A lack of immediate impact has blocked MLB's amateur draft from permeating the same mainstream real estate as other major sports. The teams commencing Monday night's selection process, however, have the opportunity to attain near-ready college contributors.
At least one high-school prospect has gone in the top five in every draft since 2006, when the Los Angeles Dodgers selected 18-year-old Clayton Kershaw with pick No. 7. Three of the last four drafts have opened with a prep player garnering the top choice.
While this class contains some premier high school talent, most notably Arizona southpaw Matthew Liberatore, college standouts are poised to kick off the opening round.