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As we get ready to kick of the 2028 season, we take a look back at the 2020 draft - a draft that has produced many of the current league's stars.

1. Chicago Cubs – SP Bob “Breezy” Little



Breezy came out an advanced arm from St. John’s, and looked poised for a long career in the big leagues. Though some questioned the pick off the bat, there was no denying that he could anchor a rotation if all went well. To some extent, it did go all well, at least for a while. Little’s success was fleeting, as he ascended to the big leagues in less than 2 years before posting a 10-2 record in 2023. Ultimately, Little’s career was undone by a few significant injuries that saw his ratings fall off the table. He’s currently in the bullpen of the Cubs’ AA affiliate, the Tennessee Smokers.

Grade: F. You have to hit on 1st overall picks, and this was a swing and a miss.

2. San Diego Padres – SP Carter “Grumpy” Hamilton



Hamilton entered the draft the consensus top talent, and has lived up to the billing. The 2x All Star rose to prominence in 2022, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award. In his major league career, Hamilton has amassed 83 wins, while posting an impressive 2.97 ERA. Hamilton just signed a staggering 7/$120 contract extension with the Padres this offseason.

Grade: A. A bonafide ace, Hamilton has certainly justified this high of a pick.

3. Cleveland Indians – SP Guillermo “Bazooka” Madrid



Another top tier arm off the board to the Indians, as Madrid looked like a great pick at the time. Early on, however, it was clear that projections on Madrid were off. Despite a fair amount of success at the A and AA level, “Bazooka” turned “Super Soaker” once he hit AAA ball. As a result, his ratings suffered, and he was shipped off to the Cubs shortly thereafter as a bullpen arm.

Grade: D. Gave Cleveland a few decent years before moving on.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers - 1B Guibert Cavallaro

Cavallaro, who played college ball under Mike Fox at North Carolina, tore through the Dodgers’ system to land on the active roster in 2021. Since then, the 2x All Star has had some incredible years, most notably when he won the NL MVP Award in 2025 for hitting .304/.400/.542 with 31 home runs and 94 runs batted in. In 2006, he signed a 5 year extension for $86 million, and remains in Tinsel Town.

Grade: A-. Snagging an MVP despite serious draft $ limitations is impressive.

5. Chicago White Sox – CF Alejandro “Mosquito” Páez



Drafted out of Clairton High School just outside of Pittsburgh, Páez had arguably the highest ceiling of any player in this draft. 8 years later, and Páez has surpassed all expectations and has developed into arguably the greatest CF in the dugout. Páez broke into the league in 2024, was an All Star in 2025, and won two consecutive rings in ’25 and ’26. His career numbers of .296/.367/.511 certainly justify this pick, along with his 88 home runs.

Grade: A+. Getting arguably the best player in the draft at pick 5? Win.

6. Atlanta Braves – SP Tyson “Beetle” Bland



Bland, another high end SP spec out of Michigan State, quickly graduated to the MLB level in 2022, before shipping off to Boston. Beetle was pretty bland in Beantown, and was passed off again to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he has really settled in and hit his stride and posted four consecutive double digit win seasons whilst emerging as their ace.

Grade: B. He turned out to be a pretty solid arm that Atlanta traded away a bit too early.

7. Los Angeles Dodgers - SP Miguel 'Racetrack' Bello

Bello came into the draft plagued by questions about his stamina. Indeed, he never emerged as an option in the rotation, and was thus relegated to bullpen duties for a majority of his professional career. His career record of 33-36 and ERA of 3.60 is certainly respectable, but it’s clear this pick was a bit of a flop. Bello remains with the Dodgers, and opens up spring training in their rotation.

Grade: C-. A bullpen arm, and nothing more.

8. Miami Marlins - SS Paul 'Prunes' Dyer



This two time All Star ripped through minor league ball in two years, and emerged as Miami’s every day 3B by 2023. Since then, Dyer has been a rock on the hot corner, combining excellent defense with some pop and tremendous plate discipline. With a career OBS of .762 and a VORP of 137, the Marlins decided to offer Dyer a 7/$121 million deal this offseason, which he gladly accepted.

Grade: B+. Dyer has been a steady contributor to the big league ball club, and looks to have several good years left in him.

9. Oakland Athletics - P Júlio 'Peppers' Ortega

Despite having nasty stuff, Ortega could never add a third pitch to his repertoire, nor could he curtail his control problems. As such, he was relegated to the bullpen, and hasn’t emerged from it since. To this day, he’s still with Oakland, and will be relied upon heavily this season in middle relief.

Grade: C. Much like Bello, a bullpen arm - albeit a good one.

10. Colorado Rockies - SS Don 'Skoonj' McMillan



Signed as a SS out of Auburn, McMillan also got the big league call in a very short time frame (2021). In just his first full year with the club, he got his first of three all-star game invitations. Still holding down the hot corner in Coors, McMillan has a career .285/.326/.510 with 194 home runs, and is in the 2nd year of a 5 year deal worth $65 million.

Grade: B+. Though his numbers have been inflated by Coors to a degree, there's no denying his 3 All Star game appearances.

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Other Notable Picks

1(28): New York Yankees - 2B Richard Moore
Moore has developed into arguably the best player in the league.

2(9): New York Mets - C José Garcia
Last season's National League MVP.

4(2): San Diego Padres - 1B José Costa
Costa is one of the most feared hitters in all of The Dugout.

5(1): Chicago Cubs - CF José Ávila
Looks to be a perennial All Star with ++ power and defense.