ORLANDO, Fla. -- In hopes of landing the next No. 1 draft pick, the Chicago White Sox enlisted the aid of their last top overall pick. The presence of Hall of Famer Harold Baines worked like a charm.
The White Sox secured the first pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft by winning the annual draft lottery Tuesday at the winter meetings. Chicago entered the lottery with the best odds for landing the pick, but with a 27.7% chance at the selection, it was far from a sure thing. In the end, Chicago got what it wanted.
"It's a significant, significant event for us, and it can't be overstated how important it is," White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. "We've been hard at work at bringing talent into the organization in different ways. Obviously, the amateur draft is an avenue, and now to be able to get a chance at the top talent in the draft is really exciting."
As the picks were revealed one by one in a dark ballroom of the Hilton Signia in Orlando, illuminated only by studio lights for the MLB TV broadcast of the proceedings, the last two teams still alive were the White Sox, represented by Baines, and the Rays, represented by ebullient former outfielder Brett Phillips, who suggested he might perform the airplane celebration if Tampa Bay won the lottery.
Instead, it was Chicago and the more subdued Baines who took the night. Baines, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2019, was the draft's top selection in 1977, a time so different that he said he didn't have representation when White Sox executive Roland Hemond called to tell him the club was taking him first.
Things have changed. Though when asked which outcome he preferred -- 1977 or 2025 -- Baines was straightforward.
"My own," Baines quipped. "There wasn't this hoopla then. It's exciting to be here. I'm happy for the organization. I'm still a part of it."
The White Sox set an MLB record with 121 losses in 2024, and while the 2025 season was dismal by most teams' standards, Chicago cut the loss total to a less-notable 102 and the made-over roster was dominated by up-and-coming players. They will soon add another.
Among the candidates to be taken early in the draft, a lot of attention has gone to UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who hit .353 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs in 66 games for the Bruins and has been touted by some outlets as the best shortstop prospect in years.
Now, Getz has carte blanche to add another impact talent such as Cholowsky to his emerging core, though the general manager wasn't about to tip his hand after the lottery on Tuesday.
"There's a couple guys that are standouts right now," Getz said. "You've still got to do the work. You stay at it, and you're open-minded. But now that we've received the No. 1 pick, I'm fairly confident tonight I'll be diving in a little bit more."
Other winners from lottery night included the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants.
The Royals, represented at the lottery by manager Matt Quatraro, were slated for the 13th pick but jumped to No. 6. The Giants, represented by former outfielder Randy Winn, jumped from 12th to fourth.
On the flip side, the New York Mets fell out of the lottery altogether, completing a dismal day in Queens. Because of their status as a high-level, luxury-tax-paying team, the Mets needed to get into the top six to avoid dropping. They didn't, and on the same day they saw their star closer, Edwin Diaz, sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets came out of the lottery with the 27th pick of the first round.
For the White Sox, after a couple of tough years in the standings as Getz's extensive rebuild has taken shape, the news was much better, and Tuesday night was a time to rejoice.
"We're busy -- good busy," Getz said. "But tonight, it's really about getting the group together and celebrating the No. 1 pick."