Only top 10 draft picks on 'regular' tv...

[JustDave45]

Major league baseball sure does seem to make it hard to follow the sport without paying to watch almost everything !

 

[VolatileVol]

Major league baseball sure does seem to make it hard to follow the sport without paying to watch almost everything !

MLB Network is covering the rest of the draft. Just as tough to watch the draft as it is to watch your favorite team nowadays. I haven't looked at much lately. We expected to miss out on anyone other than Condon and Grindlinger?

 

[cncchris33]

MLB Network is covering the rest of the draft. Just as tough to watch the draft as it is to watch your favorite team nowadays. I haven't looked at much lately. We expected to miss out on anyone other than Condon and Grindlinger?

Sean Dunlap
Kaiden McCarthy
Gary Morse
Cole Koeninger
Jack Dugan
Tyler Putnam
Gannon Grant
Cody Boshell
AJ Curry

All of those guys, in addition to Grindlinger and Condon, are listed among ESPN's top-180 prospects for the draft.

I'd imagine we sweat out all of those guys to some extent.

 

[JustDave45]

How much do you think the chance of a work stoppage next year effects these guy's decisions ? I selfishly hope it means a lot of them don't go pro just yet.

 

[VolatileVol]

Sean Dunlap
Kaiden McCarthy
Gary Morse
Cole Koeninger
Jack Dugan
Tyler Putnam
Gannon Grant
Cody Boshell
AJ Curry

All of those guys, in addition to Grindlinger and Condon, are listed among ESPN's top-180 prospects for the draft.

I'd imagine we sweat out all of those guys to some extent.

Where is the "sweet spot" in the draft where players turn down contracts and opt for NIL/college? Still 3rd/4th round and below? Wasn't sure how the math really plays out now NIL is likely factoring into some decisions, as well. Seems like LSU might be extending some larger offers to persuade some kids to forego the draft, right?

 

[cncchris33]

Where is the "sweet spot" in the draft where players turn down contracts and opt for NIL/college? Still 3rd/4th round and below? Wasn't sure how the math really plays out now NIL is likely factoring into some decisions, as well. Seems like LSU might be extending some larger offers to persuade some kids to forego the draft, right?

Really depends on the player, their level of motivation to go to school, and what they consider life-changing money. Do they want to bet on themselves, or take the money and run? Because there are still some hefty bonuses being paid out even in rounds 7 or 8, especially for HS kids with plenty of leverage. College baseball NIL isn't hardly touching those bonuses.

If those guys get past that point in the draft, it's because they've told teams not to draft them at that point, and we can likely feel safe.

 

[VolatileVol]

Really depends on the player, their level of motivation to go to school, and what they consider life-changing money. Do they want to bet on themselves, or take the money and run? Because there are still some hefty bonuses being paid out even in rounds 7 or 8, especially for HS kids with plenty of leverage. College baseball NIL isn't hardly touching those bonuses.

If those guys get past that point in the draft, it's because they've told teams not to draft them at that point, and we can likely feel safe.

Thanks for expanding. Seems like there's only a handful of Sorrells and Guidrys in the college rankings. It just seems like some schools are getting a little more baseball funding of late to throw at some of these guys. Sounds like we are still a ways from these particular NIL deals truly impacting players decisions to attend college or get accustomed to minor league baseball life early on.

 

[cncchris33]

Thanks for expanding. Seems like there's only a handful of Sorrells and Guidrys in the college rankings. It just seems like some schools are getting a little more baseball funding of late to throw at some of these guys. Sounds like we are still a ways from these particular NIL deals truly impacting players decisions to attend college or get accustomed to minor league baseball life early on.

Yeah, for most kids, baseball NIL is simply making college life more comfortable. It isn't enriching them to the point of saying this is the reason I'm turning down pro ball.

Tegan Kuhns turned down $1 mil+ in signing bonus money to come to Tennessee in 2024, but his decision, like the overwhelming majority of kids who choose the same path, came down to simply wanting to play college baseball and improve their stock. He made some NIL money along the way, I'm sure, but nothing remotely close to that.

Two years later, he's still going to get $1 mil+...probably 3x that amount as he has multiple years of leverage and proved himself at the highest level of collegiate baseball.

 

[chuckiepoo]

MLB Network is covering the rest of the draft. Just as tough to watch the draft as it is to watch your favorite team nowadays. I haven't looked at much lately. We expected to miss out on anyone other than Condon and Grindlinger?

@JustDave45

It will also stream live on mlb.com. That would be free, if you have a connect to that internet thingie. Here’s a great article that ‘splains a lot of the ins and outs surrounding the draft. Def worth the read:

2026 MLB Draft primer: Dates, draft order, bonus pools, top prospects

The 2026 MLB Draft begins Saturday and will have a different feel this year. Here's what you need to know about the event.

www.nytimes.com

 

[NighthawkVol]

Major league baseball sure does seem to make it hard to follow the sport without paying to watch almost everything !

Nobody hates his own product like Rob Manfred.