​Yes, it’s that time of year, friends—MLB Draft season. While drafts in the other major sports consistently generate substantial buzz each year, especially the NFL Draft which has evolved into its own event, the MLB Draft tends to fly a bit under the radar. The MLB Draft can feel less exhilarating for a few reasons: it spans 20 rounds (much longer than the NFL’s seven rounds and far more than the NBA’s two), and many prospects spend a year or more in the minors before reaching the majors. Still, beginning Saturday in Philadelphia, more than 600 prospects will hear their names called and may embark on a path that could someday lead to an All-Star appearance.
Before the proceedings kick off, here’s a look at how the first round is structured. The draft order is determined by a lottery involving the 18 teams that did not reach the playoffs in the previous season. The team with the worst regular-season record from the prior year holds the best odds to land the top pick, setting the first six selections. The next 12 selections—the non-playoff teams—are decided using a worst-to-best format based on their regular-season records. After those 18 clubs, the remaining first-round picks are slotted according to how the playoff teams finished, culminating in the World Series champion receiving the final first-round pick.
But there are additional twists before the second round begins. Up next are the Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks. Under MLB Draft rules, if a player was named to a preseason Top 100 prospects list by two of the outlets—MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, or ESPN—and later makes the Opening Day roster, then goes on to win Rookie of the Year or finish in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting before arbitration, that team earns a Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick after the first round. This year, two clubs are in line for such selections: the Atlanta Braves, who will pick 26th because Drake Baldwin won the National League Rookie of the Year, and the Houston Astros, who will pick 28th thanks to Hunter Brown finishing third in AL Cy Young voting.
You’ll also see a No. 27 pick, which belongs to the New York Mets. The Mets fell from 17th to 27th due to a ten-spot penalty for surpassing the second surcharge threshold of the MLB Competitive Balance Tax (CBT). It’s important to note that this No. 27 selection is not a Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick.
Following those spots there are Compensation Picks, awarded to teams that are recipients of revenue-sharing, lose a qualifying free agent, and have that free agent sign for at least $50 million. Those teams would receive a pick at this stage. However, none of the teams qualified for this category for the 2026 MLB Draft.
So as the draft unfolds, keep an eye on how these structural elements interact with the talent on the board. While the MLB Draft might not generate the same daily headlines as football’s or basketball’s big events, it remains a pivotal moment for the sport, shaping teams’ futures and the trajectories of countless young players who dream of reaching the majors.