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MLB proposes sweeping draft changes, including ban on high school picks

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Major League Baseball is seeking to radically overhaul the amateur draft that would eliminate players from being immediately drafted out of high school, requiring them to be at least 20 years old, in their latest proposal to the players union Thursday that the union is expected to soundly reject.

MLB’s proposal, which would begin in 2028, would require players to be at least 20 years old by Sept. 1 of their draft year, and at least two years after their high school graduation. MLB is also seeking to reduce the draft from 20 rounds to 12 rounds with a $200 million draft pool – a reduction from $358.7 million – while also implementing a 12-round international draft.

The proposal was called “the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” by a veteran agent, with one MLB scouting director saying, “let’s just kill the game!”

The proposal would incentivize players to attend college, MLB says, allowing them to develop in college while still being paid with NIL funds. Players wouldn’t necessarily need to be an active college player but could be drafted after playing in independent baseball or an MLB Draft League. In return, MLB would lower the qualification for college players to be drafted after their sophomore season instead of their junior year.

MLB lauds the success of collegiate programs, saying it has “become increasingly central to developing future Major Leaguers,” with 75% of MLB players having played in college.

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Yet, several MLB scouts told USA TODAY Sports that they vehemently disagree, and that the new draft eligibility would be a detriment to the development of players.

“College baseball is not set up for development,” one scouting director said. “It’s to win games. So many freshmen don’t even get to play.”

The proposal would not reduce the number of minor-league teams, which currently is at 120, through at least 2030.

“Over the last several years, college baseball has undergone a remarkable transformation,” MLB said in a statement. “Expanded scholarships, NIL opportunities, revenue sharing, and significant investments in facilities and player development have made college baseball an increasingly important pathway that is producing major league-ready talent at an accelerated rate. Today’s top programs provide players with resources, competition, and national exposure that were unimaginable a decade ago.

“Our proposal is designed to build on that momentum to benefit the game at the college, minor league and major league levels. By creating a draft system centered around college-aged players and making most college players eligible one year earlier, more players will benefit from both a college education and an elite development environment while reaching professional baseball – and ultimately the major leagues – more quickly. We believe these changes will strengthen college baseball and deepen fans’ connection to the next generation of major league stars.”

MLB said that if their proposal is implemented, 86% of the top-40 college selections in the 2025 draft would have been eligible a year earlier under the new eligibility rules.

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The new draft would also enable teams to trade first-round picks for the first time since the draft was implemented in 1965, but not in consecutive years. No club would be allowed to accrue more than three extra picks within the first three rounds of a draft. It also would require at least 10 players to attend the MLB draft, and would receive a $50,000 draft bonus. There wasn’t a single first-round pick last year that attended the draft.

MLB also is lowering the draft lottery selections from six to four, with no team eligible to receive a lottery selection for three consecutive years.

MLB also wants to implement a 12-round international draft. The international draft, which was proposed in the 2021 CBA in return of eliminating qualifying offers for free agents, would be 12 rounds and restricted to players who are at least 18 years old, with a signing-bonus pool of $200 million for 360 international players.

International players who aren’t drafted would be limited to a maximum $10,000 signing bonus while receiving a $30,000 bonus once they complete a full minor-league season.

Yet, as several MLB executives point out, the proposal means that kids born in the United States would actually be penalized, having to wait two years longer than international players to sign MLB contracts.

“It is long past time to reform the international amateur system in ways that would address longstanding challenges and benefit future players,” MLB said in a statement. “The enhanced transparency of the International Draft that we are proposing is a common-sense step forward that best addresses the root causes of corruption in the current system.

“Our vision for the new international system reduces the pressure on young athletes by giving them the chance to grow and develop, keeps kids in school longer while they pursue a career in baseball, and creates more playing opportunities for the older players who are left behind in today’s system.”

MLB insists the draft would help diminish the corruption in foreign countries with teams reaching deals with kids who are 10 years or older, which has resulted in falsifying birth certificates with performance-enhancing drugs becoming more rampant. MLB also would implement an international scouting and medical combine for the top 300 international prospects.

The union believes MLB wants an international draft strictly as a cost-saving measure for clubs, just like the reasoning for a reduced domestic draft, with powerful agent Scott Boras insisting it would drive players to other sports.

“Barring American boys of choices and representation will certainly redirect the best youth athletes to other sports,” Boras said. “Franchises built their futures on the (Bobby) Witts, (Gunnar) Hendersons and (Elly) De La Cruzes, and in past drafts the (Bryce) Harpers, (Ken) Griffeys, A-Rods, and now they deny those players and teams the right of choice.

“NBA, NHL and international soccer is so happy about this decision as they offer youth choices for great athletes.”

Follow Bob Nightengale on X at @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB proposes draft overhaul: No high school players, age 20 minimum

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