No high school players, age 20 minimum

Key Points:

• Major League Baseball (MLB) has proposed a radical overhaul of the amateur draft starting in 2028, requiring players to be at least 20 years old and two years removed from high school, effectively eliminating immediate drafting from high school.
• The proposal also seeks to reduce the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, cut the draft pool from $358.7 million to $200 million, and implement a 12-round international draft, drawing strong criticism from the players union and agents who argue it harms player development and rights.
• MLB argues the changes will encourage players to attend college and develop there, citing improvements in collegiate baseball programs, while critics claim the system prioritizes cost savings over player growth and could push young talent to other sports.
• The international draft aims to curb corruption and early signings abroad by setting age limits and bonus caps, but critics note it penalizes U.S. players by forcing them to wait longer to enter professional baseball compared to international prospects.
• The players union and agents, including Scott Boras, accuse MLB of trying to delay players’ path to free agency to suppress salaries, warning that these restrictions could damage the future talent pipeline and the overall health of the sport.