Nats land No. 2 pick in inaugural MLB Draft Lottery

SAN DIEGO -- After the ping-pong balls were drawn, the Nationals landed the No. 2 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft via the inaugural MLB Draft Lottery on Tuesday night at the Winter Meetings. The Pirates will select first overall in July.

For the first time, the Draft order was determined by a weighted lottery system instead of reverse order of regular-season records. Washington (55-107) entered the event tied with Oakland (60-102) and Pittsburgh (62-100) -- the three teams with the most losses in 2022 -- with a 16.5 percent chance at landing the top pick.

• Full results of the inaugural MLB Draft Lottery

“It was an interesting and exciting process,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “When you’re picking that high in the Draft, something poorly has happened the year before, so you don’t relish that situation. But it gives us a chance to make an impactful Draft pick, so we’re excited.”

Rizzo joined representatives from the 18 non-playoff teams in a ballroom for a live announcement of the results on MLB Network. Before the Nationals' card was revealed, the Draft order was shaken up when the Twins (13th-best odds) rose to the No. 5 pick and the A’s (tied for the best odds) dropped to the No. 6 pick. After the Tigers (sixth-best odds) were called for the third pick, that left the Nats and the Pirates in contention for No. 1.

“I really didn’t know what to expect when we sat down,” said Rizzo. “But as the cards were being flipped and some teams were being skipped and I finally figured out what the rules were of this lottery, I was a little anxious.”

The second overall pick will be the Nats’ highest since they held No. 1 in 2009 (Stephen Strasburg) and ‘10 (Bryce Harper). Washington selected five-tool outfielder Elijah Green (MLB Pipeline’s No. 28 overall prospect) with the fifth pick in ‘22.

“It gives us a chance to really replenish the farm system,” Rizzo said. “We not only pick [at] 2 in the Draft, we pick [first in each subsequent round], which is also very important. When you’re up that high in each round, you’re looking to get really good impactful players.”

So who could the Nationals add to their organization with the second pick?

• Top 20 college prospects for '23 Draft

MLB Pipeline will soon release its Top 100 Draft prospects for 2023, and it is generally believed outfielder Dylan Crews (LSU), right-hander Chase Dollander (Tennessee) and outfielder Wyatt Langford (Florida) will be atop the list. Additionally, right-hander Paul Skenes (LSU), shortstop Jacob Gonzalez (Mississippi) and high school outfielder Max Clark (Franklin Community High School, Ind.) are thought to be near the top of Draft boards.

• Top 20 high school prospects for '23 Draft

“I’m good. I’ll live with it,” Rizzo said. “No. 2, we’re going to get a really good player.”

The Nationals will conclude the Winter Meetings on Wednesday with the No. 1 pick in the Rule 5 Draft, another opportunity to infuse the organization with talent.