Baltimore Orioles fans finally have something to be cheerful about this season. Their team finished with the worst record in the league, but this resulted in the Orioles owning the first overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Baltimore finished their 2021 MLB season with a 12-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays that dropped them to a 52-110 record. This tied them with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who got a 5-4 win against the Colorado Rockies to wrap up their campaign with 52-110 as well.
Despite the two franchises having the same record, the no.1 pick went to the Orioles thanks to a tiebreaker that gives the advantage to the team with the worst campaign in the previous seasons. Since the teams also shared the same record (25-35) in 2020, their performance in 2019 was considered. Baltimore was 54–108, while Arizona was 85–77 two years ago.
This will be the second time in four years that the Orioles get to pick first in the draft. They also had the first overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft when they selected catcher Adley Rutschman. He is yet to make a majors appearance for Baltimore.
The Texas Rangers will get to pick third behind the Orioles and the Diamondbacks, while the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals will follow.
