Washington Nationals: Top 10 first-round picks of all-time
The Washington Nationals have had some notable first-round picks since moving to DC. So we recap their best first rounders in the MLB Draft since 2005.
Scouts around Major League Baseball work so hard to ensure that their teams are fully prepared for the MLB Draft. The Washington Nationals are no different, and ever since they moved back to D.C. they’ve had some impressive ones.
From the very first pick as the Washington Nationals, in Ryan Zimmerman, it’s been a crucial way for them to build the foundation of the roster. And from there they’ve generally had more success than failure.
It does help when after a pair of 100 loss seasons, the next year they had the number one overall pick. And in that time, they had two stud players who were generally considered sure-things when drafted.
Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper will forever go down in history with the Nationals. But where do they rank in terms of the all-time best first round picks by the Nats?
Although not all of the players below have established themselves in the major leagues yet, there’s plenty of talent among them.
We’ve ranked the players on their value to the organization, as opposed to their career in general. So you may see players who appeared in very few games for the Nationals but may have been highly regarded enough to secure a star player in a trade. Therefore contributing to the Nats without making an appearance.
So let’s dive right into it and starting with the tenth best first round pick in Nationals history. And it’s one whose last name already has a history with the team.
SS/3B. CarterKieboom. player. 2016. Walton High School. 10. 90. Pick Analysis
Given the Washington Nationals have only had 17 first round picks actually sign with them, we don’t have to look too far back for number 10. Carter Kieboom, brother of Spencer Kieboom also in the Nats system, was the first-round pick in 2016.
The younger Kieboom is off to a nice start in the Nats organization, making it to the Potomac Nationals in 2018. He also took part in his first big league spring training at the start of 2018 too. That’s the type of experience that could reap rewards very quickly if he comes back next season.
We’ve seen in the past that younger players come to major league spring training and immediately start absorbing knowledge from other players. Erick Fedde was invited to spring training in 2017 and was able to get from Double-A Harrisburg to the show that same season.
In 2017 he showed great potential in the lower levels of the minor leagues, sporting an impressive .297 batting average, with a .396 OBP and 9 home runs.
Drafted out of high school, the power will naturally come as he gets older and projects to hit at least 15-20 homers a year. And with his evident ability to hit for a good average, he’ll be able to make a push up the list once he gets to the majors.
Kieboom is one of just two first-round picks made by Mike Rizzo that has yet to play in the major leagues, along with Seth Romero. However, he’s well on his way to keeping Rizzo’s spotless record going on his current trajectory.
SP. University of Nevada. 9. Pick Analysis. player. 90. 2014. ErickFedde
The Washington Nationals have a tendency to draft extremely talented pitchers, who have fallen in the draft due to injury concerns. Erick Fedde is an example of this potentially paying off in a huge way when he was the Nats first round pick in 2014.
Drafted in 2014 out of the University of Nevada, Fedde had undergone Tommy John surgery just days before the draft. But the Nats took a shot on his top 10 talent, hoping they could help him recover like Stephen Strasburg and Lucas Giolito before him.
And just over two years after his minor league debut for the Auburn Doubledays in 2015, he made his MLB debut in July 2017. Although his 2017 major league performance shouldn’t be used to determine how good he’ll be down the road.
That year he made a transition to the bullpen due to the big league club’s dire situation in relief. However, they reversed that plan at the start of July, and the whole process seemed to mess with his rhythm. This meant he finished with a 0-1 record and a 9.39 MLB ERA that year.
At the time of writing, he has made just one major league start in 2018, but it was much more like the Fedde we expect. He went 5.2 innings giving up 6 hits, 3 runs and striking out 6.
Look for him to fill in for any rotation injuries the rest of 2018, and hopefully able to become a mainstay in the rotation for years to come in 2019. If he lives up to his potential, he could climb this list in a hurry.
OF. Miami Dade. 8. player. 2011. Pick Analysis. 90. BrianGoodwin
In 2011, the Washington Nationals made three first-round picks, two of which came from the loss of Adam Dunn the previous off-season. We’ll see another of the first round picks from 2011 later on, but first up is Brian Goodwin.
Goodwin was rated as the 36th best prospect that season by MLB.com and the Nats took him with the 34th overall selection. And although he took 5 years to make his major league debut, he’s now establishing himself as a starting-caliber player.
He was a late call-up in 2016 when Ryan Zimmerman went down injured, but his real breakout season was in 2017. With injuries to Adam Eaton, Bryce Harper, and even Michael Taylor for a time, Goodwin carved out a regular role in the Nationals lineup.
That year he hit .251 with a .811 OPS and 13 home runs in 74 games, playing all three outfield positions. His highlight of the season was in Oakland going 4 for 5, with his first big league home run.
Moving forward, he still looks to play a fourth outfield type role. The likes of Eaton, Harper, Juan Soto, and Victor Robles are ahead of him in the pecking order, the short and long term.
