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The Royals lost over 100 games for the second consecutive season, but all that losing has a silver lining. By finishing 59-103, the Royals had the fourth-worst record in baseball, and thus will have the fourth pick in next June’s draft. The Tigers, Marlins, and Orioles all lost over 100 games as well. It is just the second time ever that as many as four teams have lost 100+ games in a single season, the other coming in 2002.
The Detroit Tigers, who lost 114 games, will have the first-overall pick for the second time in three years, having chosen Auburn pitcher Casey Mize first overall in 2018. The Orioles will pick second, followed by the Marlins and Royals. The Blue Jays will pick in the top five for the first time since they selected outfielder Vernon Wells fifth in 1997. The Mariners, Pirates, Padres, Rockies, and Angels fill out the top ten. You can see the complete draft order here. Teams will no longer forfeit first round picks for signing free agents, they can only be moved back ten spots if they exceed the luxury tax threshold by $40 million.
Some past #4 overall picks include Thurman Munson, Darrell Porter, Dave Winfield, Barry Larkin, Kevin Brown, Kerry Wood, Ryan Zimmerman, Kyle Schwarber, and Brendan McKay.
Top five picks in Royals history
| Year | Overall | Player | Career WAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Overall | Player | Career WAR |
| 2006 | 1st | P Luke Hochevar | 3.5 |
| 2005 | 2nd | 3B Alex Gordon | 36.4 |
| 2007 | 2nd | SS Mike Moustakas | 17.1 |
| 2019 | 2nd | SS Bobby Witt, Jr. | Just started |
| 2008 | 3rd | 1B Eric Hosmer | 15.3 |
| 1998 | 4th | P Jeff Austin | -0.7 |
| 2000 | 4th | P Mike Stodolka | Never reached MLB |
| 2010 | 4th | SS Christian Colon | 1.9 |
| 1971 | 5th | P Roy Branch | -0.3 |
| 1993 | 5th | P Jeff Granger | -0.3 |
| 2003 | 5th | OF Chris Lubanski | Never reached MLB |
| 2011 | 5th | OF Bubba Starling | -0.8 |
| 2012 | 5th | P Kyle Zimmer | -0.7 |
The 2020 MLB draft class is considered to be a very strong crop, “particularly deep in college arms, including a couple of intriguing draft-eligible sophomores” according to David Schoenfield of ESPN. Some of the top names include Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, Georgia pitchers Emerson Hancock and Cole Wilcox, Mississippi State pitcher J.T. Ginn, Vanderbilt third baseman Austin Martin, and Arkansas shortstop Casey Martin. You can see a mock draft from Jim Callis of MLB.com from back in June.