1978 Major League Baseball draft
The 1978 Major League Baseball draft was held June 6–8, 1978, consisting of 48 rounds, during which a total of 779 players were selected by 26 Major League Baseball organizations. The first overall selection was Bob Horner, drafted by the Atlanta Braves.
Four of the selected players made their professional debuts in MLB without first playing in Minor League Baseball: third baseman Horner from Arizona State University, Oakland High School pitchers Tim Conroy and Mike Morgan, and catcher Brian Milner from Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas.
In addition to Horner, the Braves also selected future major-leaguer players Matt Sinatro, Steve Bedrosian, Rick Behenna, Jose Alvarez and Gerald Perry.
Others notable players drafted 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.Other notable players
| Round | Pick | Player | Team | Position |
| 2 | 37 | Danny Heep | Houston Astros | OF |
| 2 | 39 | Mel Hall | Chicago Cubs | OF |
| 2 | 48 | Cal Ripken Jr. | Baltimore Orioles | 3B |
| 2 | 52 | Steve Balboni | New York Yankees | 1B |
| 3 | 53 | Steve Bedrosian | Atlanta Braves | RHP |
| 3 | 70 | Britt Burns | Chicago White Sox | LHP |
| 3 | 74 | Bobby Bonner | Baltimore Orioles | SS |
| 4 | 85 | Rob Deer | San Francisco Giants | OF |
| 4 | 92 | Mike Witt | California Angels | RHP |
| 5 | 106 | Dave Stieb | Toronto Blue Jays | OF |
| 6 | 151 | Mike Marshall | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1B |
| 6 | 152 | Mike Boddicker | Baltimore Orioles | RHP |
| 8 | 196 | Tim Wallach* | California Angels | 1B |
| 9 | 229 | Steve Sax | Los Angeles Dodgers | SS |
| 15 | 377 | Mark Langston* | Chicago Cubs | LHP |
| 15 | 381 | Gary Redus | Cincinnati Reds | SS |
| 16 | 415 | Frank Viola* | Kansas City Royals | LHP |
| 17 | 432 | Kent Hrbek | Minnesota Twins | 1B |
| 18 | 447 | Eric Show | San Diego Padres | RHP |
| 18 | 460 | John Stuper | Pittsburgh Pirates | RHP |
| 19 | 475 | Kevin McReynolds* | Milwaukee Brewers | OF |
| 20 | 511 | Ryne Sandberg | Philadelphia Phillies | IF |
| 21 | 531 | Dave Dravecky | Pittsburgh Pirates | LHP |
| 23 | 577 | Howard Johnson* | New York Yankees | RHP |
| 24 | 594 | Rick Leach | Philadelphia Phillies | 1B |
| 39 | 758 | Vance Law | Pittsburgh Pirates | SS |
| 47 | 778 | Ron Reeves | Cleveland Indians | RHP |
* Did not sign