By our nature, sports fans aren’t patient. We hate to be told to wait especially when it comes to young talent. Football fans expect their first-round picks to play immediately and be successful. Basketball fans may be worse when it comes to one and dones entering the NBA.

And despite Joe Maddon’s recent assertion to the contrary, MLB does have minor leagues which affords teams’ the opportunity to force patience upon the fans.

For some goofy reason, I tuned into the ML draft on MLB.com this afternoon and checked in with Melanie Newman, Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis. The weary trio announced each player as he was selected and offered some insight into the players’ strengths.

In principle, I’d love the gig, but I’m not that interested or that well versed in amateur players. Unlike the NFL experts, their MLB counterparts often suggest that some of the guys won’t sign and will explore other options. That being said, they don’t really mention caveat emptor and that some guys won’t see AAA for four or five years (let alone ML).

Last year’s #1 Paul Skenes is the exception and not the rule. We can’t expect to see our team’s top pick for at least a year. Case in point, the Cubs top pick from 2023 is 3b, Matt Shaw. The Cubs have drafted two third basemen in the 2024 draft, Cam Smith (#14 overall) and Cole Mathis (#54). I’m not suggesting none of the three won’t be successful ML ballplayers, but all can’t play third simultaneously even if the shifting rules change drastically. At least one guy will have to change positions and I wouldn’t expect them all at Wrigley in 2025.

So, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.