Why the Rockies are picking 10th in the 2026 Draft

1:01 AM UTC

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Despite having the Majors’ worst record last season at 43-119, the Rockies will be selecting 10th overall in the 2026 MLB Draft.

That is because the Rockies picked third overall in 2024 and fourth in 2025. The provision preventing teams from having a top-six lottery pick for three straight years is the same one that prevented the White Sox from having a lottery pick last year, even though Chicago went 41-121 -- the worst record in MLB’s Modern Era. The Rockies’ 2025 season tied the 2003 Tigers for third-worst, with the famous 1962 expansion Mets in second after going 42-120.

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The 10th overall pick was the highest the Rockies could have possibly landed under the rules.

The lottery picks from the last two Drafts are making early marks with the organization already, though.

In 2024, first baseman Charlie Condon was selected third overall and signed to a $9.25 million bonus. The start was slow. A left hand injury curtailed his introduction at High-A Spokane in '24 as he hit just .180 with one homer and 11 RBIs in 25 games before sustaining a right wrist fracture during Spring Training in '25.

However, after Condon’s return, he hit .268 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs in 99 combined games in the Arizona Complex League (nine games), Spokane (35 games) and Double-A Hartford (55 games). Condon followed that up with a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .337/.439/.434 with one home run and 13 RBIs in 22 games.

In '25, Colorado selected shortstop Ethan Holliday fourth overall and signed him to a $9 million bonus, the highest in Draft history for a high school player. Holliday hit .239 with two home runs and six RBIs in 18 games at Single-A Fresno following the Draft.