The top A's Draft pick from every season

Here’s a look at the first pick in every MLB Draft for the A’s going back to 1965, when the Draft was first introduced.

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2024: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest (No. 4)
Kurtz was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award -- an honor that goes to the top amateur player in the country -- in a 2024 campaign that saw him bash 22 home runs and post a 1.294 OPS. The 6-foot-5 first baseman's rare combination of power mixed with elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline has already drawn comparisons to Hall of Famer Jim Thome.

2023: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon University (No. 6)
The son of former MLB All-Star and longtime Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, Jacob possessed arguably the best bat-to-ball skills of any college hitter in his Draft class, as he struck out just 12 times in 492 plate appearances over his final two seasons at Grand Canyon. He slashed .361/.419/.558 across three seasons in college.

2022: Daniel Susac, C, University of Arizona (No. 19)
Susac earned a second-team All-America selection for 2022 and was named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, an honor reserved for the top amateur player in the country. In two seasons at Arizona, Susac established himself as one of college baseball’s elite hitters, slashing .351/.412/.586 with 24 homers, 43 doubles and 126 RBIs over 125 games.

2021: Max Muncy, SS, Thousand Oaks (Calif.) High School (No. 25)
Muncy was recognized as one of the top players in the state, named Baseball Player of the Year by the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Daily News. He was also the CIF Southern Section Division 2 Player of the Year. Muncy shares no relation to the Dodgers infielder with the same name, whom the A’s actually drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 Draft, though the two players do share a birthday (Aug. 25).

2020: Tyler Soderstrom, C, Turlock HS (No. 26)
Soderstrom made his big league debut with the A's in 2023 after putting up an .834 OPS in 77 Triple-A games in that same season.

2019: Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson University (No. 29)
Davidson spent three years at Clemson and slashed .291/.412/.574 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs in 61 games in his final year with the Tigers.

2018: Kyler Murray, OF, University of Oklahoma (No. 9)
The A’s hoped to lure Murray away from football, but the two-sport college star opted to enter the 2019 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy and was selected first overall by the Arizona Cardinals. The A’s still hold Murray’s rights should he ever decide to pursue a professional baseball career.

2017: Austin Beck, OF, North Davidson HS (No. 6)
Beck tore his ACL in the spring of 2023 and was ruled out for the season. He resurfaced in 2024 with the Dodgers organization.

2016: A.J. Puk, LHP, University of Florida (No. 6)
Puk showed flashes of his tantalizing stuff while with the A’s, but he struggled to stay healthy. He was sent to the Marlins in the JJ Bleday trade in 2023.

2015: Richie Martin, SS, University of Florida (No. 20)
The A’s lost Martin to the Orioles through the 2018 Rule 5 Draft.

2014: Matt Chapman, 3B, California State University, Fullerton (No. 25)
Chapman emerged as a star with his outstanding defense and impressive power since coming up with Oakland in 2017. He was a three-time Gold Glove and two-time Platinum Glove Award winner at third base with the A's, and he earned his first career All-Star selection in '19.

? All-time Draft picks

2013: Billy McKinney, OF, Plano West Senior HS (No. 24)
McKinney was traded in a package deal to the Cubs in 2014 in exchange for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel.

2012: Addison Russell, SS, Pace HS (No. 11)
Russell was also part of the package deal to acquire Samardzija and Hammel from the Cubs in 2014.

2011: Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt University (No. 18)
Gray starred in Oakland from 2013-17 as he evolved into the ace of the staff. He was traded to the Yankees at the Trade Deadline in '17.

2010: Michael Choice, CF, University of Texas at Arlington (No. 10)
Choice debuted for the A’s in September 2013 but was later traded that offseason to the Rangers in exchange for Craig Gentry and Josh Lindblom.

2009: Grant Green, SS, University of Southern California (No. 13)
Green made his Major League debut with the A’s on July 8, 2013, before getting traded to the Angels later that month in exchange for Alberto Callaspo. Green's last big league stop was with the Nationals in '17.

2008: Jemile Weeks, 2B, University of Miami (No. 12)
Younger brother of former big leaguer Rickie Weeks, Jemile stole a career-high 22 bases as a rookie with the A’s in 2011 and spent three seasons with the club. He was traded to the Orioles in '13 for reliever Jim Johnson. Weeks later went on to play for the Red Sox, Padres and Cubs organizations.

2007: James Simmons, RHP, UC Riverside (No. 26)
Simmons played eight Minor League seasons with the A’s and Nationals, but he never reached the big leagues.

