why aren't latin player available in the MLB draft?

[mvalentin]

Quick question to baseball experts

how come Latin players aren't part of the MLB draft pool?

[chibob]

Originally Posted by mvalentin

Quick question to baseball experts

how come Latin players aren't part of the MLB draft pool?

1. English is the preferred language for draftees

2. Must have a high school diploma

Just joking..

Latins can be signed when they are still their fathers dream..Most teams have "schools" in Latin countries to teach not just baseball, but English, math etc.

By the time the good ones reach the age an American is eligible, the Latins are already driving big SUV from bonus money received. If not already signed, not worth drafting

[Cubbiefan16]

Basically, you have to be attending school to be eligible for the draft. Also, it's likely that most Latin players are already playing professionally, and thus doubly ineligible.. Below are the groups that are eligible to be drafted..


- High school players, if they have graduated from high school and have not yet attended college or junior college;

- College players, from four-year colleges who have either completed their junior or senior years or are at least 21 years old; and

- Junior college players, regardless of how many years of school they have completed

[mvalentin]

is there some politics though behind these players not being in the draft?

like I still don't get how it works do scouts in Latin America start offering contracts to kids when they are 8?

Rubio and Jennings and Bargnani all played pro ball before being picked in the NBA Draft don't quite understand why MLB doesn't follow suit

Not that the MLB draft is exciting, but I think it'd make for good TV having the first round but you need them international players in it


just curious, watched that Movie Sugar like 4 time already, which has passed Field of Dreams and Bull Durham on my best baseball movie list and also been reading a lot into the story of Michel Ynoa. Interesting stuff.


anyways any urls or stories talking about this would be greatly appreciated. Maybe I'll do a grad school paper on this.



oh every baseball fan should watch Sugar btw (shameless plug for ma peeps)

[belmont kid]

Green Card??

[Cubbiefan16]

Why waste a draft pick on someone you can just sign?

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by Cubbiefan16

Why waste a draft pick on someone you can just sign?

but the thing is why does mlb allow them to be available via free agency and americans go through draft?

[mvalentin]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

but the thing is why does mlb allow them to be available via free agency and americans go through draft?

Yes I kind of agree. It is unfair to the American players (the top ones at least). And it already happens at times. J.D. Drew comes to the top of my head.

[Romanowski]

latin players are scouted, been that way for years

[revnecro1273]

and steroid use was not against the rules years ago..but times change and so do rule changes..why not do it for this?

[Romanowski]

there is a side business with the folks who run the baseball "schools" and take in the players at 11

they are the first to be compensated for teaching these kids the fundamentals, they are usually taken by 16, 17 my mlb teams

not gonna change and frankly dont see a problem with it

[mvalentin]

I think that adding them to the draft pool would help get rid of a bunch of things

like Mobster busones who take 60% of the player's bonuses

and the whole problem over latin players lying about their age.

Although we do the same in the NBA. Its a proven, but hidden fact that Greg Oden is Lebron James's father

[THE_ROOKIEEE]

latin players lying about their age.

STANDARD PROTOCOL FOR ALL LATIN PLAYERS..... 17 YEAR OLDS PLAY IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.... FERNANDO V. WAS 40+ IN HIS PRIME.... AND I THINK TEXAS VINCE PADILLA IS ANOTHER WHO IS 45+