Amazing Display: Five Former 1st Overall Picks Homer

Every year, we look forward to seeing who will be taken number 1st overall in the MLB draft. Then, we wait patiently for them to work their way through the minors and take that fateful step to the Majors. On Wednesday, we got the special treat of seeing five former 1st overall picks homer. It was the sixth time that has ever happened. 

The 1st Rounders and Their Home Runs

Bryce Harper (2010), the Las Vegas boy, launched his 4th home run of the year. In the bottom of the 4th, with the Philadelphia Phillies down 4-2 to the San Francisco Giants, Harper jumped on the first pitch of the at-bat, an inside slider, and smashed it deep into the right field seats. The Phillies weren’t able to hold on and lost 11-4. 

Jackson Holliday (2022), the baby-faced Baltimore Oriole, followed suit, but with a bang. His second of the year came off Cleveland Guardians Pitcher Gavin Williams. It was also with the bases loaded, sending Camden Yards into a frenzy in the bottom of the 2nd. It was his second grand slam of the year. The Orioles ended up blowing out the Guardians 9-1. 

Spencer Torkelson (1st overall pick in 2020) jumped on a 90 mph sinker from Jose Quintana and drove it into right-center field over the wall in Milwaukee. Sadly, his 6th of the year was the only run the Detroit Tigers would get against a crafty Brewers team, losing 4-1.

Mickey Moniak (2016) crushed a 2-1 pitch in the top of the third for an opposite-field home run, his second of the season. It brought the Colorado Rockies within one of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Chavez Ravine, but ultimately they fell 8-7 in a heartbreaker. 

Henry Davis (1st pick in 2021) slugged his first homer of the year off the left field foul pole to start the scoring for the Pittsburgh Pirates. O’Neil Cruz also threw in a grand slam for good measure. Both helped etch out a 6-1 victory against the Washington Nationals. 

How Have They Held Up?

It seems like it was just yesterday we were watching Harper crush pitch after pitch with an aluminum bat, while he was still in high school, in complete awe of what we were seeing. His career has not left us unimpressed. 

Holiday had a rough go of it in his first stint in the Majors last year but is looking to bounce back after making some adjustments in the minors. He has all but solidified himself as an everyday player, plus he’s the son of Matt Holliday; he’s got talent coursing through his veins.

Torkelson has been working on living up to the 1st overall pick expectations. He mashed in college and the minors but has had trouble finding it consistently in the Majors. It looks like he’s started to figure it out and has been beginning to prove everyone wrong. 

Moniak has jumped between teams after he made his Major League debut in 2020. He’s had a tough go of consistent playing time but finally shone while with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. He dipped a little in 2024, but at least he is making the most out of the opportunities he’s been given.

Davis is hoping to recreate what he did in his rookie year in 2023. Although at .213/.302/.351 slash is nothing to take note of, it’s the highest of his career. Hopefully, he can keep it up.