2006: Trevor Cahill, RHP, Vista HS (No. 66)
Cahill impressed over four seasons in two separate stints with the A’s, going 47-39 with a 3.88 ERA and making the All-Star team in 2010. He currently pitches for the Pirates.

2005: Cliff Pennington, SS, Texas A&M (No. 21)
Pennington spent the first five seasons of his Major League career with the A’s before going on to play for the D-backs, Blue Jays, Angels and Reds.

2004: Landon Powell, C, University of Southern Carolina (No. 24)
Powell played three seasons with the A’s from 2009-11. He’s best remembered for being behind the plate to catch Dallas Braden’s emotional perfect game on Mother’s Day in '09.

2003: Bradley Sullivan, RHP, University of Houston (No. 25)
Sullivan spent five Minor League seasons with the A’s, never appearing past High-A Stockton.

2002: Nick Swisher, 1B, Ohio State University (No. 16)
Swisher hit 80 homers in four seasons with the A’s from 2004-07. Traded to the White Sox in '08 for Ryan Sweeney, Gio González and Fautino De Los Santos, Swisher ended up playing a total of 12 Major League seasons and won a World Series with the Yankees in '09.

2001: Bobby Crosby, SS, California State University, Long Beach (No. 25)
Crosby won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2004 and played seven seasons with Oakland before finishing his career playing for the Pirates and D-backs in '10.

2000: Freddie Bynum, SS, Pitt Community College (No. 60)
Bynum played just seven games for the A’s in 2005. He was traded to the Cubs in '06 as part of a three-way deal that sent Juan Dominguez to the A’s.

1999: Barry Zito, LHP, University of Southern California (No. 9)
One-third of the famed “Big Three,” Zito starred for the A’s in the early 2000s and won 102 games with Oakland from '00-06. He later signed across the Bay with the Giants and helped San Francisco to World Series titles in '10 and '12.

1998: Mark Mulder, LHP, Michigan State University (No. 2)
Mulder went 81-42 with a 3.92 ERA in five seasons with the A’s from 2000-04. He was traded to the Cardinals following the ‘04 campaign in exchange for Dan Haren, Kiko Calero and Daric Barton.

1997: Chris Enochs, RHP, West Virginia University (No. 11)
Enochs never reached the Majors after playing nine Minor League seasons.

1996: Eric Chavez, 3B, Mount Carmel HS (No. 10)
Though he never made an All-Star team, Chavez performed as one of the elite third basemen of his time, slugging 230 homers and earning six straight Gold Glove Awards over 13 seasons with the A’s. He finished his career playing two seasons each with the Yankees and D-backs.

1995: Ariel Prieto, RHP, Fajardo University (Cuba) (No. 5)
Prieto immigrated to Puerto Rico soon after graduating high school in Cuba, which allowed him to enter the Draft. He played five seasons for the A’s and later became a pitching coach in the A’s organization from 2009-11.

1994: Ben Grieve, OF, Martin HS (No. 2)
Grieve was rated the best prospect in the game by Baseball America in 1998, a year in which he became an All-Star and went on to win AL Rookie of the Year with the A’s. He hit 118 homers over nine big league seasons with the A’s, Rays, Cubs and Brewers.

1993: John Wasdin, RHP, Florida State University (No. 25)
Wasdin pitched two seasons for the A’s and was later dealt to the Red Sox in the 1997 trade that brought back slugger Jose Canseco for a second stint with Oakland.

1992: Benji Grigsby, RHP, San Diego State University (No. 20)
Grigsby pitched six Minor League seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A in 1996.

1991: Brent Gates, SS, University of Minnesota (No. 26)
Gates spent four seasons with the A’s from 1993-96. He now works as a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays.

1990: Todd Van Poppel, RHP, Martin HS (No. 14)
Van Poppel played a total of 11 big league seasons, including five with Oakland from 1991-96.

1989: Scott Lydy, OF, South Mountain Community College (No. 56)
Lydy played one Major League season with Oakland in 1993, batting .225 with two homers and seven RBIs.

1988: Stan Royer, C, Eastern Illinois University (No. 16)
Royer never played in the Majors for Oakland, as he was a key piece in the deal to acquire Willie McGee from the Cardinals in 1990. He played four big league seasons with the Cardinals and Red Sox.

1987: Lee Tinsley, OF, Shelby County HS (No. 11)
Tinsley was claimed off waivers by the Mariners in 1992 before getting a chance in the Majors. He played five seasons with the Mariners, Red Sox and Phillies.

1986: Scott Hemond, C, University of Southern Florida (No. 12)
Hemond was a two-time All-American at USF, where his No. 11 jersey was retired. Of his seven Major League seasons, his best came in 1993 with the A’s when he stole a career-high 14 bases.

