The 2026 MLB Draft Lottery is about to shake up how baseball’s next wave of talent lands in the big leagues. The stakes? Never higher for those teams on the outside looking in. With a system aimed at curbing tanking and spreading the love, clubs like the White Sox, Twins, and Pirates are ready to headline a December event that’s starting to rival free agency rumors for offseason drama.
When and Where Is the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery?
Mark your calendar: December 9. The 2026 MLB Draft Lottery will take the spotlight during the Winter Meetings in Orlando, one of baseball’s busiest weeks. For front offices, it’s not just about trade talks or chasing free agents anymore. It’s also about grabbing a premium draft slot and maybe changing their franchise’s future.
Fans can watch every pick unfold live on MLB Network and stream it on MLB.com. What used to be a quiet, procedural moment has turned into a TV event that could shape the next decade for several teams.
How the MLB Draft Lottery Works
The MLB Draft Lottery, introduced in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement, was meant to discourage tanking. The worst team no longer gets the top pick automatically. Now, every non-playoff club has a shot at one of the top six selections.
The odds are weighted by regular-season standings, so struggling teams get better chances, but it’s never a sure thing. The lottery only covers the first six picks. After that, the rest of the non-playoff teams pick in reverse order of their records, sticking with tradition for the remainder of the round.
Who Has the Best Odds for the No. 1 Pick?
Going into the 2026 lottery, three franchises stand out. Each is in a different spot competitively, but all are hungry for a big draft score.
Here’s how the odds for the top pick look right now:
The White Sox have the best odds, and getting the first pick could speed up what’s been a rocky rebuild. The Twins are right behind them, balancing between contention and retooling, and a top pick could really shift their direction. The Pirates have been through plenty of rebuilds and could grab another key piece if the lottery goes their way.
The Impact of Ineligibility Rules
Not every non-playoff team gets a shot at those top six picks. The CBA’s lottery rules tie eligibility to revenue sharing and limit how often teams can appear in the lottery in back-to-back years.
In 2026, three clubs feel the impact:
The Rockies’ situation stands out the most. Under the old rules, worst record meant first pick. This time, they’ll pick 10th—a pretty clear sign that the league really wants to stamp out tanking, even if it means the worst team doesn’t get rewarded the way it used to.
How the Rest of the Draft Order Is Set
After the top six picks go through the lottery, the rest of the non-playoff teams pick in reverse order of their regular-season record. That keeps some consistency and predictability for most of the first round.
Postseason teams are a different story. Their draft spots depend on a few things:
The first round stretches out to 40 picks, including supplemental first-rounders and penalty picks tied to free-agent moves or other CBA quirks. For front offices, the difference between picking in the teens or the 30s can be huge—sometimes it’s the gap between a solid regular and a future All-Star. Funny how much hinges on a couple of ping-pong balls, isn’t it?
Top Prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft Class
People are already buzzing about the players who could shape the 2026 draft. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky stands out as the top name right now.
He brings big-league defensive skills and a surprisingly polished bat. Scouts see him as the premier prospect in this class.
Switching to the high school ranks, Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson leads the way. He’s got serious athleticism, a strong arm, and a bat that looks like it’ll only get better.
Some teams love chasing upside, and Emerson fits that mold for a top-10 pick. His tools jump off the page, honestly.
If you want more details, Baseball America is already on it with rankings, scouting blurbs, and early mock drafts. They’ll keep tweaking those lists as the seasons roll on and more games get played.
Here is the source article for this story: MLB Draft Lottery 2026: How To Watch, Team Odds, Top Prospects & More
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