2020 Major League Baseball draft

2020 Major League Baseball draft
General information
Date(s)June 10–11, 2020
LocationSecaucus, New Jersey
Omaha, Nebraska (original planned location)
Network(s)MLB Network
ESPN/ESPN2
ESPN Deportes
Overview
160 total selections in 5 rounds
First selectionSpencer Torkelson
Detroit Tigers
First round selections37
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2021 →

The 2020 Major League Baseball draft took place on June 10 and 11, 2020. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2019 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks were distributed for players who did not sign from the 2019 MLB draft and for teams who lost qualifying free agents.[1] On March 26, 2020, MLB and the MLBPA reached a deal that included the option to shorten the draft to five rounds, and also shorten the 2021 draft to 20 rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] In a plan to allow teams to sign an unlimited number of undrafted players for $20,000 each, MLB ultimately opted to shorten the 2020 draft to five rounds.[3] The draft was originally planned to be hosted live for the first time in Omaha, Nebraska, to accompany the since-cancelled 2020 College World Series. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft was instead held remotely from MLB Network's studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.[4][5][6] With sponsorship from T-Mobile, the event was officially the 2020 MLB Draft Presented by T-Mobile,[7] with ESPN providing live coverage for the first time since 2008, alongside MLB Network.[8]

The Detroit Tigers, who had the worst record of the 2019 MLB season, selected Spencer Torkelson with the first overall pick in the draft.[9] As punishment for their role in the sign stealing scandal, the Houston Astros forfeited their first- and second-round picks in the draft.[10] The Boston Red Sox also forfeited their second-round pick in the draft as punishment for their own sign-stealing violations.[11] Among the selected players, there were 41 who had played for the United States national baseball team[12] and 2 who had played for the Canada national baseball team.[13]

On September 18, 2020, the Chicago White Sox promoted Garrett Crochet to the major leagues, becoming the first MLB player in six years to reach the big leagues in the same year in which he was drafted.[14]

  1. ^ Tayler, Jon (November 7, 2017). "MLB's New Free Agent Compensation Rules Are Incredibly Complicated, So Let's Break Them Down". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  2. ^ Baer, Bill (March 26, 2020). "MLB, MLBPA reach agreement on service time, pay, draft". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  3. ^ Passan, Jeff; McDaniels, Kiley (May 8, 2020). "Sources: MLB shortens 2020 draft from 40 rounds to 5". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "2020 MLB draft relocating to Omaha ahead of College World Series". NCAA.com. December 12, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Waszak, Dennis Jr. (June 10, 2020). "SEC players fill five of first 11 picks in MLB draft". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  6. ^ "NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships" (Press release). Indianapolis, Indiana: National Collegiate Athletic Association. March 12, 2020.
  7. ^ "MLB Network to air every round of 2020 MLB Draft presented by T-Mobile on June 10 & 11". MLB.com (Press release). June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  8. ^ Brown, Maury (June 10, 2020). "MLB Draft Returns To ESPN For First Time Since 2008". Forbes. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Beck, Jason (June 11, 2020). "No. 1 pick Torkelson's got the power, will to win". MLB.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Davis, Bradford William (January 13, 2020). "Manager A.J. Hinch, GM Jeff Luhnow get one-year suspensions for Astros' sign-stealing; Carlos Beltran not punished". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Commissioner decision on Red Sox investigation". MLB.com. April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  12. ^ "Forty-One USA Baseball Alumni Selected in the 2020 MLB Draft". USA Baseball. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "MLB DRAFT RECAP: Padres make Caissie top Canadian selected in 2020 MLB Draft". Baseball Canada. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "White Sox Promote Garrett Crochet". September 18, 2020.