KC Royals could lose fourth pick in the MLB Amateur Draft

Rumors are swirling that baseball may postpone the annual draft scheduled for June.  If so, the KC Royals would miss their fourth overall pick.

The news was part of many subjects being discussed including pushing the international signing period back, how to treat service time and what a 2020 schedule may look like.  Multiple double-headers, playing games in domes and warm-weather cities to play later into the fall are on the table.  Obviously the KC Royals, their players, and all the other teams have many effects to consider.

With high school and college baseball wiped out for the spring, this is potentially devastating news for prep seniors and college players who were looking forward to the draft.  This also is a tough blow to Omaha, just up the road from Kansas City, as they are scheduled to host the draft.  While the Royals were not going to play a game prior to the College World Series like last year, the draft would have brought in many visitors to the area.

Determining the draft order in 2021 would need to be decided between the league and teams.  Would it be just based on 2020 standings, or combining the ’19 and ’20 records to determine the order?

For franchises like the Royals, who have a high pick currently scheduled losing that standing, if they have a better record in 2021, is tough to swallow.  That could lead to less incentive to play competitively in a shortened year so they can keep a higher selection.

The ramifications also extend to the players who were likely to be selected.  Do prep players decide to commit to a college?  College seniors will get a year of eligibility back but do they use that or look to play semi-pro ball or go overseas to a league for a year? The glut of players who would then enter the 2021 draft would make it a very interesting selection process.

Nothing has been decided and with fluid developments, news can by the hour.  Skipping the draft this year affects so many areas of baseball so this is big news worth following.  Losing the No. 4 overall pick would be more bad news for the KC Royals and their fans.