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White Sox Land Top MLB Draft Pick!
10 Dec
Summary
- White Sox secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft lottery.
- This marks Chicago's first No. 1 selection since Harold Baines in 1977.
- The lottery aims to reduce tanking by non-postseason teams.
The Chicago White Sox have secured the highly coveted No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 MLB draft, winning the lottery held at the Winter Meetings. With the highest odds at 27.73%, this marks a pivotal moment for the franchise, being their first top selection since acquiring Hall of Famer Harold Baines in 1977.
This draft lottery system was implemented as part of the collective bargaining agreement to combat tanking among non-postseason teams, with the top six picks being determined by this process. While the White Sox celebrate their win, other teams experienced shifts; the Tampa Bay Rays made a substantial leap from the 7th pick to No. 2, their highest since 2008.
Several teams faced penalties, including the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Phillies, and Yankees, who had their top draft picks moved back ten spots due to competitive balance tax violations. The Colorado Rockies, despite a poor 2025 season, were ineligible for the top pick due to consecutive lottery appearances, receiving the No. 10 pick instead.
