There are some changes coming up in the 2021 draft. As explained by Prep Baseball -
- After being held in early to mid-June for decades, the 2021 MLB draft will move to July 11-13 and will be held in Atlanta as part of the All-Star Game festivities.
- 20 rounds minimum, and likely not to exceed 30 rounds total.
- College players who turn 21 years old within 45 days from the draft are eligible. This extends that deadline to August 27.
- Signing deadline has been moved to August 1, 2021.
- Payment of Signing Bonuses. All signing for players drafted or signed as a passed over free agent shall be paid under the following schedule:
Within 30 days of approval: Up to $100,000
July 1, 2022: 50% of the remainder
July 1, 2023: 50% of the remainder
- In the event that each Club plays less than 81 regular season games in 2020, MLB has the right, after conferring in good faith with the MLB Player's Association, to modify the Draft order.
- Signing Bonus Values. The 2021 signing bonus slots shall be equal to the signing bonus slots associated with that same selection in the 2019 Draft, regardless of the number of rounds in the 2021 Draft (i.e., the signing bonus value for the first overall selection in the 2021 Draft will be the same as the signing bonus value for the first overall selection in the 2019 Draft).
- Passed-Over/Non-Drafted Players. Each Club may sign an unlimited number of passed over players for $20,000 or less.
- No Club may trade its Competitive Balance pick.
As a result of the draft date changes, look for more high school and college showcases, games, and leagues, and possibly a medical combine to be created moving forward. All of these would allow clubs to gather more information before they make their picks.
One direct effect of moving the draft back a month includes the elimination of one or two minor league teams for each MLB club. The short-season clubs would no longer exist outside of a team's spring training facilities and team complexes in the Dominican Republic.
Patrick Ebert - @PatrickEbert44
Really liked watching 2021 C Ethan Glossa play for
@RakeCityOrg – strong, sturdy build, equally strong arm helps neutralize opposing run game, squared up the baseball several times, uncommitted but that likely will change in the not-so-distant future
The @GRBRays has no shortage of arms (and overall talent) this weekend at Hitters Invite, 2021 RHP Ryan Schneider (
@UEAthleticsBASE) is one of those arms, offers plenty of phys. projection throwing 86-87/88, has touched higher in past, good spin/command to 76-77 curve ball
I don't think 2021 RHP Eli Hoyt will be uncommitted much longer, threw well on Saturday for @stiksacademy at the Hitters Invite, easy 83-86 mph FB that he commanded well with a fast arm and room for a lot more, foundation for good CB too
Uncommitted 2021 OF Ryan St. Ledger batted leadoff for
@RakeCityOrg all weekend at the Hitters Invite – needs more experience but there are clear tools, highlighted by his impact speed, and the ball jumped off his bat more than once
You can read more from Patrick on his new site, “The Grind”
Kendall Rogers - @KendallRogers
A quick look at some college MLB Draft prospects who are now eligible in 2021:
* @TexasBaseball - LHP Pete Hansen (was on the fence before. Now def is)
* @UKBaseball - OF John Rhodes
* @OleMissBSB - OF Jerrion Ealy
There will be more …
TRANSFER NEWS: @CharlotteBSB has gotten two big eligibility waivers cleared by the NCAA — RHP’s Austin Marazos and Will Butcher. Marazos almost signed with White Sox this summer. Mid 90s arm. Butcher did not pitch for #NCstate last season. #CUSA
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) September 1, 2020
JJ Cooper - (@jjcoop36)
Two things to watch here.
1. Scouts are allowed in (if team opens its park to scouts it can send scouts out too). First chance for pro scouts to do in-person scouting since spring training was cut short.
2. No guarantee all teams do it.
https://twitter.com/jjcoop36/status/1301000463446409216?s=20
An excellent story on top prospect Gavin Williams -
And another great article on prospect James Wood -
And here’s one on C/RHP Tommy Splaine
Dan Drullinger - (@DanDrullinger)
Uncommitted RHP Stephen Pelli (@Stephen_pelli34)
Recent Live ABs
FB: 93-95 (T96)
SL: 81-83
CH: 83-85
CB: 78-80
Heavy FB complemented by a plus CH, works his tail off. UNC transfer, 3 years of eligibility remaining.
What is the long term position for Tommy Splaine? Catcher? Pitcher? According to The National Athletic Trainers’ Association, high school catcher/pitchers are nearly 3-times more likely to sustain an injury. Although pitch limits are well established in baseball, the results of this new study indicate that a 2.9 times greater injury risk may result from cumulative throwing load from both pitching and non-pitching activities. Truth is, catchers throw significantly more than other fielding positions, period. My point is this...Ultimately performance variables, success, and matters of the heart for the catching or pitching position will determine Splaine’s overall impact potential at the college or professional level. He will have to choose one or the other eventually. Fact, Splaine is really good at both, and with 50+ representatives from 24 MLB Organizations in attendance, some teams 2-3 deep, and the profound talent on the NorCal ProCase roster , Splaine will certainly attract evaluators on both sides of the fence.
7 comments:
Teams only have 2 1/2 weeks to sign a drafted player? That sounds tough logistically.
Does sound crazy Holmer. It will put more emphasis on understanding what it will take to sign a player before picking them. No more Rookie leagues as well so less reason to draft in June and get them playing that summer.
Holmer/John -
The league really doesn't care about this.
The bottom line is you better have your scouts in direct contact with the name you are about to write on that card and have a verbal with that player on a dollar range.
I get the "due dilligence" part, Mack, as it pertains to the players debating college or signing and the Mets have done a great job with that the last two years. It is just the physical, again logistical, part of signing up to 30 players in that span of time that I question.
Considering how the draft was squeezed in 2020, next year's draft should have (assuming virus in rear view mirror) an incredible level of talent to draft. Lots of decent guys must have skipped to the 2020 draft, and won't be skipping the 2021.
I am not super-up on 2021 minor league's landscape at this point, but:
I wonder if there is a chance that rookie leagues just start later and finish later. If they are dropped, I would turn the top rookie league (in the Mets' case NY Penn) into a full season league. Start in April, and cut non-performing guys after the draft and bring the ready-to-go draftees in. Rest of draftees go to instructional ball.
Are they eliminating the DSL? Hopefully not, but I certainly think the Mets could eliminate one of their 2 DSL teams and up the quality of play there. Better competition, the best will progress quicker.
Interesting on injury probabilities for pitchers and catchers. My brother Steve sure could have used that info before he blew his shoulder out at 17 due to over-pitching. We might have been reading his baseball stats otherwise. I love his stories, including having gotten to pitch as a 15 year old against St Johns hitters in BP once and getting tons of swings and misses from them, and watching their swagger evaporate.
Tom
The DSL teams will remain.
Good news on DSL, MACK.
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