| 1997 Major League Baseball expansion draft | |
|---|---|
 The logo for the 1997 MLB expansion draft | |
| General information | |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Date(s) | November 18, 1997 |
| Location | Phoenix Civic Center |
| Overview | |
| 70 total selections | |
| First selection | Tony Saunders (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) |
On November 18, 1997, Major League Baseball (MLB) held an expansion draft to allow two expansion teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, to build their rosters prior to debuting in the National League West and American League East divisions, respectively, in the 1998 MLB season. The draft took place in the Phoenix Civic Center in Phoenix, Arizona.[1]
- ^ "Expansion teams draft prospects then get caught up in trade winds". The Washington Times. November 19, 1997. Retrieved October 19, 2011.