1985: Walt Weiss, SS, University of North Carolina (No. 11)
Weiss won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 1988 with the A’s and was part of the World Series-winning '89 club as the primary shortstop. He’s currently the bench coach of the Braves.

1984: Mark McGwire, 1B, University of Southern California (No. 10)
McGwire won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 1987, earned nine All-Star selections and captured a World Series championship in '89 during his 12 seasons with the A's. He is the club's all-time home run leader (363), and his 42.9 WAR is the highest among first basemen in the Oakland era.

1983: Stan Hilton, RHP, Baylor University (No. 5)
Hilton spent six Minor League seasons in Oakland and Cleveland’s farm systems.

1981: Tim Pyznarski, 3B, Eastern Illinois University (No. 15)
Pyznarski played a total of 15 Major League games with the Padres in 1986. He’s currently an assistant baseball coach at Marist College in New York.

1980: Mike King, LHP, Morningside College (No. 4)
King played five Minor League seasons in the A’s, Cubs and Yankees organizations.

1979: Juan Bustabad, SS, Miami Lakes HS (No. 5)
Bustabad was drafted by Oakland but went back to school and was drafted by Boston in 1980. He played nine Minor League seasons before retiring after the '89 season.

1978: Mike Morgan, RHP, Valley HS (No. 4)
Morgan is one of 29 players in MLB history to appear in games over four decades, having played from 1978-2002. He played for 12 different teams across 22 Major League seasons.

1977: Craig Harris, RHP, Buena Vista HS (No. 17)
Harris played seven Minor League seasons before retiring in 1983.

1976: Brian Duffy, LHP, Serra HS (No. 48)
Duffy only played two seasons of Minor League ball.

1975: Bruce Robinson, C, Stanford University (No. 21)
Robinson appeared in a total of 38 Major League games from 1978-80 with the A’s and Yankees.

1974: Jerry Johnson, C, McCallum HS (No. 22)
Johnson played seven Minor League seasons before retiring in 1985.

1973: Randy Scarbery, RHP, University of Southern California (No. 23)
Scarbery, a Fresno native, played in parts of two big league seasons with the White Sox from 1979-80.

1972: Chet Lemon, SS, Fremont HS (No. 22)
The A’s traded Lemon, along with Dave Hamilton, to the White Sox for Stan Bahnsen and Skip Pitlock in 1975. Lemon went on to play 16 Major League seasons and made three All-Star teams while being considered a stellar defender in center field.

1971: William Daniels, RHP, Mackenzie HS (No. 17)
Daniels played four Minor League seasons before retiring in 1975.

1970: Dan Ford, OF, Fremont HS (No. 18)
Ford was traded to the Angels in 1978 for Danny Goodwin and Ron Jackson. Ford went on to play 11 big league seasons with the Twins, Orioles and Angels, amassing 121 homers and 566 RBIs.

1969: Don Stanhouse, RHP, DuQuoin HS (No. 9)
Playing only three Minor League seasons with Oakland, Stanhouse found success elsewhere. He was an All-Star with the Orioles in 1979 and pitched a total of 10 Major League seasons.

1968: Pete Broberg, RHP, Palm Beach HS (No. 2)
Though Broberg was selected second overall by the A’s in 1968, he opted to attend Dartmouth College; he later went first overall in the Secondary Phase to the Washington Senators in '71. Broberg played eight Major League seasons and ultimately finished his career with the A’s in '78, going 10-12 with a 4.62 ERA in 35 games during his tenure with the club.

1967: Brien Bickerton, LHP, Santana HS (No. 7)
Bickerton played eight Minor League seasons before retiring in 1975.

1966: Reggie Jackson, OF, Arizona State University (No. 2)
Spending the first nine seasons of his career with the A’s before returning for his final season in 1987, Jackson carved out a legendary career that led to his Hall of Fame enshrinement in ’93. He ranks first among A’s right fielders in bWAR (48), home runs (269), runs scored (756), stolen bases (145) and second in RBIs (776). Jackson made six All-Star teams with Oakland and also hit one of the most memorable homers in All-Star Game history in ’71, blasting a two-run shot off Dock Ellis that bounced off a transformer on top of the right-field roof at Tiger Stadium.

1965: Rick Monday, OF, Arizona State University (No. 1)
Before Monday heroically foiled a protestor’s plan to burn the United States flag in the middle of Dodger Stadium while he was a member of the Cubs, he was selected first overall by the A’s and played the first six seasons of his career with the club. He earned an All-Star selection as a 22-year-old in 1968.