BaseballAmerica.com: Draft: News

Strasburg Meets The Press
Jun. 10, 2009
Stephen Strasburg and agent Scott Boras discuss the process of getting him signed to the Nationals at the No. 1 pick, with lots of vague references to Japanese baseball thrown in. [...] Continue Reading »

First Day Impressions
Jun. 10, 2009
It's too early to grade the baseball draft, as none of these players has even signed a contract, not to mention played a pro game. Most baseball drafts require at least three years to really read, if not five years when high school players are factored in. But that doesn't mean we can't have some instant analysis. We're breaking this down into teams and players that can be considered winners after Tuesday's first day of the 2009 draft, and those that will have to win us over. [...] Continue Reading »

First-Round Recap
Jun. 9, 2009
Scouting reports for every team's first round pick. [...] Continue Reading »

Head Of The Class

Apr. 15, 2009
Major League Baseball's amateur draft has steadily increased in popularity and availability over the past few years. This year's draft, scheduled for June 9-11 at the MLB Network studios in New York, is getting a lot of attention, thanks to the guy at the top. [...] Continue Reading »

Scheppers, Crow Tackle Challenges Of Holdouts

Feb. 18, 2009
Tanner Scheppers and Aaron Crow were two of the top college pitching prospects in last year's draft class, but for different reasons ended up not signing pro contracts. They're working out and planning to play indy ball in an effort to be premium picks again in 2009. [...] Continue Reading »

Everybody Loves Reymond

Feb. 13, 2009
On Jan. 28 and 29, the second-annual Puerto Rican baseball showcase took place, pitting the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy against a team comprised of players from other schools on the island.

It's a deep year in Puerto Rico, with one agent saying it's the best year he can remember since 2003 when eight players were drafted in the top 10 rounds. [...] Continue Reading »

Top 100 College Prospects

Nov. 4, 2008
Our fall look at the top prospects for 2009. [...] Continue Reading »

Top 100 High School Prospects

Oct. 30, 2008
Our October rankings of the top prep players in the Class of 2009. [...] Continue Reading »

Alvarez Takes Place In Draft History

Aug. 29, 2008
While draft litigation has generally upheld the validity of the draft itself, baseball has frequently shot itself in the foot in the last 16 years either by trying to make changes to the draft without getting union approval, or not following its own rules.
[...] Continue Reading »

Signing Deadline Didn't End Draft Intrigue
Aug. 27, 2008
The Pirates thought they had Pedro Alvarez signed and sealed, but he's yet to be delivered by agent Scott Boras. So Alvarez has gone on the restricted list as the union has filed a grievance against the commissioner's office. [...] Continue Reading »

How Much They Spent

Aug. 18, 2008
See how much each tam spent on their picks in the first 10 rounds of this year's draft. [...] Continue Reading »

Status Of Unsigned Draft Picks
Aug. 13, 2008
The negotiating status of unsigned picks from the first 10 rounds, two days before the Aug. 15 signing deadline. [...] Continue Reading »

2008 Bonuses Vs. Slots

Aug. 6, 2008
Bonuses and estimated slot recommendations for the first five rounds of the 2008 draft. [...] Continue Reading »

Padres, Dykstra Reach Impasse
Jul. 25, 2008
The Padres and first-round pick Allan Dykstra can't agree on the severity of his hip condition and how it will affect him long-term, so their deal with the Scott Boras Corporation client fell through with no resolution in sight by the Aug. 15 signing deadline. [...] Continue Reading »

Northern Star

Jun. 24, 2008
All 30 teams had the chance to see a lot of Lawrie, who has been playing for Canada's junior national team since he was 16. They all had plenty of opportunities to see him for this year's draft, and the more they saw, the more they liked. Lawrie entered the 2008 draft season as a potential third-round pick, maybe as high as the supplemental first round for some clubs. But the Lawrie that the Brewers picked 16th overall was a different player. He'd hung out with big leaguers like Russell Martin and Dustin Pedroia, picking their brains in the offseason for tips on what brings big league success. He'd trained like a professional, rising three times a week for early-morning workouts with a personal trainer who also happens to be an Ultimate Fighting Championship athlete. He'd seen the fruits of such dedication within his own family, seeing his sister Danielle, a pitcher at the University of Washington, named to Canada's Olympic softball team. And he'd hit with wood bats. Against professionals. A lot. [...] Continue Reading »

