On the morning of the MLB Draft lottery, Guardians president Chris Antonetti did not expect to land the No. 1 overall pick.
Cleveland had only a two percent chance to win the lottery, which determines the top six picks of the 2024 MLB draft. However, the Guardians, who finished with a 76-86 record in Terry Francona’s final season as manager, have surprisingly secured the first pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history.
“It’s hard to describe,” Antonetti said. “Not something I was expecting at all waking up this morning. In fact, wasn’t really even on our radar. Knew it was happening, but given the odds, wasn’t spending a whole lot of time on it. When we got that inkling, it might happen. It’s all I could think about because this an extraordinary opportunity for us, an opportunity we really haven’t had in our franchise history.”
"Not something I was expecting AT ALL waking up this morning. In fact, wasn't really even on our radar. Knew it was happening, but given the odds, wasn't spending a whole lot of time on it." – Cleveland Guardians president Chris Antonetti after winning the No. 1 pick with 2% odds pic.twitter.com/WbLTCb2qh9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 5, 2023
The Guardians will have a lot on their plate as they gear up for Stephen Vogt’s first season as manager. With the off-season still in full swing, there’s a lot of anticipation around who Chris Antonetti and the team will select with the No. 1 overall pick in June.
Infielder JJ Wetherholt from West Virginia, first baseman Nick Kurtz from Wake Forest, and second baseman Travis Bazzana are all expected to be top prospects in the 2024 draft.
