Major League Baseball announced recently that its draft will be moved to only five rounds for the 2020 Major League Baseball Season. The MLB draft typically consists of 40 rounds, but due to the complications of the spread of COVID-19, the draft has been pushed back 35 rounds. 

A key reason for this decision is the amount of money organizations are not attaining due to the season not starting at this point and with all the money being lost by teams due to the effects of COVID-19. 

According to MLB Inside Reporter Jeff Passan, there was a divide between organizations in the league when it came to the team side of the draft. According to Passan, “A majority of front offices were pushing for a longer draft,” but also the “Pushback to keep the draft as short as possible from some owners was strong.” In the talks between organizations and Major League Baseball, a 10 round proposal was talked about where there would essentially be two five-round drafts. In this proposal, teams could not use money to pay players from rounds 6-10 to pay players drafted in the first five rounds. This proposal was thwarted and ultimately the draft was settled at five rounds. 

In the decision set by MLB, all players who were to go undrafted still would have the possibility to sign for a team, but only for the maximum of up to $20,000.

Effects of these decisions

The decision to shorten the draft to five rounds does have some very immense effects. Most notably it has an immense effect on the amateur players looking to get drafted. The players looking to get drafted and who were projected to go on the later rounds of the draft now have a tough decision. For some, it could mean the end of their baseball careers if they go undrafted, for others who had the chance to go possibly mid-draft may give the tough decision on whether to go pro or to continue their careers at the college level, especially for those who are high school senior baseball players.

For those who go undrafted, they may have a tough choice on attempting to go pro and sign a smaller salary of $20,000 at most or sticking out in college or the league they are playing in. Going one way or the other could be a life-changing decision. It could mean glory for some or pain for others. Some may decide to go back to school and may get injured when perhaps they could have flourished if they became pro, the different scenarios are endless. 

As for big league ballclubs, they are losing out on the opportunity to potentially draft their next superstar or their next franchise icon.

MLB return?

In other baseball news, according to MLB Inside Reporter Ken Rosenthal, Major League Baseball owners have already approved a proposal for a way to start the 2020 season. The proposal will be shared with the Major League Baseball Players Union on Tuesday, May 12th. 

Within the proposal, it is rumored that the proposal will bring about a universal designated hitter for all teams and would bring along an 82 game season with an expanded playoff structure/format. According to MLB columnist Bob Nightengale, the proposal would bring 14 playoff teams to the expanded playoff structure. 

With the proposal, there still would be many things to consider as many states have different guidelines. A decision could come very soon and very soon the sports world may find out if there will be a 2020 Major League Baseball Season.