No pitcher taken #1 in the draft has ever won 20 games

[Ned_Devine]

So, why would any team take a pitcher as their number one overall. Don't read this wrong. Plenty of pitchers taken in the first round have won 20 games, but no pitcher taken #1 overall has ever won 20 games. Just food for thought

[KitchenWitch]

1. The other side of that equation is that...

It is due time for a pitcher drafted #1 to (once they come up through the ranks) become a 20 game winner.

Since baseball and pitching strategy has changed so much in the past 15 years or so, 20 game winners have become increasingly rare.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. Another way to look at it:

Five guys who each win 16 comes out the same as four guys who each win 20.

[Blue_Tires]

3. welcome to the site!

and in cases like this, you just want the best player available (and KC needs a lot of them)