Browsing: draft

• 

  Jorge CastilloDec 10, 2025, 03:55 PM ET

  Close

  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Yankees made their first selection in a Rule 5 draft since 2011 on Wednesday, taking right-hander Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Winquest was one of 13 players — and 12 right-handed pitchers — chosen in the major league portion of the draft.

The Rockies took RJ Petit, a 6-foot-8 reliever, with the first pick from the Detroit Tigers. Petit, 26, had a 2.44 ERA in 45 relief appearances and two starts between Double A and Triple A last season. The Minnesota Twins chose the only position player, selecting catcher Daniel Susac from the Athletics.

Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player and must keep him on the active major league roster for the entire following season unless he lands on the injured list. Players taken off the roster must be offered back to the former club for $50,000.

The 25-year-old Winquest recorded a 4.58 ERA with a 48% groundball rate in 106 innings across 25 games, including 23 starts, between Single A and Double A last season. He features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph plus a curveball, cutter and sweeper. He is expected to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen next season.

Right-hander Brad Meyers was the last player the Yankees had chosen in a Rule 5 draft. He suffered a right shoulder injury in spring training and was on the injured list for the entire 2012 season before he was offered back to the Washington Nationals. He never appeared in a major league game.

Also picked were right-hander Jedixson Paez (Colorado from Boston), right-hander Griff McGarry (Washington from Philadelphia), catcher Carter Baumler (Pittsburgh from Baltimore), right-hander Ryan Watson (Athletics from San Francisco), right-hander Matthew Pushard (St. Louis from Miami), right-hander Roddery Munoz (Houston from Cincinnati), right-hander Peyton Pallette (Cleveland from Chicago White Sox), right-hander Spencer Miles (Toronto from San Francisco), right-hander Zach McCambley (Philadelphia from Miami) and right-hander Alexander Alberto (White Sox from Tampa Bay).

Source link

The Anaheim Ducks are the NHLâ€s surprise team of the 2025-26 season. After seven consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs and finishing as one of the NHLâ€s bottom 10 teams, the Ducks sit atop the Pacific Division standings and are one of the must-watch teams in the league due to their combination of talented young stars and high-event brand of hockey.

Since early in the season, the Ducks have been a team on the tip of everyoneâ€s tongues. From podcasts to blogs to national broadcasts, different Ducks†roster players have been highlighted by several outlets at varying points through the first 30 games of the season.

Advertisement

In the seasonâ€s infancy, Chris Kreider grabbed headlines, as he made a quick positive impression with his brand new club, scoring four goals in his first three games with Anaheim after spending his first 13 years with the New York Rangers.

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Shootout Win over the Penguins

Ducks†Husso Impressing In Extended Opportunity

The “Trouba Train” Appeared over the Weekend, Causing Injury and Sparking Discussion

The narrative briefly shifted to Cutter Gauthier in early November, as by Nov. 6, he was the goal-scoring leader in the NHL, notching 10 goals (to go along with six assists) through his first 12 games on the season.

Advertisement

Finally, up until this week, the main headline-grabber on the Ducks roster was (and still is to a degree) budding superstar Leo Carlsson, who sits tied for eighth among the NHLâ€s scoring leaders with 38 points (16-22=38) through his first 30 games of the season.

The spotlight has shifted slightly again, as after back-to-back-to-back two-point games, rookie Beckett Sennecke is currently the NHLâ€s scoring leader among rookies and has catapulted himself into the Calder Trophy conversation. Through 30 games, Sennecke has tallied 26 points (10-16=30), giving himself a cushion on Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, who has 23 points (6-17=23) in 29 games, and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who has 22 points (8-14=22) in 31 games.

“Heâ€s playing with a lot of confidence. These guys have so much talent, and theyâ€re so young,†Ducks forward Alex Killorn said after the Ducks’ 7-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. “For them to get points and to get confidence, momentum, you donâ€t see a ton of guys that young that are comfortable protecting the puck against NHL guys after coming over from juniors. He does such a good job with his poise, itâ€s pretty rare to see in a guy thatâ€s that young.â€

From a statistical perspective, whatâ€s further impressive are the facts that 22 of his 26 points have come at even strength, and 12 of his 16 assists are primary assists. Heâ€s firmly on Anaheimâ€s second power play unit, has only played 50:58 TOI with a man-advantage, and has only registered three power play points (1-2=3).

Advertisement

His primary assist count and 5v5 production highlight his play-involvement on a stride-by-stride basis and ability to drive his line consistently.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Before the season, there were questions about what the best approach was to his development. His only options were to remain in the NHL or return to the OHL to play another year with the Oshawa Generals. The Ducks decided to keep him on the roster to start the year and see how he would develop.

He struggled to adjust during his preseason and rookie camp performances, specifically in the areas of wall play and puck management. Regardless, and following a preseason injury to center Ryan Strome, Sennecke was placed on the Ducks†second line with Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier, giving him every opportunity to succeed and maintain his position in the lineup and in the NHL.

Advertisement

“Maintain†can now be considered an understatement. He scored four points (2-2=4) in his first three NHL games and made several typical “rookie†adjustment mistakes during his first few weeks in the league, but has since not only kept his head above water, but heâ€s now one of the most impactful offensive weapons on one of the NHLâ€s best offensive teams.

“I think with every game, every practice, especially, you get more comfortable making those plays, especially at the top of the zone,†Sennecke said after the Ducks†4-3 shootout win over the Washington Capitals on Friday, where he logged his first of three straight two-point games. He scored a goal and added a highlight-reel assist in that game, where he mohawked at the top of the offensive zone to freeze Caps forward Connor McMichael, before slicing high to low in the zone and finding a streaking Gauthier in the slot.

“You definitely donâ€t want to turn it over up there,†Sennecke continued. “Itâ€s something you kind of get used to with time, how much space you have, how much defenders are going to bite, and thatâ€s what youâ€re trying to get them to do as an offensive guy.â€

Impressively, Sennecke has translated the aspects of his game that made him a dynamic player in the OHL over the past two seasons, leading up to and following his selection as the third-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. His puck skills stand out as elite, but heâ€s now manipulating the best defenders in the world while both cleverly and aggressively attacking defensive structures, and creating high-danger opportunities seemingly out of thin air. His forechecking and recognition of opposing attacks have led to him disrupting multiple plays and turning pucks up ice and into offensive sequences.