SoCal Showcasing

Jun. 16, 2008
Prospects from Southern California gathered for a showcase at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. [...] Continue Reading »

Ability, Not Signability
Jun. 6, 2008
Conventional wisdom would say things usually get easier the second (or third) time around, but that wasn't the case for Rays, who had the No. 1 overall pick for the second year in a row and the third time in the last six years. This year's decision may have been the toughest. Unlike the previous two times they had the No. 1 pick, there was no consensus on which player should be the first choice. Vanderbilt lefthander David Price was the obvious guy last year, and in 2003 it was high school outfielder Delmon Young. [...] Continue Reading »

First Round Recap
Jun. 5, 2008
Scouting reports, bio information and statistics on everyone taken in the first round [...] Continue Reading »

Rays Take Beckham
Jun. 5, 2008
The Rays have selected Griffin (Ga.) High's Tim Beckham with the first pick in the 2008 draft. [...] Continue Reading »

MLB Tests Draft Prospects
May. 19, 2008
As the 2008 Major League Baseball draft quickly approaches, the game's top prospects have more to worry about than agents and mock draft positions. Starting this year, they must also deal with lab coats and urine samples. As part of an agreement reached by MLB and the players' union in April, the top 200 draft prospects have been added to the league's drug testing program prior to the draft. [...] Continue Reading »

Q&A With R.J. Harrison
Apr. 30, 2008
This year, for the second consecutive season, the Rays have the first pick in the draft. Baseball America caught up with Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison to get his thoughts on the draft and who could be this year's potential No. 1 pick. [...] Continue Reading »

Blood: A Reel of Weekend Highlights

Mar. 11, 2008
Matt Blood checks in from the LaGrange tournament in Georgia. [...] Continue Reading »

Scouts Flock To Compton

Feb. 12, 2008
The MLB Scouting Bureau puts on an event with the top 2008 high school players from Southern California, attracting plenty of scouts for a talented group of players. [...] Continue Reading »

Prep Draft Class Continues Improvement

Nov. 1, 2007
Eighty high school travel teams from the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and a smattering of other Latin American countries met to play 173 games in 96 hours at the spring training complex of the Cardinals and Marlins, and hundreds of scouts and college coaches—including 17 scouting directors—gathered to size up the talent at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship. [...] Continue Reading »

First-Round Playing Time Drops In '07

Oct. 31, 2007
When Major League Baseball announced a new Aug. 15 signing deadline for draft picks, the league's intention was to curtail escalating signing bonuses. In the process, however, came a consequence that could have an effect on player development. [...] Continue Reading »

2007 Draft Report Cards Overview

Oct. 25, 2007
Looking at the best tools and best debuts among 2007 draftees. [...] Continue Reading »

American League Draft Report Cards

Oct. 25, 2007
John Manuel and Jim Callis review each team's 2007 draft. [...] Continue Reading »

National League Draft Report Card

Oct. 24, 2007
Jim Callis reviews each team's 2007 draft. [...] Continue Reading »

Scouting Directors Meet Without Draft Resolution

Sep. 19, 2007
The recent scouting directors meetings focused more on improving other aspects of the draft instead of worrying about teams who signed players for above the recommended slot. [...] Continue Reading »

Draft Deals Come Down To The Wire

Aug. 16, 2007
Deric Ladnier came to grips with the unique nature of the first Aug. 15 signing deadline for draft picks as the day's end approached. "It was a long day, a long few days," said Ladnier, the Royals' scouting director, shortly after the 11:59 p.m. Eastern deadline had passed. "It has been an emotional roller coaster. [...] Continue Reading »