For the first time in six seasons, the Texas Rangers will have to wait to be on the clock.
The Rangers will pick 30th in the 2024 MLB Draft after winning the World Series over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cleveland Guardians are officially on the clock after winning the draft lottery held during the Winter Meetings in Nashville.
The first round of the MLB Draft will occur in July 2024 in Arlington as part of MLB All-Star Week. The Rangers are hosting the All-Star Game for the second time in franchise history.
This marks the first time Cleveland has owned the No. 1 pick in franchise history, having landed the No. 2 pick five times since the draft began. Entering Tuesday, the Guardians had the ninth-best odds to nab the No. 1 overall pick.
Texas should be more than content with landing at the bottom of the pecking order. It shows progress after six losing seasons in Arlington and promise of a bright future at Globe Life Field.
Several names could eventually find their way onto the 26-man roster in the not-so-distant future, including 2023 first-round pick Wyatt Langford. Drafted No. 4 overall last July, the former Florida slugger dominated opponents in the minors, climbing his way up the ladder to finish the season at Triple-A Round Rock.
Other players recently drafted early by Texas include right-hander Kumar Rocker (2022), right-hander Jack Leiter (2021), second baseman Justin Foscue (2020) and third baseman Josh Jung (2019). All four players were selected in the top 15, including Rocker and Leiter, being top-five picks out of Vanderbilt.
The first round of the 2024 Draft will go as follows:
- Cleveland Guardians
- Cincinnati Reds
- Colorado Rockies
- Oakland Athletics
- Chicago White Sox
- Kansas City Royals
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Los Angeles Angels
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Washington Nationals
- Detriot Tigers
- Boston Red Sox
- San Francisco Giants
- Chicago Cubs
- Seattle Mariners
- Miami Marlins
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Tampa Bay Rays
- New York Mets
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Minnesota Twins
- Baltimore Orioles
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Atlanta Braves
- San Diego Padres
- New York Yankees
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Houston Astros
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Texas Rangers
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Baltimore Orioles
- Minnesota Twins
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