Advertisement

“Yeah, heâ€s got evasiveness that is a little bit unpredictable,†Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said of Senneckeâ€s skill. “A lot of guys havenâ€t seen him yet, and I think theyâ€re still trying to gauge him with what the next move could be, because heâ€s so slippery. Heâ€s got that long reach; sometimes it looks like youâ€ve got him, but he finds a way to keep on that puck. I think his (linemates) have been doing a good job to complement him as well.

“Itâ€s a great asset to have, a great strength in the skill department,†Quenneville added when asked about Senneckeâ€s deception. “Whether itâ€s deceiving or deception, whether itâ€s speed, or where the puck is off your stick, being aware of what heâ€s going to do with his stick, itâ€s an art, and you have to appreciate when you have guys that are able to do it, and you get to enjoy it some nights.â€

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

What has come as a welcome surprise has been his willingness and approach toward battling his way to the front of the net, whether on or off-puck. Heâ€s constantly mixing it up with opposing net-front defenders and pushing boundaries when trying to find the line when it comes to how much he can get away with in that area of the ice. Simply put, heâ€s a hockey player and a competitor.

Advertisement

“Heâ€s doing great. Heâ€s a young player. Heâ€s big, heâ€s strong, he can pull a puck,†Ducks forward Ross Johnston said of the Ducks†youngest roster player, with whom heâ€s played on a line for spells during the season. “As a power forward, heâ€s nice to play with because he can finish, and youâ€ve just got to feed him the puck.â€

Sennecke turned a specific area of weakness into a strength: his wall play. In the preseason and in his first few NHL games, he struggled engaging against some of the strongest and wittiest opponents heâ€d faced to date, often getting pushed off the puck or struggling to make quick, smart decisions. Since then, heâ€s been baiting defenders, rolling off of them, or moving pucks to teammates or safe areas before having to battle. Heâ€s keeping his feet moving on-puck, drawing attention and opening up space for himself and teammates on the ice.

“I think heâ€s strong now, I think heâ€s only going to get stronger,†Quenneville said when asked about his puck protection ability and how he plays in the small areas of the ice. “With him, heâ€s long, and heâ€s got that reach, and heâ€s deceptive, and he can put it in different areas and not lose momentum when heâ€s getting it back up to where he needs it. Heâ€s tricky.â€

Sennecke will have to maintain this level of production, perhaps even increasing it if heâ€s to overtake Schaefer in the Calder Trophy conversation. For how impressive Senneckeâ€s been, Schaefer is currently the New York Islanders†undisputed #1 defenseman, tied for 11th in scoring among all NHL defensemen, and averages 23:36 TOI per game, including 3:36 on the power play and 1:15 on the penalty kill. Heâ€s already one of the best defensemen in the NHL.

Advertisement

BetMGM currently has Schaefer favored to win the Calder Trophy, with -210 odds. Sennecke is right behind him with +375 odds, and Demidov is third with +550 odds. There are still over 50 games left to play in the season, and a lot can change very quickly. The Ducks are simply happy to have Sennecke on board and making such a sizable impact game-to-game.

“Heâ€s perfect. Heâ€s growing into the game, for sure,†Ducks leading scorer Leo Carlsson said when asked about having Sennecke as a teammate. â€œHeâ€s getting stronger and better, too. Heâ€s just so dangerous, so unpredictable with the puck. Heâ€s going to be insane in a few years.â€

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-1 Victory over the Blackhawks

Takeaways from the Ducks 4-3 Shootout Win over the Capitals

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-0 Loss to the Mammoth

Source link

Subscribe to The Kevin O’Connor Show

Kevin Oâ€Connor is joined by Tom Haberstroh to break down the Oklahoma City Thunder dominating the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Cup quarterfinal as they continue their historic winning streak. Can OKC break the NBA record for the longest single-season win streak? Then, they discuss the San Antonio Spurs’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers without superstar Victor Wembanyama and share their picks for who will reign supreme in the NBA Cup.

Advertisement

Next, the duo dives into why the NBA is seeing a rise in calf strains across the league and shares their thoughts on the NBAâ€s response. And, are the Grizzlies better without Ja Morant? Where are potential landing spots for Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Plus, James Barlowe joins KOC’s Draft Class to discuss AJ Dybanstaâ€s electric game against Clemson, Darryn Petersonâ€s return to Kansas and how Nate Ament can bounce back from his struggles.

(0:47) OKC defeats Phoenix in NBA Cup quarterfinals

(6:10) Spurs beat Lakers in NBA Cup quarterfinals

(8:54) Thunder vs. Spurs NBA Cup semifinal preview

Advertisement

(13:00) Increase of calf strain injuries in the NBA

(23:54) Knicks vs. Magic NBA Cup semifinal preview

(34:35) Ja’s last chance to make things right with Memphis

(43:36) Queen continues to shine for Pelicans

(46:28) Anthony Davis trade suitors

(57:20) Draft Class with James Barlowe

🖥ï¸Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or atyahoosports.tv

Source link

• 

  Bradford DoolittleDec 9, 2025, 05:59 PM ET

  Close

  • MLB writer and analyst for ESPN.com
  • Former NBA writer and analyst for ESPN.com
  • Been with ESPN since 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. — In hopes of landing the next No. 1 draft pick, the Chicago White Sox enlisted the aid of their last top overall pick. The presence of Hall of Famer Harold Baines worked like a charm.

The White Sox secured the first pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft by winning the annual draft lottery Tuesday at the winter meetings. Chicago entered the lottery with the best odds for landing the pick, but with a 27.7% chance at the selection, it was far from a sure thing. In the end, Chicago got what it wanted.

“It’s a significant, significant event for us, and it can’t be overstated how important it is,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. “We’ve been hard at work at bringing talent into the organization in different ways. Obviously, the amateur draft is an avenue, and now to be able to get a chance at the top talent in the draft is really exciting.”

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

As the picks were revealed one by one in a dark ballroom of the Hilton Signia in Orlando, illuminated only by studio lights for the MLB TV broadcast of the proceedings, the last two teams still alive were the White Sox, represented by Baines, and the Rays, represented by ebullient former outfielder Brett Phillips, who suggested he might perform the airplane celebration if Tampa Bay won the lottery.

