ORLANDO, Fla. -- As the old saying goes, the third consecutive 100-loss season is the charm.
After being punished by the draft lottery system with lower picks than their records would have typically earned the last two Decembers, the White Sox turned the second-worst record in baseball into the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft.
"It’s a significant event for us. It can’t be understated [sic] how important it is," said White Sox GM Chris Getz in front of the lottery stage afterward. "We’ve been hard at work at bringing talent into the organization in different ways and obviously the amateur draft is an obvious avenue. Now, to be able to get a chance at the top talent in the Draft, it’s really exciting and just gives us a greater boost.
"Last year, as players were joining our major league club and performing the way they did, you began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now it’s just shining a little bit brighter."
The White Sox have only selected first overall in one other draft, when they selected Harold Baines at No. 1 in 1977. Baines was the White Sox's representative on the stage during the MLB Network presentation, so the good-luck ploy worked.
When asked if he was nervous, Baines said, "No."
Because the Colorado Rockies were ineligible for a selection in the top-nine due to consecutive years picking in the lottery, the White Sox came into the draft lottery with the best chance at the No. 1 pick. At 27.73 percent, the odds were with the field, and the previous three lotteries had not rewarded the team with the most favorable chance. But the ping-pong balls bounced their way on the first draw, certifying these Winter Meetings as a happy one for the organization.
The draft order:
- White Sox
- Rays
- Twins
- Giants
- Pirates
- Royals
- Orioles
- Athletics
- Braves
- Rockies
- Nationals
- Angels
- Cardinals
- Marlins
- Diamondbacks
- Rangers
- Astros
- Reds
It also rewarded the White Sox for being limited to the 10th pick last year due to their status as a payor club, or a team that pays revenue-sharing money rather than receiving it. The White Sox aren't allowed to pick in the top six two years in a row, whereas the Rockies receive revenue-sharing money, so they were allowed to pick in the lottery in two consecutive years before being ineligible. That provided zero solace to the Sox at the time in the wake of the losingest season in MLB history, but had they been eligible for a lottery pick last year, they would have picked sixth, and been out of the running for the No. 1 selection this time around.
Regardless of what happens over the next 24 hours in Orlando, which includes at least one Rule 5 pick Wednesday afternoon, the White Sox will leave Florida in better shape than they arrived.
"We are going to continue to have conversations with other clubs and it’s a good chance to meet with agents here as well. We are busy, good busy, but tonight it’s really about getting the group together and celebrating the No. 1 pick," Getz said.
The 2026 MLB draft will take place on July 11. As for the players who initially qualify for consideration at 1-1, Josh will have a breakdown on Sox Machine in the morning.
