Tigers will have the No. 5 pick in the 2019 MLB draft

Though the Detroit Tigers did their best to move up the reverse standings over the final couple weeks of the season, they will have the No. 5 pick in the 2019 MLB draft. The Tigers finished with a 64-98 record, identical to the 2017 record that clinched them the first overall pick last June, but still found themselves ahead of four other teams in the final MLB standings.

The Baltimore Orioles will have the No. 1 overall pick after a disastrous 115-loss season that saw them flirting with the record books in late September. This is the second time in their franchise history that they have had the No. 1 pick. Their only other 1-1 selection was right-handed pitcher Ben McDonald, who had a solid nine-year career from 1989 to 1997.

The Kansas City Royals will have the second overall pick. This is their highest selection since they took third baseman Mike Moustakas with the No. 2 pick in the 2007 amateur draft. The Royals had three consecutive top-two picks from 2005 to 2007, which saw them draft Moustakas, Alex Gordon, and 2006 first overall pick Luke Hochevar.

The Chicago White Sox will have the No. 3 overall pick, their highest since they took Carlos Rodon third overall in 2014. This is their second consecutive top five pick; they took Nick Madrigal with the No. 4 overall pick in 2017. The Miami Marlins finished just a half-game ahead of the Tigers for the No. 4 pick thanks to a rainout against the Pittsburgh Pirates that was never made up. Miami’s last top-five pick came in 2014, when they took righthander Tyler Kolek with the No. 2 overall pick.

Those hoping the Tigers could move up higher in the draft shouldn’t worry too much. There have been a number of great players that were drafted No. 5 overall, including righthander Dwight Gooden and first baseman Mark Teixeira. Six different No. 5 picks have produced at least 40 career WAR, including Gooden and Teixeira, catcher Buster Posey (2008), and outfielder Ryan Braun (2005). More recent fifth overall selections include Drew Pomeranz (2010), Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier (2013), Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker (2015), and Braves righthander Kyle Wright (2017). The Cincinnati Reds drafted Florida third baseman and Golden Spikes finalist Jonathan India with the fifth overall pick in 2018.

Here is the full order of the first round of the 2019 MLB draft

1. Baltimore Orioles (47-115)
2. Kansas City Royals (58-104)
3. Chicago White Sox (62-100)
4. Miami Marlins (63-98)
5. Detroit Tigers (64-98)
6. San Diego Padres (66-96)
7. Cincinnati Reds (67-95)
8. Texas Rangers (67-95)
9. Atlanta Braves (compensation for unsigned 2018 first round pick Carter Stewart)
10. San Francisco Giants (73-89)
11. Toronto Blue Jays (73-89)
12. New York Mets (77-85)
13. Minnesota Twins (78-84)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (80-82)
15. Los Angeles Angels (80-82)
16. Arizona Diamondbacks (82-80)
17. Washington Nationals (82-80)
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (82-79)
19. St. Louis Cardinals (88-74)
20. Seattle Mariners (89-73)
21. Atlanta Braves (90-72)
22. Tampa Bay Rays (90-72)
23. Dodgers/Rockies Monday loser (91-72)
24. Cleveland Indians (91-71)
25. Dodgers/Rockies Monday winner (92-71)
26. Arizona Diamondbacks (compensation for unsigned 2018 first round pick Matt McLain)
27. Brewers/Cubs Monday loser (95-68)
28. Brewers/Cubs Monday winner (96-67)
29. Oakland Athletics (97-65)
30. New York Yankees (100-62)
31. Los Angeles Dodgers (compensation for unsigned 2018 first-round pick J.T. Ginn)
32. Houston Astros (103-59)
33. Boston Red Sox (108-54)