Last night [Thursday, June 9] the MLB draft began, with the Philadelphia Phillies selecting 18-year-old Mickey Moniak with the first pick.
Compared to the NBA and NFL drafts, the MLB draft does not get as much hype for several reasons. First, the MLB draft lasts 40 rounds. Yes, 40 rounds. Only the first round is televised, and the following rounds will continue over the next few days.
Second, because MLB teams can draft players straight from high school, the vast majority of the prospects chosen in the draft will not make it to the major leagues for several years. It’s not uncommon for players to make their major league debuts in their late 20s, so it’s hard to get excited over draft picks this early on.
With this system, young prospects are extremely valuable in baseball, which means teams can tank like crazy to get great picks. Phillies fans will know that feeling, after Philadelphia has struggled for the past few years. This season, the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins are setting the pace for worst records in the National and American Leagues, with the Braves sitting at 17-42 and the Twins at 18-41 currently.
To see the full results of the first round, check out ESPN’s coverage.