Instead, it was Chicago and the more subdued Baines who took the night. Baines, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2019, was the draft’s top selection in 1977, a time so different that he said he didn’t have representation when White Sox executive Roland Hemond called to tell him the club was taking him first.

Things have changed. Though when asked which outcome he preferred — 1977 or 2025 — Baines was straightforward.

“My own,” Baines quipped. “There wasn’t this hoopla then. It’s exciting to be here. I’m happy for the organization. I’m still a part of it.”

The White Sox set an MLB record with 121 losses in 2024, and while the 2025 season was dismal by most teams’ standards, Chicago cut the loss total to a less-notable 102 and the made-over roster was dominated by up-and-coming players. They will soon add another.

Pick, Team1. Chicago White Sox2. Tampa Bay Rays3. Minnesota Twins4. San Francisco Giants5. Pittsburgh Pirates6. Kansas City Royals7. Baltimore Orioles8. Athletics9. Atlanta Braves10. Colorado Rockies11. Washington Nationals12. Los Angeles Angels13. St. Louis Cardinals14. Miami Marlins15. Arizona Diamondbacks16. Texas Rangers17. Houston Astros18. Cincinnati Reds

Among the candidates to be taken early in the draft, a lot of attention has gone to UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who hit .353 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs in 66 games for the Bruins and has been touted by some outlets as the best shortstop prospect in years.

Now, Getz has carte blanche to add another impact talent such as Cholowsky to his emerging core, though the general manager wasn’t about to tip his hand after the lottery on Tuesday.

“There’s a couple guys that are standouts right now,” Getz said. “You’ve still got to do the work. You stay at it, and you’re open-minded. But now that we’ve received the No. 1 pick, I’m fairly confident tonight I’ll be diving in a little bit more.”

Other winners from lottery night included the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants.

The Royals, represented at the lottery by manager Matt Quatraro, were slated for the 13th pick but jumped to No. 6. The Giants, represented by former outfielder Randy Winn, jumped from 12th to fourth.

On the flip side, the New York Mets fell out of the lottery altogether, completing a dismal day in Queens. Because of their status as a high-level, luxury-tax-paying team, the Mets needed to get into the top six to avoid dropping. They didn’t, and on the same day they saw their star closer, Edwin Diaz, sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets came out of the lottery with the 27th pick of the first round.

For the White Sox, after a couple of tough years in the standings as Getz’s extensive rebuild has taken shape, the news was much better, and Tuesday night was a time to rejoice.

“We’re busy — good busy,” Getz said. “But tonight, it’s really about getting the group together and celebrating the No. 1 pick.”

Source link

Welcome back to another installment of Draft Gems, a series in which we take deep dives on under-the-radar college draft prospects who do not attend Power Four schools.

This week is pitching-centric, as four of the five players highlighted are arms that pique my interest in the 2026 draft class. I think everyone knows the drill by now, but the players below are not ranked, but rather listed alphabetically.

Will Howell, RHP, Memphis

Howell last spring emerged as a key cog in Memphis†bullpen, where across 16 appearances he compiled a 2.36 ERA with 34 strikeouts to 17 walks in 26.2 innings. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Howell is plenty physical with big-time arm strength. Thereâ€s no shortage of rawness in his profile, and heâ€ll need to continue to refine both his operation and command, but there are intriguing traits in place.

Howell attacks out of an ultra-high three-quarters slot and relies heavily on his low-to-mid-90s fastball. He ran his heater up to 96 mph last spring, and it flashed above-average carry through the zone. Its riding life—last season it averaged over 19 inches of IVB—combined with Howellâ€s nearly six-and-a-half feet of extension make it a real weapon when itâ€s elevated. His command of the offering will need to improve, and if heâ€s able to locate his heater in the top half of the zone on a consistent basis it will become that much more effective.

Howell pairs his fastball with an upper-70s-to-low-80s slider. He threw a few last spring that took on a two-plane look—albeit with much more depth than lateral break—but the vast majority of his sliders had a true gyro shape. While Howell was able to generate a 39% whiff rate with his slider, itâ€s a pitch that lacks “oomph†right now and will need to become more dynamic as he transitions into professional baseball.

Howell looks the part of a two-pitch reliever at the moment, but it will be interesting to see if there are any new developments to his profile this season. Improved strike-throwing or an even somewhat-viable third pitch could help boost his stock.

Steele Murdock, RHP, UC San Diego

Murdock redshirted in 2024 and had a modest season from a “back of the baseball card†standpoint in 2025. However, he thrived in the Cape Cod League, where he pitched to a 2.16 ERA with 24 strikeouts to six walks across 16.2 innings en route to an all-star selection. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Murdock has a physical build with some length in his lower half. He moves well on the mound and features a repeatable delivery in which he attacks out of a high three-quarters slot with present arm speed.

Murdockâ€s fastball sits in the 92-95 mph range, but itâ€s been up to 97. It didnâ€t miss many bats during the spring, but this summer it generated a 29% whiff rate. His command of the pitch took a noticeable step forward between the spring and summer, and Murdock was able to locate his fastball in the top half of the zone on a far more consistent basis to get it over the barrel of opposing hitters for whiffs. That newfound command enabled him to optimize his fastball shape, which is modest, but the pitchâ€s velocity combined with Murdockâ€s above-average extension and his ability to spin the baseball all played in his favor.

Murdockâ€s go-to secondary is his mid-to-upper-80s slider. His feel for it is arguably better than his fastball, and it routinely flashes two-plane break with teeth. Itâ€s an above-average pitch right now and one that Murdock throws with conviction. He uses his slider predominantly against righthanded hitters, who last spring posted a measly .113/.161/.132 slash line against it. Not only can Murdock land his slider for strikes, but he routinely generates empty swings with it. Last spring, it garnered miss and chase rates of 41% and 43%, respectively, and it figures to continue to serve as Murdockâ€s go-to putaway pitch as he progresses through professional baseball.

While his fastball-slider combination made up for 95% of the pitches he threw over the summer, Murdock last spring rounded out his arsenal with a mid-to-upper-80s changeup. It looks the part of an at least average third offering, and it flashes late and effective tumble.

If Murdock can carry over the strides he made in the command department into this season, it will help his entire arsenal play up. He is a West Coast arm on which to keep close tabs.

