1978 Major League Baseball draft
In 1978, four American baseball players were promoted from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State University third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta Braves. Oakland High School pitchers Tim Conroy and Mike Morgan, and Brian Milner of Toronto also went directly to the big leagues.
In addition to Horner, the Braves also selected future major leaguers Matt Sinatro, Steve Bedrosian, Rick Behenna, Jose Alvarez and Gerald Perry.
Others drafted in June 1978 included Lloyd Moseby and Dave Stieb, Mike Marshall and Steve Sax, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Mike Boddicker, Kirk Gibson, Kent Hrbek and Hubie Brooks.
First round selections
The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.| Pick | Player | Team | Position | School |
| 1 | Bob Horner | Atlanta Braves | 3B | Arizona State University |
| 2 | Lloyd Moseby | Toronto Blue Jays | 1B | Oakland High School |
| 3 | Hubie Brooks | New York Mets | SS | Arizona State University |
| 4 | Mike Morgan | Oakland Athletics | RHP | Valley High School |
| 5 | Andy Hawkins | San Diego Padres | RHP | Midway High School |
| 6 | Tito Nanni | Seattle Mariners | OF | Chestnut Hill Academy High School |
| 7 | Bob Cummings | San Francisco Giants | C | Brother Rice High School |
| 8 | Nick Hernandez | Milwaukee Brewers | C | Hialeah High School |
| 9 | Glenn Franklin | Montreal Expos | SS | Chipola Junior College |
| 10 | Phil Lansford | Cleveland Indians | SS | Wilcox High School |
| 11 | Rod Boxberger | Houston Astros | RHP | University of Southern California |
| 12 | Kirk Gibson | Detroit Tigers | OF | Michigan State University |
| 13 | Bill Hayes | Chicago Cubs | C | Indiana State University |
| 14 | Tom Brunansky | California Angels | OF | West Covina High School |
| 15 | Robert Hicks | St. Louis Cardinals | 1B | Tate High School |
| 16 | Lenny Faedo | Minnesota Twins | SS | Jefferson High School |
| 17 | Nick Esasky | Cincinnati Reds | SS | Carol City High School |
| 18 | Rex Hudler | New York Yankees | SS | Bullard High School |
| 19 | Brad Garnett | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1B | DeSoto High School |
| 20 | Tim Conroy | Oakland Athletics | LHP | Gateway High School |
| 21 | Gerry Aubin | Pittsburgh Pirates | OF | Dougherty Comprehensive High School |
| 22 | Robert Boyce | Baltimore Orioles | 3B | Deer Park High School |
| 23 | Rip Rollins | Philadelphia Phillies | 1B-RHP | Allegheny High School |
| 24 | Matt Winters | New York Yankees | OF | Williamsville High School |
| 25 | Buddy Biancalana | Kansas City Royals | SS | Redwood High School |
| 26 | Brian Ryder | New York Yankees | RHP | Shrewsbury High School |
Compensation picks
Other notable players
- Danny Heep, 2nd round, 37th overall Houston Astros
- Mel Hall, 2nd round, 39th overall Chicago Cubs
- Cal Ripken Jr., 2nd round, 48th overall Baltimore Orioles
- Steve Balboni, 2nd round, 52nd overall New York Yankees
- Steve Bedrosian, 3rd round, 53rd overall Atlanta Braves
- Britt Burns, 3rd round, 70th overall Chicago White Sox
- Bob Bonner, 3rd round, 74th overall Baltimore Orioles
- Rob Deer, 4th round, 85th overall San Francisco Giants
- Mike Witt, 4th round, 92nd overall California Angels
- Dave Stieb, 5th round, 106th overall Toronto Blue Jays
- Mike Marshall, 6th round, 151st overall Los Angeles Dodgers
- Mike Boddicker, 6th round, 152nd overall Baltimore Orioles
- Tim Wallach, 8th round, 196th overall California Angels
- Steve Sax, 9th round, 229th overall Los Angeles Dodgers
- Mark Langston, 15th round, 377th overall Chicago Cubs
- Gary Redus, 15th round, 381st overall Cincinnati Reds
- Frank Viola, 16th round, 415th overall Kansas City Royals
- Kent Hrbek, 17th round, 432nd overall Minnesota Twins
- Eric Show, 18th round, 447th overall San Diego Padres
- John Stuper, 18th round, 460th overall Pittsburgh Pirates
- Kevin McReynolds, 19th round, 475th overall Milwaukee Brewers
- Ryne Sandberg, 20th round, 511th overall Philadelphia Phillies
- Dave Dravecky, 21st round, 531st overall Pittsburgh Pirates
- Howard Johnson, 21st round, 577th overall New York Yankees
- Rick Leach, 24th round, 594th overall Philadelphia Phillies
- Vance Law, 39th round, 758th overall Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ron Reeves, 47th round, 778th overall Cleveland Indians