Author Topic: 2015 MLB Draft  (Read 16712 times)

AndyMacFAIL

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #810 on: July 03, 2015, 08:35:56 pm »

Here's the Baseball America article on how college seniors are treated in the MLB Draft:



Draft Proves To Be Gut-Punch For Seniors

June 20, 2015 by John Manuel

Everyone knows baseball is a business.

North Carolina State infielder Logan Ratledge discovered the full extent of it, however, particularly for a college senior going through the current draft system.

Seniors have always been considered budget-minded draft picks because they have no amateur leverage left; it’s pro ball or nothing. But they have become essential commodities under the new draft rules, a way for teams to stretch their draft signing budgets. Signing a senior for $5,000 when his draft slot is valued at, say, $160,000, yields a savings of $155,000 that can be applied elsewhere. And the savings add up with more seniors.

A few clubs took this approach in 2012, the first draft held under the new rules. The process has been refined since then and many more clubs have adopted it, especially when they draft players considered tough signs higher in the draft.

Seniors know the system, but even if they’ve been drafted before, it’s hard to be prepared for the process. It’s a process that sees the players simply as assets, and as a result, the players are often treated poorly.

Coming off a fall shoulder injury, Ratledge had controlled his controllables all spring. Two-thirds of the way through the season the 5-foot-11, 192-pounder moved over from second base to shortstop, defending capably and helping push the Wolfpack to a strong finish.

He finished the year batting .329/.431/.558 with 10 homers and 11 stolen bases, leading the team in all those categories.

read more:  http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/draft-proves-gut-punch-seniors/