So now what?

Many of the drafted players will be signed by today or the end of the weekend. Teams will then l have them to the Spring training facility for orientation/physicals/and a mini camp.
That is usually 4-5 days, maximum. For most players, the team already knows where they will be assigned. For a few players, that might change based on how they perform in the mini-camp. Games begin on June 20; the players will head to their assignment around June 16/17 so they have a day to find places to live, etc.
For assignments between short season A and Rookie ball, while most high school grads will be in Rookie, there will be a large number of college signees there also.
How the assignments between short season A and rookie ball certainly in part depends on draft position, but also maturity, and organizational philosophy. Long way of saying the criteria for those decisions is known only to the club.
Pitchers who are high picks with a lot of innings in the Spring will be handled much differently. Even if they sign, they may not get an immediate assignment, and when they do, they likely will be on a 50-60 pitch count for the rest of the reason.

Alright thanks.


By 50-60 pitch count, you mean that those pitchers who threw alot in spring will be relievers for the sake of saving an arm?

"By 50-60 pitch count, you mean that those pitchers who threw alot in spring will be relievers for the sake of saving an arm?"

Nope. You will be a starter and are on a 60 pitch count. You start and come out when you get to pitch number 60. Doesn't matter where you are in the game, the score, the situation. This is where minor league baseball is so much different in terms of player development.

Very interesting. I guess by player development, the exlude pitchers learning to take games deep into clutch situations?

But I guess that's what A advanced and AA are for.

The pitchers who were top picks and threw a lot of innings in the Spring usually have, at least, several hundred thousand dollars in their pocket, and a lot of experience going deep in games. For them, short season is a matter of getting exposed to professional baseball, making some minor adjustments where appropriate and staying healthy.

When they get to high A and above, and after building arm strength through April and May, they will be going deep into games. I don't think any of them are really learning that. They are proving they can handle those situations. The way professional teams handle pitchers in the the lower levels of minor leagues is very much different than little league, high school, college, travel teams and every other level of amateur baseball.

I must agree that it sounds like handling pitchers are much different. I mean 50-60 pitches, these days that's about3 or 4 innings. So if they start they only go to about the 4th inning, which kinda sounds rediculous for a starting pitcher. BUT, this way you get to bring in a lot more relief pitchers and are able to expose more pitchers to the level of talent.

How do they handle hitters/position players at the lowest of the minors?

And a question on the Arizona League. Apparently they play their games at about 1030 AM to avoid the extreme heat during the afternoon, so what time do the players get to the ballpark then, at like 8am? When the sun is just coming out?