Secaucus, N.J. ? The Washington Nationals got their ace a year ago. Now, they think they’ve found a big-time slugger.

The Nationals selected the much-hyped Bryce Harper, a 17-year-old with prodigious power from the College of Southern Nevada, with the No. 1 overall pick in Monday night’s draft.

A year after taking similarly hyped right-hander Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals took Harper, who can play catcher but was announced as an outfielder at the draft site at MLB Network studios by commissioner Bud Selig.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo envisions Harper as a No. 3-type power hitter with a strong arm in right field.

“We’re going to take the rigor and the pressures of learning the position, the difficult position of catcher, away from him,” Rizzo said, “and really let him concentrate on the offensive part of the game and let his athleticism take over as an outfielder.”

Harper hit .443 with 31 homers and 98 RBIs in his first college season in a wood bat league.

With the second overall pick, Pittsburgh selected hard-throwing Texas high school right-hander Jameson Taillon.

Baltimore went next and picked smooth-fielding Florida high school shortstop Manny Machado.

Cal State Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon went to Kansas City at No. 4, and could end up playing second base.