Post by redsoxrich on Jul 3, 2019 19:06:28 GMT -5
I'm getting up on my soapbox now, but is anyone else tired of the way MLB operates its draft? What other league lets the players dictate who does/doesn't get drafted? The farce of senior signs and signing 12 year old international players has got to stop. Also, it seems to me that they develop about 5% of the players they draft or sign internationally into major league players. Here would be my proposal to fix this:
1. Have a combined HS/College/International Draft with the same 40 rounds;
2. Only players that are at least 18 years old and declare for the draft may be drafted; if don't declare out of high school, then can only declare after junior or senior season of college.
3. Players that declare, but don't get drafted, would be free agents who would be free to sign with any team
4. Draft bonus tied to what round you are drafted in.
5. MLB takes over all of the Dominican academies from each major league team (reimburses them for their costs) - international players would apply for entry into the MLB Baseball academy at age 16 where they would be trained in various baseball skills (hitting, pitching, etc.), life skills (learning English, living in America, etc.) and nutrition from 16 to 18. At age 18, they could apply for draft or go to college or leave program. Players would focus more on skills training (pitch recognition for hitters, timing of hitting, swing path, etc.; pitchers refining command and control, working on breaking balls, etc.) than on playing games although playing games should probably be part of training. Each MLB team would pay an equal share of costs of Baseball academy costs.
6. Minor leagues would be limited to age appropriate players - do away with Rookie Ball short season (i.e. Gulf Coast League) - high short season would become full season leagues (i.e. Lowell in NYP League would play full season)
Age Levels would be: New Lowest A - 18-19
Regular A Ball - 20-21
High A-22-23
AA- 24-25
AAA- above 25
Any younger player that could compete at a higher level based on individual team's evaluation would obviously be allowed to move up if team decides so.
Any player who could not compete at his age appropriate level would either: 1) not be drafted; or 2) could be farmed out to an independent league for seasoning.
6. MLB would provide financial assistance to colleges to use wood bats and limit pitcher's innings and pitches
This would obliviously need tweaks (i.e. when would draft be, when would player have to declare by, how long could international player stay in academies, etc.), but it would do away with the Jack Leiter type farces, senior signs who shouldn't be drafted and the Yankees ending up with the top 30 International Players. If players want to play professional baseball, then make them declare their intentions - this is how it is done in NBA and NFL. It would distribute talent much more evenly. Also, I think it would help in the developmental process in having players playing against players of their own age group instead of having 18 year olds play against 22 year olds as is happening in the Gulf Coast League right now. Obviously, people will say that the MLB Players Union wouldn't allow it, but why should they have any say when these amateurs aren't members of their union?
Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox. Thoughts?
1. Have a combined HS/College/International Draft with the same 40 rounds;
2. Only players that are at least 18 years old and declare for the draft may be drafted; if don't declare out of high school, then can only declare after junior or senior season of college.
3. Players that declare, but don't get drafted, would be free agents who would be free to sign with any team
4. Draft bonus tied to what round you are drafted in.
5. MLB takes over all of the Dominican academies from each major league team (reimburses them for their costs) - international players would apply for entry into the MLB Baseball academy at age 16 where they would be trained in various baseball skills (hitting, pitching, etc.), life skills (learning English, living in America, etc.) and nutrition from 16 to 18. At age 18, they could apply for draft or go to college or leave program. Players would focus more on skills training (pitch recognition for hitters, timing of hitting, swing path, etc.; pitchers refining command and control, working on breaking balls, etc.) than on playing games although playing games should probably be part of training. Each MLB team would pay an equal share of costs of Baseball academy costs.
6. Minor leagues would be limited to age appropriate players - do away with Rookie Ball short season (i.e. Gulf Coast League) - high short season would become full season leagues (i.e. Lowell in NYP League would play full season)
Age Levels would be: New Lowest A - 18-19
Regular A Ball - 20-21
High A-22-23
AA- 24-25
AAA- above 25
Any younger player that could compete at a higher level based on individual team's evaluation would obviously be allowed to move up if team decides so.
Any player who could not compete at his age appropriate level would either: 1) not be drafted; or 2) could be farmed out to an independent league for seasoning.
6. MLB would provide financial assistance to colleges to use wood bats and limit pitcher's innings and pitches
This would obliviously need tweaks (i.e. when would draft be, when would player have to declare by, how long could international player stay in academies, etc.), but it would do away with the Jack Leiter type farces, senior signs who shouldn't be drafted and the Yankees ending up with the top 30 International Players. If players want to play professional baseball, then make them declare their intentions - this is how it is done in NBA and NFL. It would distribute talent much more evenly. Also, I think it would help in the developmental process in having players playing against players of their own age group instead of having 18 year olds play against 22 year olds as is happening in the Gulf Coast League right now. Obviously, people will say that the MLB Players Union wouldn't allow it, but why should they have any say when these amateurs aren't members of their union?
Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox. Thoughts?