The order for the 2026 MLB Draft gets set on Tuesday December 9th, and the Braves are in position to potentially land a very juicy pick via the lottery thanks to their disappointing and injury-filled 2025 season.
The lottery will be at 5:30 PM on MLB Network with the Braves having the ninth worst record, but the sixth best odds due to three teams being ineligible for a top pick due to having had top picks in the last few seasons consecutively. Those teams are the Rockies, Angels, and Nationals.
The Braves have a 4.54% chance at the #1 overall selection, likely UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky – though the fifth place A’s have a 6.55% chance at the pick despite the same record. The White Sox, Twins, Pirates, and Orioles have the four best chances at the pick. Among the other NL East teams, the Marlins have a 1.85% chance and the Mets, who need to move into the lottery to not see their top pick drop by 10 selections due to spending, have a 0.67% chance.
Had the Braves not moved up in the lottery due to three teams being ineligible, they would have had a 2.7% chance at the top pick. However the lottery is for more than just the top pick and the Braves could still end up with another high upside player like shortstops Justin Lebron, Jacob Lombard, or Grady Emerson – or local slugging outfielder Drew Burress from Georgia Tech among others.
The lottery will determine the first six picks in the 2026 MLB Draft, with the rest of the picks going by the worst record, giving the Braves a chance to control the draft if they hit big in the lottery since they also have the #26 pick thanks to Drake Baldwin’s Rookie of the Year Award.
Tuesday night could end up being a huge night in franchise history as it could give the Braves a chance to add an elite talent, but even if they don’t have luck in the lottery they are still almost guaranteed to end up with a Top 10 selection and a very good young player – and bonus pool.
