Jun 10, 2020

  • David SchoenfieldESPN Senior Author

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    • Covers MLB for ESPN.com
    • Erstwhile deputy editor of Page 2
    • Been with ESPN.com since 1995

In that location is no baseball on the horizon, but there volition exist a baseball draft this week, though not in its usual form. You can watch the first circular starting at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday on ESPN, with ESPN2 ambulation the adjacent iv rounds starting at 5 p.m. ET Thursday.

Hither are some primal questions heading into the draft. Be certain to check out Kiley McDaniel's superlative 150 prospects and latest mock typhoon.

MLB draft tracker: Follow live pick-by-selection coverage

How are the rules for this typhoon dissimilar?

The coronavirus pandemic has led to several major changes.

one. The draft will be just five rounds instead of 40.

2. Slot coin will be identical to in 2019 (and will remain fixed for 2021).

Previously, bonus totals were set to increment 3%.

The assigned value for the pinnacle 5 picks:

No. 1 (Tigers): $viii,415,300
No. 2 (Orioles): $7,789,900
No. iii (Marlins): $7,221,200
No. 4 (Royals): $6,664,000
No. v (Blue Jays): $6,180,700

Under the agreement with the MLB Players Association, teams will defer bonus payments. Drafted players will receive upwardly to $100,000 of their bonuses within xxx days of signing, with l% of the remaining bonuses paid on July one, 2021, and the other 50% paid on July 1, 2022.

iii. Undrafted players tin sign for a maximum of $20,000.

According to Baseball game America, of the 960 drafted players who signed in 2019, 680 signed for more $twenty,000. There were 167 players drafted in the first five rounds, and then that total suggests that 513 players selected after the fifth round received bonuses of more than $20,000. Previously, teams could spend up to $125,000 on late-round picks or undrafted players without it counting confronting their bonus pool.

What does all this mean? Teams will spend less in bonus payouts. Final year, the industry spent a record $316.56 million on draft bonuses, according to MLB.com. With the shortened draft and the $20,000 limit for undrafted players, full spending will drop significantly ($61 meg was spent on bonuses after the fifth round concluding year).

That subtract in spending likely will pb to more high school seniors going to college instead of the small leagues. Consider that since MLB instituted slot values in 2012, less than thirty% of high school players drafted later on the tenth round have signed. Of the 156 high schoolhouse players drafted in rounds six through 10 since 2012, only 5 went unsigned. That'due south the group that might now be more likely to head to higher.

Likewise, undrafted college juniors who in a normal year would accept been drafted volition have to decide between accepting the $20,000 max bonus or going back to school and reentering the draft in 2021.

Total coverage of the 2020 MLB typhoon is available here.

Watch the 2020 MLB typhoon on ESPN & the ESPN App

Wednesday: Circular i starting at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday: Rounds two-v starting at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Kiley McDaniel's latest mock draft

Squad-by-team typhoon guide: Fits, needs for all 30 teams

Ranking the elevation 150 MLB draft prospects

With high schoolhouse and higher seasons shut downward early -- or not even started, in the example of some common cold-atmospheric condition states -- how take teams adapted their draft training?

Forepart offices are watching a lot of video, conducting interviews with prospects and mostly going about business every bit usual -- other than that whole watching games thing. Teams still take their statistical modeling, simply with less data to input into those models. In a broad sense, the lack of game activity implies that higher players are the more known quantities -- and safer picks -- given that scouts have ii previous seasons of reports to become on. On the other hand, in that location could end up being some great bargains to be institute with high school players who might have climbed upwards the rankings with potent senior seasons. The "safety" college player isn't necessarily the best long-term bet.

On to the fun stuff. Whom will the Tigers take with the get-go pick?

Arizona Land first baseman Spencer Torkelson is the odds-on favorite. He led the nation with 25 dwelling house runs as a freshman, followed that with 23 as a sophomore and was off to a great start in 2020, striking .340/.598/.780. If he goes No. 1, he volition be just the second or third first baseman to go start overall, depending on how you slice things, and the first right-handed-striking showtime baseman. The Marlins selected Adrian Gonzalez first overall in 2000 -- current Tigers general manager Al Avila was so the scouting manager for the Marlins -- and the Yankees selected Ron Blomberg first in 1967, though he spent most of his fourth dimension in the minors and his first season in the majors as an outfielder.

