What Makes the MLB Draft Special
By Michael Schneid
The MLB Draft has only recently blown up into a major event. The draft used to happen quietly, fans read about it online. Now, you can watch the first round live on MLB Network in prime-time coverage.
But also, what has changed recently is the importance and significance of the draft. Over the past few years, the draft has focused more on drafting guys that will help in the more immediate future. There is more pressure on scouts and front office personnel to draft guys who will be in the majors sooner, than later. We are slowly moving away from the days of drafting a guy in the first round and letting him work his way through each level of the minors and promote him at 24-25 years old. The expectation now, is that these players should be ready to go almost right away.
In the NBA and NFL, the goal is to draft guys who have an immediate impact. In the NFL, guys must earn their spot on the roster, regardless of what round pick they are. Higher picks, and some lower too, are immediately thrust into significant playing times roles. In the NBA, the same can be said, where guys are expected to play and have an impact immediately.
Recently, the NBA has changed the way they handle the business aspect of the draft. First round picks now sign a two-year guaranteed contract with two team options to follow. That means the team must decide to retain the player after two years. After those four years, they become a restricted free agent. This new system allows teams to cut the chord early if a player does not show potential. The previous system gave players three year deals. The teams completely control their players and while two years may not seem like a long time, a team may pick up the third-year option and could than reject the fourth year option if the player does not live up to expectations after three years, all while not investing too much money.
The NFL also changed their system recently. In 2010, Sam Bradford was drafted first overall and received $50 million guaranteed. He was due to make more money than guys like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers, despite having never played a game. The NFL, finally went to a slotting system like the NBA has. NBA players do not do much negotiating. the salaries are pretty much set based on where you are drafted. The NFL now does the same. Each pick has their guaranteed money and annual salary pretty much set. First rounders now sign four-year deals, as opposed to five previously, with a fifth year team option. Again, like the NBA, the NFL wants an immediate investment and has the ability to easily cut loose players that are not developing.
We recently wrote about the NHL system, about how guys can be drafted, and continue to play overseas or play in college while remaining property of the team that drafted them.
MLB has a completely different draft concept and focus. In baseball, you can be drafted several times. Guys that are drafted have the choice of immediately going pro or passing. Players drafted out of high school may want to get an education or continue to improve in college and improve their draft position. Guys in college may want to do the same, may not be ready to leave college. It is a risk teams take when they draft guys. Unlike the NBA and NFL, you do not declare for the MLB draft. Anyone and everyone is eligible to be drafted.
Here are some specific player examples of what makes the MLB Draft different:
In the NBA and NFL, you know who many of the top draft prospects are. For example, everyone who watches football knew Andrew Luck was going to be the first pick and has likely seen his highlights on sportscenter. In 2011, the Pirates drafted Gerrit Cole from University of California, and unless you are in fact a hardcore college baseball fan, you likely did not know who Cole was. Baseball is unique in that often times you learn about players in the minors rather than college.
The NBA has sort of developed a minor league system, the D-League. Each team has the rights to send players with three years experience or less to the D-League, while maintaining their rights and allowing these players to get playing time and develop, rather than sit on the bench. Baseball, does not have an immediate return on investment in the draft. Players spend a few years in the minor leagues developing, learning, and understanding the game. Some players never even make it. Some make it sooner than others.
Baseball is unique and special compared to the other sports, for so many reasons. You can see some of the best MLB Traditions. The Draft is certainly one of them. Players get drafted out of either high school or college. Some players get drafted 3-4 times, and some players never even make it. The draft lasts 50 rounds, three days. There is no other draft and no other event in sports quite like this.
The MLB Draft has only recently blown up into a major event. The draft used to happen quietly, fans read about it online. Now, you can watch the first round live on MLB Network in prime-time coverage.
