First-Round Order For 2019 MLB Draft

Both the National League Central and NL West were decided Monday, a day later than expected, with the Brewers defeating the Cubs and the Dodgers upending the Rockies in Game 163s. As a result, not only is this year’s playoff picture clearer, but we now know the full first-round draft order for 2019. The Orioles were the runaway “winners” for the top choice, setting them up to pick No. 1 for the first time since they chose right-hander Ben McDonald in 1989, but things were more tightly contested thereafter. For teams that finished with the same record this past regular season, the higher selection will go to the club which finished with the worse mark in 2017.

Here’s the full order:

1.) Orioles (47-115)
2.) Royals (58-104)
3.) White Sox (62-100)
4.) Marlins (63-98)
5.) Tigers (64-98)
6.) Padres (66-96)
7.) Reds (67-95)
8.) Rangers (67-95)
9.) Braves (comp pick for not signing 2018 first-rounder Carter Stewart)
10.) Giants (73-89)
11.) Blue Jays (73-89)
12.) Mets (77-85)
13.) Twins (78-84)
14.) Phillies (80-82)
15.) Angels (80-82)
16.) Diamondbacks (82-80)
17.) Nationals (82-80)
18.) Pirates (82-79)
19.) Cardinals (88-74)
20.) Mariners (89-73)
21.) Braves (90-72)
22.) Rays (90-72)
23.) Rockies (91-72)
24.) Indians (91-71)
25.) Dodgers (92-71)
26.) Diamondbacks (comp pick for not signing 2018 first-rounder Matt McLain)
27.) Cubs (95-68)
28.) Brewers (96-67)
29.) Athletics (97-65)
30.) Yankees (100-62)
31.) Dodgers (comp pick for not signing 2018 first-rounder J.T. Ginn)
32.) Astros (103-59)
33.) Red Sox (108-54)

This round appears to be etched in stone. Under the rules of the current collective bargaining agreement, which the owners and players agreed to prior to 2017, a team can’t lose its highest first-round selection if it signs a free agent who rejected a qualifying offer. A club with two first-rounders would lose the second of those picks if it’s not a revenue sharing recipient, pays the competitive-balance tax and signs a qualified free agent, as Jim Callis of MLB.com points out, but that likely won’t apply to any of the Braves, D-backs or Dodgers – all of whom are slated to have a pair of firsts in 2019.