A few ping pong balls could go a long way in forecasting the White Sox future.
For the fourth time in history, the MLB Draft order will be determined by a lottery system. The draft order used to be based on the previous season’s standings, but now there’s a bit more intrigue and unknown for many teams.
The White Sox are one of 15 teams with a chance to receive the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, and that will be determined Tuesday at the winter meetings in Orlando, Fla. The draft lottery show is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. ET, and it will be broadcast on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com. The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled for July 11 in Philadelphia.
2026 MLB Draft Lottery odds
A view of the set of the MLB Draft Lottery at the Hilton Anatole during the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings. | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
The Colorado Rockies had the worst record in MLB in 2025 at 43-119, but teams cannot receive a lottery pick more than two years in a row, so the Rockies aren’t eligible for the 2026 lottery after being included the previous two drafts.
That means the White Sox, after going 60-102 in 2025, are given the highest odds to receive the No. 1 overall pick. The Nationals and Angels are also not eligible for the lottery as “payor clubs,” which means they give rather than receive revenue sharing dollars and cannot receive a lottery pick in consecutive years.
Playoff teams from the previous season are not eligible for the lottery either, which leaves 15 teams in contention to receive the No. 1 overall pick in 2026. Here are the odds to do so.
White Sox: 27.73%Twins: 22.18%Pirates:16.81%Orioles: 9.24%Athletics: 6.55%Braves: 4.54%Rays: 3.03%Cardinals: 2.35%Marlins: 1.85%D-backs: 1.51%Rangers: 1.34%Giants: 1.01%Royals: 0.84%Mets: 0.67%Astros: 0.34%Rockies: ineligibleNationals: ineligibleAngels: ineligibleTop 2026 draft prospects
(rankings per MLB.com)
UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) fields a ground ball against the Murray State Racers at Charles Schwab Field. | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Ranking
Player
Position
School
Age/Height/Weight
Bats/Throws
1
Roch Cholowsky
Shortstop
UCLA
20, 6’2″/195
R/R
2
Grady Emerson
Shortstop
Forth Worth Christian School (TX)
17, 6’2″/180
L/R
3
Justin Lebron
Shortstop
Alabama
21, 6’2″/180
R/R
4
Jacob Lombard
Shortstop
Gulliver Prep (FL)
18, 6’3″/185
R/R
5
Drew Burress
Outfield
Georgia Tech
21, 5’9″/182
R/R
6
Derek Curiel
Outfield
LSU
20, 6’2″/182
L/L
7
Carson Bolemon
LHP
Southside Christian School (SC)
18, 6’4″/210
R/L
8
Gio Rojas
LHP
Stoneman Douglas High School (FL)
18, 6’4″/190
R/L
9
Cameron Flukey
RHP
Coastal Carolina
20, 6’6″/210
R/R
10
Sawyer Strosnider
Outfielder
TCU
20, 6’2″/200
L/L
No. 1 overall picks from last 10 years2025: Eli Willits, SS, Washington Nationals2024: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians2023: Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates2022: Jackson Holliday, SS, Baltimore Orioles2021: Henry Davis, C, Pittsburgh Pirates2020: Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Detroit Tigers2019: Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles2018: Casey Mize, RHP, Detroit Tigers2017: Royce Lewis, SS, Minnesota Twins2016: Mickey Moniak, OF, Philadelphia PhilliesWhite Sox last 10 first-round picks
Chicago White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith throws during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
2025: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona High School (Calif.) (No. 10)2024: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas (No. 5)2023: Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi (No. 15)2022: Noah Schultz, LHP, Oswego East High School (Ill.) (No. 26)2021: Colson Montgomery, SS, Southridge HS (Ind.) (No. 22)2020: Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee (No. 11)2019: Andrew Vaughn, 1B/LF, California (No. 3)2018: Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State (No. 4)2017: Jake Burger, INF, Missouri State (No. 11)2016: Zack Collins, C, University of Miami (No. 10)Related stories on the Chicago White SoxBreaking Down White Sox Starting Rotation Options After Anthony Kay SigningWhite Sox Prospect Tanner McDougal Eyes MLB DebutWhy Trading Luis Robert Jr. Could Be More Likely Than ExpectedWhere New Trade Acquisition Tanner Murray Fits With White Sox