D2 Undrafted

@Francis7 posted:

I think cutting the draft to 20 rounds has really hurt them - if their goal was to get drafted.

Seems like rounds 21-35 would have been their better shot and now that's gone.

Wouldn't shock me if MLB cut it down to 10 rounds some day. More leverage for them to cut down on bonus money for those not extremely highly touted.

Slot money only goes to round ten. 84% of American born MLB’ers were drafted in the first ten rounds. Another 10% (making 94%) are from the first twenty rounds.

Players drafted in the first ten rounds are the prospects. Players drafted in rounds 11-20 are quality suspects and Single A roster filler. The exception would be the top prospect high school player taken late who is a long shot to sign. Anyone who was drafted after round twenty was a suspect and roster filler.

Cutting the draft to twenty rounds helps the suspects (your sample D2 player). They can sign as a free agent in organizations where they believe they have the best long shot to make it.

@Francis7 posted:

Well, my kid is an incoming freshman. I'm not thinking about after school for him. That's getting way ahead. He has to first survive the first semester of freshman year, the first baseball season, etc. That just gets him into a good position for sophomore year. And, it's still a long way to go from there. I have no misguided thoughts about baseball after college. This isn't a personal question for me.

More so, just thinking about the D2 player in general. Personally, I think cutting the draft to 20 rounds has really hurt them - if their goal was to get drafted.

Seems like rounds 21-35 would have been their better shot and now that's gone.

Wouldn't shock me if MLB cut it down to 10 rounds some day. More leverage for them to cut down on bonus money for those not extremely highly touted.

There is only slot money for the Rds 1-10 to begin with. MLB already holds all the leverage, they are the ones cutting the checks.

They just cut 42 minor league teams which doesn't seem like a lot but it's basically 1.5 teams per org. 45 players per org are now gone. No need for another 20 rounds of the draft.

Austin Filiere (MIT, D3) was invited to be a fill in player in the Cape League until players returned from the CWS. He lit up the league. He ended up being drafted in the 8th round a couple of years later. Previous to then Cape League he had played in the Futures League, a low level collegiate league that allows graduating high school seniors.

Filiere left baseball after two decent low and high A seasons. Chances are as an MIT grad T Rowe Price offered him a lot of money to leave baseball.

@TPM posted:

Consultant has asked good questions.

I can't find 2022 D2 draft info but here is what I found.

In 2021 22 D2 players were drafted. While covid may have played a part, I think it will become the norm with the shortened draft. Also, this year there was a huge prep class.

The Sunshine State Conference had the most drafted last year as they have in the past 7 years led by Florida Southern with the most in that conference.

STL has drafted the most among D2 in the MLB draft, 29 total including last year. I know one of those players drafted by STL that is a pitcher and made the ML team this year. I also know another that was drafted by STL, Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) so STL must have a knack for drafting D2 players who might reach MLB. I think the competition among conferences may also be involved in the decision.

All were JR or SR signs.

Players usually in the draft  have had a scout recommend them to MLB and they have been identified and given an identifying number on the draft board. If he isn't the chances are he wasnt considered even before the draft. If he is, might become a FA. You can go to D1 baseball for FA signings, it's free.

Awesome, thank you!!

@RJM posted:

Slot money only goes to round ten. 84% of American born MLB’ers were drafted in the first ten rounds. Another 10% (making 94%) are from the first twenty rounds.

Players drafted in the first ten rounds are the prospects. Players drafted in rounds 11-20 are quality suspects and Single A roster filler. The exception would be the top prospect high school player taken late who is a long shot to sign. Anyone who was drafted after round twenty was a suspect and roster filler.

Cutting the draft to twenty rounds helps the suspects (your sample D2 player). They can sign as a free agent in organizations where they believe they have the best long shot to make it.

Secondly, depending on the teams signing strategy rounds 6 thru 10 are used to select players with no remaining eligibility, thus offer them a bonus to buy a new phone.

For example, the Angels signed the 9th and10th round picks for 7.5k  for where  slot values 1.62k and1.52k respectively.

