College baseball may not share the same level of national attention as March Madness or bowl season, but in terms of churning out MLB stars, some programs have made dynasties.
These programs aren’t only famous for wins and championships but also for crafting players whose names are called early on draft night. Let’s examine the programs that have made draft night a tradition.
Most First-Round MLB Draft Picks of All Time by Schools
1) Stanford Cardinal, 24
Stanford was the leader in first-round MLB Draft choices, with 24 selections during its history. Ten of them were chosen in the top 10 overall—a testament to the frequent high-level talent the Cardinal nurtured over the years.
Although some of those top-five selections didn’t pan out at the major league level, Stanford still had enough winners. Another of the largest names to emerge from the program was Mike Mussina, who was taken 20th overall by the Orioles in 1990 and went on to play a Hall of Fame career.
T-2) Arizona State Sun Devils, 21
Tied for second place, Arizona State had 21 of its players make it to the MLB through the first round. Even more remarkably, the Sun Devils had four No. 1 overall draft picks—a distinction shared by very few programs. Their consistency in developing top-level talent contributed to the school’s image as a baseball power.
Spencer Torkelson was one of the latest success stories, being drafted first overall by the Detroit Tigers in 2020. They continued the trend of Sun Devils going directly to the big leagues.
T-2 Vanderbilt Commodores, 21
Also ranked alongside 21 first-rounders, Vanderbilt made itself one of the top programs in college baseball. With two No. 1 overall selections under its belt, the Commodores’ mark on MLB Draft history was strong.
In 2024, the trend continued when Enrique Bradfield Jr. was drafted 17th overall by the Baltimore Orioles. Vanderbilt’s string of success was not only producing top draft choices but also developing players to thrive in the majors shortly after going pro.
4) Florida State Seminoles, 18
Florida State cemented its draft history with 18 first-round picks, one of them being a top overall pick. The Seminoles continued to be a steady force in the first round, even as college baseball changed over the years.
Their program demonstrated it could reload and continue to feed professional baseball with top-level players. FSU continued to add two more names to the first-round draftee list in 2024, indicating their pipeline of talent was far from dead.
T-5) Texas Longhorns and North Carolina Tar Heels, 17
Texas and North Carolina each created 17 first-rounders. Although the Longhorns hadn’t yet had a No. 1 overall pick, the Tar Heels had at least one first-overall selection.
Both schools possessed deep baseball heritage and consistently fed players to the pro ranks, crafting their programs around steady player development. Their draft contributions were a reflection of the systems that had been established over generations.
7) LSU Tigers, 15
LSU came in second with 15 players selected in the first round, two of which were top overall choices. The most prominent was in 2023 when Paul Skenes was drafted number one overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
His powerhouse collegiate performance and instant success following the draft showcased LSU as the premier development program. The Tigers remained a powerhouse in college baseball, with players who not only went early in the draft but also were ready to contribute immediately.
T-8) USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, and Florida Gators, 14
Three other storied programs—USC, UCLA, and Florida—each boasted 14 players drafted in the first round. UCLA stood out slightly with one player picked No. 1 overall, while the Trojans and Gators consistently produced players who built solid professional careers.
KEEP READING: Top 10 NCAA Baseball Teams With the Most College World Series Appearances
All three schools were consistent producers of high-end talent, with strong connections to MLB scouts and draft boards.
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