The 2026 MLB Draft Lottery has become one of the most anticipated events of the Winter Meetings, especially as teams such as the Houston Astros will participate for the first time in this format. The anticipation is building as the draw that will determine the first six picks in the next draft approaches, and the league has already confirmed all the details of its official broadcast. Fans and analysts alike will be able to follow in real time an event that, since its inception in 2023, has generated a new level of intrigue in the winter market.
This will be the fourth edition of this system, which was introduced after the 2022-26 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which completely changed the dynamics of the Draft order, giving greater unpredictability to a process that was previously based solely on regular season records.
Draft lottery changes dynamics and keeps 15 teams in the running
The implementation of the Draft Lottery in 2023 left behind the traditional method where the worst record automatically got the first overall pick. Instead, teams that do not advance to the postseason now enter a draw to determine the top six positions. For the 2026 edition, 15 of the 18 teams not classified for the playoffs will be eligible, as some are excluded by specific restrictions.
The Rockies, for example, will not be able to participate, having received lottery selections in 2024 and 2025, as the system prohibits obtaining lottery picks in more than two consecutive years. In addition, the Nationals and Angels, considered paying clubs, also cannot repeat presence in the lottery in consecutive years. This means that teams like the Astros have a wide range from the first pick to number 18 in the first round.
Astros generate excitement as they arrive at the draw for the first time
The Astros’ presence in the Draft Lottery is one of the most striking elements of the event. After falling one win short of the playoffs in 2025, Houston enters the system for the first time, which could represent a unique opportunity to strengthen its project. In addition, the franchise has the 28th overall pick, from the incentive program for the development of Hunter Brown, and could add a compensatory pick if Framber Valdez leaves after rejecting the qualifying offer.
How to watch the event live
Fans will be able to follow the 2026 Draft Lottery on Tuesday, December 9 on MLB Network, on cable television in the United States, or through its live streaming platform, available to subscribers. The program will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. ET, with pre-analysis, interviews and the unveiling of the order of the top six picks.
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