UNDERSTANDING THE MLB DRAFT: WHY THE DRAFT FAILS TO BOTH SUCCEED AS AN EVENT AND BE AN INDICATOR AS TO WHICH TEAMS MAY EXPERIENCE FUTURE SUCCESS

Abstract

Why has the MLB draft never been hyped up to the same degree as the NFL or NBA drafts on major sports TV networks? Why does a good draft for a team in the MLB not equate to future success as a team the same way that is does in other sports? Why is it that every year so many top MLB prospects are taken in the draft who will never see the light of day in the major leagues? And lastly, are all of these phenomena the result of sheer coincidence, or are there conclusions than can be drawn that help explain them. This project provides support for the latter, by attempting to prove that the MLB draft is inherently different than those of the NFL and NBA due to its structure and composition, and ultimately the way it affects team success (in terms of wins and championships). It will then conclude with a brief section discussing whether or not these differences with the draft help the game of baseball and the well-being of the MLB.