Logic indicates that No. 1 draft picks in MLB are the best bets to have long, successful careers and be the most valuable performers at crucial stages, such as the World Series.
However, in MLB, No. 1 draft picks don’t usually win World Series MVP awards.
It’s odd, sure, but it’s true: they often join bad teams (that’s why they are drafting first) and don’t always have the chance to play in the Fall Classic.
Only one No. 1 overall MLB Draft pick has gone on to win the prestigious World Series MVP award.
Hint: it was revealed on Thursday that he will be retiring, and he played his whole career with the Washington Nationals.
“Stephen Strasburg is the only major leaguer to be drafted first overall and win World Series MVP. No. 1 Draft Picks to….. Win World Series MVP: 1. Win Conn Smythe Trophy: 5. Win Super Bowl MVP: 6. Win NBA Finals MVP: 8,” OptaSTATS tweeted.
Stephen Strasburg is the only major leaguer to be drafted first overall and win World Series MVP.
No. 1 Draft Picks to…..
Win World Series MVP 1
Win Conn Smythe Trophy 5
Win Super Bowl MVP 6
Win NBA Finals MVP 8 pic.twitter.com/seluoLyXlk— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) August 24, 2023
As you can see in the above tweet, it’s more common in other sports for No. 1 overall picks to lead their teams to the final stages and win MVP in the process.
Not in MLB, though.
Strasburg won that award in 2019.
In that Fall Classic, he allowed four runs in 14.1 innings for a 2.51 ERA.
He won both of his starts, and against the Houston Astros no less.
For that, he took home the award and the World Series trophy, of course.
Many people say he gave everything he had in his arm during that postseason run.
His health issues related to thoracic outlet syndrome started in 2020.
Those problems eventually led to his retirement with severe nerve damage.
We don’t know if it was worth it or not, but one thing is certain: he was brilliant in that run, and the city of Washington D.C. thanks him.
NEXT: MLB Insider Reveals How Much The Nationals Owe Stephen Strasburg