The Cleveland Guardians had just a 2.0% chance of winning the 2024 MLB Draft Lottery.
However, Cleveland defied these odds.
On Tuesday, Guardians won the 2024 MLB Draft Lottery, which was conducted at the league’s annual winter meetings in Nashville.
This means that Cleveland will have the first overall pick in the MLB Draft for the first time in franchise history.
Before this, the Guardians had the second overall pick in the draft on five different occasions:
- 1970: Steve Dunning, RHP
- 1972: Rick Manning, SS
- 1986: Greg Swindell, LHP
- 1988: Mark Lewis, SS
- 1992: Paul Shuey, RHP
This marks Cleveland’s first time having a top-five pick in the MLB Draft since 2013, when they selected outfielder Clint Frazier fifth overall.
The 2024 MLB Draft Lottery was just the second in league history. Since the Guardians made the 2022 MLB Postseason, this year was their first time participating in the drawing in franchise history.
Shortly after it was announced that Cleveland won the top selection for 2024, Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti shared his thoughts on this historic opportunity for the team.
“It’s hard to describe. I mean, not something I was expecting at all waking up this morning. In fact, wasn’t really even on our radar. Knew it was happening, but, given the odds, wasn’t spending a whole lot of time on it. When we got that inkling it might happen, it’s all I could think about, because it’s an extraordinary opportunity for us. And an opportunity we really haven’t had in our franchise history.”
The 2024 MLB Draft will take place during the week of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, which is scheduled for July 16, 2024.
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