ORLANDO, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox won Tuesday’s draft lottery at the MLB winter meetings, securing the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 draft.
Chicago entered the drawing with the best odds but only a 27.7 percent chance of landing the top pick. Hall of Famer Harold Baines, the White Sox’s last No. 1 overall selection in 1977, was on hand at the Hilton Signia ballroom as picks were announced on the MLB TV broadcast. Baines said he was happy to be back with the club and joked that his experience in 1977 lacked the current "hoopla."
"It’s a significant, significant event for us, and it can’t be overstated how important it is," 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."
The live reveal came down to the White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays, whose contingent was represented by outfielder Brett Phillips. Phillips had teased performing his airplane celebration if Tampa Bay prevailed, but Chicago’s quieter moment with Baines ultimately won out.
The top pick arrives as
