The MLB Draft is an annual event where all 30 teams in Major League Baseball select amateur players, primarily college and high school players. The order in which teams select players is determined by their record from the previous season, with the team that had the worst record picking first.
How the Draft Order is Determined
The draft order is based on the reverse order of the previous season's regular season standings. The team with the worst record picks first, followed by the second-worst team, and so on. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as:
- Tiebreakers: If two or more teams have the same record, a series of tiebreakers are used to determine their draft order.
- Playoff Teams: Teams that make the playoffs are not eligible for the top 10 picks. Their draft order is determined by their playoff performance.
Importance of the Draft Order
The draft order is very important because it gives teams the opportunity to select the best available players. Teams with high draft picks have a greater chance of landing top prospects who can become future stars.
The Lottery System
Since 2019, MLB has implemented a lottery system for the top six picks. This system is designed to make the draft more competitive and prevent tanking, which is when teams intentionally lose games to improve their draft position.
The lottery system works as follows:
- The teams with the worst six records are placed in a lottery.
- The order of the top six picks is determined by a random draw.
- The remaining teams pick in reverse order of their record.
Conclusion
The MLB Draft is a crucial event for all teams, as it allows them to add talented young players to their organization. The draft order is a key factor in determining which players a team can select, and the lottery system adds an element of excitement and unpredictability to the process.