With their lucky charm, Rays move up via lottery to No. 2 pick in draft

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Dec 9, 2025

Published in Baseball

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ORLANDO, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays’ first experience in MLB’s draft lottery didn’t go well last year.

With senior adviser Jon Daniels as their representative, they had the 10th-best chance to earn the top pick, were 12th in the raw order based on record and ended up dropping to the 14th pick.

In an effort to improve their fortune this year, they brought in arguably their most famous good luck charm — Brett Phillips, who delivered the unlikely hit that led to their amazing walk-off win in Game 4 of the 2020 World Series — to rep them.

And it worked. The Rays on Tuesday moved up from the 10th slot by record (77-85) to get the No. 2 pick in the July 12-13 draft.

“The reason you’re here stinks, so there’s that weird feeling. You’re sitting there, and it’s like you don’t feel like celebrating the position you’re in,” Neander said.

“But if you’re in this position, might as well bring our good luck charm. When Brett Phillips and the Rays get together, I don’t know — crazy things happen. The ball bounced our way. If you’re going to be in this position, let’s root for the best, hope for the best, and we’ll take it.”

Phillips, who retired in October and is exploring post-playing opportunities, said he was happy to be asked and to help.

“I know last year didn’t go as planned with the percentages, but 3% chance of getting the No. 1 pick (this year) and we got No. 2,” Phillips said. “I’m excited for the squad and I was just happy to be a part of it. I didn’t do much, but I felt like I did something. I felt some butterflies there. It was exciting.”

This will be the first time the Rays picked this high in the draft since 2008, when they took Tim Beckham No. 1, and the fourth time they had the top pick (also taking Josh Hamilton in 1999, Delmon Young in 2003 and David Price in 2007). They picked No. 2 once before, taking BJ Upton in 2002 after the Pirates claimed pitcher Bryan Bullington.

Neander said there were some mixed emotions as the Rays don’t want to be among the non-playoff teams that qualify for the lottery and definitely value their run of sustained success even though it hasn’t yet led to a championship.

But the chance to pick that high provides an unexpected opportunity to add a premium talent.

“We’ve gone a long time here in the Rays era (which started in 2008) without picking in the top 10. ... Really proud of the sustained success and giving that many teams a chance to compete. Not all of them work out the way you want, but that’s a big deal. We’re really proud of that,” Neander said.

“But in doing that, you do cut off one of the access points to the best talent the game has to offer. Last year, we dropped back a few (spots). That wasn’t a lot of fun. Wasn’t a big fan of the lottery system last winter meetings. Had to call in the reinforcements.”

Based on recent rankings by MLBPipeline.com, candidates for the top picks include UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Fort Worth (Texas) Christian High shortstop Grady Emerson, Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, Miami Gulliver Prep shortstop Jacob Lombard and Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress.

The draft is somewhat a stilted made-for-TV event, but Phillips said had the Rays gotten the top pick, he was going to liven up the hotel ballroom by recreating his Game 4 celebratory mad dash through the outfield.

“I was going to airplane off (the stage),” he said. “I was really going to. Of course. … I already told the team: If we got the No. 1 pick, I’m airplaning. I’m sorry. And they’re like, ‘Yeah, we would expect nothing less from you.’"

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