MLB reportedly proposes drastic overhaul to draft, which would exclude high-school players and cut rounds from event

June 19, 2026 - 02:33

Major League Baseball has reportedly floated a sweeping redesign of its amateur draft, one that would eliminate high school players from eligibility and significantly reduce the number of rounds. The proposal, if enacted, would mark the most dramatic change to the draft in decades and would effectively end the long-standing pipeline of teenagers jumping straight to the professional ranks.

Under the current system, players like Mike Trout, Manny Machado and Clayton Kershaw were drafted straight out of high school and went on to become generational stars. The new plan would require all players to wait until after their college season or turn 21 years old before entering the draft. The number of rounds would also be cut, though the exact figure has not been finalized.

The league's stated goal is to improve player development and reduce the risk of teams wasting high picks on raw teenagers who may never pan out. Critics, however, argue the move would strip opportunities from young athletes who either cannot afford college or prefer to begin their professional careers immediately. The proposal is still in early discussions and would need approval from the players' union, which has historically opposed restrictions on draft eligibility.