- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,194,530
- Reaction score
- 59
With significant change comes significant concern, and Major League Baseball found that out after its most recent bargaining session.
On Thursday, June 18, the MLB proposed a major draft overhaul, eliminating high schoolers from being eligible. Instead, by 2028, draftees would have to be at least 20 years old by or on September 1 to be eligible. While the decision would allow college players to enter the draft following their sophomore year instead of junior year, it also removes players' choice on whether to play professionally out of high school or go to college, a decision that's been made by many since the draft's inception in 1965.
The potential decision has led to conflicting responses. High school coaches around Sarasota had mixed feelings about the proposal.
Sarasota head coach Sterling Pell — who coached at Chipola College for four seasons before joining the Sailors — thinks it will elevate college baseball, allowing players more time to physically and mentally mature before entering professional baseball. He suspects there won't be as many players that "fizzle out." Pell also predicts college baseball will become more competitive, contributing to better play overall.
But Venice's Craig Faulkner and Cardinal Mooney's Mike Mercurio hope the MLB keeps it the way it is.
"Initially, I thought, who is this really benefiting?" Faulkner said.
Faulkner, who just finished his 27th season as Venice's head coach and has six state titles, has seen it all. In 2013, Faulkner saw Nick Longhi get drafted in the 30th round by the Boston Red Sox. Longhi passed on his commitment to LSU, choosing the big leagues.
But, in 2014, after being drafted in the 40th round by the Minnesota Twins, shortstop Dalton Guthrie decided to play three years at Florida. In 2017, he was drafted in the sixth round by the Phillies, playing 37 games across two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
The head coach has also seen players drafted out of high school, choose to go to college, and not get drafted again. And although it's hard to predict how those choices will turn out once they're made, Faulkner likes that his players at least had one.
The head coach also wonders how the league will regulate both international and domestic talent. In its proposal, the MLB also suggested a 12-round international draft for players outside the United States and Canada, where the minimum age requirement would rise from 16 to 18.
"A player from another country could go early and get a head start and stuff, so that would be a concern," Faulkner said. "The good part would be having players going to college and getting a little jump on that, but not every player is a college-type kid."
Mercurio, who had five Division I recruits on his roster in 2026, thinks the "high school level is taking a shot." He argues NIL and the increased use of the transfer portal have made it harder for high schoolers to earn scholarships, especially among Power 4 schools. Potentially adding the players who turn professional once they graduate will only make it harder for high school athletes to find college opportunities.
"It doesn't give the high school kids the chance to make a splash," Mercurio said. "You're talking about almost forcing a person to do something that he may not want to do or the option is not even there."
He also questions what the MLB will decide to do with its evaluators.
"It's to the point where they really have to look at what's going to happen elsewhere too," Mercurio said. "Because now you're talking about, if that comes into play, what are you going to do with the major league scouts that are assigned to high schools and everything else? I think it's detrimental to that facility."
Mercurio thinks that college baseball could turn into a "one-and-done" system like NCAA basketball. Baseball players might transfer from different colleges, play two seasons or less with a team and then turn professional. He suspects athletes will work to get out of "college as soon as they can" instead of developing over a three- or four-year period.
Faulkner and Mercurio said that the MLB's decision was likely financial. Not only can the MLB eliminate many high school scouts and agents, but drafting a college player is less of a risk than a high schooler. Mercurio suspects it's a way for the MLB to get free evaluation.
"What they're doing is trying to cut out the middle man and say, 'Hey, listen, go to college and let's see what you do at the college level before we spend that kind of money on you.'" Mercurio said, later adding, "So, instead of investing on a kid that has potential, they're not saying, let's see what you do at the next level. College athletics now is basically a secondary minor league system."
But whether coaches believe the proposal will improve or harm baseball, if it's approved, it will reshape the future of high school athletes.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota coaches react to MLB proposal eliminating high schoolers from draft
Continue reading...
On Thursday, June 18, the MLB proposed a major draft overhaul, eliminating high schoolers from being eligible. Instead, by 2028, draftees would have to be at least 20 years old by or on September 1 to be eligible. While the decision would allow college players to enter the draft following their sophomore year instead of junior year, it also removes players' choice on whether to play professionally out of high school or go to college, a decision that's been made by many since the draft's inception in 1965.
The potential decision has led to conflicting responses. High school coaches around Sarasota had mixed feelings about the proposal.
Sarasota head coach Sterling Pell — who coached at Chipola College for four seasons before joining the Sailors — thinks it will elevate college baseball, allowing players more time to physically and mentally mature before entering professional baseball. He suspects there won't be as many players that "fizzle out." Pell also predicts college baseball will become more competitive, contributing to better play overall.
But Venice's Craig Faulkner and Cardinal Mooney's Mike Mercurio hope the MLB keeps it the way it is.
"Initially, I thought, who is this really benefiting?" Faulkner said.
Faulkner, who just finished his 27th season as Venice's head coach and has six state titles, has seen it all. In 2013, Faulkner saw Nick Longhi get drafted in the 30th round by the Boston Red Sox. Longhi passed on his commitment to LSU, choosing the big leagues.
But, in 2014, after being drafted in the 40th round by the Minnesota Twins, shortstop Dalton Guthrie decided to play three years at Florida. In 2017, he was drafted in the sixth round by the Phillies, playing 37 games across two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
The head coach has also seen players drafted out of high school, choose to go to college, and not get drafted again. And although it's hard to predict how those choices will turn out once they're made, Faulkner likes that his players at least had one.
You must be registered for see images attach
The head coach also wonders how the league will regulate both international and domestic talent. In its proposal, the MLB also suggested a 12-round international draft for players outside the United States and Canada, where the minimum age requirement would rise from 16 to 18.
"A player from another country could go early and get a head start and stuff, so that would be a concern," Faulkner said. "The good part would be having players going to college and getting a little jump on that, but not every player is a college-type kid."
Mercurio, who had five Division I recruits on his roster in 2026, thinks the "high school level is taking a shot." He argues NIL and the increased use of the transfer portal have made it harder for high schoolers to earn scholarships, especially among Power 4 schools. Potentially adding the players who turn professional once they graduate will only make it harder for high school athletes to find college opportunities.
"It doesn't give the high school kids the chance to make a splash," Mercurio said. "You're talking about almost forcing a person to do something that he may not want to do or the option is not even there."
He also questions what the MLB will decide to do with its evaluators.
"It's to the point where they really have to look at what's going to happen elsewhere too," Mercurio said. "Because now you're talking about, if that comes into play, what are you going to do with the major league scouts that are assigned to high schools and everything else? I think it's detrimental to that facility."
You must be registered for see images attach
Mercurio thinks that college baseball could turn into a "one-and-done" system like NCAA basketball. Baseball players might transfer from different colleges, play two seasons or less with a team and then turn professional. He suspects athletes will work to get out of "college as soon as they can" instead of developing over a three- or four-year period.
Faulkner and Mercurio said that the MLB's decision was likely financial. Not only can the MLB eliminate many high school scouts and agents, but drafting a college player is less of a risk than a high schooler. Mercurio suspects it's a way for the MLB to get free evaluation.
"What they're doing is trying to cut out the middle man and say, 'Hey, listen, go to college and let's see what you do at the college level before we spend that kind of money on you.'" Mercurio said, later adding, "So, instead of investing on a kid that has potential, they're not saying, let's see what you do at the next level. College athletics now is basically a secondary minor league system."
But whether coaches believe the proposal will improve or harm baseball, if it's approved, it will reshape the future of high school athletes.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota coaches react to MLB proposal eliminating high schoolers from draft
Continue reading...
