Why aren't MLB drafts given as much attention as NFL or NBA drafts?

Question

I don't understand why it seems like MLB, NHL, or MLS drafts don't even exist and are given little or no attention most of the time. Anyone know why?

Answer 1

Lets start with the fact that the draft is 50 rounds long, not including supplemental rounds and so on. A lot of the guys being drafted are high school kids that nobody's ever heard of. The big difference between baseball and the other sports is that baseball players are projects when they're drafted. Very few baseball players are ready for the pros when they're name is called whereas most NBA and NFL players will be playing with the pro team that drafted them the next year. It might be 2-3 years, or sometimes never, that the highest picks in the MLB draft make it to the majors. I think all of that contributes to of interest by all but extremely die hard baseball fans. As far as the NHL and MLS, the fan base is just so small that its not worth using a whole lot of valuable air time reporting or covering those drafts.

Answer 2

In baseball, most drafted players do not play in the major leagues for another three to five years after being drafted, and many never play in the majors at all.

In football, most drafted players start right away, apart from quarterbacks who spend a year or two learning their team's system. Also, the top basketball draft picks tend to make immediate impacts on their teams.

As for the NHL, currently they are farming European, Canadian, and Russian teams with not many impact players coming out of the draft at all.

Every once in awhile the top picks of the MLB draft get a lot of press and excitement, Joe Mauer being a good example. There was some press about whoever got Mauer would be getting a superstar and some teams did try to trade for the top pick in order to get him, but even Mauer spent a few years in the minors before ever playing a major league game. And no, he wasn't drafted out of college, he was drafted out of high school.

Answer 3

Everybody has the right notion. Because players are taken from high school and college teams. The idea of everyone knowing all these players would be hard. Because the pool of players are literally in the 1000's.Basically, only the expert scouts of the MLB teams have the knowledge and time to follow players. NBA and NFL prospects are hyped by all the sport networks and teams that they will become household names by the time the draft arrives. Also, the NBA and NFL rookies can have an immediate impact on the team where it may take years to develope a baseball prospect.

Answer 4

Most baseball fans don't know much about minor league baseball. They just don't keep up with it because they prefer to pay attention to the better players in the majors. Most players drafted out of college will go to the minors and, thus, not get as much exposure. This is not the case in the NBA and NFL. Fans get to see the guys they watch get drafted play right away.

Answer 5

I think it takes so long for the players they draft to be MLB ready it takes a little of the drama away from the draft. If MLB could create a draft where the better half of the first half of the draft had MLB ready players the watchability would be a lot better. As it is none of these guys are recognizable and best case scenario is you see these players in two to three years.

Answer 6

I don't know about NHL or MLS drafts...but, I know a lot about MLB Drafts. One of the reasons the MLB draft doesnt get as much attention is because it normally lasts 50 rounds. Plus, players who get drafted into the MLB normally take longer to develop and their success rate is lower than in the NBA and NFL.

If you want some examples:

Players who took a while to develop:

Jack Cust, Oakland A's
J.J. Putz, drafted by White Sox, now of Seattle Mariners
Danny Ardoin, drafted by A's, now of Rockies

Complete busts:

Paul Wilson, drafted by Mets, now journeyman minor leaguer
Bill Pulsipher, drafted by Mets, out of baseball
Josh Booty, drafted by Marlins, out of baseball

Answer 7

Most people KNOW the top 10 players in the NBA draft.
Most people KNOW the top 10 players in the NFL draft.

Probably more, I could name 40 in each.

College baseball is not as publicized as basketball or football. Most people do not know many college baseball prospects. Also, baseball draft picks go to the minor leagues, which are very hard for a fan to follow. People want to see the rookies go into the league and make an impact.

Answer 8

Two reasons:

1.) In the NBA, you have 5 players playing for your team at any given moment. Having one really good player on your team gives you a great chance of winning the game. That's why the draft is so important because just having one great player on your team can turn your team's fortune completely around.

2.) The NFL is just the most popular sport in the US so everything and anything to do with it will have alot of attention given to it. Plus college football is huge, so you have the same college football fans watching the draft as well as NFL fans watching.

I don't think in baseball you find either of these two situations. As for soccer and hockey, they are second-tier sports in the US in terms of popularity. So they too aren't given any publicity.

Answer 9

Unfortunately, lots of folks just don't appreciate baseball. I am one of those who don't really care that much about the NFL or especially the NBA. It is just a popularity contest. Another reason is, MLB didn't have a draft until about 40 years ago. It takes time for people to pay attention. Especially when they don't even pay attention to baseball.

Answer 10

Hey the first 2 rounds are on ESPN2 this year. That's a start but the entire draft will never be televised cause it's too ling. The problem I think is that baseball drafts high school talent that nobody nationally has hears of so there are no mock drafts or any excitement cause there are so many players to pick from.