The St. Louis Cardinals have selected within the top 10 of the last two drafts, and there is a belief that because of those top-10 draft picks, the Cardinals won’t be eligible for the MLB draft lottery.
But, according to Derrick Gould of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals will have the opportunity to earn a lottery pick in the 2026 MLB draft.
“The Cardinals are eligible for a lottery (top six pick) in 2026 if they do not make the playoffs,” Gould answered. “That is double-checked with MLB, the CBA, and the Cardinals, and I circled back on that just to be sure today.”
Why St. Louis Is Eligible For a Lottery Pick
Before explaining why the Cardinals can get a lottery pick, knowing what a lottery pick actually is needs to be explained. A lottery pick isn’t just simply a top-10 draft choice; it’s a little bit of a higher pick.
In the MLB draft, only the top six picks are considered lottery picks. While the Cardinals were eligible for lottery picks in each of the last two years, they “lost” one of those lotteries, falling to the seventh overall pick.
Ironically, that draft choice has worked wonders, as JJ Wetherholt is one of the top prospects in baseball and could make his MLB debut soon.
Since the Cardinals picked at 7th overall, one selection outside the lottery by MLB’s standards, the Cardinals will be eligible for the lottery once again.
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Only once the Cardinals, or any team, earn two consecutive lottery picks do they no longer have the chance to earn a lottery pick.
While the 2025 season has been a letdown, once the offseason begins, the Cardinals won’t be looking at the draft lottery negatively like previously believed.
Instead, the Cardinals have a chance to earn a top-six draft choice, which would help mitigate the frustration over a lost season in 2025.
St. Louis can earn a top lottery selection in the 2026 MLB draft, which would fall within the first six picks. If they fall out of the top six, then St. Louis could once again be eligible in 2027 for a top lottery pick if they miss the postseason once again.
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