A glance at the Detroit Tigers draft position in 2023

2023 introduces the draft lottery era in Major League Baseball; the Detroit Tigers figure to have some of the better odds to land the top pick

As part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and to halt tanking across the league, the league and the players have agreed to institute a draft lottery beginning in 2023. The Detroit Tigers, who had playoff aspirations heading into the season, now find themselves in the mix for some of the best odds for that #1 overall talent.

Under the new system, the worst three teams will all carry the same chance at the first overall pick (16.5%). Odds decrease incrementally, but all 18 non-playoff teams will have a shot at landing one of the first six selections in next year’s draft.

Currently, the Detroit Tigers hold the league’s fifth-worst winning percentage, giving them a 10% chance at the top pick. With 10 games remaining on the schedule, they are seven games ‘back’ from the worst winning percentage; and 4.5 games out from one of the worst three clubs. If the lottery didn’t exist, the Tigers would be the second AL team drafting behind the A’s, who currently have the third-worst winning percentage in the league.

The Marlins and Royals, who are tied for the sixth-worst winning percentage, remain in the striking distance; just 2.5 games back from the Tigers. If the Marlins and Royals were to both leap Detroit in the order, the Tigers’ chances would go to a 5.5 percent chance for the top pick next season.

Speaking of the Royals, the Tigers begin a three-game series with them starting Tuesday, then host the Twins at home for three before finishing on the road in Seattle for four games–all four of which are games that were rescheduled during pending CBA negotiations.

It remains to be seen if the draft lottery model effectively convinces teams not to tank. The Detroit Tigers, unfortunately, are proof that tanking isn’t a fool-proof way to win in the future; and draft position is only a secondary reason for losing games on purpose–with cost-cutting being chief.

Some of the top names early in the 2023 MLB Draft rankings include LSU outfielder Dylan Crews, prep outfielder Max Clark, Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, Tennessee RHP Chase Dollander, and UF outfielder Wyatt Langford.