Breaking Down MLB's Proposed Draft Changes

A recent proposal arising from Major League Baseball ownerships is motioning to ban high school players from signing with Major League teams, including removing draft eligibility.  These proposals stem from current negotiations between ownership and the Major League Baseball Players Association. 

Currently, the MLB amateur draft is a 20-round format, which changed after 2020; before this, there were 40 rounds, and before 2011  there were 50 rounds. The current draft includes selections of eligible high school prospects who have graduated high school.

The draft also allows collegiate players that are three years after their first enrollment; this is for four-year collegiate players (NCAA or NAIA). It also allows for Junior College players to be selected at any time. 

A player that has draft eligibility and has not been selected and signed in that specific year are permitted to sign an undrafted free agent contract immediately after the draft selections have concluded. A team can utilize up to $150,000 in contract compensation, until their bonus pool is affected. 

For example, “John Smith” is signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates for $250,000. Only $100,000 of that compensation counts against the team's draft bonus pool. 

Proposed Changes

For the year 2027, the proposal motions for the following:

• 12 round draft style (cut from the current 20 rounds - players residing in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico)

• 12-round draft for internationals prospects (separate from the amateur system); this would eliminate the current international prospect signing period and system. 

2028

• Amateur draft prospects would need to be 20-years old by September 1st of signing year (2 years removed from high school graduation); this also affects junior college players who complete year one

International Draft

Under the proposal, international players would not be eligible for the draft until they turn 18 years old, an increase from the current signing age of 16. The draft itself would be shortened to 12 rounds, with overall bonus pools reduced to $200 million.

MLB's first international draft would be held in either late 2027 or early 2028. Players who go undrafted would still have opportunities to sign with organizations, as teams would be allowed to sign an unlimited number of undrafted free agents for $10,000. Those players would also become eligible for an additional $30,000 bonus once they reach a full-season minor le