The 2020 Major League Baseball Draft is set to take place June 10 and 11, although it will be different than years past due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Not only will the draft be held completely virtually, airing on both MLB Network and ESPN, but it has been shortened from 40 all the way down to five rounds due to money losses brought on by the pandemic.
The same is the case for the 2021 MLB Draft, and teams will have the ability to sign undrafted free agents for up to $20,000.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a ton of success in the draft in recent years, and they are hoping that again will be the case in 2020. After finishing with a franchise-record 106 wins in 2019, they own the last pick of the first round at No. 29 overall.
The Houston Astros would have been 30th, but their first two picks were stripped by the league due to the sign-stealing scandal.
The Dodgers’ second pick of the draft will then come in at No. 60, which is the second-round selection. It won’t be long before they’re back on the clock again after that as they also have the 66th overall pick in Competitive Balance Round B.
This pick was acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Twins in which they dealt Kenta Maeda for Brusdar Graterol, among other pieces.
To finish out the draft, the Dodgers will have the second-to-last pick (ahead of the Astros) in Rounds 3, 4 and 5. Billy Gasparino, Dodgers director of amateur scouting, recently spoke about the challenges a five-round draft presents.
“To be honest, it was disappointing to us and I think most of the scouting community,” he said. “There’s a lot of good players that get taken in those top 10 rounds, and we have kind of felt a little limited not having those 10. But that’s what they decided, so I don’t think it will impact us much aside from disappointment we can’t create the volume we usually do.”
Gasparino also added that it may not discourage the Dodgers from taking players that they are afraid may not sign. “The rest of the rules still are in place, so your top three picks are still protected,” he noted.
“There’s comfort in knowing that we still have the same rules and the picks are protected. My best guess of what’s going to happen is the fourth and fifth round could be somewhat of a free for all. You’re going to have a lot of college players jockeying to get taken in that fourth or fifth round.
“The alternative of the $20,000 after is much less than the money you can make in the fourth round. I think there’s going to be quite a big pile up of players trying to get taken in those rounds.”
The first round and Competitive Balance Round A are scheduled for June 10, beginning at 4 p.m. PT. The remaining 160 picks will be the following day beginning at 2 p.m. PT.
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