The Guardians didn't have the 2023 season for which they had hoped. But they were just dealt a great hand this offseason when it comes to their future.

After finishing the season 76-86, the Guardians won Major League Baseball's draft lottery and will have the No. 1 overall selection in next summer's draft. It's the first time in franchise history that Cleveland holds the top pick.

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Major League Baseball's draft lottery was put into place to deter teams from tanking. It gave the worst teams a higher chance of ending up with the No. 1 pick, but there are no longer any guarantees. The Guardians entered the night with a 2.0 percent chance of winning the top selection, which were the ninth-best odds.

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It was a great night for the Buckeye state, as the Cincinnati Reds were awarded the No. 2 pick.

The Oakland A's, who were the league's worst team by far in 2023, will have the fourth pick.

While it is far too early to determine much, some of the top candidates to be the No. 1 overall pick include Wake Forest right-handed pitcher Chase Burns, West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt, prep outfielder/right-handed pitcher Konnor Griffin, prep left-handed pitcher/outfielder Cam Caminiti, Iowa right-handed pitcher Brody Brecht and prep outfielder PJ Morlando, among others.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians win MLB Draft Lottery, will pick No. 1 overall