Guardians win Draft Lottery, securing next year's top pick
The Guardians were the big winners of Major League Baseball’s Draft Lottery on Tuesday, winning the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft. It will be the first time Cleveland has selected at the top of the Draft, having picked second overall on five occasions.
Guardians secure No. 1 pick in 2024 Draft
The Cleveland Guardians emerged as the winners of the Major League Baseball Draft Lottery, granting them the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft. This is a historic moment for the franchise as it will be their first time selecting first overall. Previously, they have picked second overall on five occasions.
The Draft Lottery took place during the Winter Meetings, with the Guardians having a 2.0 percent chance of winning the top pick. Despite the slim odds, the Guardians came out on top, giving them a valuable opportunity to add a top talent to their roster.
Previously, the only way for a team to secure the top pick was by having the worst record in baseball. The Draft Lottery introduces a fairer system that allows teams like the Guardians to have a chance at the top pick without having a catastrophic season.
Complete draft order revealed
Following the Guardians' selection at No. 1, the rest of the draft order was unveiled. The Cincinnati Reds secured the second pick, followed by the Colorado Rockies at No. 3. The Oakland Athletics and the Chicago White Sox rounded out the top five picks of the draft.
The complete draft order can be found on MLB's official website. From the second round onwards, teams will choose in reverse order of their winning percentage in the previous season, with playoff teams picking in reverse order of their postseason finish.
Teams experience mixed results in draft lottery
While the Guardians and Reds had surprising success in the Draft Lottery, other teams experienced different outcomes. The Rockies, Athletics, and Royals had the highest percentage chance of securing the top pick, but ultimately landed at No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6, respectively.
Several teams saw their positions change in the draft order due to the lottery results. The Cardinals and Angels dropped from their initial ranking, while the Pirates, winners of last year's lottery, moved down to the No. 9 spot.
In addition to the draft order, the Draft Lottery also introduced rules regarding consecutive lottery picks and revenue-sharing payouts. Teams will have limits on receiving lottery picks and top-six choices in consecutive drafts based on their revenue-sharing status.
