It’s been 10 years since the Washington Nationals made Stephen Strasburg the number one overall pick. It was a no-brainer in 2009. But, 10 years later is it still a no-brainer? Well, Strasburg is one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. There’s another guy that was drafted in 2009 that has become the face of the game. His name – Mike Trout. Who else was taken in this 2009 draft? And where would they land in 2019 if teams redrafted by Wins Above Replacement (WAR)?
I’ll take a look at dissect the 2009 Major League Baseball draft and mine through each round to find the 32 highest WAR players. Without further ado, the Washington Nationals are on the clock.
#1 – Washington Nationals
Redraft: Mike Trout (66.3 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 25th overall, Angels
Nationals Original Pick: Stephen Strasburg (28.1 WAR)
#2 – Seattle Mariners
Redraft: Paul Goldschmidt (41.3 WAR)
Original Pick: 8th round, 246th overall, Diamondbacks
Mariners Original Pick: Dustin Ackley (8.1 WAR)
#3 – San Diego Padres
Redraft: Nolan Arenado (33.2 WAR)
Original Pick: 2nd round, 59th overall, Rockies
Padres Original Pick: Donavan Tate (Highest level – Single-A. Out of baseball after 2016 season)
#4 – Pittsburgh Pirates
Redraft: Stephen Strasburg (28.1 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 1st overall, Nationals
Pirates Original Pick: Tony Sanchez (0.1 WAR)
#5 – Baltimore Orioles
Redraft: Kyle Seager (28.0 WAR)
Original Pick: 3rd round, 82nd overall, Mariners
Orioles Original Pick: Matt Hobgood (Only reached Double-A. Out of baseball after 2015 season)
#6 – San Francisco Giants
Redraft: Matt Carpenter (28.0 WAR)
Original Pick: 13th round, 399th overall, Cardinals
Giants Original Pick: Zack Wheeler (6.1 WAR)
#7 – Atlanta Braves
Redraft: Brian Dozier (23.5 WAR)
Original Pick: 8th round, 252nd overall, Twins
Braves Original Pick: Mike Minor (11.4 WAR)
#8 – Cincinnati Reds
Redraft: Brandon Belt (22.9 WAR)
Original Pick: 5th round, 147th overall, Giants
Reds Original Pick: Mike Leake (16.1 WAR)
#9 – Detroit Tigers
Redraft: Jason Kipnis (22.0 WAR)
Original Pick: 2nd round, 63rd overall, Indians
Tigers Original Pick: Jacob Turner (-2.7 WAR)
#10 – Washington Nationals
Redraft: J.D. Martinez (21.1 WAR)
Original Pick: 20th round, 611th overall, Astros
Nationals Original Pick: Drew Storen (4.9 WAR)
#11 – Colorado Rockies
Redraft: A.J. Pollock (19.6 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 17th overall, Diamondbacks
Rockies Original Pick: Tyler Matzek (2.7 WAR)
#12 – Kansas City Royals
Redraft: Dallas Keuchel (18.3 WAR)
Original Pick: 7th round, 221st overall, Astros
Royals Original Pick: Aaron Crow (2.6 WAR)
#13 – Oakland Athletics
Redraft: D.J. LeMahieu (17.7 WAR)
Original Pick: 2nd round, 79th overall, Cubs
Athletics Original Pick: Grant Green (-1.6 WAR)
#14 – Oakland Athletics
Redraft: Mike Leake (16.1 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 8th overall, Reds
Rangers Original Pick: Matt Purke (-0.1 WAR)
#15 – Cleveland Indians
Redraft: Patrick Corbin (13.7 WAR)
Original Pick: 2nd round, 80th overall, Angels
Indians Original Pick: Alex White (-0.4 WAR)
#16 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Redraft: Khris Davis (12.7 WAR)
Original Pick: 7th round, 226th overall, Brewers
Diamondbacks Original Pick: Bobby Borchering (Peaked in Double-A, out of baseball after 2015 season)
#17 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Redraft: Corey Dickerson (12.7 WAR)
Original Pick: 29th round, 871st overall, Rockies
Diamondbacks Original Pick: A.J. Pollock (19.5 WAR)
#18 – Miami Marlins
Redraft: James Paxton (11.6 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round supplemental, 37th overall, Blue Jays
Marlins Original Pick: Chad James (Peaked in Double-A, out of baseball after 2015 season)
#19 – St. Louis Cardinals
Redraft: Yan Gomes (11.5 WAR)
Original Pick: 10th round, 310th overall, Blue Jays
Cardinals Original Pick: Shelby Miller (8.1 WAR)
#20 – St. Louis Cardinals
Redraft: Scooter Gennett (11.5 WAR)
Original Pick: 16th round, 496th overall, Brewers
Blue Jays Original Pick: Chad Jenkins (1.4 WAR)
#21 – Houston Astros
Redraft: Marcus Stroman (11.4 WAR)
Original Pick: 18th round, 532nd overall, Nationals
Astros Original Pick: Jiovanni Mier (Peaked in Triple-A)
#22 – Minnesota Twins
Redraft: Mike Minor (11.4 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 7th overall, Braves
Twins Original Pick: Kyle Gibson (9.1 WAR)
#23 – Chicago White Sox
Redraft: Wil Myers (11.0 WAR)
Original Pick: 3rd round, 91st overall, Royals
White Sox Original Pick: Jared Mitchell (Peaked in Triple-A)
#24 – Los Angeles Angels
Redraft: Mitch Haniger (10.6 WAR)
Original Pick: 31st round, 944th overall, Mets
Angels Original Pick: Randal Grichuk (9.4 WAR)
#25 – Los Angeles Angels
Redraft: Randal Grichuk (9.6 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 24th overall, Angels
Angels Original Pick: Mike Trout (66.3 WAR)
#26 – Milwaukee Brewers
Redraft: Jake Marisnick (9.6 WAR)
Original Pick: 3rd round, 104th overall, Blue Jays
Brewers Original Pick: Eric Arnett (Peaked in Single-A, out of baseball in 2013)
#27 – Seattle Mariners
Redraft: Kyle Gibson (9.2 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 22nd overall, Twins
Mariners Original Pick: Nick Franklin (1.3 WAR)
#28 – Boston Red Sox
Redraft: Billy Hamilton (8.4 WAR)
Original Pick: 2nd round, 57th overall, Reds
Red Sox Original Pick: Rey Fuentes (-0.3 WAR)
#29 – New York Yankees
Redraft: Dustin Ackley (8.1 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 2nd overall, Mariners
Yankees Original Pick: Slade Heathcott (0.4 WAR)
#30 – Tampa Bay Rays
Redraft: Shelby Miller (8.1 WAR)
Original Pick: 1st round, 19th overall, Cardinals
Rays Original Pick: LeVon Washington (Peaked in Single-A, out of baseball after 2017 season)
#31 – Chicago Cubs
Redraft: Stephen Piscotty (8.1 WAR)
Original Pick: 45th round, 1,357th overall, Dodgers
Cubs Original Pick: Brett Jackson (0.0 WAR)
#32 – Colorado Rockies
Redraft: Mike Zunino (7.8 WAR)
Original Pick: 29th round, 873rd overall, Athletics
Rockies Original Pick: Tim Wheeler (Peaked in Triple-A, out of baseball after 2015 season)