MLB
How many rounds are there in the 2024 MLB draft? How many players are selected?
The baseball world will discover future stars in the 20-round MLB Draft starting July 14. See full first-round order and key dates.
The MLB Draft is a 20-round event that goes down in July, right in the middle of the season. The lucky 614 players drafted are then shipped off to their new minor league teams.
Back in the day, the draft was a marathon. Up until 2019, it had up to 40 rounds, and there were years when teams just kept picking until they had enough. In 1965, for example, there were a whopping 72 rounds with 824 players selected! Legends like Mike Piazza, picked in the 62nd round in 1988, and Keith Hernandez, a 42nd-round pick in 1971, prove that you can find stars at any stage.
Key Dates for the 2024 Draft
- July 14: Kicking things off with the first two rounds and a couple of supplemental rounds. These bonus rounds are for teams who lost certain players to free agency, especially those who turned down qualifying offers.
- July 15-16: The draft continues with rounds 3-10 on July 15, and rounds 11-20 wrapping things up on July 16. Picks from the first 10 rounds come with a slot value, which is the recommended signing bonus. For rounds 11-20, there’s no slot value, and players can sign for up to $150,000 without affecting the team’s bonus pool.
Stars can emerge from anywhere in the draft. Just look at Albert Pujols, who was snagged in the 13th round in 1999 and went on to become one of the greatest hitters ever. Or John Smoltz, picked in the 22nd round before shining with the Braves and Red Sox.
2024 MLB Draft 1st Round Order
For the first time ever, the Cleveland Guardians have the first pick. Here’s a look at the full draft order for the first round:
- Cleveland Guardians
- Cincinnati Reds
- Colorado Rockies
- Oakland A’s
- Chicago White Sox
- Kansas City Royals
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Los Angeles Angels
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Washington Nationals
- Detroit Tigers
- Boston Red Sox
- San Francisco Giants
- Chicago Cubs
- Seattle Mariners
- Miami Marlins
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Tampa Bay Rays
- New York Mets
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Minnesota Twins
- Baltimore Orioles
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Atlanta Braves
- San Diego Padres
- New York Yankees
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Houston Astros
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Texas Rangers
Keep an eye on this year’s draft – you never know where the next superstar will come from!