Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
BASE | 2020 MLB Draft a Change for League, NCAA, and SMC Baseball
6/12/2020 10:22:00 AM | Baseball
MORAGA, Calif. — As the globe continues to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic that began shutting down countries in January, and eventually the United States in mid-March, the term "new-normal" has been tossed around often. While it might refer specifically to the way humans interact with others to ensure proper social distancing to mitigate the spread of a deadly virus, professional sports have taken that phrase to heart. Major League Baseball has not begun its 2020 season, though changes will be imminent if and when the league plays again. The first change that was felt this week affected not only the future of the league, but the landscape of college baseball: shortening the 2020 MLB Draft.
When the MLB Draft began in 1965, there was no limit to the number of rounds and therefore the amount of talent that could be drafted. If a team had no need for more prospects, they would simply forfeit their pick to the next team. This would result in some teams taking upwards of 60 or more players in particular drafts until 1998, when the draft was officially shortened to 50 rounds, and then again to 40 rounds in 2012.
The decision to shrink the 2020 MLB Draft to just five rounds, which moves the number of players drafted from 1,217 to 160, is a two-part move that has ramifications for next year and beyond. In the present, the move aims to save teams money (some estimate around $30 million per team, according to USA Today) in a season where revenues are being slashed across the board, while also giving front offices a chance to pick players who they had ample time to scout. In the future, Major League Baseball plans to cut the draft in half to 20 rounds beginning in 2021, a move that is expected to stick around as the new and permanent draft length.
"Teams didn't have the number of chances to evaluate or the stats they use to evaluate," head coach of the Gaels, Greg Moore, said. "So much of the draft is comparison with other players too. Without much more than video from the spring, and with some high schoolers playing just a few games, organizations are saying it's a risk to pay a player that hasn't had a full body of work."
Just how many players make it to the big leagues from rounds six and beyond? More than you think. The following is a short list that illustrates some of the best players of the current era and previous eras who were drafted outside of the top-five rounds:
But this move is not just felt at the Major League level: the landscape of college baseball, and the futures of draft prospects at Saint Mary's College, is different as a result.
"I've been fortunate to play for good teams and receive exposure in the past," left-handed pitcher Ty Madrigal said of the changes to 2020. "Not many players have been able to play 4-5 years in college. Also, I am grateful to still be considered a prospect. I have already been through the draft process my junior year. I believe it helped me prepare for this draft. I am excited for what the future holds and to be a part of the Gael family."
Consider the scenario that unfolded this week, where fewer players get drafted. Major League Baseball franchises have the option to sign any undrafted player for a maximum of $20,000, which will result in several players foregoing those contracts. Most of those figure to be high school players who will instead go to college to play baseball. With roster size and scholarship limits, many will likely head to junior college for a few seasons before transferring to a four-year college. None of this even considers the impact it will have on minor league baseball; that is for another discussion.
As daunting and frightening as this may appear on the surface, it could provide some underlying benefits for the collegiate game. "It's an opportunity for a college player to know that he's going to face great competition if he stays in school," coach Moore mentioned. "With fewer minor league spots, many of the best players will be playing each other in college. To be a big part of a Division 1 team can make you better than being an afterthought in pro baseball. College baseball does such a good job developing that this, in the long run, is good for pro baseball too. It also creates healthy competition for freshmen entering college baseball for the first time."
"For us as coaches it provides us the unique chance to see if the daily habits, worth ethic, goal setting and all out work-mindset that we instill in our group daily has worked and stuck with the guys as they have gone home to train on their own," associate head coach Jordon Twohig said. "In my opinion, this window has fueled these young guys to train harder, and value what a special privilege it is to be at SMC and play Division I baseball. Our staff is so humbled to be around such great people and players that want to be great. It will be great to get them back to Moraga."
