With no games being played for the foreseeable future, MLB decided to make cuts in the draft to help with the cash flow issue. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Report: 2020 MLB Draft will be virtual

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 5/15/20

Just as the 2020 NFL Draft was virtual, Major League Baseball also is headed for a virtual draft, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Major League Baseball plans to hold the 2020 MLB Draft remotely, according to a memo obtained by ESPN. As of now, teams are not allowed to have draft rooms and will do all drafting via video conference. That could change, the memo says, as the draft date approaches.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 15, 2020

The virtual NFL draft was a huge success, and definitely a much different experience than anything we've ever seen before.

With the MLB draft set to only be five rounds amid the coronavirus pandemic, the virtual format seems like the most logical, reasonable option.

The draft will be June 10-11, with the first round kicking off at 7 p.m. ET featuring 37 picks. The second round is set for the next day and include rounds two through five. Following the draft, teams will be allowed to begin signing free agents on June 14 at 9 a.m. ET.

With no games being played for the foreseeable future, MLB decided to make cuts in the draft to help with the cash flow issue. The ramifications of a five-round draft are yet to be seen, but it won't be good for the sport as a whole.

The Detroit Tigers hold the first overall pick, and that selection got far more valuable with the announcement of the shortened draft.

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