Joe Mauer, Delmon Young Remember Being No. 1

OAKLAND -- Compared to what Stephen Strasburg is going to experience on Tuesday, Joe Mauer had a relatively calm day.

A six-foot party sub. A few interviews. Another high school baseball game.

On the eve of the 2009 MLB Draft (Tuesday, 6 PM ET), in which Strasburg is expected to be the No. 1 pick, Mauer remembered his day back in 2001, when the Twins tabbed him with the first pick.

"We had some friends over and a party sub," Mauer said. "My agent found out on the Internet that I'd been selected first. There was no TV show or anything back then."

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Mauer is one of only 14 former No. 1 picks still active in the majors, and another shares the same clubhouse with him. Twins outfielder Delmon Young was the top pick in 2003.

(Trivia question: Only two other teams have more than one former No. 1 pick on the roster. Name them.)

FanHouse checked in with both players on Monday to get their recollections of draft day, and what it was like playing in the minors under the spotlight that comes with being the No. 1 overall pick.

Both were high school seniors when they got the call. Neither was sure that he'd go first until the day of the draft. Mauer said he heard from his agent and Young said he and his friends were monitoring the draft themselves on the Internet.

Young, who lived in Camarillo, Calif., said it was 10 AM when he got the news that Tampa Bay had made him the top pick, so he had a brief celebration with some of his high school teammates, then he went to school.

Mauer, who had already graduated from his high school in St. Paul, went to school for some interviews and then to the Metrodome. Then it was off to a high school playoff game.

The draft day celebration was quickly replaced by the realization that the hard work was just about to begin. Mauer said he could feel opponents and fans putting a little extra pressure on him throughout the minors.

"I think [pitchers] took it a little differently, like they tried to prove something," Mauer said. "I think you could tell when you get up there they are trying to throw a little harder or something like that. It was something I was used to growing up."

Mauer, who signed for $5.15 million, also heard it from the fans.

"You'd go on the road and some fans would let me know about that," he said. "I really don't let a lot of that stuff get to me. It was different. I thought most of it was kind of funny."

Mauer's bonus pales in comparison with what Strasburg is expected to get. There has been talk of a $50 million contract, although $15 to $20 million is more realistic. Strasburg has been called the best amateur pitching prospect in the history of the draft.

When asked what advice he had for Strasburg, Mauer said to forget about the draft and the money quickly.

"Just have fun with it and continue to work hard," Mauer said. "The draft is hopefully just the beginning of a career. A lot of guys get satisfied where they get picked in the draft and forget what you got drafted for was to get to the big leagues.

"I've heard a lot of great things about him, that his work ethic is great. I'm sure he won't have a problem. But the draft is just the beginning."

(Trivia answer: the Rays have David Price and Pat Burrell and the Rangers have Josh Hamilton and Kris Benson.)