Unlike the NBA, NHL, WNBA, and NFL drafts, I do have a vested interest in the MLB draft. Even if it were held in Chicago, I probably wouldn’t attend it though.

However, last night I watched most of the first 50 picks on ESPN and the MLB network simultaneously. I admit to not knowing much about any of the high school players taken in the first round beyond the run on shortstops. 11 high school shortstops were taken in the first round. Depending on one’s source, they are pretty much interchangeable at this point.

Most passionate ML fans don’t get to see most of the high school players before draft day, but that doesn’t mean we don’t form opinions about them, their futures and the stupidity of the teams making the selections. Without getting into specific picks or teams, the general thinking behind taking such unproven players this early is the shortstop’s ability to play other positions because they are usually the best athletes on the team.

There are several organizations that have a history of doing so and developing players more successfully than others. When MLB eliminated 40+ minor league teams, an entire level was eliminated, and more players have had fewer opportunities for steady development.

Many organizations flip-flop on drafting strategy, usually because they’ve done a mediocre job of development or talent evaluation. Other teams focus on college hitters who should be readier for the big leagues. The selection of pitching over position players presents its own set of arguments and it was fun to listen to both networks’ experts last night.

While I’m a little more familiar with MLB’s talking heads, I didn’t appreciate their over-the-top advocacy of every player chosen in the first round. I understand that along with mlb.com, the network is the primary marketing arm of the league whereas ESPN offered a more measured analysis of each selection.

While I don’t get to as many MWL games since Kane County was given the boot by MLB, I look forward to driving a little further to seeing several of the draftees make their professional debuts this summer.

Congrats to all the players drafted and their families!

pitcher