There’s a small chance Goodwin could rise up this list should they not retain Harper and injuries allow him regular playing time again. At the very least, the Nationals got a solid player in the first round, although they may have hoped for a bit better.
2012. Pick Analysis. player. SP. Harvard Westlake HS. LucasGiolito. 7. 90
This may be a somewhat controversial choice for seventh in the Washington Nationals top ten first round picks. After all, Lucas Giolito made just six appearances for the Nats, and only four of those were starts.
But with the Nationals reviving his prospect status after Tommy John surgery, they then used him to acquire outfielder Adam Eaton before the 2017 season. Giolito was the centerpiece of the deal, along with Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning.
Despite the injuries at the start of his Nationals career, Eaton looks to be a key piece to the Nats future with or without Bryce Harper.
But back to Giolito, things looked very promising after he made his big league debut against the New York Mets in June 2016. In four innings he allowed just one hit and two walks, striking out just the one batter.
But it’s rumored that the Nationals’ front office soured on Giolito, hence the trade while his value was still high. And so far in his stint with the White Sox, he’s begun to prove them right.
At the time of writing, he has a career MLB ERA of 5.47, and even a negative WAR of -0.1. The strikeouts that were there in the minors have completely evaporated. In the minor leagues he was striking out batters at a 9.6 K/9 clip, but in parts of three major league seasons, that’s nosedived to 9.6.
But the way the Nationals managed to raise his profile after his injury in high school, put him in the top ten. Although after a few more year’s picks come through, he could easily fall off the list.
2007. Pick Analysis. RossDetwiler. Missouri State. 6. player. 90. SP/RP
The Washington Nationals have never been afraid to promote their younger players at a rapid rate. Ross Detwiler was one of these, as he was the Nats first round pick in 2007, making his MLB debut the same year.
He was the first member of the entire 2007 draft class to make it to the major leagues. And during his run with the Nationals, he proved why it was a wise decision.
Detwiler went on to become a mainstay in the rotation, as well as being a reliable reliever when required. He totaled 69 big league starts and added 63 appearances out of the bullpen with the Nats.
Many people will remember game four of the NLDS in 2012, with Jayson Werth‘s huge walk-off blast. But it’s easy to forget that Detwiler dominated the St Louis Cardinals in that game to keep it tied for the ninth inning heroics.
He pitched six innings, allowing just three hits, three walks, and an unearned run. Detwiler was a fan favorite in his time in Washington. Primarily as part of the rotation that brought the franchise to its current perennial contender status.
His tenure with the Nats came to an end before the 2015 season, as he was traded to the Texas Rangers. But he certainly left an impression on D.C. and should remain on this list for a long time.
Pick Analysis. player. 2009. RP. Stanford. DrewStoren. 5. 90
A lot of Washington Nationals fans will have a bitter taste in their mouth when looking back at the tenure of Drew Storen. But on the whole, he was one of the more dominant relievers in franchise history, over an extended period of time.
Storen was actually selected with the pick the Nats received for their failure to sign Aaron Crow in 2008. The other first round pick in that same 2009 draft is still to come in this list.
Drafted out of Stanford following a dominant relief career in the Pac-10 Conference in 2009. He made his big league debut less than a year later in 2010. Storen finished with a 3.04 ERA over his six seasons in D.C. with an impressive 95 saves.
He claimed the closer’s role for the first time in his rookie season, after unseating Sean Burnett late in the year. It would remain that way until a fateful night in October 2012.
Unfortunately, he’ll forever be remembered for his untimely blow-up in the ninth inning of the Nationals’ first playoff series.
He would go on to reclaim the closer’s role once again from Rafael Soriano late in 2014. The same fate met him in the 2014 post-season against the San Francisco Giants, blowing a key save in game three of the series.
Overall, Storen had a productive Nationals career as a reliever, with some truly dominant stretches at times. But the inability to come up big in the huge post-season moments mean the only way is down for him on this list.
4. player. 90. 2011. Pick Analysis. 3B. Rice. AnthonyRendon
The top four in the list of All-Time best first round picks by the Washington Nationals really have separated themselves from the field. Anthony Rendon checks in here, just outside the top three.
Other players on the team command more headlines than Rendon, like Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth. But the third-baseman will always be an extremely productive player, despite his quiet nature.
In his six seasons with the Nationals, he’s got a career .278 batting average, while averaging 20 home runs and 83 RBI per 162 games. He’s been known to show an incredible approach at the plate, with a keen batting eye.
While being one of the more consistent bats in the lineup, he’s also been known to have the occasional breakout game. Nobody will ever forget his incredible 6 for 6, 2 HR and 10 RBI game against the New York Mets in 2017.
