2023 MLB Draft Lottery: Pittsburgh Pirates win No. 1 pick
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) — The Pirates will have the No.1 pick in the 2023 draft.
On Tuesday, Pittsburgh won the first-ever MLB draft lottery. The team will now pick first in next July's draft.
Just like in basketball and hockey, a weighted lottery system was used to determine the order of the draft. According to the system, a worse record from last season meant a stronger probability of securing a high pick.
The Pirates, Nationals and Athletics all had 16.5 percent chances of securing the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday. The three teams had the three worst records a season ago.
It will be the sixth time the Pirates pick first and second in three years. They snagged Louisville catcher Henry Davis with the top choice in 2021.
LSU outfielder Dylan Crews, Tennessee right-hander Chase Dollander and Mississippi shortstop Jacob Gonzalez are among the top prospects for the 2023 draft, to go along with prep outfielders Max Clark and Walker Jenkins.
The lottery was instituted this year as part of Major League Baseball's labor agreement with the players' association in March, a measure intended to discourage tanking for top draft picks among struggling teams.
All 18 clubs that failed to make the 2022 postseason were part of the lottery and eligible to win the No. 1 pick.
