Unlike in 2017, when the race for the No. 1 overall pick in the next year's Draft came down to a walk-off homer on the final day of the season, there was no such drama this summer. The Orioles, whose 115 losses were the fourth-most in modern big league history, clinched the top choice in 2019 with nine games remaining.
Baltimore owned the first selection only once in the previous 54 Drafts, choosing Ben McDonald in 1989. The Orioles haven't had a top-five pick since having six straight from 2007-12, when they grabbed Matt Wieters (fifth in 2007), Brian Matusz (fourth in 2008), Matt Hobgood (fifth in 2009), Manny Machado (third in 2010), Dylan Bundy (fourth in 2011) and Kevin Gausman (fourth in 2012).
 • Top 10 high school prospects for 2019 Draft | Top 10 college prospects
Assigned pick values rise each year based on MLB's revenue growth, so Baltimore will be allocated more than the $8,096,300 assigned to the No. 1 pick in 2018. The Tigers, who gained that choice when Pablo Sandoval's ninth-inning homer in the Giants' last game of 2017 dropped San Francisco to the No. 2 slot, signed Casey Mize for $7.5 million, setting a record for the Draft's bonus-pool era. Mize's bonus tied those of Bubba Starling and Stephen Strasburg for the second-highest in Draft history, trailing only Gerrit Cole's $8 million.
Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, the Most Outstanding Player at the 2018 College World Series, and Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., the son of the 16-year big leaguer and No. 3 overall selection in the 1985 Draft, are the leading candidates to go No. 1 overall at this point.
 • Early 2019 mock draft
Like the Orioles, the Royals locked up the second choice well before season's end, securing it when they suffered their 102nd loss last Saturday. Kansas City has picked that high three times before, taking Alex Gordon at No. 2 in 2005, Luke Hochevar at No. 1 in 2006 and Mike Moustakas at No. 2 in 2007.
The White Sox (No. 3 overall), Marlins (No. 4) and Tigers (No. 5) round out the first five selections. Detroit, which took Mize at No. 1, and Chicago, which popped Nick Madrigal at No. 4, had top-five choices this year. Miami hasn't picked that early since 2014, when it used the No. 2 choice on Tyler Kolek.
Three teams have multiple first-round selections because they received compensation choices when they couldn't sign 2018 first-rounders. The Braves pick ninth and 21st, the D-backs 16th and 26th, and the Dodgers either 23rd or 25th along with 31st.
Because each team's highest first-round pick is exempt from forfeiture, the only way the first-round order could change would be if a team that doesn't receive revenue sharing and exceeded the luxury tax this season has two first-round picks and signs a free agent who rejects a qualifying offer, in which case it would lose its second-highest first-rounder.
 •  All-time Draft picks
2019 First-Round Draft Order
Draft order is based on the reverse order of 2018 regular-season standings, with 2017 records used to break ties.
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 (compensation for unsigned 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. D-backs (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. D-backs (compensation for unsigned 2018 first-rounder Matt McLain)
27. Cubs (95-68)
28. Brewers (96-67)
29. Athletics (97-65)
30. Yankees (100-62)
31. Dodgers (compensation for unsigned 2018 first-rounder J.T. Ginn)
32. Astros (103-59)
33. Red Sox (108-54)