Robert Orloski, RHP, UTSA

After being used primarily as a starter his freshman season, Orloski last spring flourished as a full-time reliever. Across 27 appearances spanning 72.1 innings, he pitched to a 3.36 ERA with 77 strikeouts against 27 walks. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Orloski has a lean, high-waisted frame with room to fill out. He features a short arm stroke and attacks out of an ultra-high three-quarters slot that is borderline over the top. Thereâ€s some low-hanging fruit to clean up in his operation—particularly getting more into his lower half and toning down the effort a bit—but it should be pretty feasible for whichever organization drafts him. Â

Orloski relies heavily on his fastball, a pitch he threw 66% of the time in 2025. It sits in the low 90s, but itâ€s been up to 97 mph and flashes big-time carry in the top of the zone. It averaged over 23 inches of ride last spring, and while part of that is natural due to Orloskiâ€s high slot, itâ€s still a noteworthy mark. The heater also averaged north of 2,400 rpm. Unsurprisingly itâ€s at its best and generates the most whiffs when he’s able to locate it in the top half of the strike zone.

Orloskiâ€s most-used secondary last spring was his low-to-mid-80s slider, though it lacks sharpness and its shape will vary. Sometimes it looks like a true gyro slider, while at others it’s a shorter, cutter-like pitch with some gloveside life. The former is usually thrown in the lower end of Orloskiâ€s velocity band, while the latter typically falls inside the higher end.Â

He used it less than his slider, but the secondary pitch I think Orloski should hone in on developing is his mid-to-upper-70s curveball. Like his slider, itâ€s a pitch that lacks teeth at the moment, but it flashes effective depth at times. It also makes sense to develop given Orloskiâ€s arm slot, as his fastball and curveball—especially if it takes a step forward—would make for an intriguing north-to-south profile. He threw it just 3% of the time last season, but Orloski rounds out his arsenal with a mid-80s changeup that flashes tumble.

Cole Royer, RHP, Kennesaw State

We often use the phrase “good clay to mold†when talking about pitchers, and Royer is an arm who fits the description to a T.

Royer threw just 6.2 innings last spring at Georgia Tech, and he proceeded to enter the transfer portal and eventually committed to Kennesaw State. Thereâ€s certainly a chance Royer comes into his own while taking on a more elevated role for the Owls, and theyâ€re a program that flies under the radar as it pertains to player development. Theyâ€ve had at least one pitcher selected in 16 of the last 18 drafts, and thatâ€s a streak that figures to continue this July.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Royer has a lanky, uber-projectable frame. He works exclusively out of the stretch and features a whippy arm stroke with present arm speed. He attacks out of a lowered three-quarters slot with a bit of crossfire in his delivery. His fastball has been into the mid 90s, and although it takes on a dead zone shape, it plays up thanks to the over seven feet of extension Royer is able to generate. Iâ€ll be curious to see what kind of tweaks a player development department is able to make to the pitchâ€s shape, because Royerâ€s velocity—which should only tick up as he continues to fill out—and extension serve as two intriguing building blocks for his heater.

Royer pairs his fastball with an upper-70s-to-low-80s sweeper. It will need to become a more dynamic pitch, and itâ€s pretty easy to envision it growing into exactly that as Royer matures physically. He routinely spins it in the 2,700 rpm range, and it looks the part of a potential true swing-and-miss pitch. Its shape is inconsistent, but it was still effective in a small sample last season against righthanded hitters.

Royerâ€s pitchability will need to improve across the board, and heâ€ll need to add a viable third pitch to get lefties out, but thereâ€s an exciting foundation in place.

Josh Skowronski, OF, Winthrop

Skowronski began his career at Kentucky, but after his freshman year, he opted for a change of scenery and chose to take his talents to Winthrop. Needless to say, itâ€s a move thatâ€s paid off for him, as he hit .305/.436/.588 last season with nine doubles and 13 home runs. Skowronski rode the momentum he built during the spring into the summer, as he posted a .321/.454/.541 line with 13 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs and 26 walks to 18 strikeouts across 33 games in the Cal Ripken League.

At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Skowronski has a strong, athletic frame with physicality throughout. Itâ€s a pro body. Between last spring and this fall, it appears as if Skowronski has made a couple small tweaks to his setup. Heâ€s now standing a bit taller in the box and looks looser and more relaxed. He has a small hand press in his load and deploys a quick toe tap that heâ€ll eliminate in two-strike counts. Skowronski is an advanced athlete who moves well in the box and has big-time hand speed.

Skowronski last spring did the vast majority of his damage against fastballs. He hit .333/.458/.677 with 15 extra-base hits—including nine home runs—against heaters, while working overall and in-zone contact rates of 87% and 93%, respectively. Conversely, secondary offerings proved to be a bugaboo. Skowronski struggled to see spin and pick up shapes out of the hand, which led to plenty of swings and misses down in the zone. He ran a miss rate of at least 34% against every offspeed offering this past season, so adding a coat of polish to his pitch recognition skills will be key.

However, if thereâ€s a silver lining, itâ€s that Skowronskiâ€s swing decisions were solid. His overall chase rate last season was just 21%, and only a couple handfuls of his swings came outside the “shadow zone†on Synergy.

While Skowronskiâ€s exit velocity numbers donâ€t necessarily jump off the page, last season he posted a hard-hit rate of 47% to go along with a barrel rate of 28.7% and good angles. He has a knack for getting the ball up in the air to his pull side, which is where heâ€ll flash above-average power.

Skowronski has turned in plus run times—this fall he ran a 6.44-second 60-yard dash—and his legs serve him well on the grass. While heâ€ll need to crisp up his routes, Skowronski has an average arm and will stick in a corner outfield spot professionally.

Source link

ORLANDO, Fla. – If youâ€re right-handed and make a living throwing from a mound, you had a seemingly good chance of hearing your name called during Wednesdayâ€s Rule 5 Draft.

There were a total of 13 players taken during the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft and 12 were right-handed pitchers. It started with the Rockies taking RJ Petit from the Tigers and the pitching run was only interrupted once, when the Twins selected catcher Daniel Susac from the Aâ€s (and then subsequently traded him to the Giants).

