MLB draft to begin June 6
Major League Baseball announced Friday that it will air the first day of its 2013 First-Year Player Draft on June 6 on the MLB Network.
Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET. It will also broadcast a draft preview show, simulcast on MLB.com, at 6 p.m.
The Houston Astros will have the first overall pick. The draft order is based on reverse order of last year's finish.
The New York Yankees have a league-high three first round picks (26th, 32nd and 33rd overall). The Pittsburgh Pirates (ninth and 14th), St. Louis Cardinals (19th and 28th), the Tampa Bay Rays (21st and 29th) and Texas Rangers (23rd and 30th) each have two first round picks.
For the first time, the draft will have competitive balance rounds, which give clubs with the lowest revenues and in the smallest markets the opportunity to obtain additional draft picks through a lottery. The 10 clubs with the lowest revenues and the 10 in the smallest markets enter a lottery for the six selections immediately following the first round (picks 34-39).
The other teams that did not receive one of the six picks after the first round, and all other payee clubs under the revenue sharing plan, enter a second lottery for the six picks immediately following the second round (picks 69-73). The Cleveland Indians forfeited their pick for the signing of free agent Michael Bourn.
The draft will have 40 rounds and span three days. The TV coverage will include the first two rounds, including the additional competitive balance selections.
Teams have 4 1/2 minutes to make their picks in the first round, two minutes in the first competitive balance round and one minute in the second round and beyond.
The draft continues June 7-8 beginning at 1 p.m. ET both days.