The one knock on Rendon right now is that he doesn’t have much silverware to show for achievements. His only award in his career is a Silver Slugger in 2014 when he finished fifth in the MVP voting.
A top 5 defender and offensive player at his position, he has to compete with some of the best in baseball. Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant are superstars at 3B in the National League, and will always get the limelight.
But Nats fans know how good a player Rendon is in his own right, and will be praying he signs an extension soon. He’s more than justified his lofty position in this list and will continue to do so.
2009. SP. 3. Pick Analysis. San Diego State. StephenStrasburg. player. 90
One of the most hyped draft prospects in recent memory, Stephen Strasburg became the first of back-to-back first overall picks for the Washington Nationals. Somehow he’s lived up to those lofty expectations in his career, when healthy, and there are still many more years to come.
The right-hander was signed to a record contract at the signing deadline out of San Diego. He would make his major league debut just a year later, and who could forget that night.
Eight years on from that day, he continues to be one of the most dominant pitcher in the whole of baseball. He is also inching closer to some of the franchise pitching records. He’s third in franchise history in wins, second in strikeouts and fifth in games started.
The one knock on Strasburg has always been his health. In August of 2010, he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which resulted in Tommy John surgery. After a successful rehab process and the controversial innings limit in 2012, he returned to the DL seven more times in six years.
He signed a seven-year extension in 2016, meaning he could be with the Nationals for the bulk of his career. However, the contract has two opt-outs after third (2019) and fourth (2020) years. So if he pitches to his potential, he may hit free agency sooner than expected.
But even if he does opt out after 2019, he’ll have firmly established himself as the greatest home-grown Nationals’ pitcher ever.
player. 90. 2010. Pick Analysis. BryceHarper. 2. OF. Southern Nevada
The second of the back-to-back first overall picks the Washington Nationals had, Bryce Harper‘s presence has been nothing short of legendary. Ever since his call-up to the big league club in 2012, the Nationals have been a permanent contender in the NL East.
In 2012 he won rookie of the year, hitting .270 with 22 home runs and scoring 98 runs on one of the league’s best offenses. He’s also been a five-time All-Star and won a Silver Slugger too. But those weren’t the last piece of hardware he’d win with the Nationals.
Harper has a season for the ages in 2015. He hit .330 with 42 long balls, scoring 118 runs, driving in 98 and had an incredible 1.109 OPS. This led to the first unanimous NL MVP since Albert Pujols in 2009.
He performances throughout his seven seasons in the nation’s capital have made him the face of the franchise this decade. He’s been able to carry this team at times and has lived up to sky-high expectations that were set when he was drafted.
Harper has always had a flair for the dramatic, hitting five walk-off home runs in his career. But possibly his most memorable home run came in the 2017 post-season.
We recently ranked this home run (along with Ryan Zimmerman‘s go-ahead shot) third in the all-time top 10 moments at Nats Park. It truly was a moment that made the hairs stand up Nats’ fans necks.
No matter what happens in the 2018 off-season, whether Harper stays or goes, he’s left a lasting impression on this team. He’ll forever be remembered as one of the greatest to ever wear a curly W.
Virginia. 1. player. 3B/1B. RyanZimmerman. 90. 2005. Pick Analysis
Depending on how the previous three in this list finish their careers, Ryan Zimmerman is far from a lock to stay atop the list. But at the time of writing this, he’s clearly at the top, by a distance for the Washington Nationals.
Zimmerman was the very first draft pick by the team after their move to the nation’s capital in June of 2005 out of Virginia. And had a rapid rise through the minor leagues, as he was a September call-up that same year.
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He’s gone on to be a National for 13 seasons, and had the chance to set several franchise records. Here are the records that he currently holds with the franchise:
- All-time franchise leader in home runs
- All-time franchise leader in RBIs
- All-time franchise leader in doubles
- All-time franchise leader in games started
He’s only five hits away from Tim Wallach‘s 1694 franchise leading number of hits too. He’s also just under 200 games away from Wallach’s games played record, so he may add to this list in the near future.
Ryan Zimmerman has also been at the heart of some of the most memorable moments in Nationals history too. Although the most recent was his go-ahead shot in game two of the 2017 NLDS, there’s one moment that stands out the most.
Obviously, it had to be Zimmerman who hit the walk-off home run in the first game at Nationals Park. It had to be. He was the face of the franchise during its first seven years before the new breed came along in Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.
Zimmerman has also been an integral part of the D.C. community since arriving in 2005 too. The ziMS foundation has hosted several events in the local area to help raise money for MS. It can’t be understated how much this, along with his sensational play on the field, has helped create a true legacy for Zimmerman in Washington.
Next. Top 10 Greatest Moments at Nats Park. dark
Hopefully, as the Washington Nationals’ history continues to grow, we’ll see more All-Stars and hall of fame players start to appear on this list. And we look forward to the 2018 first round selection.