D1 baseball put out a tweet yesterday that the draft will be later in the summer next year. That will just be another twist in the recruiting for colleges. The 2021 incoming freshmen will have another unknown.
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Baseball America confirmed. July 11-13th. It will be wrapped around All-Star weekend.
That tells you they have their doubts about a college season next spring. Giving themselves time to scout summer leagues.
@SomeBaseballDad I think it has been in the works for a while to allow MLB to build more hype about young players during All-Star week and to not have to draft before/during the CWS. That never made sense. This will also eliminate the short season which cuts down on roster spots they need to fill so they won’t go back to a 40 round draft. Not denying that COVID may have accelerated the move but I don’t think that’s the only motive.
BA also points out that this would accommodate the “New Baseball Model” concept for college.
@PTWood posted:@SomeBaseballDad Not denying that COVID may have accelerated the move but I don’t think that’s the only motive.
It has to be something they are thinking about. How the hell do you have a draft with no college baseball for two seasons. Even considering some colleges here and there may play that's a lot of kids that will be unknowns. So it seems like summer college leagues will be very popular for both players and scouts. The kid played at Grand Park over the summer and even though the draft was over plenty of scouts milling about.
That also opens things up for older sophomores. So a player who turns 21 within 45 days of the draft will now be eligible. 21 by August 27. Even more kids in the pool.
College baseball coaches have been complaining for years the draft near or at the time of the CWS is a distraction. I remember years ago one player pouting on the field all week when he wasn’t drafted. The kid didn’t smile all week even when his team was winning.
If there isn’t going to be short season ball the players can focus on physical training for the following year.
@baseballhs posted:That also opens things up for older sophomores. So a player who turns 21 within 45 days of the draft will now be eligible. 21 by August 27. Even more kids in the pool.
With the covid year, there are going to be a lot of draft eligible freshmen. The pool of eligible players is going to be massive for the next few years. My guess is that there will be a reduced draft with plenty of freshmen and sophomores drafted and a lot of junior/senior signs.
@PABaseball posted:With the covid year, there are going to be a lot of draft eligible freshmen. The pool of eligible players is going to be massive for the next few years. My guess is that there will be a reduced draft with plenty of freshmen and sophomores drafted and a lot of junior/senior signs.
And a lot of kids that normally would have been drafted will be signing free agent deals for nothing.