MLB's Draft Revolution
Major League Baseball unveiled a sweeping revision of its draft eligibility system on June 18, a move that could reshape the pipeline from amateur to professional baseball.
Under the proposal, high school players would no longer be eligible for the draft; instead, athletes would become draft‑eligible after completing their sophomore year of college, giving them an additional year to mature before turning pro.
The change would also alter the current landscape where college players can enter the draft after their junior season or once they reach the age of 21, a rule that has persisted for decades.
MLB noted that college baseball has experienced a transformation in recent years, with expanded scholarship limits and the advent of name, image and likeness opportunities that have increased the sport's appeal to prospects.
The proposal calls for reducing the traditional draft from 20 rounds to just 12, while simultaneously trimming the bonus pool from $358.7 million to $200 million, a financial shift that could affect how teams allocate resources to sign new talent.
An international amateur draft would be introduced, but only players who are at least 18 years old would be eligible, aiming to standardize the process for talent from outside the United States.
Negotiations and Next Steps
The initiative is being discussed as part of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association, whose current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on December 1.
If adopted, the reforms could usher in a new era for the draft, potentially allowing elite high school prospects to be selected in the 2026 draft while also giving college standouts a chance to enter the professional ranks a year earlier than under existing rules.