The 2022 MLB season is a long ways away. The same is true for the 2022 MLB Draft, which will likely take place during the All-Star break the way it did this past season. Even still, teams like the Los Angeles Angels — who are not in the postseason — have begun their scouting process to figure out who they could select.
The draft order in baseball is determined by simply reverse order of the standings. This year, however, there was a tie for the worst team in baseball between the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks. Both teams went a shocking 52-110.
To break ties in the draft, MLB goes to last year’s records. However, the Orioles and Diamonbacks both finished 25-35 in 2020, so they had to go back a year further. That led to the final result of the Orioles selecting No. 1 overall and the Diamondbacks picking second.
The Orioles will make the first overall choice for the second time in four years. The first was in 2019, when they selected current No. 1 prospect Adley Rutschman.
Another intriguing storyline from the 2022 MLB Draft order is the Washington Nationals. The Nationals are picking in the top 10 for the first time since 2011 after being the ultimate sellers at the trade deadline. They traded Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the L.A. Dodgers and tanked their way to the No. 5 overall pick.
The Nationals are comfortable in this position, though, as they absolutely nailed their last three top-10 picks. from 2009-2011, they picked No. 1 overall twice and No. 6 overall once. With those three picks, they took Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, and Anthony Rendon. It’s safe to say they’re an organization that knows how to make top picks.
Finally, the New York Mets will be picking twice in the top 15. Their actual pick is No. 14 — one after the Angels at No. 13 — but they’ll also be using the 11th overall pick as a compensation for not agreeing to terms with their 2021 first rounder, Kumar Rocker.
Complete 2022 MLB Draft order
1. Orioles (52-110)
2. D-backs (52-110)
3. Rangers (60-102)
4. Pirates (61-101)
5. Nationals (65-97)
6. Marlins (67-95)
7. Cubs (71-91)
8. Twins (73-89)
9. Royals (74-88)
10. Rockies (74-87)
11. Mets (compensation)
12. Tigers (77-85)
13. Angels (77-85)
14. Mets (77-85)
15. Padres (79-83)
16. Indians (80-82)
17. Phillies (82-80)
18. Reds (83-79)
19. A’s (86-76)
20. Braves (88-73)
21. Mariners (90-72)
22. Cardinals (90-72)
23. Blue Jays (91-71)
24. Red Sox (92-70)
25. Yankees (92-70)
26. White Sox (93-69)
27. Brewers (95-67)
28. Astros (95-67)
29. Rays (100-62)
30. Dodgers (106-56)
31. Giants (107-55)