The Gaels have had 66 draft picks in the MLB Draft that have signed, dating back to William Kooyman in 1972 (four other Gaels were drafted in now-extinct secondary drafts used by MLB). Just nine of those former Gaels were drafted in the fifth round or higher, with Ken Waldichuk being the most recent, going in the fifth round to the New York Yankees in 2019. That would mean those like Kyle Barraclough, the most successful recent draftee from Saint Mary's, currently in the San Diego Padres organization, might not have had the path to the majors he had. Barraclough pitched for the Gaels through 2012 and was a seventh-round draft pick of the Cardinals in 2012. He pitched for the Miami Marlins the first four years of his career to the tune of a 3.21 earned run average.
Gio Diaz was in the middle of his best season as a Gael before it was cut short due to the pandemic. He was certainly disappointed by a shortened draft, but took a determined approach. "I'm not going to stop working due to the circumstances because my end goal is to be a professional baseball player when it's all said and done," Diaz explained. "It's not a matter of if I'll be there now, it's just a matter of when. The key for me at this point is to just be really patient and control what I can control moving forward. The coaches have also been very supportive with me and have provided me with great advice on how to handle all this."
Arguably the Gael set up best to be drafted in 2020 was Carlos Lomeli, who was projected to be taken around the eighth round in this year's draft until it got shortened. "Working for something that got taken away unexpectedly, it's very hard," confessed the right-handed Friday starter. "Especially when you set a goal and work hard at it for three years. But I'm optimistic right now. Whatever the outcome is, I know I will be able to grow, learn and excel."
When the five-round draft completed on Thursday night, only two players from the West Coast Conference received the phone call informing them of their selection: Nick Frasso of LMU, and Case Williams of Santa Clara. Frasso was taken in the fourth round by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Williams went to the Colorado Rockies just four picks later in the 110thspot. To be technical, Williams never threw a pitch for the Broncos, as the right-hander was an incoming pitcher who signed last fall.
The 2020 MLB Draft marks the first time since 2004 the Gaels have not had a player taken in the amateur draft. But remember, this is not necessarily all bad. The 2021 Gaels figure to have depth, and draftable talent that should make it an exciting return to baseball at Louis Guisto Field.
#GaelsRise
When the MLB Draft began in 1965, there was no limit to the number of rounds and therefore the amount of talent that could be drafted. If a team had no need for more prospects, they would simply forfeit their pick to the next team. This would result in some teams taking upwards of 60 or more players in particular drafts until 1998, when the draft was officially shortened to 50 rounds, and then again to 40 rounds in 2012.
The decision to shrink the 2020 MLB Draft to just five rounds, which moves the number of players drafted from 1,217 to 160, is a two-part move that has ramifications for next year and beyond. In the present, the move aims to save teams money (some estimate around $30 million per team, according to USA Today) in a season where revenues are being slashed across the board, while also giving front offices a chance to pick players who they had ample time to scout. In the future, Major League Baseball plans to cut the draft in half to 20 rounds beginning in 2021, a move that is expected to stick around as the new and permanent draft length.
"Teams didn't have the number of chances to evaluate or the stats they use to evaluate," head coach of the Gaels, Greg Moore, said. "So much of the draft is comparison with other players too. Without much more than video from the spring, and with some high schoolers playing just a few games, organizations are saying it's a risk to pay a player that hasn't had a full body of work."
Just how many players make it to the big leagues from rounds six and beyond? More than you think. The following is a short list that illustrates some of the best players of the current era and previous eras who were drafted outside of the top-five rounds:
- Wade Boggs, seventh-round, 1976, Red Sox
- Jacob deGrom, ninth-round, 2010, Mets
- Nolan Ryan, 12th-round, 1965, Mets
- Albert Pujols, 13th-round, 1999, Cardinals
- Josh Hader, 19th-round, 2012, Orioles
- J.D. Martinez, 20th-round, 2009, Astros
- John Smoltz, 22nd-round, 1985, Tigers
- Mike Piazza, 62nd-round, 1988, Dodgers
But this move is not just felt at the Major League level: the landscape of college baseball, and the futures of draft prospects at Saint Mary's College, is different as a result.
