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10 MLB Draft Non-1st Round Picks Who Turned Out To Be Diamonds

The MLB draft is known as one of the biggest guessing games in professional sports. Top college prospects often make an immediate impact in the NBA or NFL, which is not the case in MLB.

Published: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at 7:04 AM
10 MLB Draft Non-1st Round Picks Who Turned Out To Be Diamonds
Key Things to Know
  • Safeer M S highlights 10 MLB stars who were drafted outside the first round before achieving greatness.
  • Featured Hall of Famers include Jim Thome, Ryne Sandberg, John Smoltz, Nolan Ryan, and Mike Piazza.
  • Modern award winners featured on the list include Mookie Betts, Jacob deGrom, and Albert Pujols.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Safeer M S highlights 10 notable MLB players selected outside the first round of the draft who went on to have legendary careers. The list emphasizes that the MLB draft can be unpredictable, with high-impact stars emerging from later rounds, junior colleges, or unconventional circumstances.

The featured players include Hall of Famers and award winners such as Mookie Betts, Andy Pettitte, Jim Thome, Jacob deGrom, Ryne Sandberg, Mark Buehrle, John Smoltz, Nolan Ryan, Albert Pujols, and Mike Piazza.

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