MLB No. 1 draft picks: Where are they now?

The Mariners logged their 100th loss last night. With four games remaining on the 2008 schedule, they have a shot at being tied with the 1978 Mariners for worst team in franchise history. Of course, we saw this coming as early as June. The comparison to the '78 club was striking even then.

So, were does this leave us? The M’s aren’t getting a trophy for their ineptness. But they could have the No. 1 draft pick if they finish with the worst record in the league. Only the Washington Nationals could foil those plans – their current record is 59-99.

Will the No. 1 draft pick cure all? Nope. Will he even see a Mariner roster? Maybe not. Is it worth watching bad baseball for six months? I’m not so sure.

Stephen Strasburg, a right-handed pitcher from San Diego State, seems to be the consensus choice to go No. 1 overall in 2009 and the M’s could always use another pitcher to mishandle.

While drafting No. 1 doesn’t always guarantee you get an impact player, the last 10 picks at that spot have produced some jewels. It has also produced a dud or two. Here’s a “where are they now” of the last 10 No. 1 overall draft picks:

1999 – Josh Hamilton, Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Hamilton you might remember treated fans this season to one of the most entertaining All-Star Home Run Derbies ever. Now a Texas Ranger outfielder, his story is one of high hopes crushed by drug addiction followed by a drive on the road to redemption. He’s currently hitting .304 with 31 home runs.

2000 – Adrian Gonzalez, Florida Marlins: Gonzalez was first called up by the Texas Rangers in 2004 and again in 2005. The first baseman was traded to San Diego before the 2006 season where he hit .304 with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs. He was elected to the 2008 All Star team as a reserve. Currently he’s hitting .281 with 35 home runs and 117 RBIs.

2001 – Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Mauer is one of the best catchers in the game right now. He got his first major league start in 2004 with the Twins, but was sidelined for most of the year with a knee injury. He had an MVP-caliber season in 2006 hitting .347, 13 homer runs, 84 RBIs while making the cover of Sports Illustrated. Currently he’s hitting .327 with 9 home runs and 81 RBIs for the Twins.

2002 – Bryan Bullington, Pittsburgh Pirates: Now pitching in Cleveland, Bullington has seen a total of 28 innings of Major League work. He was chosen in the 2002 draft No. 1 overall because the Pirates thought they had a better chance signing him over some of the other talent that would fetch a higher price. Injuries and an overall not being very good have kept him off the field.

2003 – Delmon Young, Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Young is most famous for being an all-around knuckleheaded psycho. While playing for the Durham Bulls in April 2006, he threw his bat at an umpire after being called out on strikes and received a 50-game suspension. The outfielder saw his first major league action in August 2006 with the Rays. He was traded to Minnesota before the 2008 season where he is currently hitting .296 with 10 home runs and 67 RBIs.

2004 – Matt Bush, San Diego Padres: Bush was drafted as a shortstop, the first since Alex Rodriguez in 1993, but was converted to a pitcher last year when they learned he couldn’t hit. Bush was give a $3.15 million signing bonus after being drafted, but has yet to sniff a major league roster. Currently he’s rehabbing a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and won’t play again until next year.

2005 – Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks: Upton is another converted shortstop, now playing outfield, but has fared far better than Bush. In 2007, he was called up as a 19 year old for the Diamondbacks and has been compared to Ken Griffey, Jr. He’s currently hitting .252 with 14 home runs and 39 RBIs.

2006 – Luke Hochevar, Kansas City Royals: Hochevar was originally selected in the 2002 draft by the Dodgers but didn’t sign with the club. The Dodgers tried again in 2005, but as is often the case with a Scott Boras client, the negotiations where filled with drama and contentiousness. The pitcher backed out of a deal that would have paid him $2.98 million in signing bonus money, opting to pitch in the independent league instead. The Royals took a flier on him in 2007 and signed him to a four-year deal worth $5.3 million and a signing bonus of $3.5 million. Currently, he’s 6-12 with a 5.51 ERA with the Royals.

2007 – David Price, Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Price made his first major league start on Monday with the playoff bound Rays. He gave up just four hits and one earned run in 5.1 innings of work. Price is sometimes called the future of the franchise and a pitching phenom. After being drafted he inked a six-year contract worth $8.5 million with a $5.6 million signing bonus.

2008 – Tim Beckham, Tampa Bay Rays: After signing out of high school with the Rays for $6.15 in singing bonus money, the shortstop hit .243 with 2 home runs and 14 RBIs in 46 games of rookie league ball. In two games of short-season A ball, he picked up two hits and five runs scored.