The Triple-A phase was robust, with 55 additional players changing organizations. The 68 overall selections fell well shy of the 83 total picks from a year ago.

Players who turned pro at age 18 or younger in 2021 or at age 19 or older in 2022 are eligible for selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft if they aren’t on a 40-man roster. Clubs that take a player in that phase must pay his former team $100,000 and keep him on their active big league roster throughout the following season. The player can’t be sent to the Minors without first clearing waivers and then getting offered back to his original organization for half his Draft price.

It costs $24,000 to take a player in the Triple-A phase, with no restrictions about where those players can be placed in 2025.

Below are the 13 picks made in the Major League phase:

A year ago, the White Sox made Shane Smith the top Rule 5 pick and he went on to stick in the rotation all year, making the All-Star Team in the process. This yearâ€s top pick is headed to the Rockies†bullpen. Petit was a 14th-round pick of the Tigers out of Charleston Southern in 2021. He has the chance to be a commanding presence as a 6-foot-8, 300-pound reliever, coming off a year that saw him finish with a 2.44 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 79 K’s in 66 1/3 innings. He throws his 83-85 mph slider with late break a lot, missing a ton of bats with the pitch, but he also has a mid-90s fastball and upper-80s changeup.

“Gigantic force on the mound,†Rockies professional scouting director Sterling Monfort said about Petit. “Really like the strike throwing, the K percentage. He’s had a track history of really, really attacking the zone with his three-pitch mix.

“The sliderâ€s characteristics play really well at Coors Field to where it’s not going to change the shape too much. We kind of see him as more of a bulk reliever, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth inning-type guy that can give us some innings where they’re needed this year. He’s a very safe bet based off of the reports and the discussions that we’ve had about him, but we’re excited to have him.â€

The White Sox are hoping to strike gold again after having two Rule 5 pitchers make major contributions to their big league roster in Smith and Mike Vasil. They nabbed Jedixson Paez from the Red Sox with their first selection (No. 2 overall), then were the only team to make a second pick, taking Alexander Alberto from the Rays at No. 13. They did, however, lose a pitcher when the Guardians took Peyton Pallette. White Sox general manager Chris Getz knows that neither of their additions has pitched at the upper levels yet, but he sees potential.

“Weâ€ve been talking about them for the last couple of weeks,†Getz said. “In Paez, for one, multiple weapons. A lot of different pitches. Heâ€s got an arsenal to navigate to both-sided hitters. In terms of the command and the amount of pitches he has, our group was really excited about it. Long-term wise, we view him as a real starter for us.

“Alberto, the guyâ€s got big-time stuff. Itâ€s a unique pitch with his cutter. We feel like this is a chance worth taking on both of those guys and weâ€ve proven last year that we were able to navigate with two Rule 5 picks, three at one point. Weâ€re excited to see what these guys can do for us.â€

The Marlins were the only team to be raided twice in the Major League phase, losing Matt Pushard to the Cardinals and Zach McCambley to the Phillies.

“Super excited for both those guys,†Marlins director of Minor League operations Hector Crespo said. “Obviously, I have a long history with both Pushard and McCambley, so it’s really a testament to our pitching group and the depth that we’ve been able to obtain over the course of years and even the last couple.

“So happy for those guys. I think they’re going to be great, but really proud of our pitching group, just to have guys that were identified by other teams that get a chance now to hopefully, or at one point, contribute to a Major League roster.â€

The only position player, Susac, was one of three selected players to get traded post-Rule 5 (The Aâ€s are sending Ryan Watson to the Red Sox and the Pirates traded Carter Baumler to the Rangers). The Twins took Susac, then sent him to the Giants. The northern California native gets to stay in the region while trying to stick in the big leagues and is the only former first-round pick to be selected this year.

“Iâ€m always happy for a guy who gets an opportunity,†Aâ€s general manager David Forst said. “I talked to Daniel when we made the decision. I told him we knew this was a risk. Hopefully, he takes advantage of it. Good for him. Thatâ€s what the Rule 5 Draft is for.â€

No team was more active than the Nationals. Not only did they take Griff McGarry from the Phillies in the Major League phase, they did quite a bit of shopping in the Minor League phase, taking six more players.

“I think it’s a good opportunity,†Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said. “You only have so many opportunities every year to upgrade the Minor League player pool. I think while we went into it with an aggressive mindset, it all comes down to the individual players and the intrigue each of them provide.”

Below are all the picks made in the Minor League phase:

Source link

With the question of who will be picked in the 2025 Rule 5 draft now officially answered, a new question has arisen—which picks will stick with their new teams in 2026?

This yearâ€s class features several players with a strong chance to stick, as well as others whose present skill sets raise questions about major league readiness. With that in mind, hereâ€s a look at the names on both ends of the spectrum.

Most Likely To Stick

RJ Petit, RHP, Rockies (Selected from Tigers)

Why He Might Stick: Petit has the prerequisite blend of upper-minors performance and good stuff. He spent 2025 split between Double-A and Triple-A pitching to a 2.74 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 3.18 xFIP while generating ground balls at a 51% rate during his stint in Triple-A. Petit mixes a four-seam fastball, sinker, slider and changeup, and he shows a variety of out-generation abilities.Â

Griff McGarry, RHP, Nationals (Selected from Phillies)

Why He Might Stick: In the first Rule 5 draft under newly-hired president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, the Nationals set the tone for things to come by selecting McGarry, a pitcher with arguably the nastiest stuff of those available. McGarry has upper-minors experience and seemed to turn a corner with his command later in 2025.Â

Daniel Susac, C, Giants (Traded after being selected from Athletics by Twins)

Why He Might Stick:Thereâ€s a fairly good track record of catchers selected in the Rule 5 draft sticking with their respective clubs. Susac has passable defense behind the plate and he can hit. He has power and contact skills but an approach that, at times, gets a little overaggressive.Â

Ryan Watson, RHP, Red Sox (Traded after being selected from Giants by Athletics)

Why He Might Stick: Itâ€s typically a pretty good bet that, when a player is selected by one team and immediately traded, he has a chance to stick. Watson has been on the cusp of the major leagues for a few seasons and looks like a ready-made middle relief option next year.Â

Matt Pushard, RHP, Cardinals (Selected from Marlins)

