​Baseball history is rich with superstars who have climbed to the sport’s highest honor: induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Every franchise hopes its MLB draft pick will become the next defining figure of the league and its organization. Unlike the NFL or NBA, MLB draftees frequently spend multiple years developing in the minor leagues before reaching the majors.
This year, the Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft after capturing the draft lottery. Fans will eagerly await the event, scheduled for Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, in Philadelphia as part of MLB All-Star Week. Saturday’s festivities will include Rounds 1 through 4, while Rounds 5 through 20 will take place on Sunday. The first 10 selections of Round 1 will be televised on NBC and streamed on Peacock starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. MLB Network will cover picks 11 through 40, after which the draft will continue on mlb.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+. While draft position can shape expectations, it does not conclusively determine a player’s career trajectory. Many Hall of Famers were selected outside the top 100, and some No. 1 overall picks never reached the majors.
Here are nine Hall of Famers who began their journeys as overlooked picks in the MLB draft.
Mike Piazza is widely regarded as the greatest offensive catcher in baseball history, and he remains the lowest-drafted player to reach Cooperstown. The Los Angeles Dodgers chose him at pick 1,390 in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft. Over 16 major league seasons, Piazza belted 427 home runs and posted a .308 batting average. He was a 12-time All-Star, a 10-time Silver Slugger, and the 1993 National League Rookie of the Year. After retiring in 2008, Piazza explored international ventures and served as the manager for Italy’s national team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
John Smoltz stands out as the only pitcher in MLB history with 200 career wins and 150 saves. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 574th overall pick in the 22nd round of the 1985 draft, though he spent the bulk of his career—20 of his 21 seasons—with the Atlanta Braves. Smoltz finished with 213 wins, 154 saves, a 3.33 ERA, and 3,084 strikeouts. He captured the Cy Young Award in 1996 with a 24-8 record and 276 strikeouts. After retiring, Smoltz became the lead game analyst for Fox Sports. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Ryne Sandberg was selected 511th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 draft and would become the face of the Chicago Cubs during the 1980s and 1990s. He was the 1984 National League MVP, batting .314 with 19 triples and 114 runs. His 282 career home runs included a league-leading 40 homers in 1990. Sandberg secured nine consecutive Gold Glove awards from 1983 to 1991 and was a 10-time All-Star. His influence and production helped cement his legacy as one of baseball’s all-time greats.