Your guide to the 2018 MLB Draft
How to watch
Day 1: Round 1-2 begins June 4 at 7 p.m. ET on MLB Network
Day 2: Continues on June 5 at 1 p.m. ET on MLB.com (Rounds 3-10)
Day 3: Concludes on June 6 at 12 p.m. ET on MLB.com (Rounds 11-40)
The draft gets underway and the consensus favorite to go first overall is Auburn right-hander Casey Mize. However, the Detroit Tigers - who are slotted to pick in the coveted No. 1 spot - have reportedly considered a multitude of options leading up to the draft, instead eyeing Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart and Florida ace Brady Singer.
Major League Baseball's draft is unlike the other major selection processes, as it takes place during the baseball season. Eight teams will play on Monday evening, with the Tigers taking on the New York Yankees in a doubleheader. Even further, the San Francisco Giants, boasting the second pick, will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks but only after their first selection is made.
By the end of the first day, two rounds - each punctuated by a Competitive Balance round and compensation round - will have been completed. In total, 78 picks will be made on the first day, with all 30 teams owning one pick each in the first round after the new collective bargaining agreement and a slow free-agent market this past winter paired together to guarantee no team would forfeit their top selections this year. 41
Well-rounded draft
Coming off of last year's buzz over two-way players, the 2018 draft lacks some luster. In fact, most consider it a wide-open draft class, where any of the top 10 or 15 prospects could easily end up being the best player in the draft, in spite of Mize's resounding likelihood to hear his name called within the top two picks. Even the allure of Mize - whose splitter is an impressive offering - is based on a well-rounded repertoire with no real weakness.
Legacy picks
Legacy picks are always a favorite storyline for the general audience of the draft, and the highest-rated relative is prep lefty Ryan Weathers - son of journeyman pitcher David Weathers. High school shortstop Brice Turang, son of Brian Turang who played 78 games with the Seattle Mariners, is also likely to go in the first round.
Other candidates with familiar names who will probably be chosen on the first day include a pair of Canadian bats in Tristan Pompey (brother of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Dalton) and Noah Naylor (brother of San Diego Padres farmhand Josh).
Draft order
The draft order is the exact inverse of last year's standings. The first day gets a bit complicated with Competitive Balance and compensation rounds and will look like this:
| PICK - 1st round | TEAM | PICK VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tigers | $8M |
| 2 | Giants | $7.5M |
| 3 | Phillies | $6.9M |
| 4 | White Sox | $6.4M |
| 5 | Reds | $5.9M |
| 6 | Mets | $5.5M |
| 7 | Padres | $5.2M |
| 8 | Braves | $5M |
| 9 | Athletics | $4.8M |
| 10 | Pirates | $4.6M |
| 11 | Orioles | $4.4M |
| 12 | Blue Jays | $4.2M |
| 13 | Marlins | $4M |
| 14 | Mariners | $3.9M |
| 15 | Rangers | $3.7M |
| 16 | Rays | $3.6M |
| 17 | Angels | $3.5M |
| 18 | Royals | $3.3M |
| 19 | Cardinals | $3.2M |
| 20 | Twins | $3.1M |
| 21 | Brewers | $3M |
| 22 | Rockies | $2.9M |
| 23 | Yankees | $2.8M |
| 24 | Cubs | $2.7M |
| 25 | Diamondbacks | $2.6M |
| 26 | Red Sox | $2.6M |
| 27 | Nationals | $2.5M |
| 28 | Astros | $2.4M |
| 29 | Indians | $2.3M |
| 30 | Dodgers | $2.3M |
Compensation picks
| PICK | TEAM | PICK VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Rays | $2.2M |
| 32 | Rays | $2.1M |
| 33 | Royals | $2.1M |
| 34 | Royals | $2.1M |
| 35 | Indians | $2M |
The Tampa Bay Rays receive a pair of compensation picks for the Baltimore Orioles signing Alex Cobb and the club not signing last year's 31st overall pick, Drew Rasmussen.
The Kansas City Royals get a pair of compensation picks for losing Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer to free agency, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, respectively.
Finally, the Cleveland Indians earn a compensation pick, as Carlos Santana signed with the Philadelphia Phillies this winter.
Competitive Balance Round A
| PICK | TEAM | PICK VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Pirates | $2M |
| 37 | Orioles | $1.9M |
| 38 | Padres | $1.9M |
| 39 | Diamondbacks | $1.8M |
| 40 | Royals | $1.8M |
| 41 | Indians | $1.8M |
| 42 | Rockies | $1.7M |
| 43 | Cardinals | $1.7M |
| PICK - 2nd round | TEAM | PICK VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Tigers | $1.6M |
| 45 | Giants | $1.6M |
| 46 | White Sox | $1.6M |
| 47 | Reds | $1.5M |
| 48 | Mets | $1.5M |
| 49 | Braves | $1.5M |
| 50 | Athletics | $1.4M |
| 51 | Pirates | $1.4M |
| 52 | Blue Jays | $1.4M |
| 53 | Marlins | $1.3M |
| 54 | Mariners | $1.3M |
| 55 | Rangers | $1.3M |
| 56 | Rays | $1.2M |
| 57 | Angels | $1.2M |
| 58 | Royals | $1.2M |
| 59 | Twins | $1.1M |
| 60 | Brewers | $1.1M |
| 61 | Yankees | $1.1M |
| 62 | Cubs | $1.1M |
| 63 | Diamondbacks | $1M |
| 64 | Red Sox | $1M |
| 65 | Nationals | $986k |
| 66 | Astros | $965k |
| 67 | Indians | $940k |
| 68 | Dodgers | $918k |
Competitive Balance Round B
| PICK | TEAM | PICK VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | Marlins | $895k |
| 70 | Athletics | $872k |
| 71 | Rays | $851k |
| 72 | Reds | $838k |
| 73 | Brewers | $825k |
| 74 | Padres* | $812k |
* - received from Minnesota Twins as part of Phil Hughes trade
Compensation picks
| PICK | TEAM | PICK VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Cardinals | $800k |
| 76 | Rockies | $787k |
| 77 | Cubs | $775k |
| 78 | Cubs | $763k |
The St. Louis Cardinals receive a compensation pick for the Twins signing Lance Lynn this winter, the Colorado Rockies gain a pick for losing Greg Holland to the Cardinals, and the Chicago Cubs gained a pair of picks for the departure of Wade Davis and Jake Arrieta to the Rockies and Phillies, respectively.