Why He Might Stick: Pushard jumped off the page in the first go-round of our Rule 5 research and was featured in our 1.0 preview. He was a tricky decision for the Marlins and looked like a sure thing to be picked. Pushard has upper-minors experience, success and stuff to match.Â

Least Likely To Stick

Jedixson Paez, RHP, White Sox (Selected from Red Sox)

Why He Might Not Stick:The White Sox have long coveted Paez, so perhaps they figure out a way to make this work. That said, he has zero innings above High-A and sits in the low 90s with his fastball. Paez has plus command and missed much of 2025 with an injury. Thereâ€s a chance he comes with more upside than expected, but this is a higher-risk pick.Â

Alexander Alberto, RHP, White Sox (Selected from Rays)

Why He Might Not Stick: Chicago’s second pick also has zero innings of experience above High-A. Alberto’s performance has been very strong the last few seasons, and he has elite stuff, but itâ€s tough to know how heâ€ll handle MLB hitters.Â

Carter Baumler, RHP, Rangers (Traded after being selected from Orioles by Pirates)

Why He Might Not Stick: Baumler has very interesting stuff, and the fact the Rangers traded for him is a mark in his favor. However, heâ€s never pitched on consecutive days as a professional. You have to wonder if that makes him a very tough player to keep.Â

Spencer Miles, RHP, Blue Jays (Selected from Giants)

Why He Might Not Stick:Miles has pitched a total of 14.2 professional innings. Despite good stuff, his lack of experience makes him a very tricky player for a competitive team like the Blue Jays to roster for a full season. Miles likely wonâ€t return to game action until later in the first half of next season, giving this decision some time to play out.Â

Cade Winquest, RHP, Yankees (Selected from Cardinals)

Why He Might Not Stick:Winquest was very good as a starter in 2025. He shows the ability to throw strikes and generate ground balls and whiffs against his plus curveball. His trio of breaking ball shapes is his carrying trait, and they play off each other well. The Yankees could convert Winquest to the bullpen and maybe find some success, but itâ€s tough to see him sticking.Â

Source link

With 13 players headed to new organizations following the MLB Rule 5 draft, now they all have work to do to stick on a big league roster in 2026. Here’s the likelihood that happens, plus what risks each player faces to avoid being sent back to their original teams.

MLB Phase Round 1

1. Rockies — RJ Petit, RHP, Tigers

What he does well: Petit is a massive 6-foot-8, 300-pound righthander with big stuff to match. He has four pitches that work in the zone, and he has a track record of solid success to go with power stuff and above-average control. His ability to suppress home runs will work well in the Coors Field environment.

What he needs to work on: Petit is more solid than spectacular. Heâ€s one of the Rule 5 picks most likely to stick, but it will probably happen as a lower-leverage arm.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: The Rockies are in the middle of a complete rebuild and had worse arms than Petit in their bullpen last year. Heâ€s likely to help them in the bullpen.

2. White Sox — Jedixson Paez, RHP, Red Sox

What he does well: Paez has arguably the best control of any pitcher available in the Rule 5 draft. He fills the zone and walks no one. Often Rule 5 picks canâ€t make the team because MLB managers donâ€t trust them to throw strikes. That should not be an issue for Paez.

What he needs to work on: Paezâ€s stuff is fringy, and when he tried to ramp up the stuff in 2025, he ended up missing much of the season with a calf injury. He has yet to pitch above High-A, so he’s about to face a massive jump in quality of hitters.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Paezâ€s control gives him a chance to come to White Sox camp as an arm who could start or pitch in the bullpen. But heâ€ll have to show he isnâ€t overwhelmed by the significant jump to the big leagues.

3. Nationals — Griff McGarry, RHP, Phillies

What he does well: McGarry’s pure stuff immediately rivals anyone in the Nationals’ bullpen. His fastball, sweeper, slider and changeup will all flash above-average or better at their best.

What he needs to work on: McGarry has never consistently found the strike zone. His control troubles could force the Nationals to offer him back to the Phillies, much as they did last year with Evan Reifert, a nasty but wild Rays reliever.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: If McGarry shows below-average control, he can fit as a useful power reliever. If he has bottom-of-the-scale control, which heâ€s shown at times, he likely won’t stick.

4. Giants — Daniel Susac, C, Athletics

What he does well: Susac is relatively well-rounded catcher. He has reached Triple-A and has plenty of experience handling stuff, so the modest jump to the majors shouldnâ€t be too big a leap. He has more offensive upside than some big league catchers with solid defensive chops as well.

What he needs to work on: Susacâ€s over-aggressiveness at the plate could be an issue against MLB pitchers armed with in-depth scouting reports. He has solid contact ability, but too often he hits pitchers†pitches.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Susacâ€s older brother Andrew played for the Giants as well. The Giants donâ€t have much upper-level depth at catcher, so he has a shot at being the rare MLB Rule 5 catcher pick to stick.

5. Rangers — Carter Baumler, RHP, Orioles

What he does well: Baumlerâ€s lower arm slot helps his fastball-curveball combo play up. When healthy, he has shown MLB-quality stuff and had MiLB success.

What he needs to work on: Shoulder injuries have slowed Baumlerâ€s ascent. Injuries are his biggest issue and have made it harder for him to carry the workload expected from MLB pitchers. He has never thrown 40 innings in a pro season. Now, heâ€ll have to show he can throw out of the bullpen multiple times a week.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: If healthy, Baumler could be a solid addition to a bullpen, but he will have to overcome durability questions.

6. Red Sox — Ryan Watson, RHP, Giants

What he does well: Watson keeps hitters guessing by throwing four pitches for strikes. At 28 years old, he’s older with plenty of upper-level MiLB experience.

What he needs to work on: Watson should be durable and reliable, but he will need to prove heâ€s good enough to carve out a relief spot despite the lack of options. Watson is among the least likely Rule 5 picks to have a nightmarish spring, but heâ€s also likely close to his ceiling right now.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Watsonâ€s spot on the Red Sox roster will likely depend on the performance of some of the teamâ€s other bullpen options. Heâ€s an adequate relief option, but heâ€s generally viewed a more of an up-and-down arm.

7. Cardinals — Matt Pushard, RHP, Marlins

What he does well: Pushard is likely as good as heâ€s ever going to be at 27 years old. He spent all of 2025 in the Triple-A Jacksonville bullpen and he’s more polished than most Rule 5 picks.

