We're now hours away from the start of the MLB draft. Unlike previous years, the event will take two days to complete rather than three. The first four rounds will take place on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Rounds five through 20 are scheduled for Sunday, beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Any player who is selected in the draft must sign with their respective team by 5 p.m. ET on July 27.
The MLB draft is one of the most consequential events for college baseball programs. The range of outcomes that affect players – especially programs with many current players and signed recruits in play to be picked – will play a major role in shaping expectations for next season.
Kentucky is no different. While star shortstop Tyler Bell is expected to go in the first round, we'll have an eye on several other players whose draft outcomes are less certain.
As I share every year, here are some basics on how the draft works, courtesy of MLB.com, along with a video that explains it in more depth.
Each selection in the first 10 rounds comes with an assigned value, with the total for a club's picks equaling what it can spend in those rounds without incurring a penalty. If a player taken in the top 10 rounds doesn't sign, his choice's value gets subtracted from his team's pool. Clubs near the top of the Draft often spend less than the assigned value for those choices and use the savings to offer more money to later selections.
The roster tracker page has the most up-to-date listing of Kentucky's offseason so far. You can find each draft-eligible player, the current transfer portal class and an overall look at next year's team as it currently stands.
I've spent the past few weeks speaking with sources on this year's draft. My goal each year is to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information possible, but there are so many moving parts that make it tough to truly project what will happen.
With that said, here's the latest intel Bat Cats Central has on Kentucky's players and commits.
