The 2024 MLB Draft might as well take place in the heart of it all as both teams from Ohio stunningly won the top two picks in this year’s draft. 

Despite having a 2% chance of winning the No.1 pick via the MLB Draft Lottery, the Cleveland Guardians received the top pick in this July's draft. Meanwhile, Cincinnati, which finished 82-80 and wasn’t eliminated from the National League Playoff chase until the 161st game of the season, won the No.2 pick. 

The Reds had a .9% chance of winning the top pick. 

Cleveland, which went 76-86 a year after winning 92 games and an American League Central title, and Cincinnati had a combined .02% chance of winning the top two picks. 

For the Reds, it was a bit of a statistical makeup. 

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After losing 100 games for just the second time in franchise history in 2022, baseball’s first professional team were the biggest losers in 2023 MLB Draft lottery. The Reds had the fourth-best odds to win the No.1 overall pick, which went on to be pitching phenom Paul Skenes, but dropped to No.7 in the first year of the MLB lottery. 

The Reds took Wake Forest Baseball pitcher Rhett Lowder with the No.7 pick. The Pirates, who had the same record as the Reds in 2022 (62-100) won the No.1 pick. 

A year later, and a surprisingly competitive season later, the Reds were the lottery’s biggest winner, jumping from No. 13 to No. 2. 

Cleveland, meanwhile, was expected to compete for another American League Central title in 2023, but injuries to pitchers Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie tripped up an otherwise young roster that was the surprise team of 2022. 

For every winner, there are losers and no team lost more than the Oakland, soon to be Las Vegas, A’s. 

The A’s won only 50 games in 2023, enduring one of the worst seasons in recent history. Oakland fell to the No. 4 pick. 

Here’s the complete MLB Draft order. 

MLB Draft 2024 Order

The New York Mets, New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres’ first picks dropped 10 spots because the clubs exceeded the second surcharge threshold of the competitive balance tax by more than $40 million. 

Here’s the order for the first round: 

1. Cleveland Guardians
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Oakland A’s
5. Chicago White Sox
6. Kansas City Royals
7. St. Louis Cardinals 
8. Los Angeles Angels 
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. Washington Nationals 
11. Detroit Tigers
12. Boston Red Sox
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Chicago Cubs
15. Seattle Mariners
16. Miami Marlins 
17. Milwaukee Brewers
18. Tampa Bay Rays
19. New York Mets
20. Toronto Blue Jays
21. Minnesota Twins
22. Baltimore Orioles 
23. Los Angeles Dodgers 
24. Atlanta Braves 
25. San Diego Padres 
26. New York Yankees
27. Philadelphia Phillies 
28. Houston Astros 
29. Arizona Diamondbacks 
30. Texas Rangers
31. Arizona Diamondbacks
32. Baltimore Orioles 
33. Minnesota Twins
34. Baltimore Orioles
35. Arizona Diamondbacks
36. Cleveland Guardians
37. Pittsburgh Pirates
38. Colorado Rockies
39. Kansas City Royals

MLB Draft  Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks

The draft picks after the first 30 belong to teams with players who were on their Opening Day roster who were top 100 prospects on the MLB Pipeline, Baseball American and or ESPN list who went on to win Rookie of the Year. 

The Arizona Diamondbacks will have the 31st pick due to Corbin Carroll winning National League Rookie of the Year. The 32nd pick will go to the Baltimore Orioles, who saw Gunnar Henderson win American League Rookie of the Year. 

In 2023, the Seattle Mariners received the first-ever Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick for Julio Rodriguez winning American League Rookie of the Year. 

How Do MLB Compensation Draft Picks Work?

A team can extend a qualifying offer to a free-agent-to-be who spent the entire season on their roster. If a player declines the offer, the team can be rewarded a compensation pick after the player signs with a new club. 

If a team that loses a qualifying free agent is a revenue-sharing recipient and the free agent signs for at least $50 million, the team will be awarded a pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A.

Minnesota received the No. 33 pick because pitcher Sonny Gray signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals forfeited their second-round pick for Gray. 

After the Competitive Balance Round A, is the second round followed by the Competitive Balance Round B. 

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After that, if a team that loses a qualifying free agent does not receive revenue sharing and did not exceed the luxury-tax salary threshold the previous season, it is awarded a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B.

This is how the Los Angeles Angels received the No. 76 pick after Shohei Ohtani signed with the crosstown Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The Dodgers will forfeit their second and fifth round picks. 

If former MVP Cody Bellinger signs with a team that is not his former team, the Chicago Cubs, the Cubs will also receive a pick in this round. 

The final compensation round follows the fourth round. If a team that loses a qualifying free agent does not receive revenue sharing and did exceed the luxury-tax salary threshold the previous season, it is awarded a compensatory pick after the fourth round.

The Padres are in line to receive two drafts picks if 2023 National League Cy Young Winner Blake Snell and All-Star closer Josh Hader sign with other clubs. The Toronto Blue Jays will also receive a pick here if former All-Star Matt Chapman signs with another club. 

How Do MLB Draft Competitive Balance Rounds Work?

All teams that have either one of the 10 smallest markets or 10 smallest revenue pools receive an additional pick at the end of the first or second round. The groups of teams alternate between the two rounds each year.

Competitive Balance picks may be traded and are not subject to forfeiture.

The added second round draft picks are: 

68. Tampa Bay Rays

69. Milwaukee Brewers

70. Seattle Mariners 

71. Minnesota Twins

72. Miami Marlins

73. Cincinnati Reds

74. Detroit Tigers

75. Oakland A’s

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