With the 2026 MLB Draft beginning Saturday, theScore turns the clock back 10 years to redraft the first round from 2016.
Actual pick: Mickey Moniak, OF
Alonso has turned into the best player of the 2016 class after he was selected in the second round. Had he gone first overall to the Phillies, he might have tormented the Mets - the team that actually drafted him - with the prodigious power that earned him five All-Star appearances before he joined the Orioles this past offseason.
Actual pick: Nick Senzel, 3B
Bichette, like Alonso, was a second-round pick who became a star. The infielder hit so well for the Blue Jays through the first seven years of his career that he earned a three-year, $126-million deal this offseason. His bat would have been a force in Cincinnati's lineup. Instead, the Reds chose Senzel, who produced minus-1.1 fWAR during his time with the club.
Actual pick: Ian Anderson, RHP
Smith has become one of the best backstops in baseball since being a late first-round selection of the Dodgers. Atlanta's had a decent crop of catchers over the past 10 years, but none have performed at the same level as Smith, a three-time All-Star. Although Anderson had some nice moments for the Braves, he's no longer with the organization.
Actual pick: Riley Pint, RHP
The Rockies thought they were getting a future ace in Pint, who was one of the top high school arms when he was selected. Pint made just five career starts before retiring. Instead, Colorado could have had a future Cy Young winner in Burnes, who established himself as one of the best starters in the bigs before he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2025.
Actual pick: Corey Ray, OF
The Brewers selected Ray after his tremendous career at Louisville. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, the outfielder only appeared in one big-league game and is now a first base coach for the Nationals. Meanwhile, Reynolds has played in more than 1,000 games.
Actual pick: A.J. Puk, LHP
Puk turned into a solid late-inning reliever, but the Athletics traded him in 2023 and he's made most of his appearances for other organizations. Instead, the A's could have drafted Gallen, who owns a career 3.83 ERA despite a couple of rough recent seasons.
Actual pick: Braxton Garrett, LHP
Although Garrett had a decent run for the Marlins from 2022-23, he hasn't provided Miami with much value since and was recently demoted to the minors. Bieber is a Cy Young winner and two-time All-Star who owns a career 3.32 ERA and 10.1 K/9.
Actual pick: Cal Quantrill, RHP
Quantrill appeared in 33 games for the Padres before they flipped him to the Guardians in a a nine-player deal involving Mike Clevinger. Both Quantrill and Clevinger have had some decent campaigns, but neither has Ragans' ace-type stuff.
Actual pick: Matt Manning, RHP
Manning looked like a can't-miss prospect out of California when the Tigers took him with the ninth pick, but he didn't pan out. Edman has turned into a versatile Gold Glover and one of the best super-utility players in the game. He was NLCS MVP in 2024.
Actual pick: Zack Collins, C
Collins entered the draft with a ton of hype after a ridiculous collegiate career for Miami where he was named the nation's top catcher. He was never able to replicate that success in the majors, and the White Sox missed a chance to draft Luzardo, who has blossomed into an elite strikeout pitcher.
Actual pick: Kyle Lewis, OF
Lewis looked like a franchise cornerstone after winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2020. Injuries slowed down the talented outfielder, however, and he was out of baseball by 2023. Meanwhile, King has become a terrific big-league arm with a 3.27 career ERA. He was originally drafted in the 12th round.
Actual pick: Jay Groome, LHP
Groome looked like a potential first overall pick before he fell to No. 12 due to signing issues. He never pitched in the majors and was traded to the Padres in a deal for Eric Hosmer. Bednar, a 35th-round pick by San Diego, has been one of the biggest surprises of that draft class. The New York Yankees reliever is eighth among active closers with 128 saves.
Actual pick: Josh Lowe, 3B
Lowe had one solid campaign during his five-year tenure with the Rays before he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels ahead of the 2026 campaign. Tampa Bay could have addressed a long-standing need at catcher by picking Murphy, who is a one-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner.
Actual pick: Will Benson, OF
The Guardians chose the athletically gifted Benson with the 14th pick when they could have had Marsh patrolling the outfield. Marsh is in the midst of a breakout campaign for the Phillies, while Benson is a fourth outfielder in Cincinnati after the Guardians traded him to the Reds before the 2023 campaign.
Actual pick: Alex Kirilloff, OF
Kirilloff was just starting to come into his own for the Twins when he suddenly retired after the 2024 season, stating that his struggles with injuries had diminished his passion for baseball. Meanwhile, Raley has become a reliable big-league slugger after originally being selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Actual pick: Matt Thaiss, C
Thaiss looked like the Angels' future behind the dish. His best year with the club was 2023 as he posted a .659 OPS. Instead, the Angels could have drafted a fixture at first base in Lowe. The Gold Glover and Silver Slugger owns a career .772 OPS with 116 homers.
Actual pick: Forrest Whitley, RHP
It took eight years for Whitley to get to the majors after the Astros selected him, as he was slowed down by a drug suspension and Tommy John surgery. He didn't do much in MLB, posting a career 10.57 ERA in 15 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, May has become a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter despite some up-and-down years.
Actual pick: Blake Rutherford, OF
Rutherford's minor-league career got off to a hot start before the Yankees traded him to the White Sox in a 2017 deal involving David Robertson. His career faltered following the trade, and he eventually reached the bigs in 2023 for a 16-game stint with the Nationals. He now plays independent ball. Instead of Rutherford, the Yankees had a chance to select Lee, who is one of the most formidable left-handed relievers in the game.
Actual pick: Justin Dunn, RHP
Dunn never made a start for the Mets; New York traded the right-hander to the Seattle Mariners in 2018. Hays, who was chosen by the Orioles in the third round, is a one-time All-Star who has produced 8.3 career fWAR.
Actual pick: Gavin Lux, SS
Lowe went seven picks higher in real life to the Rays, and while he's only produced one solid MLB campaign, he's been slightly better than Lux. The Dodgers traded Lux in 2025 after he failed to seize the starting second base job.
Actual pick: T.J. Zeuch, RHP
The Canadian and familial connection make this redraft pick feel obvious. Quantrill was born in Ontario, and his father, Paul, played in Toronto for six years. Zeuch appeared in 13 games with the Blue Jays before bouncing around a number of organizations and ending up in Mexico.
Actual pick: Will Craig, 3B
The Pirates spent several years trying to acquire their shortstop of the future and were never able to do so. They surely would have taken a shot on Lux had he been available at this slot. Instead, Pittsburgh went with Craig, who played very little before his baseball career ended following the 2021 season.
Actual pick: Delvin Pérez, SS
Pérez never appeared in a major-league game and now plays independent ball. Call, who was taken in the third round by the White Sox, has become a regular part of the outfield rotation for the reigning champion Dodgers.
