More Than a Number: The Truth About the MLB Draft

The Long and Winding Road of the MLB Draft

The MLB Draft, formally known as the First-Year Player Draft, has been around since 1965—born from a need to stop the New York Yankees and other deep-pocketed teams from signing all the best talent. Before the draft, it was a chaotic free-for-all. Teams would send scouts with briefcases of cash to 17-year-olds’ houses and win them over with promises of glory. The rich got richer, and parity didn’t stand a chance.

So the draft was created to even the playing field.

But from the beginning, the MLB Draft was unlike any other in professional sports. With up to 100 rounds in its early days (1967 holds the record), many picks were long shots. Some were jokes. Some were favors. And a few—like Mike Piazza, taken in the 62nd round as a favor to Tommy Lasorda—turned out to be Hall of Famers.

Over the decades, the draft has evolved from a paperwork circus into a streamlined, high-tech, tightly regulated talent auction.

The Modern Draft—And 2025’s Game-Changing Rules

The 2025 MLB Draft brought more than just a new class of hopefuls. It brought consequential changes that shaped how teams approached their picks:

• 🔢 Draft Lottery Expansion: The first six picks were determined by a weighted lottery, designed to discourage tanking. If you’re a revenue-sharing team, you can’t keep gaming the system—some teams, like the White Sox, were ruled ineligible for high picks two years in a row.

• 💰 Luxury Tax Penalties: If a team spends more than $40M over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, they lose 10 spots in the first round. The Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers all felt that sting.

• 🧪 Combine Physicals & Slot Guarantees: Players who undergo pre-draft physicals are guaranteed at least 75% of their draft slot if selected. This made certain players more attractive (or less risky) depending on whether they participated.

• 📉 Post–10th Round Bonus Limits: After round 10, teams can only offer $150K without penalizing their bonus pool—limiting big “sleeper” over-slot deals.

• 🕒 Condensed Format: Rounds 1–3 happened on Day 1. Rounds 4–20 were done in a single session. That meant teams had to move fast, be decisive, and adjust on the fly.

These rules impacted draft strategies dramatically. Some teams went for value early to save money for high-upside late picks. Others took combine-tested players to secure cost certainty. But behind the spreadsheets and slot values lies a deeper question:

What does it really mean to be drafted?

Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Statistically, being drafted in the first three rounds gives you the best shot. About:

• 66% of first-rounders make it to the majors

• 50% of second-rounders

• 30–40% in the third round

• Beyond the 5th round? It drops to 20% or lower

But that’s just chance—not destiny.

Every kid who hears their name called is one of the top 600–700 players in the country. Most fans can’t name more than a few MLB players per team, yet there are over 7,000 players in affiliated baseball trying to climb to the big leagues.

And still—some of the biggest stories in baseball come from late rounds, undrafted players, or those who were never supposed to “make it.”

Because here’s the truth the draft doesn’t tell you:

Your round doesn’t matter as much as your mindset.

Rick Ankiel—The Story the Draft Couldn’t Predict

In 1997, Rick Ankiel was drafted in the 2nd round by the St. Louis Cardinals—a lefty pitcher with a rocket arm and devastating curveball. He rose fast, reaching the majors by age 20. But under the bright October lights of the 2000 postseason, he suddenly lost the strike zone.

He didn’t just miss—he missed wildly. He threw five wild pitches in one inning, then struggled to throw a strike at all.

The “yips” had arrived.

Most pitchers never recover. But Rick Ankiel did something unheard of:He reinvented himself as an outfielder.Not in theory. In reality.

He spent years in the minors retooling his swing. In 2007, he returned to the Cardinals—not on the mound, but in the outfield—and hit 11 home runs in 47 games.

He defied every expectation. He broke every mold. And not a single draft round or scouting report could have predicted what he did next.

Rick Ankiel’s story teaches us something powerful:

Being drafted is just the beginning. How you respond when it goes sideways—that’s where greatness lives.

So You Got Drafted… or You Didn’t

Whether you were drafted in the 1st round or the 19th…

Whether you were picked for your tools, your bloodline, or because a coach made a call…

Or maybe you weren’t drafted at all.

None of that determines your future.

Showing up does.Grinding in silence does.Believing in your journey when others stop watching—that’s what makes the difference.

The MLB Draft is a moment of celebration. But it’s also just one step in a brutal, beautiful path that tests every ounce of your character.

If you're a parent, a coach, or a player reading this:

• Celebrate the draft.

• But don’t worship it.

• And never let a draft number—or lack of one—define your worth.

Because baseball isn’t about who gets the call. It’s about who keeps showing up after the call has faded.

Final Thoughts: From 806 Drive to The Show

At 806 Drive Baseball, we train players for more than the game. We train for the grind, the mindset, and the moments no one sees. The MLB Draft is just a chapter in a much longer story.

And whether you’re a future first-rounder or the next Rick Ankiel—we’re here for it.