Last month, MLB announced its 2020 draft would consist of only five rounds. Drafts in recent years have featured 40 rounds. So instead of 1,200-plus players getting a ticket to pro baseball, only 150 or so will this year. All players who go undrafted will be allowed to sign with any team for a maximum of $20,000.
But the loss of 35 rounds robs us of a favorite draft storyline: the hidden gem. The list of future MLB stars taken after the fifth round is extensive, which illustrates how significant a change of pace this year will be.