A Draft Reform With Far‑Reaching Consequences
Major League Baseball has unveiled a sweeping revision of its draft system that would cut the domestic selection to just twelve rounds beginning in 2028 and raise the minimum age for eligibility. The plan eliminates high school eligibility, requiring players to be at least twenty years old and two years removed from high school before they can be drafted. College players would become draft‑eligible a year earlier, while an international draft is slated for 2027 with an age cutoff of eighteen by September 1.
Financially, the proposal slashes the draft pool from $358.7 million to $200 million, a reduction the league says will be transferred to owners. That shift would age top talents like Juan Soto by two years, dropping his projected salary from $719 million to $588 million, and would trim Bryce Harper’s expected contract from $314 million to $259 million. Other stars such as Willy Adames, Dylan Cease, Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Nimmo, Bobby Witt Jr., Corbin Carroll and Julio Rodríguez would also see multi‑million‑dollar cuts.
Critics warn that the proposal is a blunt instrument that privileges club budgets over player development. By delaying free agency and compressing earnings, the changes could alter the competitive balance and even provoke a work stoppage, undermining the sport’s long‑term health.