Major League Baseball proposed a sweeping overhaul of its draft eligibility system on Thursday, June 18, including the elimination of high school draftee eligibility as a part of the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with the MLBPA.
Under the proposal, players would become draft-eligible following their sophomore year of college. Currently, players who enroll in college cannot enter the draft until after their junior season or upon turning 21, whichever comes first.
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“Over the last several years, college baseball has undergone a remarkable transformation,” MLB said in a statement. “Expanded scholarships, NIL opportunities, revenue sharing and significant investments in facilities and player development have made college baseball an increasingly important pathway that is producing major league-ready talent at an accelerated rate.”
The number of high school players selected in the draft has already declined in recent years as college baseball has become more attractive. In 2021, there were 115 high schoolers drafted. By 2025, that number had fallen to 96.
This announcement comes just one month before the 2026 MLB Draft, which will see a number of elite high school players drafted. Of the 334 players invited to the MLB Draft Combine next week, 140 players are in high school.
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If approved, the proposal would allow for more high-level talent to enter the college baseball landscape, giving players additional time to develop before entering the professional ranks. At the same time, it would allow college players to enter the draft a year earlier than under current rules, potentially leading to younger rosters across the league.
“Our proposal is designed to build on that momentum to benefit the game at the college, Minor League and Major League levels. By creating a Draft system centered around college-aged players and making most college players eligible one year earlier, more players will benefit from both a college education and an elite development environment while reaching professional baseball – and ultimately the Major Leagues – more quickly.”
The proposal also featured several other significant changes, including reducing the draft from its current 20 rounds to 12, establishing an international amateur draft and cutting the draft bonus pool from $358.7 million to $200 million.
Under MLB’s proposed international draft, players residing outside the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada would enter a separate 12-round selection process. The draft would be restricted to players who are at least 18 years old, as opposed to 16 under the current system.
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The proposal represents the opening stages of negotiations between MLB and MLBPA. The current CBA isn’t set to expire until Dec. 1.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB draft proposal to MLBPA could end the drafting of high school players
