-47-197.

2017 - Cornell Pearson, SP, drafted by the Seaford Blue Jays with the first pick in 2017, out of Creighton. He signed a $8,250,000 deal. Rated the #6 prospect in baseball in 2018. In 2018 he climbed the ladderf rom AA to AAA to the bigs and ended up in the Blue Jays starting rotation. He is listed at the Blue Jays #3 starter, but has the ability to be an ace once he full develops. Probably could use some more time in the minors, but the Blue Jays are desperate for pitching. This season he is 1-4 5.49 in 8 GS.

2018 - Pablo Garcia, SP, Salisbury Ports, was drafted out of Oral Roberts University and signed for $7,700,000. He started his career in 2018 in single A and dominted down there. Finishing the year going 5-1 1.70 in his last 7 starts. He has it all and could end up being the ace for the Ports for many year to come. The only question is does he have the stamina to be a real 'ace', that will be determined. In 2019 he was rated at the games #1 prospect, and a solid spring training meant a roster slot on the Ports. In 11 starts he is 4-3 with a 3.36 ERA. He should content for the Newcomer of the year award, but playing for a lost place team might hurt in the long run.

Of the 6 #1 picks, all but 2 are in the big-leagues now and only 1 could really be deemed a "flop". I am surprised that Gabriel Santos hasn't made the big's yet as he has developed into a pretty solid pitcher. I traded him to Baltimore along with Tony Soto for Roberto Perez. Perez went on to win 2 MVP awards, so I am going to say I got the best of that deal. The 2019 draft is up next and I am not overly excited for it. It doesn't look like its going to be a very deep draft, and we don't pick till #20.