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Could the Tigers go in a unlike direction?

Information technology's possible, especially if Scott Boras, Torkelson's adviser, draws a tough line in bonus negotiations. The Tigers like Texas A&M lefty Asa Lacy, and Vanderbilt infielder Austin Martin is a well-rounded player with speed, a plus striking tool and developing power. Still, Torkelson seems like the right fit. The Tigers have upper-level pitching depth in the minors but sorely lack bats at both the major league and minor league levels. Torkelson shouldn't need much fourth dimension in the minors.

A more interesting scenario could be the Orioles with the 2nd option. Martin is the favorite, but he's another Boras customer. The Orioles likewise ain the 30th selection and could go with an under-slot player such as New Mexico State second baseman Nick Gonzales or high school outfielder Zac Veen to save more money to use on the 30th option.

How is the overall quality of this typhoon?

Nigh of the comments from scouting directors signal that it's stronger than the by two drafts and deeper in pitching prospects than position players. As mentioned, considering scouts take seen the college players more, it will be interesting to run across if the first round is more higher-heavy than normal. Just to compare, here's the number of higher players chosen in the beginning 30 picks of the past three drafts:

2019: twenty
2018: 13
2017: xviii

It'southward possible that the first six selections this year could be college players, which has never happened, with Veen the most likely high schooler to crack the top six. It'southward worth noting that teams have gone more than for higher players in recent years anyway. Concluding yr, 71% of the picks in the first five rounds were college players, the highest percent e'er.

Who are v intriguing players to watch for?

Here's my list of the about interesting start-round candidates:

• Nick Bitsko, RHP, Central Bucks East High School (Doylestown, Pennsylvania): Kiley McDaniel wrote about Bitsko, a pitcher who reclassified in January from the 2021 draft to this year, and then scouts oasis't seen much of him (his high schoolhouse season never started). What they can expect at, as Kiley reported, is videos Bitsko has posted with the avant-garde pitch information that clubs covet these days, including a fastball that hit 98.5 mph with Justin Verlander-similar spin efficiency. Bitsko also has the makings of a good curveball and slider. Teams accept lilliputian thought of his control in game situations, whether he tin concord his velocity and and so on. He has become a candidate who can go in the summit 10.

• Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State: Is he i of the all-time hitters in the draft or a production of one of the well-nigh hitter-friendly environments in higher baseball game? (Alden Gonzalez presents show of the former.) Gonzales hit .432 with 16 home runs last yr and striking .448 with 12 home runs in 16 games this season. He likewise hit well last summer in the forest-bat Cape Cod League. On the other hand, the most recent outset-circular pick from the state was University of New Mexico product D.J. Peterson, who went 12th overall to the Mariners in 2013 and never reached the majors.

• Patrick Bailey, C, NC State: He's No. eleven on Kiley's listing and is regarded every bit the top catcher in this year'due south class. He's a switch-hitter who grew up idolizing Yadier Molina, and as with Yadi, defence force is his strength, just in that location are some positives to similar with the bat as well, including 29 career home runs at NC State and a high walk rate. The profile isn't super sexy, but if he can carry his power and walk rate to pro ball, he could move quickly and become one of the better catchers in the majors.

• Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake Loftier Schoolhouse (Los Angeles): From the same elite prep school that recently produced Lucas Giolito, Max Fried and Jack Flaherty, Crow-Armstrong -- have fun fitting that on the back of a uniform -- is the son of two actors (his mother played the mom in "Little Big League"). He has a sugariness, left-handed swing and the wheels to play center field. His power is the long-term question. In many ways, his contour is similar to that of Mickey Moniak, who went No. 1 overall to the Phillies in 2016. Moniak has struggled in the minors, so it's a profile that tin be tough to project, but some squad will accept Crow-Armstrong in the mid-to-belatedly first round.

• Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia: Teammate Emerson Hancock will become much college, but Wilcox has huge upside. A potential first-round talent in 2018, Wilcox is now a draft-eligible sophomore listed at 6-foot-5, 232 pounds, with a fastball that has touched 100 mph. He didn't dominate his freshman flavor, with a four.07 ERA and command issues (5.7 walks per nine), only he came out firing more than strikes in 2020, with a 32-ii strikeout-to-walk ratio. If information technology all comes together, he could be a deal late in the showtime circular.

Whatever team to watch?

Because the Orioles take a competitive residuum round choice, their draft pool is actually a little larger than Detroit's. The Orioles have the second, 30th and 39th picks. The Royals also volition be interesting. Assuming the top three higher players -- Torkelson, Martin and Lacy -- go Nos. 1, 2 and 3, the Royals with the fourth option are the squad at which the draft starts getting unpredictable. The Royals pick quaternary, 32nd and 41st.

Any relatives of notation?

As always in the baseball game draft, there are many players with familiar names:

• SS Trei Cruz: The Rice infielder is looking to become a third-generation big leaguer. Begetter Jose Cruz Jr. played 12 seasons and hit 204 home runs. Grandpa Jose Sr. played 19 seasons and finished with two,251 hits. Trei is projected every bit a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

• RHP Bryce Jarvis: The Duke product is the son of Kevin Jarvis, who pitched 12 seasons in the majors (with 10 teams). The Yankees drafted Bryce in the 37th circular last year, but a strong summer and start to 2020 have turned him into a possible first-round pick.

• RHP Tanner Witt: This is the son of erstwhile major leaguer Kevin Witt, currently a modest league hitting teacher with the Marlins. Tanner had 2-way potential, only the half-dozen-human foot-6 righty was throwing in the mid-90s this spring and could slip into the back of the commencement round.

• SS Carson Tucker: The Arizona loftier schooler is the younger brother of Pirates shortstop Cole, who went 24th overall in 2014. Carson also has commencement-round potential.

• LHP Reid Detmers: The Louisville left-hander could get in the top ten and was off to a bang-up start in 2020, with 48 strikeouts in 22 innings in his offset four outings. Begetter Kris pitched vi seasons in the minors and reached Triple-A.

• C Tyler Soderstrom: Tyler is the son of Steve Soderstrom, the sixth overall pick in 1993 out of Fresno State, who had arm issues as a pro and made but three major league starts. Tyler is expected to become in the kickoff round.

• C Daniel Susac: His brother, catcher Andrew Susac, was in spring grooming with the Pirates this year. Daniel, a catcher from Jesuit High School in Sacramento, California, could go in the showtime 2 rounds.

• SS J.C. Correa: The Astros drafted Carlos' younger brother in 2018 (33rd circular) and 2019 (38th round), only he returned to Lamar University, where he hit .332 with 10 home runs in 2019. He won't get in the first five rounds, but peradventure the Astros will sign him every bit an undrafted player.

• 2B Darren Baker: You might remember Dusty's child from the 2002 Globe Serial. He's now a second baseman at Cal, and he hit .306 last year, but his lack of power (zero home runs) probably ways he will go undrafted.

• SS Jake Boone: This Princeton role player is Bret's son and Aaron'south nephew. The Boones, of course, are already a three-generation major league family unit, with patriarch Ray and his son, Bob, father of Bret and Aaron. All iv played at least 12 years in the majors. Jake striking .312 with ane home run as a sophomore at Princeton, and though he isn't a meridian prospect, he is at least getting a quality pedagogy.

In that location are many more than who could be on this list, but they'll become undrafted in this five-circular draft. 1 more fun name: Jaden Agassi, son of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, two tennis players you might take heard of. Jaden is a right-handed bullpen and is committed to USC.

Whom are the Astros looking at?

Good i. The Astros do not have a selection in the start two rounds, as punishment for the sign-stealing scandal. They did, all the same, receive the 72nd pick as bounty for losing Gerrit Cole in free agency.