Dec. 9, 2025
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 the White Sox continue a multi-year rebuild. After a major-league record 121 losses in 2024, Chicago finished with 102 losses in 2025 as younger players gained experience under Getz’s plan. The No. 1 choice gives the club an opportunity to add a potential franchise-impact player to the developing core.
One of the names linked to the top of many draft boards is UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who hit .353 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs in 66 games this past season and is widely regarded as one of the premier shortstop prospects in recent years. Getz declined to name targets but said the front office will intensify its evaluation now that it holds the top selection.
“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.”
Tuesday’s lottery produced other notable moves. The Kansas City Royals, represented by manager Matt Quatraro, jumped from 13th to sixth, while the San Francisco Giants, represented by Randy Winn, moved from 12th to fourth. The New York Mets, penalized by their high luxury-tax status, needed to land in the top six to avoid a drop and instead fell out of the lottery entirely, landing with the 27th overall pick. The Mets also lost closer Edwin Díaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier Tuesday.
For the White Sox, the result provided a bright moment amid ongoing reconstruction.
“We’re busy — good busy,” Getz said. “But tonight, it’s really about getting the group together and celebrating the No. 1 pick.”
