BOSTON — The draft in baseball isn’t like the NFL, where a guy can ride in on his horse and become a key player on the team. Or the NBA, where a team wins the lottery to get a prize that pays off immediately. If anything, it’s more like hockey — with some less confusing rules.
Even the top selections and elite prospects take years to progress to the majors. The attrition rate is extremely high. The science is clearly inexact as rosters are laden with players chosen in late rounds or not at all. But it’s still the best source of talent, economically and otherwise, and is integral to the long-term success, especially for a small market team like the Rays.