MLB is considering making significant updates to the draft policies for high school and college players. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the league proposes a substantial overhaul of the domestic amateur-entry system.
The new rules aim to exclude high school players entirely from draft eligibility, allowing only collegiate athletes who have completed at least a sophomore year in a Division I baseball program. Additionally, the draft is expected to be shortened from 20 rounds to 12, with a notable reduction in the bonus pool from $358.7 million to $200 million.
Fans were quick to share their reactions to the sweeping changes the major league enacted through the draft legislation. Some criticized the move, calling it disappointing to exclude high school players from draft consideration entirely. Meanwhile, one fan said the latest move could warrant legal action on grounds of discrimination.
Some other fans reacted with a more optimistic tone, claiming that the move could actually benefit the player in development and that the player also seeks valuable education before turning pro.
MLBPA Responded to the Latest MLB CBA Proposal And Its Repercussions on High-School Draftees
This proposal, part of negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA before the current collective bargaining agreement expires in December, may not be adopted fully or partially. However, it marks MLB’s starting point in talent procurement talks with the players’ union.
Responding to the proposed changes, the Major League Baseball Players Association released an official statement:
“Today, MLB made another set of proposals that are flat out bad for baseball, ones that would cripple the next generation of players and damage the future of our game. They would, among other things: Eliminate over a billion dollars in player compensation from the international and domestic system over the next five years, with a $400 million reduction from 2026 to 2027 alone.
“Destroy fundamental player rights and remove talent from our sport by barring high school and junior college players (anyone under age 20) from the domestic draft. Abolish an entire year of international signings by delaying the first draft until at least September of 2027 (and as late as March of 2028), denying young international players the ability to start their professional careers. Players remain committed to bargaining in good faith and leaving baseball better than they found it – the league’s proposals fall woefully short.”
The proposal guarantees that the number of affiliated teams in the MiLB PDL system will stay unchanged. The Major League has confirmed that the 120 affiliated MiLB teams will remain intact and that there are no plans to seek reductions during the 2030 PDL negotiations with MiLB club owners.
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