The MLB Draft is the annual event where teams select amateur players from the United States and Canada to enter pro baseball. It’s the main path to the majors for players in those countries — a different road from the one most Latinos take.
How it works
Each year, teams pick in reverse order of the standings (the worst team picks first), choosing players usually coming out of high school or college. Picked players almost always start in the minor leagues and work their way up.
Draft vs. international signings
The draft covers the U.S. and Canada, but players from Latin America don’t go through it. Instead, they can sign with a team as international free agents from age 16, through the academies in countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Two different doors into the same game.
FAQ
Who picks first?
Generally the team with the worst record the previous season.
Do Latino players go through the draft?
No: they sign as international free agents from age 16, not through the draft.
