Nationals history of No. 1 picks: How Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg are proof Washington can win atop the MLB Draft

The Washington Nationals will make nan 3rd No. 1 wide prime successful their franchise's history connected Sunday nighttime to statesman nan MLB Draft.

Their predecessor successful franchise history, nan Montreal Expos, ne'er picked first. And nan Nats' brace of No. 1 picks came successful back-to-back years, 2009 and 2010.

Both of those worked retired rather well. They brought Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper to town.

If this 3rd 1.1 action pans retired arsenic good arsenic those did, it'll beryllium a immense triumph for nan Nationals.

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Nationals history of No. 1 picks

There's 1 large quality betwixt Strasburg, Harper and nan 2025 MLB Draft.

Strasburg and Harper were no-doubt-about-it, generational prospects.

This year's draught doesn't person that.

Strasburg was already 1 of nan champion pitchers connected nan satellite while still astatine San Diego State. Anyone would've taken him first overall.

Harper near precocious schoolhouse early to play a inferior assemblage play to beryllium eligible for nan draught up of schedule. Everyone knew he'd beryllium 1 of nan champion hitters of his era, and it's worked retired that way.

This year's draught doesn't consciousness that straightforward.

There are 3 talented assemblage pitchers atop nan board, pinch astir mocks projecting LSU's Kade Anderson to spell to nan Nationals.

There's besides uber-impressive precocious schoolhouse shortstop Ethan Holliday, nan boy of MLB awesome Matt and relative of Orioles 2nd baseman Jackson. Ethan mightiness person nan astir expertise of anyone successful nan draft, but location seems to beryllium a statement that nan Nationals will spell pinch an knowledgeable assemblage subordinate alternatively than Holliday.

Regardless, nan action will person a batch to unrecorded up to.

Strasburg and Harper are 2 of nan top Nationals ever. Can this No. 1 prime gain that title, too?

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