One of the weirder MLB drafts in history was completed Thursday night.
As part of a cost-cutting measure during the coronavirus pandemic, the league shortened the annual event from 40 rounds to just five, saving teams on average about $30 million, according to the Associated Press (h/t USA Today).
The truncated draft meant fewer players would see their pro baseball dreams realized, and those who remained without a team once it concluded would be limited to signing bonuses of $20,000 or less on the open market—and would be exempt from earning at least minimum wage in the minor leagues.