Tampa Bay Rays: Top Five First-Round Draft Picks in History

Tampa Bay Rays 1st Round Draft Pick – David Price

David Price remains a legend in Tampa Bay Rays history. He has accumulated 39.4 career rWAR and is still rolling at age 34. Price made his debut in 2008 and pitched in 14 innings. He made an impression as the Rays brought him along for the postseason ride where he pitched in 5.2 innings and earned a 2.1 inning save in the ALCS against Boston.

Price finished that postseason with eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings and set the tone for the type of pitcher the Rays would be marching into the future with. Price pitched for the Rays between 2008-2014 before they traded him to the Tigers as his contract neared its end.

Price finished his time with the Rays with an 83-47 record and a stellar 3.18 ERA. Of his 39.4 career rWAR, he earned 21.3 with the Tampa Bay Rays, 10.4 with the Boston Red Sox, 5.4 with the Detroit Tigers, and 2.6 in his half-season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

David Price was the first overall pick of the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt by the Rays. Price now finds himself as a member of a scary Los Angeles Dodgers team where he is under contract through 2022.

Price is one of the great first-round draft picks of all time, beyond that, he’s one of the greatest Rays of all time. However, it is going to take a lot to catch up with the guy in front of him on this list.