Shortly after 6 p.m. local time Sunday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred kicked off a rare draft where a first-place team, the Cleveland Guardians, held the first pick. With the Guardians leading the American League Central, they chose Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana, marking a unique occurrence due to recent collective bargaining changes. These changes mean top teams can now pick early, a shift from past practices where teams like the Nationals, Astros, and Orioles benefited from high picks due to poor performance.
A few minutes later, playoff contender Cincinnati Reds chose Wake Forest right-hander Chase Burns. The third pick saw Colorado Rockies select Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon. This draft, unlike previous ones, didn’t have a clear No. 1 pick, making the selections less predictable. The system now prevents constant losers from monopolizing top amateur talent, promoting a more balanced competition. However, the Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox, two teams out of playoff contention for years, still grabbed early picks by choosing Wake Forest’s Nick Kurtz and Arkansas’s Hagen Smith respectively.
Elite talents slid down the lottery, with Kansas City Royals picking Florida two-way star Jac Caglianone sixth, and St. Louis Cardinals taking West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt seventh. With a preference for polished college players, the draft set a record for such selections. The only high-schooler in the top ten was Konnor Griffin, chosen ninth by the Pirates. The trend towards college players, due to their readiness and longer track records, highlights the shifting strategies in MLB’s drafting landscape, prioritizing quick development over speculative potential.
