How to watch the Red Sox make their selections in the MLB draft.
We haven’t had any Boston Red Sox baseball yet this year but we finally have a live baseball-related event to tune into tonight with the MLB draft.
This year’s draft will be unlike any other. Instead of the event being held in a central location with representatives from each team in attendance, this year’s draft will be held remotely. We saw the NFL use a similar strategy for their draft earlier this year and the unique experience provided an unexpected source of entertainment.
The more drastic change is that the draft has been reduced to five rounds from the usual 40 with 160 total picks.
The Red Sox have only four picks this year. Boston’s second-round pick was stripped as punishment stemming from the 2018 sign-stealing investigation. They own the No. 17 overall pick and won’t pick again until the 89th overall pick (Round 3), followed by No. 118 (Round 4) and 148 (Round 5).
At the end of the first round will be eight selections in the Competitive Balance Round A. These are additional picks given to small-market teams, although some have been passed along to other organizations through trades. Another six selections for the Competitive Balance Round B will take place at the end of Round 2, followed by six Compensation picks for teams who lost free agents who declined a qualifying offer. The Red Sox do not own any extra picks in these supplemental rounds.
MLB Network will be airing several hours of pre-draft coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.
How to watch the Red Sox make their draft selections on Day 1
What: 1st Round, Competitive Balance Round A (total 37 picks)
Date: Wednesday, June 10
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN, MLB Network
Live Stream: Sling, Hulu + Live TV, MLB.com
How to watch the Red Sox make their draft selections on Day 2
What: 2nd-5th Round (picks 38-160)
Date: Thursday, June 11
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN 2, MLB Network
Live Stream: Sling, Hulu + Live TV, MLB.com
Having their second-round pick taken away puts a greater emphasis on the Red Sox nailing their first pick. They need to find a potential blue chip prospect to boost one of the league’s weakest farm systems. A high-upside arm or five-tool outfielder would fit the organization’s needs but considering these players could take years to reach the big leagues, selecting the best available option is typically the best route over projecting positional needs.
The shortened draft means there will be plenty of leftover talent at the end of five rounds. These undrafted players can be signed by any club for a maximum bonus of $20,000. While there is bound to be players who decide to remain amateurs for another year in order to try their luck in the draft when the normal format returns, others will be anxious to begin their path to the majors. There will be some diamonds in the rough among these undrafted players and there are several advantages working in favor of the Red Sox in the scramble to sign them.
How will Chaim Bloom do in his first draft at the helm of the Red Sox front office? Tune in over the next two nights to find out!