​MLB made a landmark move in 2026 by placing its draft on broadcast television, but the historic shift drew pointed criticism over the league’s broader television strategy. The draft happened on Saturday afternoon and overlapped with regular-season games, marking a departure from traditional scheduling. The first 90 minutes, covering the initial 10 selections, aired on NBC, while the next two hours on MLB Network showcased picks 11 through 40, spanning the remainder of the first three rounds. The draft’s conclusion, which occurred the following day, was streamed exclusively on MLB.com. This represents a significant shift in how the MLB Draft is distributed across television and online platforms.
Historically, MLB Network carried the first round of the draft annually since 2009. From 2020 through 2025, the first round aired concurrently on MLB Network and ESPN. The 2026 season introduced major changes to this arrangement: the first 10 picks were no longer simulcast by MLB Network and instead became NBC’s exclusive property, and the draft moved from Sunday primetime—when there were no MLB game conflicts—to Saturday afternoon to fit NBC’s broadcast window. This continual reordering of where the draft could be watched, coupled with the decision to stage the event during live games, drew sharp criticism from baseball writers and draft analysts.
Critics from the press room did not mince words. FanGraphs’ Michael Baumann argued that the draft had ceased to feel like a mainstream event: “this is clearly no longer a mainstream-interest event. The schedule is different and the TV sets are a million times fancier, but MLB is once again treating the draft like it’s for sickos only. Which is fine. Like I said, I’m a draft sicko. It’s just disappointing that the league is no longer trying to create more of us.” Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper echoed a similar sentiment, suggesting that the draft was receding further from its semi-mainstream goals: “The MLB draft seems to be getting further away from its goal of becoming a semi-mainstream product. Day 1 of the 2026 draft on Saturday made it clear just how small a sideshow this beloved annual event for draftniks remains as part of MLB’s larger All-Star weekend.” In the midst of the organizational changes, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred faced additional scrutiny for mispronouncing No. 1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky’s name, who was selected by the Chicago White Sox.
Even with these criticisms, some argue that the MLB Draft remains one of the league’s least-watched professional events. The most recent full set of viewing numbers available from 2024 shows the draft averaging 863,000 viewers across ESPN and MLB Network. That figure sits well below the audience for the NBA and NFL drafts, which drew about 3.6 million and 13.6 million viewers, respectively, that year. The NHL Draft also trailed behind MLB, averaging around 502,000 viewers on ESPN, underscoring just how niche the MLB Draft has become, even as the 2026 changes drew attention for representing a major shift in distribution strategy.
The debate over the 2026 format thus centers on whether aligning the draft with network television windows and moving it away from traditional Sunday primetime helps or hinders the event’s growth. Proponents might argue that NBC’s involvement and the broader platform reach could draw new viewers, while critics contend that coupling the draft with live games and dispersing coverage across NBC, MLB Network, and streaming adds fragmentation and undermines attempts to elevate the draft’s profile. As MLB continues to experiment with how best to present amateur talent to a national audience, the 2026 draft remains a controversial test case in the ongoing balancing act between accessibility, traditional media partnerships, and the goal of cultivating mainstream interest in baseball’s yearly talent showcase. The discussion about whether this strategy ultimately amplifies or erodes the draft’s visibility is likely to continue as the league assesses audience engagement in the years ahead.