Kansas City's luck finally turns in the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery as they land a top-six pick despite long odds.
The Kansas City Royals entered the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery on Tuesday with just a 0.84 percent chance of landing the top pick, ranking 13th among eligible teams.
Instead of watching from the sidelines as they had in previous years, fortune finally smiled on the franchise when their name was called for the No. 6 overall selection, jumping 10 spots from where they were originally slotted at No. 16.
The Royals finished the 2025 season with an 82-80 record, placing third in the AL Central behind the Guardians and Tigers.
Despite missing the playoffs after their exciting 2024 postseason run, Kansas City now finds itself in an excellent position to add a high-impact prospect to a roster that already features superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and a solid core of young talent.
A Draft Lottery Win Years in the Making
Christmas came early for the Royals this year, and it was well-deserved after past lottery disappointments hurt the franchise.
In both 2022 and 2023, the lottery pushed Kansas City back in the draft order when they needed premium talent the most.
For the 2023 draft, the Royals had the fifth-best odds of landing the first overall pick but dropped to eighth when the dust settled.
A similar situation unfolded in 2024 when they were tied for the best odds yet still ended up at sixth overall after the Guardians won with just a 0.02 percent chance.
This year, the tables finally turned.
The White Sox won the No. 1 pick, followed by the Rays at No. 2, Twins at No. 3, Giants at No. 4, and Pirates at No. 5, with the Royals rounding out the lottery selections at No. 6.
Top Prospects Who Could Be Available at No. 6
The 2026 draft class is loaded with talent, and there could be some exciting options available when the Royals pick at No. 6.
According to Baseball America's mock draft, Kansas City could be targeting Florida right-hander Liam Peterson, who has emerged as the top college pitching prospect in the class.
Peterson owns a 5.18 ERA over 132 innings with the Gators, featuring a 28.6 percent strikeout rate and a loud fastball-slider combination that scouts believe could translate to the front of a big-league rotation.
Other prospects who could fall to No. 6 include Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, a powerful right-handed hitter who has slugged 30 home runs in two college seasons, and Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia, who has maintained a 1.000 OPS or better in each of his first two collegiate campaigns.
With so much middle-infield talent at the top of the draft, the Royals may pivot toward pitching to bolster a rotation that was decimated by injuries in 2025.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Royals' core is returning for another run at the AL Central.
Salvador Perez signed a two-year, $25 million extension to remain behind the plate, and Vinnie Pasquantino is coming off a season where he hit 32 home runs with 113 RBIs.
Combined with Witt Jr.'s 8.0 fWAR season and the continued development of Maikel Garcia at third base, Kansas City has a strong foundation.
The No. 6 pick gives the Royals an opportunity to add another impact player to a farm system that has produced homegrown talent in recent years.
Whether they select a power arm like Peterson or take another swing at premium position players, the lottery luck that eluded them for years has finally arrived at the perfect time for a franchise looking to get back to October.