The Tampa Bay Rays didn’t win the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery, but they still landed in a spot that changes the whole shape of their draft.
Tampa Bay entered the lottery with 3.03% odds of getting the No. 1 pick, seventh-best in the league. That long shot didn’t hit. Instead, the Rays climbed all the way to No. 2 after starting at No. 7, a major jump that gives them a premium selection in a draft class loaded with talent.
The Chicago White Sox grabbed the top spot despite carrying a 27.7% chance at No. 1 before the lottery. Behind them, the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics and Atlanta Braves filled out picks Nos. 3 through 6. The Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels were not eligible for the 2026 lottery because of rules that bar larger-market payor clubs or teams from winning in consecutive years.
That rule is almost certainly a non-factor for the 2027 MLB Draft Lottery. The Rays and White Sox are both surging in 2026 and currently lead their divisions. The Braves are also in front in the National League East, while the Pirates are hanging around the NL Wild Card race.
For Tampa Bay, the No. 2 pick is its highest draft slot since 2017, when the club took first baseman Brendan McKay at No. 4 overall out of the University of Louisville. It was also the last time the Rays picked in the top 10.
Last year, Tampa Bay used its first-round picks on shortstop Daniel Pierce, taken No. 14 overall out of Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia, and University of Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill at No. 42.
The Rays have only picked second overall once before, back in 2002, when they chose B.J. Upton out of Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, Virginia. Upton gave Tampa Bay eight productive seasons, posted a 15.6 bWAR and hit .255/.336/.422 over a 12-year major league career.
Now the Rays get another shot at a franchise-changing talent. With one of the strongest bonus pools in the draft, they’re positioned to add another high-end piece to a farm system that already has real momentum.
In Other News...
Rays Make A Huge No. 2 Bet On Shortstop Grady Emerson
The Rays used the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on shortstop Grady Emerson, the Fort Worth Christian High School standout who has long been regarded as one of the most polished young hitters in the class. Emerson brings advanced bat-to-ball skills, athleticism and the kind of upside that has scouts projecting more power as he matures, making him a fitting target for a Tampa Bay front office that has never been shy about betting on ceiling and feel.
Emersons resume already carries plenty of weight beyond the draft stage, from his national recognition as the 2026 Gatorade National Player of the Year to his experience on multiple USA Baseball teams. He also arrives with the added wrinkle of a college commitment to Texas, which gives the Rays another layer to navigate as they try to turn a premium pick into a cornerstone in the middle infield. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Just Made A Rebuild Move That Could Change Draft Night
A busy scouting scene around Minnesota on Tuesday offered another reminder that catching help is becoming one of the more watched markets before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Ryan Jeffers drew attention from the Yankees, and the Rays were also in the building, with clubs clearly keeping tabs on a catcher who has been productive this season and is eligible for free agency after the year.
The draft angle is where Chicagos latest move starts to matter for Tampa Bay, even if the full ripple effect is still unfolding. Pittsburgh sent the 34th overall pick and minor league pitcher Jaden Woods to the White Sox for Jacob Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert, giving Chicago another premium selection to go with its top draft capital and adding a new layer to how teams around the league may approach Saturday night. [Read more 🡒]