Major League Baseball held its inaugural Draft Lottery on Tuesday during the Winter Meetings in San Diego. The lottery determines the placement of the top-18 picks in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Picks 14 through 18 went as expected, but the Minnesota Twins got some lottery luck and jumped from No. 13 to No. 8. The Texas Rangers jumped from No. 7 to No. 4, and the Detroit Tigers jumped from No. 6 to No. 3.
As for the worst-luck teams, the Kansas City Royals fell from No. 5 to No. 8, the Cincinnati Reds fell from No. 4 to No . 7, and the Oakland A’s made the biggest fall, going from the No. 2 slot to No. 6.
The No. 2 pick went to the Washington Nationals, who had MLB’s worst record at 55-107.
And the Pittsburgh Pirates received the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft after finishing with the third-worst record.
The Pittsburgh Pirates win the inaugural MLB Draft Lottery. ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/VPAvOBIdbf
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2022
The moment we found out!! pic.twitter.com/sf18aKF1lr
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) December 7, 2022
It’s the sixth time the Pirates have picked No. 1 overall, the most in MLB history.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have won the inaugural MLB Draft Lottery and will have the 1st overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft
This will be the Pirates 6th time picking first overall, the most in MLB Draft history pic.twitter.com/d6vMpkGYo3
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 7, 2022
LSU outfielder Dylan Crews, Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, Tennessee right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander, and high school outfielder Max Clark figure to be in consideration for the Pirates at the top pick in the draft.
Here’s a look at how the baseball world has reacted to the first-ever MLB draft and the Pirates getting the top pick:
I like how they made this as awkward as possible. Very MLB. https://t.co/w9ZDdIUkV0
— Sean Keeley (@SeanKeeleyIsMe) December 7, 2022
Pirates at least won something in my lifetime. https://t.co/J1ibXRZ7Ge
— Phillip Bupp (@phillipbupp) December 7, 2022
My guy was HYPED https://t.co/dHOsy6hFSZ pic.twitter.com/EljE5qA65g
— Brian McElhinny (@rtjr) December 7, 2022
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Pirates for winning the 2023 MLB Draft Lottery, giving them the right to pick a player they'll trade prematurely in 2028
— Tab Bamford (@The1Tab) December 7, 2022
The A's had the second-worst record in MLB and ended up getting the sixth pick in the draft lottery. It's been that kind of year for Oakland.
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) December 7, 2022
And the Pirates have now won the right to draft Victor Wembanyama
— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri) December 7, 2022
As for the 2023 MLB Draft itself, that won’t take place until July 2023 in Seattle.
[Photo Credit: MLB Network]