But also, what has changed recently is the importance and significance of the draft. Over the past few years, the draft has focused more on drafting guys that will help in the more immediate future. There is more pressure on scouts and front office personnel to draft guys who will be in the majors sooner, than later. We are slowly moving away from the days of drafting a guy in the first round and letting him work his way through each level of the minors and promote him at 24-25 years old. The expectation now, is that these players should be ready to go almost right away.
In the NBA and NFL, the goal is to draft guys who have an immediate impact. In the NFL, guys must earn their spot on the roster, regardless of what round pick they are. Higher picks, and some lower too, are immediately thrust into significant playing times roles. In the NBA, the same can be said, where guys are expected to play and have an impact immediately.
Recently, the NBA has changed the way they handle the business aspect of the draft. First round picks now sign a two-year guaranteed contract with two team options to follow. That means the team must decide to retain the player after two years. After those four years, they become a restricted free agent. This new system allows teams to cut the chord early if a player does not show potential. The previous system gave players three year deals. The teams completely control their players and while two years may not seem like a long time, a team may pick up the third-year option and could than reject the fourth year option if the player does not live up to expectations after three years, all while not investing too much money.
The NFL also changed their system recently. In 2010, Sam Bradford was drafted first overall and received $50 million guaranteed. He was due to make more money than guys like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers, despite having never played a game. The NFL, finally went to a slotting system like the NBA has. NBA players do not do much negotiating. the salaries are pretty much set based on where you are drafted. The NFL now does the same. Each pick has their guaranteed money and annual salary pretty much set. First rounders now sign four-year deals, as opposed to five previously, with a fifth year team option. Again, like the NBA, the NFL wants an immediate investment and has the ability to easily cut loose players that are not developing.
We recently wrote about the NHL system, about how guys can be drafted, and continue to play overseas or play in college while remaining property of the team that drafted them.
MLB has a completely different draft concept and focus. In baseball, you can be drafted several times. Guys that are drafted have the choice of immediately going pro or passing. Players drafted out of high school may want to get an education or continue to improve in college and improve their draft position. Guys in college may want to do the same, may not be ready to leave college. It is a risk teams take when they draft guys. Unlike the NBA and NFL, you do not declare for the MLB draft. Anyone and everyone is eligible to be drafted.
Here are some specific player examples of what makes the MLB Draft different:
- Aaron Crow was drafted in first round in 2008 by the Nationals but they did not offer enough of a signing bonus so he went to go play for an independent team and was re-drafted in 2009 by the Royals. No other sport allows players to be re-drafted like that.
- Luke Hochevar was drafted in 2002 by the Dodgers straight out of high school. But he decided to attend college instead, University of Tennessee. In 2005, Dodgers drafted Hochevar again, this time in the first round (40th overall). Hochevar and the Dodgers were unable to agree to terms and, like Crow, he would go to the independent league. A year later, the Royals drafted him first overall.
- College football QBs with baseball experience have a history of being drafted - Drew Henson, Russell Wilson, Brian Brohm
In the NBA and NFL, you know who many of the top draft prospects are. For example, everyone who watches football knew Andrew Luck was going to be the first pick and has likely seen his highlights on sportscenter. In 2011, the Pirates drafted Gerrit Cole from University of California, and unless you are in fact a hardcore college baseball fan, you likely did not know who Cole was. Baseball is unique in that often times you learn about players in the minors rather than college.
The NBA has sort of developed a minor league system, the D-League. Each team has the rights to send players with three years experience or less to the D-League, while maintaining their rights and allowing these players to get playing time and develop, rather than sit on the bench. Baseball, does not have an immediate return on investment in the draft. Players spend a few years in the minor leagues developing, learning, and understanding the game. Some players never even make it. Some make it sooner than others.
Baseball is unique and special compared to the other sports, for so many reasons. You can see some of the best MLB Traditions. The Draft is certainly one of them. Players get drafted out of either high school or college. Some players get drafted 3-4 times, and some players never even make it. The draft lasts 50 rounds, three days. There is no other draft and no other event in sports quite like this.
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