What he needs to work on: Pushard has MLB-caliber stuff, but most pitchers with similar talent are optioned up and down as needed. The Cardinals can’t do that with Pushard, so they’ll have to decide if his stuff is worth carrying all season, especially when other relievers are gassed and the team needs fresh arms.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Pushard should compete for a spot in the middle of the Cardinals†bullpen in a one- to two-inning lower-leverage role.

8. Astros — Roddery Muñoz, RHP, Reds

What he does well: Unlike most of the Rule 5 picks, Muñoz has MLB experience. He pitched in the majors in 2024 (Marlins) and 2025 (Cardinals), although he has yet to have success in the majors. His high-80s slider can be an effective putaway pitch.

What he needs to work on: Muñoz allows homers far too frequently and he was wild in his stint with the Cardinals last season. He will have to show heâ€s worthy of a roster spot all season, even if he definitely has the stuff to be up at some point in the year.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: This is an odd one. Muñoz was recently designated for assignment and then signed by the Reds as a minor league free agent. Instead of hoping for a midseason callup as a Triple-A arm, now he needs to show heâ€s worth a roster spot all year without the recourse of optioning him to the minors. That will be a tougher path.

9. Guardians — Peyton Pallette, RHP, White Sox

What he does well: A number of evaluators viewed Pallette was one of the more MLB-ready Rule 5 relief arms. He has bounced back well from his past elbow injuries and showed bat-missing stuff at Triple-A Charlotte in 2025.

What he needs to work on: Pallette’s success has never matched his stuff. He has a career 4.20 ERA despite solid peripheral numbers. He needs to show he can avoid big innings and miscues that have allowed innings to get away from him.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Palette should have a better chance than most of the Rule 5 relief arms to stick for the entire season. He has an MLB-caliber four-pitch mix.

10. Blue Jays — Spencer Miles, RHP, Giants

What he does well: Miles was one of the most impressive pitchers in the Arizona Fall League, where struck out 12 and walked only one, dominating with a mid-90s fastball and a downer curve.

What he needs to work on: Miles has 14.2 innings of MiLB experience thanks to a pair of significant injuries: a back injury and then Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t had a healthy three-month stretch over the past four years. Now, he’ll need to make a big league roster.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Miles is the biggest durability question mark of the MLB Rule 5 draft. His stuff belongs in the majors and he’s fully healthy, but it’s a big ask to jump to the majors with no experience handling the grind of a full minor league season.

11. Yankees — Cade Winquest, RHP, Cardinals

What he does well: Winquest isn’t flashy, but he’s a reliable MiLB starter who could handle a variety of roles. After throwing 106 innings in 2025, heâ€s stretched out to a point where he should be able to handle the heavier MLB workload.

What he needs to work on: Winquestâ€s stuff is merely solid. He will need to sharpen everything a tick to survive against MLB hitters.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: Winquest is unlikely to ever be more than a back-of-the-rotation starter/long reliever, but his above-average control means he may be ready to make the leap to the majors.

12. Phillies — Zach McCambley, RHP, Marlins

What he does well: We heard McCambley’s name often leading up to the draft. He runs his fastball up to 97 mph and both his sweepy slider and cutter miss bats.

What he needs to work on: Despite its velocity, McCambley’s fastball doesn’t miss bats. Heâ€ll have to rely heavily on his secondary offerings.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: McCambley has solid secondaries, control and upper-level minor league success. He has a decent shot to stick.

13. White Sox — Alexander Alberto, RHP, Rays

What he does well: Alberto is the best arm to be taken in the Rule 5 draft. He can throw a 100 mph cut-fastball, offering a minor glimpse of Emmanuel Clase-level stuff.

What he needs to work on: Alberto has yet to reach Double-A and has only logged 35 career High-A innings. So while he has MLB-caliber stuff, his experience is far from it. Alberto will need to cram multiple years of development into one spring training.

How he could fit on an MLB roster: The White Sox are a perfect fit for Alberto. They should be able to accept some bad outings as he adjusts to the major leagues. If they can be patient, he has high-leverage reliever stuff.

Source link

Rule 5 draft day is officially here.

One of our favorite days of the year at Baseball America is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET at the Winter Meetings in Orlando. The event is an annual opportunity for teams to identify and add unheralded players in other organizations who are not currently on 40-man rosters. You can read more about how the Rule 5 draft works here.

As we count down to the start of the event, be sure to check out BA’s complete Rule 5 coverage, including an in-depth preview of the best players available:

• Top 75 Players Who Could Be Picked
• What Do Teams Target In The Rule 5 Draft?
• Every Player Eligible For The 2025 Rule 5 Draft
• How Often Do Rule 5 Picks Stick With Their New Teams?
• Rule 5 Draft Protection Analysis For Every Team
• 10 First-Round Picks Left Unprotected For 2025

Check back this afternoon as we update this page with the complete Rule 5 results for both the MLB and MiLB portions of the draft.

2025 Rule 5 Draft Results

• MLB Phase: TBD
• Triple-A Phase: TBD

MLB Phase Round 1

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

MLB Phase Round 2

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

MLB Phase Round 3

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Triple-A Phase Round 1

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Triple-A Phase Round 2

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Triple-A Phase Round 3

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Triple-A Phase Round 4

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Triple-A Phase Round 5

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Triple-A Phase Round 6

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Source link

ORLANDO, Fla. — MLB held its fourth draft lottery on Tuesday at the winter meetings, with the results revealing that the Chicago White Sox hold the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, scheduled to begin Saturday, July 11, in Philadelphia in conjunction with All-Star week next summer.

Since the leagueâ€s adoption of the lottery system in the latest CBA — the first edition was held at the 2022 winter meetings, with the Pittsburgh Pirates winning the No. 1 pick they would use to draft Paul Skenes in 2023 — no longer is the draft order based strictly on teams†regular-season records. Instead, the first six selections of the draft are decided by a lottery system similar to the ones used in the NBA and the NHL, in which all non-playoff teams have a range of likelihoods of receiving the top pick. This was introduced in an effort to disincentivize teams from racking up as many losses as possible en route to guaranteed premium draft positioning.

