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Pirates might get very lucky with 2026 MLB Draft position thanks to new lottery rules

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The lottery won’t fix everything, but it might accelerate the plan in Pittsburgh.

Atlanta Braves v Pittsburgh Pirates | Justin Berl/GettyImages

The Pirates didn’t exactly stumble into a rebuild this year, but they did crash into a reality check. The win-loss column wasn’t kind, the offense cold most of the time, and the club spent September taking notes on what has to change in 2026. Yet as the dust settles, there’s a legitimate silver lining peeking through the fog: the MLB Draft Lottery. Thanks to the still-new system and a few well-timed disqualifications elsewhere, Pittsburgh could find itself drafting much earlier than its record alone would suggest — without having to bottom out to get there.