--- title: "Mega-draft: Who’s No. 1 if 2023–25 MLB Drafts were rolled into one?" description: "ESPN’s simulation drops the top prospects from three drafts into a single pool and crowns the ultimate No. 1 overall pick." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/redrafting-the-2023-25-mlb-drafts-in-one-mega-draft-81d16788 published: 2026-07-03T12:13:10.175+00:00 updated: 2026-07-03T12:13:10.175+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["baseball"] --- # Mega-draft: Who’s No. 1 if 2023–25 MLB Drafts were rolled into one? > ESPN’s simulation drops the top prospects from three drafts into a single pool and crowns the ultimate No. 1 overall pick. ESPN’s simulation turns the last three MLB Drafts into one mega-draft and crowns the No. 1 overall pick. The top three projected selections are Paul Skenes, Charlie Kurtz, and Griffin Gilbert, with Carson McGonigle lurking just outside the top tier. The simulation projects Skenes—already the consensus top talent from the 2023 class—as the runaway No. 1 in a merged draft. The Pirates’ 2023 first-rounder sits atop the board thanks to elite fastball velocity, advanced command, and a starter’s ceiling that grades out as generational. Kurtz, the 2024 first overall pick by Washington, ranks second after posting a .300/.400/.600 slash in High-A at age 20, with 30-homer power and Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base. Gilbert, the 2025 top selection by Arizona, checks in third after hitting .320 with 25 homers and a 1.050 OPS in Double-A at 21, pairing plus bat speed with defensive versatility in right field. McGonigle, the 2024 second overall pick by Philadelphia, ranks fourth in the simulation but remains a top-tier arm with a mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider. The lefty’s advanced pitch mix and durability give him a clear path to a No. 1 role, even if the simulation slots him behind the top three hitters. The exercise underscores how stacked the last three drafts have been, with multiple 20-game winners, 30-homer sluggers, and Gold Glove talents available in a single mega-class. ESPN’s simulation drew immediate reaction from scouting directors and analysts, who called the exercise a reminder of how rare it is to see three consecutive drafts this deep. One NL scout noted that the merged class would likely reset the market for top-tier contracts, while an AL evaluator argued that Skenes’ two-way pedigree alone would make him the prohibitive favorite for No. 1 in any scenario. What’s next: The simulation’s rosters will drop next week, giving fans a 30-team blueprint of where every top prospect lands. The exercise also raises the stakes for the 2026 draft, where the next wave of talent will need to clear an already historic bar. ## Why this matters This isn’t just a fun thought experiment—it’s a reality check on how stacked the last three MLB Drafts have been. By merging 2023–25 into one mega-class, the simulation forces fans and front offices to confront a brutal truth: the next crop of stars is already here, and the competition for top picks has never been fiercer. It also sets a new benchmark for prospect evaluation, proving that even in a sport built on uncertainty, elite talent can’t be ignored. ## Frequently asked ### How did ESPN simulate the mega-draft? ESPN used its draft projection model to merge the 2023, 2024, and 2025 MLB Draft classes into a single pool, ranking prospects based on current scouting data, developmental trajectories, and team needs. ### Why is Paul Skenes the projected No. 1? Skenes’ elite fastball velocity, advanced command, and two-way pedigree make him the consensus top talent in the merged class, with a starter’s ceiling that grades out as generational. ### Where would Carson McGonigle rank in a real 2026 draft? McGonigle’s mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider give him a clear path to a top-five pick, but the simulation ranks him fourth due to the historic depth of the merged class. ### Will the simulation’s rosters include trades? ESPN’s initial release focuses on projected draft positions, but the full rosters will incorporate hypothetical trades to balance the 30-team distribution of top prospects. ### How does Griffin Gilbert compare to the top hitters? Gilbert’s .320 batting average, 25 homers, and 1.050 OPS in Double-A at 21 make him a top-tier bat, but his defensive versatility in right field keeps him behind the top two hitters in the simulation. ## Sources & Citations - [Redrafting the 2023-25 MLB drafts in one mega-draft](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49248782/2026-mlb-draft-redraft-2023-2024-2025-classes-skenes-kurtz-griffin-mcgonigle) — ESPN (2026-07-03) --- Cite: Mega-draft: Who’s No. 1 if 2023–25 MLB Drafts were rolled into one?. Sportopod, 2026-07-03. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/redrafting-the-2023-25-mlb-drafts-in-one-mega-draft-81d16788