The Chicago White Sox secured the top pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft lottery on Tuesday, marking their first time holding the No. 1 pick since selecting Harold Baines in 1977. After a tough season with 102 losses, Chicago had the highest odds at 27.73% in the weighted lottery and will have the first overall pick for the third time. The draft starts on July 11 in Philadelphia before the All-Star Game.
Harold Baines, a six-time All-Star and 2019 Hall of Fame inductee, was the last top pick for the White Sox, while in 1971, they chose first baseman Danny Goodwin, who played seven major league seasons. Baines represented the White Sox at the Winter Meetings draft lottery.
White Sox General Manager Chris Getz expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming draft, highlighting the promising talent available and the opportunity to strengthen the team. Currently, UCLA shortstop Rock Cholowski and Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson are projected as top prospects.
Following Chicago, Tampa Bay will pick second, with Minnesota, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore, Oakland, Atlanta, and Colorado following in that order. The draft lottery was introduced in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement to encourage teams to compete for wins rather than trading away players for higher picks.
Pittsburgh won the inaugural lottery, drafting pitcher Paul Skeens, who earned the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 Cy Young Award. Cleveland picked second baseman Travis Bazana first overall in 2024, while Washington selected shortstop Eli Willits this year.
Notably, Colorado, the LA Angels, and Washington were excluded from the lottery due to restrictions related to lottery picks and revenue sharing. After Chicago, Minnesota has the second-best odds (22.18%), followed by Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Oakland.
The New York Mets, despite being the second-highest spender this year, have only a 0.67% chance of finishing 27th after missing the playoffs.
Fan Take: This lottery win is a huge opportunity for the White Sox to rebuild and bring fresh talent to their roster, which could significantly improve their future prospects. For baseball fans, it highlights the evolving draft system designed to balance competitiveness and long-term growth across the league.
