The White Sox Strike Gold in 2026 MLB Draft Lottery

The Chicago White Sox hit the jackpot in the 2026 MLB draft lottery, securing the first overall pick. This is a big deal for the team, as they haven't had the top selection since 1977. Their chances were high, with a 27. 73% shot at the top spot after a rough 2025 season. The draft lottery shook things up, deciding the first six picks of the first round. The Tampa Bay Rays landed the second pick, while the Minnesota Twins snagged the third. The San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Kansas City Royals rounded out the top six. Interestingly, the Colorado Rockies, who had the worst record in the league, didn't get a shot at the top picks. That's because teams can't get lottery picks for three years in a row. They'll have to settle for the 10th pick this time around. The Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels also missed out on the lottery. They're "payor clubs, " meaning they share revenue with other teams. Because of this, they can't get consecutive lottery picks. The Nationals will pick 11th, and the Angels 12th. The draft lottery is a relatively new thing, introduced in 2022 to encourage teams to aim for wins instead of trading players to get better draft positions. The 2026 draft will take place in Philadelphia during All-Star Week. Last year, the Nationals won the lottery and picked high school shortstop Eli Willits with the first overall pick. It'll be interesting to see who the White Sox choose next year.