MLB and the MLB Players Association agreed to the lottery as part of the current collective bargaining agreement in an effort to curb tanking. The lottery awards the top six picks. The 2025 draft is scheduled for July 13-15 in Atlanta during the All-Star break.

The Nationals went in with a 10.2% chance, the fourth-best odds, for getting the No. 1 pick. Colorado and Miami, both 100-loss teams, had the best odds at 22.45%, ahead of the Angels at 17.96%. Miami instead ended up with the seventh pick.

Going into Tuesday night's 2025 MLB draft lottery, Colorado was tied with the Miami Marlins for the best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick, at 22.5% for the top selection. The Rockies, however, were assigned the No. 4 overall pick and will select after the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners.