Picture credit score: © Steven Branscombe-Imagn Pictures
Final week, MLB proposed quite a few pretty radical modifications to the prevailing novice participant acquisition construction. Marc Normandin coated the labor implications of such right here at BP earlier this week, however I wish to focus extra on the sensible ones for the draft: what forcing highschool gamers to go to school for 2 years would truly do to the developmental arcs of the gamers who at present signal out of highschool, the important thing underpinning of the brand new proposal as reported by ESPN.
The first group of gamers being drafted underneath MLB’s proposed system in 2026 can be gamers born between September 1, 2005 and September 1, 2006; you’d have to be 20 by September 1 to be eligible. However along with that, you’d additionally have to be two years out of highschool; in observe this could transfer a couple of of probably the most overaged gamers drafted underneath the present system as preps again a yr. For instance, 2025 actual draftee and prime international pitching prospect Seth Hernandez, by age, would have been eligible for this draft construction this yr, however he would have been pushed again by 2027 due to the highschool commencement rule. The idea of absolute age eligibility that at present exists? That goes poof. Mainly, this could be the 2024 actual preps and the longer term 2027 faculty picks; the largest beneficiaries can be the highest 2027 faculty eligibles like Brendan Lawson and Dax Whitney (though Whitney is at present damage, so perhaps not).
