MLB will hold their 2020 draft virtually
Despite all the issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Football League were still able to hold their annual entry draft without a hitch last week, completing all seven rounds virtually. As a result of their success, they have provided a blueprint for other professional sports leagues who find themselves in a similar situation. On Monday evening, reports broke that Major League Baseball will conduct their 2020 draft as scheduled on June 10th, only the entire thing will be virtual.
According to both Joel Sherman of the New York Post and Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the draft will not be postponed but will not take place in Omaha, Nebraska like originally scheduled. With travel restrictions in place and rules regarding mass gatherings being enforced, the league has no other option but to complete the draft virtually if it is still going to take place on June 10th.
The draft could be heavily stripped down though according to the reports, as it may only be five or ten rounds as opposed to the normal 40. In agreement reached between the MLB and the Players Association back on March 26th, commissioner Rob Manfred has the ability to decide when to hold the draft up until July 20th and the number of rounds that will take place.
All MLB teams will obviously have the same disadvantage when it comes to scouting, as no live games will be taking place. Teams will have to rely on reports and stats from last year while still being able to conduct other pre-draft business virtually. Teams would still have the ability to interview players or check out old game footage, they just won’t get the chance to have the most up-to-date look at a player in real in-game action.
After an abysmal season last year, the Detroit Tigers will have the first selection in this year’s draft, followed by the Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays rounding out the top 5.
The draft was originally scheduled to take place over a total of three days from June 10th-12th, but it remains to be seen whether the league will stick to the three days. It could be reduced to one or two days, especially if the number of rounds is reduced to five or ten.
Unlike most other professional sports, MLB teams draft many players straight out of high school before even playing a game in the NCAA, often making it difficult to project who is going to be a star and who is going to burn out prior to reach the big leagues. College players can still be drafted, but they must have completed their junior or senior year or be at least 21-years-old.
Currently, the number one draft prospect in America is 20-year-old first baseman Spencer Torkelson out of Arizona. The youngster is 6’1” and 220 pounds who has impressed during his time in the NCAA. Torkelson is expected to be an elite player when he reaches the MLB, but it remains to be seen who that will be with when the time comes.
