Price went 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA and Division I-leading 194 strikeouts for the Commodores. He is the fourth left-hander taken with the top pick and first since Brien Taylor went to the New York Yankees in 1991.

The first round of the draft was being televised live from an actual site for the first time after being held strictly by conference call in previous years. About 400-500 fans were at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex located outside of Orlando, Fla., and commissioner Bud Selig was in attendance, along with Tom Lasorda, Dave Winfield, Darryl Strawberry, Don Zimmer and Frank Howard.

Kansas City took power-hitting California high school infielder Mike Moustakas with the second pick. The Chicago Cubs went with California high school third baseman Josh Vitters, who was at the draft and posed with his Cubs hat and jersey next to Selig — the first in the event's history to do so.

"This was really important — a once in a lifetime opportunity," Vitters said. "I'm glad to be part of it. There's definitely some electricity, especially before I got picked. My heart was racing."

Next, Clemson lefty Daniel Moskos went to Pittsburgh. Baltimore selected Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters with the fifth overall selection.

About two dozen Devil Rays fans chanted "Let's Go Rays!" and "We Want Price!" during the commercial break after Selig made a few opening remarks and Tampa Bay went on the clock. Each team had 5 minutes to make its first-round pick.

It was the third time in franchise history the Devil Rays had the top pick and first since they took outfielder Delmon Young in 2003. Tampa Bay took an outfielder with its first No. 1 pick in 1999.

Price's dominant season came to a surprising end in the regionals when his top-ranked Commodores lost to Michigan on Monday. In that game, he came on in relief and took his first loss of the year after striking out 17 against Austin Peay three days earlier. Projected as a future staff ace in the majors, Price has a fastball measured in the mid-90s. He mixes it well with an outstanding slider and changeup.

Moustakas, California's career high school home run leader with 52, hit a state-record 24 this season while leading Chatsworth High School to the city title at Dodger Stadium. The left-handed slugger played shortstop in high school, but projects more as a corner infielder in the pros.

Vitters, considered by many to be the top high school player in the draft, hit .360 with nine HRs and 29 RBIs — despite missing two weeks with pneumonia — for Cypress High School.

Moskos moved from his role as closer to starter midway through this season for the Tigers. He was just 3-5 with a 2.91 ERA heading into super regionals, but has three potentially dominant pitches.

Wieters, a 6-foot-5 catcher, is outstanding defensively and has a strong, accurate arm, but his powerful bat should get him to the majors quickly. He hit .358 with 10 homers and 59 RBIs for the Yellow Jackets this season.

Missouri State lefty Ross Detwiler went sixth overall to Washington. Milwaukee then selected slugging Florida first baseman Matt LaPorta, despite having Prince Fielder seemingly entrenched at the position.