Subsequent picks 11 thru 20 received the following

FA signings have changed, it's just not for those that have used up their eligibility. One  player, RSoph entered portal picked up by CWS winners signed last week by them, went undrafted and then signed FA. I am sure that there must be others with similar situations, if they wait until following year it may be too late.

Caden Dana is a perfect example of the exception I mentioned. If slot money is used properly the extra can used used to draft a top prospect high school player late and talk him out of playing college ball.

One of my son’s travel teammates was a potential first round pick. He declared unless offered $X he was heading to a top ranked program. He was selected in the third round by a team with an extra compensation pick. They offered X-200K. The kid signed at 11:59pm on the deadline day. Unfortunately he was as injury prone as a pro as he was in high school.

Anyone can go to spotrac.com and search MLB draft tracker and find how who is signing for what.

@TPM posted:

Anyone can go to spotrac.com and search MLB draft tracker and find how who is signing for what.

Yeah,  I'm trying to figure out what is correct,

spotrac

mlb

baseball america

@RJM posted:

Caden Dana is a perfect example of the exception I mentioned. If slot money is used properly the extra can used used to draft a top prospect high school player late and talk him out of playing college ball.

One of my son’s travel teammates was a potential first round pick. New declared um,ess offered $X he was heading to a top ranked program. He was selected in the third round by a team with an extra compensation pick. They offered X-200K. The kid signed at 11:59pm on the deadline day. Unfortunately he was as injury prone as a pro as he was in high school.

Quick question,  do you think a draft choice selected in rounds 6-10 with no eligibility should get at least a 25% of the slot bonus?

It really sucks to see those guys get enough money for 1 month rent.

@CollegebaseballInsights

The signings on spotrac of those we know have been accurate.

@CollegebaseballInsights posted:

Quick question,  do you think a draft choice selected in rounds 6-10 with no eligibility should get at least a 25% of the slot bonus?

It really sucks to see those guys get enough money for 1 month rent.

If they even get that. Saw a kid sign for $1000. Yes, USD.

Round trip flight is about $700 to where he has to go

@CollegebaseballInsights posted:

Quick question,  do you think a draft choice selected in rounds 6-10 with no eligibility should get at least a 25% of the slot bonus?

It really sucks to see those guys get enough money for 1 month rent.

It’s a business negotiation. The player has leverage until he stays through senior year of college.

@RJM posted:

It’s a business negotiation. The player has leverage until he stays through senior year of college.

That’s it exactly.  D1 guys know the drill.  They know they are losing leverage if they go back for their Senior year.  None of them are being caught surprised by any of it.

@RJM posted:

It’s a business negotiation. The player has leverage until he stays through senior year of college.

Note, with the reduction of draft slots, they would only be able to sign as free agent in 2021. Cap I believe at 20k.

There is no negotiation.  It might be better  to sign as a free agent vs begin selected with no leverage.

@CollegebaseballInsights posted:

Note, with the reduction of draft slots, they would only be able to sign as free agent in 2021. Cap I believe at 20k.

There is no negotiation.  It might be better  to sign as a free agent vs begin selected with no leverage.

The ability to negotiate depends on the situation the player places himself. As I mentioned a player who stays in school through his eligibility loses all negotiation. I agree it’s better to be a free agent than drafted in those circumstances.

@RJM posted:

The ability to negotiate depends on the situation the player places himself. As I mentioned a player who stays in school through his eligibility loses all negotiation. I agree it’s better to be a free agent than drafted in those circumstances.

The last 2 years was a force upon position, wasn't there a cap of ~20k for free agents the last year or 2?

@CollegebaseballInsights they just got rid of the $20k cap a couple of weeks ago.

@PTWood posted:

@CollegebaseballInsights they just got rid of the $20k cap a couple of weeks ago.

@ptwood thus confirming the point of that for the last 2 years, there really wasn't an option for those that came back for additional year.

There were 2 events that curtailed the decisions of many:

1 - Eliminate of 40 minor league teams

2 - Free Agent Signing Caps

Now, they were selected in rounds 6 - 10 swamp vs being able to sign on as a free agent.

Note, this is not to say they would have received more, but if a team selects you, there should be a minimum value they would need to provide towards the slot (e.g. 25% of the slot)

Note, IMHO this is a MLB and MLBPA collusion issue.