"I've been fortunate to play for good teams and receive exposure in the past," left-handed pitcher Ty Madrigal said of the changes to 2020. "Not many players have been able to play 4-5 years in college. Also, I am grateful to still be considered a prospect. I have already been through the draft process my junior year. I believe it helped me prepare for this draft. I am excited for what the future holds and to be a part of the Gael family."
Consider the scenario that unfolded this week, where fewer players get drafted. Major League Baseball franchises have the option to sign any undrafted player for a maximum of $20,000, which will result in several players foregoing those contracts. Most of those figure to be high school players who will instead go to college to play baseball. With roster size and scholarship limits, many will likely head to junior college for a few seasons before transferring to a four-year college. None of this even considers the impact it will have on minor league baseball; that is for another discussion.
As daunting and frightening as this may appear on the surface, it could provide some underlying benefits for the collegiate game. "It's an opportunity for a college player to know that he's going to face great competition if he stays in school," coach Moore mentioned. "With fewer minor league spots, many of the best players will be playing each other in college. To be a big part of a Division 1 team can make you better than being an afterthought in pro baseball. College baseball does such a good job developing that this, in the long run, is good for pro baseball too. It also creates healthy competition for freshmen entering college baseball for the first time."
"For us as coaches it provides us the unique chance to see if the daily habits, worth ethic, goal setting and all out work-mindset that we instill in our group daily has worked and stuck with the guys as they have gone home to train on their own," associate head coach Jordon Twohig said. "In my opinion, this window has fueled these young guys to train harder, and value what a special privilege it is to be at SMC and play Division I baseball. Our staff is so humbled to be around such great people and players that want to be great. It will be great to get them back to Moraga."
The Gaels have had 66 draft picks in the MLB Draft that have signed, dating back to William Kooyman in 1972 (four other Gaels were drafted in now-extinct secondary drafts used by MLB). Just nine of those former Gaels were drafted in the fifth round or higher, with Ken Waldichuk being the most recent, going in the fifth round to the New York Yankees in 2019. That would mean those like Kyle Barraclough, the most successful recent draftee from Saint Mary's, currently in the San Diego Padres organization, might not have had the path to the majors he had. Barraclough pitched for the Gaels through 2012 and was a seventh-round draft pick of the Cardinals in 2012. He pitched for the Miami Marlins the first four years of his career to the tune of a 3.21 earned run average.
Gio Diaz was in the middle of his best season as a Gael before it was cut short due to the pandemic. He was certainly disappointed by a shortened draft, but took a determined approach. "I'm not going to stop working due to the circumstances because my end goal is to be a professional baseball player when it's all said and done," Diaz explained. "It's not a matter of if I'll be there now, it's just a matter of when. The key for me at this point is to just be really patient and control what I can control moving forward. The coaches have also been very supportive with me and have provided me with great advice on how to handle all this."
Arguably the Gael set up best to be drafted in 2020 was Carlos Lomeli, who was projected to be taken around the eighth round in this year's draft until it got shortened. "Working for something that got taken away unexpectedly, it's very hard," confessed the right-handed Friday starter. "Especially when you set a goal and work hard at it for three years. But I'm optimistic right now. Whatever the outcome is, I know I will be able to grow, learn and excel."
When the five-round draft completed on Thursday night, only two players from the West Coast Conference received the phone call informing them of their selection: Nick Frasso of LMU, and Case Williams of Santa Clara. Frasso was taken in the fourth round by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Williams went to the Colorado Rockies just four picks later in the 110thspot. To be technical, Williams never threw a pitch for the Broncos, as the right-hander was an incoming pitcher who signed last fall.
The 2020 MLB Draft marks the first time since 2004 the Gaels have not had a player taken in the amateur draft. But remember, this is not necessarily all bad. The 2021 Gaels figure to have depth, and draftable talent that should make it an exciting return to baseball at Louis Guisto Field.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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