Phillies’ Bryce Harper, Other No. 1 Picks Align For Historic Home Run Parade

Between Phillies star Bryce Harper, Tigers slugger Spencer Torkelson, Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday, Pirates catcher Henry Davis and Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak, five former No. 1 overall picks hit home runs on Wednesday.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

When Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson hit his sixth home run of the season in Wednesday afternoon's showdown with the Milwaukee Brewers, it didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary.

But that homer was the first of many on a historic day across MLB.

A few hours later, Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday dealt the Cleveland Guardians a crushing blow with a grand slam. Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis went yard against the Washington Nationals shortly after, followed by Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper hitting a home run versus the San Francisco Giants.

The final home run by any big league player on Wednesday came from Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak, who cut the Los Angeles Dodgers' lead to one in the third inning of that contest.

Torkelson, Holliday, Davis, Harper and Moniak were already tied together in the history books before they all hit home runs on the same day. Each of them went No. 1 overall in their respective MLB Drafts, ranging from 2010 through 2022.

According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, this marks the sixth time in MLB history that five-plus No. 1 overall picks have hit a home run on the same day.

Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Joe Mauer, Josh Hamilton and Pat Burrell all did so on Aug. 7, 2009. The same quintet – plus Chipper Jones, minus Mauer – achieved the feat on Sept. 7, 2007. The other three occurrences all came between 1998 and 1999.

6 players:
May 26, 1999: Baines, Dunston, Griffey, Jones, Nevin, Rodriguez
April 7, 1998: Erstad, Jones, King, Nevin, Rodriguez, Strawberry

5 players:
Aug. 7, 2009: Burrell, Griffey, Hamilton, Mauer, Rodriguez
Sept, 7, 2007: Burrell, Griffey, Hamilton, Jones, Rodriguez
April 15,…

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 17, 2025

With Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, Royce Lewis and Adley Rutschman all on major league rosters themselves, the all-time record of six former No. 1 picks homering on the same day could be threatened in 2025. Cleveland Guardians top prospect Travis Bazzana, who went No. 1 overall in 2024, could get called up this season as well, adding to the powerful talent pool of former top picks threatening to make even more history.

Related MLB Stories

• OHTANI LAUNCHES MISSILE: Shohei Othani led off Wednesday's game between the Dodgers and Rockies with a 448-foot home run that further cemented his hold on a Statcast era record.
   CLICK HERE

• MERVIS GOES YARD AGAIN: Matt Mervis hit his sixth home run of the season in the Marlins' loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, earning a spot in the franchise history books. CLICK HERE

• COL VS. LAD SLUGFEST MAKES HISTORY: Neither Germán Márquez nor Bobby Miller had their best stuff on Wednesday, as the Rockies and Dodgers' starters combined to give up 14 hits and 13 runs. CLICK HERE

Follow Fastball On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.