Title: Day 3 of the 2023 MLB Draft: Searching for Future Stars
Date: [Current Date]
By Sam Dykstra, an hour ago
The first two days and 10 rounds of the 2023 Draft have concluded, but the excitement surrounding the search for potential future baseball stars is far from over.
Day 3 of the Draft is set to take place on Tuesday as a part of the All-Star festivities in Seattle. Several participants in this year’s Midsummer Classic are well-aware of the value that can be found in later rounds.
Five of this year’s All-Stars, namely Jordan Romano, Nathan Eovaldi, Josh Hader, J.D. Martinez, and David Bednar, were selected and signed in the 10th round or later when they first entered professional baseball. This group includes an elite starter, a dominant designated hitter, and three lights-out pitchers, all of whom were late-round surprises.
Wondering which late-round draft picks could potentially become future All-Stars? The only way to find out is to stay tuned and watch Day 3 of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft.
How and When to Watch
Day 3 of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft will officially commence on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. MLB.com will stream all the picks live and for free, without any delays between selections. Fans can also follow along with the draft by accessing the official Draft Tracker and staying updated with the latest picks by following @MLBDraft on Twitter.
Outstanding Players Still Available
As the draft progresses into Day 3, some highly talented players are still up for grabs. According to MLB Pipeline’s Top 250, the best players available include:
– Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.) — Ranked No. 42
– Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton (Ariz.) HS — Ranked No. 44
– Trent Caraway, 3B/SS, JSerra Catholic (Calif.) HS — Ranked No. 70
– Zane Adams, LHP, Porter (Texas) HS — Ranked No. 73
– Will Gasparino, OF, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.) HS — Ranked No. 75
– Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas — Ranked No. 76
– Caden Sorrell, OF, Marcus (Texas) HS — Ranked No. 79
– Joey Volchko, RHP, Redwood (Calif.) HS — Ranked No. 80
– Liam Peterson, RHP, Calvary Christian (Fla.) HS — Ranked No. 85
– Jake Brown, LHP, Sulphur (La.) HS — Ranked No. 93
Please refer to the complete list of the best available players for more details.
Intriguingly, nine out of the top ten remaining prospects come from high school, with the one exception being Texas pitcher Tanner Witt. While most of these players are expected to honor their college commitments, there is still a possibility that they could be drafted and signed.
Potential for Late Surprises
Organizations are allowed to spend up to $150,000 on players selected in Rounds 11-20 without it counting toward their bonus pool. Hence, teams that have saved up early on in the draft could take advantage of this opportunity to add premium talent late in the process.
Additionally, the risk involved in selecting players on Day 3 is significantly lower. Unlike the first 10 rounds, where an unsigned player’s slot bonus counts toward the bonus pool, there is no such penalty in the 11th round and beyond. This situation encourages teams to take bigger risks and swings on Day 3, even if they don’t manage to sign these players before the deadline.
Famous Late-Round Success Stories
Rounds 11-20 have produced some remarkable names in Major League Baseball history. Hall of Famers including Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, and Jim Thome, as well as MVPs like Jose Canseco, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dave Parker, and Albert Pujols, all emerged from the late rounds of the draft. Additionally, Cy Young Award winners such as Orel Hershiser and Bret Saberhagen also begin their MLB journey as late-round selections.
The search for future superstars is not over yet, and the excitement continues on Day 3 of the 2023 MLB Draft. As fans eagerly watch the picks unfold, aspirations are high that late-round surprises will emerge, potentially becoming the next legendary figures in the world of baseball.