Advertisement

There are also rules that prevent teams from being lottery-eligible in consecutive years, which impacted three clubs in this yearâ€s drawing. Teams that receive revenue sharing cannot be included in the lottery three years in a row, which meant the 119-loss Colorado Rockies — after picking third in 2024 and fourth in 2025 — were unable to draft higher than 10th in 2026. Teams that pay into the revenue-sharing pool (larger-market teams) cannot be lottery-eligible two years in a row; this impacted the Nationals and Angels after they drafted No. 1 and No. 2 this year. In 2026, they will select 11th and 12th, respectively.

The lottery featured at least one significant jump in draft position in its first three editions, introducing an element of unpredictability that resulted in some teams selecting much earlier in the first round than anticipated. The Twins had a 1.7% chance to land the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft, but the lottery smiling upon them enabled Minnesota to select Walker Jenkins, who is now one of baseballâ€s top prospects.

In 2024, the Cleveland Guardians won the first overall pick (Travis Bazzana) with just a 2% likelihood, and the Cincinnati Reds selected second overall (Chase Burns) despite a 1% chance of such an outcome. In the lottery last year, the Seattle Mariners — already featuring a loaded farm system and having won 85 games in 2024 — cashed in on a 0.7% chance and jumped up to the third pick, which they used on left-hander Kade Anderson, widely considered the best pitcher available in his class.

Advertisement

These stunning shake-ups have made the lottery a compelling event for the front offices of the teams involved, and this year was no different. While the White Sox snagging the top selection wasnâ€t a stunner — Chicago held the best odds of any team to get the pick, at 27.73% — there were several results that reminded everyone of the chaotic randomness a lottery can produce.

Which teams enjoyed the biggest lottery jumps?

Three teams in particular — the Rays, Giants and Royals — enjoyed notable strokes of luck, marking an exciting start to this yearâ€s draft cycle. On the flip side, a few teams with considerably worse 2025 records — the Twins, Orioles and Cardinals — saw their first-round picks drop relative to their place in the reverse standings.

Coming off a 77-85 finish — their worst record since 2016 but hardly a horrible mark, all things considered — the Rays entered the lottery with a 3.03% chance of winning the top overall pick yet jumped all the way to No. 2. This will be the first time Tampa Bay has picked in the top 10 since they took Brendan McKay fourth overall in 2017, and itâ€s their highest selection since the Rays had consecutive No. 1 picks in 2007 and 2008, yielding David Price and Tim Beckham.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Kansas City and San Francisco reaped the benefits of an even less likely draw. The Royals†82-80 finish gave them some of the lowest odds (0.8%) to jump to the top of the board of any lottery-eligible team, yet they leapt all the way to the sixth pick, affording Kansas City its seventh top-10 pick in the past eight drafts. The Giants†81-81 finish gave them a 1% outlook of landing the top pick, yet San Francisco launched up the board to pick No. 4, the franchiseâ€s earliest selection since taking Joey Bart second in 2018.

That these clubs will get to draft earlier than expected is exciting on its own, but itâ€s about more than just having fewer teams ahead of them on the board. Higher picks also come with larger associated bonus pool slots, which can afford clubs a greater amount of flexibility when allocating their resources over the course of an entire draft.

Who is the likely 2026 No. 1 pick?

With the draft order settled, we are at the earliest stages of being able to speculate about which amateur prospects could be in play for the teams picking at the top come July. And while teams†draft boards are sure to shuffle many times in the months ahead, the results of this yearâ€s lottery carried more weight than usual considering there is a consensus best player in the class, at least for now: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky.

Advertisement

Itâ€s far too early to guarantee that the White Sox will select Cholowsky with the first pick next summer, but itâ€s undeniable that the shortstop has separated himself from his peers at this stage of the process. The son of Dan Cholowsky, who was selected 39th overall out of Cal-Berkeley by the Cardinals in 1991 and played eight minor-league seasons before becoming a scout, Roch (pronounced Rock) was a highly coveted prep prospect at Hamilton High School in Arizona but opted to go to college to raise his stock even further.

So far, Cholowsky been wildly successful in that endeavor, starring immediately for the Bruins as a freshman and elevating his game further as a sophomore in 2025, slashing a gaudy .353/.480/.710 with 23 homers and an impressively low 9.3% strikeout rate, all while playing stellar defense at shortstop. Assuming Cholowsky stays healthy and has another monster spring season as a junior for a loaded Bruins team coming off a trip to the College World Series, itâ€s difficult to envision another prospect unseating him atop this yearâ€s class.

Who else is at the top of the class?

Thatâ€s not to say there arenâ€t other ultra-talented alternatives who could emerge next spring, whether for the White Sox with pick No. 1 or the cluster of clubs right after them. Beyond Cholowsky, thereâ€s a pair of excellent high school shortstops who could be jockeying for position as the first prep player off the board: Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard.

Advertisement

Emerson is a tremendously advanced left-handed bat from Texas whom some evaluators consider to be in the top tier alongside Cholowsky and who could separate himself from the rest of the high school class with a big senior year. Lombard is a right-handed hitter from Florida who is the younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. and whose outlandish athleticism arguably gives him a higher ceiling than Emerson, though his hit tool isnâ€t quite as polished. Tyler Spangler is another prep infielder who could play his way into the first few picks, though his commitment to Stanford makes him less of a solid bet to start his pro career next year.

On the college side, Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron is an electric athlete whose star power has been on full display during his first two years in Tuscaloosa, but heâ€ll have to demonstrate that his hit tool can thrive against SEC competition as a junior. Georgia Techâ€s Drew Burress presents an unusual profile as a 5-foot-9, right-handed-hitting outfielder, but he has serious right-handed power and might be able to stick in center field. AJ Gracia (Virginia), Sawyer Strosnider (TCU) and Derek Curiel (LSU) are three other college outfielders who fit the more traditional mold of sweet-swinging, left-handed hitters who should be selected early in Round 1.

On the mound, the high school crop features three left-handers who could emerge as viable top-five picks with big springs: Carson Bolemon from South Carolina, Gio Rojas from Florida and Logan Schmidt from California. Weâ€re still waiting for a frontline arm to separate itself atop the college class, but the two pitchers who look like first-round locks right now are Floridaâ€s Liam Peterson and Coastal Carolinaâ€s Cameron Flukey.

Source link