Washington Nationals: Top Five First Round Draft Picks

With tonight being the MLB Draft, we look back at the top five first round picks in Washington Nationals history

Tonight, in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Washington Nationals will be making three selections on Day One of the MLB Draft. They have two picks in the first round due to Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Desmond leaving via free agency (picks 28 and 29).

This is the first time that the Washington Nationals will be making a pick in the first round since they took pitcher Erick Fedde with the 18^th pick back in 2014. The Nats did not have a first round pick last year because of the free agent signing of Max Scherzer.

Since becoming the Washington Nationals in 2005, the organization has made a total of 15 first round draft picks. Some of those players have not panned out as the organization might have hoped, some have become superstars, and other have been used as key pieces in trades.

For example, back in 2011, the Nats took pitcher Alex Meyer with the 23^rd pick out of Kentucky. He ended up being traded in November of 2012 to the Minnesota Twins for center fielder Denard Span.

Also, there have been cases where the player hasn’t signed, such as when the Nats took pitcher Aaron Crow with the ninth pick back in 2008. The Royals would end up signing Crow in 2009 after they drafted him with the 12^th pick.

So, before the Nats make their two selections tonight and you can watch the draft at 7 p.m ET on MLB Network, here are my top five first round picks in the short history of the Washington Nationals:

Next: Number Five