Can someone explain the term "draft and follow" and how it relates to D1 schools.

Draft and follow is mostly used for JUCO players. The team that drafts him controls his rights up until (I believe) a week before the next draft. The team "follows" him and if he does well enough the team can make an offer and sign him.

If you are talking about 4 year DI schools, once the player goes to his first class, the team that drafted him loses the rights to him until after his junior year or age 21 at which point he would go back into the draft.

Basically the team drafts you because they want to be able to watch you for the following year and have the option of signing you before the draft next year.
They will send you a contract right after the draft but along with the contract they send you a note stating that they don't want you to sign the contract.
Since you don't sign, you can continue to play Div. 1 ball. At the end of the following season, the pro team may negotiate a deal with you. If they don't, you are eligible to enter the draft if you are a junior or senior at a four year school.

I saw an article, last year I believe, where the story was how few of the kids after the 10th to 13th round, are ever signed, or even attempted to be signed, by the MLB club that drafts them. As stated in other posts, the MLB club wants to own the rights to a kid for the coming year. They want to see what he does and how he continues to progress. If they like what they see they may attempt to sign him sometime that year before they lose the rights to him.

quote:

Since you don't sign, you can continue to play Div. 1 ball. At the end of the following season, the pro team may negotiate a deal with you.

True if you are talking Div. 1 JUCO. If you are talking Div. 1 (4 year college) the pro team can only negotiate until you go to your first class.

Sounds like the days of Draft & Follow will now go into the history books. Starting with next year's draft, MLB teams have only until Aug 15 to sign their draftees, then they re-enter the draft the following year.

That is correct, the draft and follow concept is no more, at least for the next five years.
This is going to really change the way scouting departments work, and I imagine that it'll put much more pressure on scouts to have a better idea of the players they're considering. It will be very interesting to see how things progress next spring.

Agreed! It almost seems like they do not need 50 rounds any more. So few of the Day 2 draftees sign because all they really want is just to retain their rights till the next draft. Now, why bother?

It's going to make signability a bigger issue than it already is. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if guys who are later round picks that might have gone in the past get left in the dust now.

One thing is for sure, it is going to make summer baseball even more interesting. Guys who've been drafted that don't sign right away are going to get a pretty intense look and in a hurry.

Do you think they might go after more College seniors now? This whole change to me seems to take away any leverage that a JC/CC player might have before the next draft. It does force them to watch these "lower" picks more closely in the summer but any time you take away competition it is gonna cost the player money IMO. 06, Have you been through it already/or currently?

quote:

Do you think they might go after more College seniors now? This whole change to me seems to take away any leverage that a JC/CC player might have before the next draft. It does force them to watch these "lower" picks more closely in the summer but any time you take away competition it is gonna cost the player money IMO.

The answer varies greatly by organization.
Many MLB clubs are signing Latin/international players in significant numbers. At least one has also reduced the number of minor league teams and stated it will reduce the number of players it signs. I actually think these changes could reduce the number of senior signs over time. My impression is MLB is removing "leverage" for players where ever it can by "forcing" earlier decisions and having less openings to fill through the draft in the lower rounds of Day 2. Assume that a team has roster spots come Short Season for about 15-16 or so players after considering currently players under contract and Latin/International signings. In past years, they draft 50 players and would sign 32-35. They may end up drafting similar numbers but signing about 1/2 as many with the draft changes and new emphasis on players aquired outside of the draft. What that means it they make an offer, if it isn't accepted, they move to the next guy...and use that draft spot when they get it again next year.
There will be exceptions. Maybe even more power for big market teams and those with better talent projections. But, in general, absent those two criteria, JC/CC players did lose some signficant advantages.

From what I understand (and that may not be a whole lot at this time) is that teams will pretty much have a lot more serious predraft discussions then in the past with more than just the top ranked players. Al the way down the line, most likely top 10 rounds.
I don't know how this will be looked upon by the NCAA.
The only reasons seniors were not included was because most will not set foot back on college campus, so the signing date means nothing. Possibly it might increase their bonus because the seniors drafted will be of talent, not just roster fill ins. But I agree with Infielddad, it is going to reduce the number of seniors drafted eventully.

As far as draft and follows, the college coaches didn't like losing players to JUCO for that reason. Not that a whole lot of drafted players really were draft and follows. Now a signed recruit will have to tel coach asap whether he wants to go for 3 years or take a chance he might get drafted again the following year. Coaches are tired of losing their recruits and want to be able to fill in asap.

On a good note, as we all know, many in the minor leagues are there to make up teams. The less coming in, the less will be going out.

The real killer to all of this is the rule 5 draft. Lots of unhappy minor league guys I understand.

I don't look at this change as a bad thing. The players who really want to play pro ball will and the players who really want to go to college will. I think it eliminates a lot of guessing on everyone's part and eliminates the game playing. Teams will still look to draft the best talent but if the best talent is not going to be honest with them before draft day they wil move onto the next person. In the end, along with talent, signability is a huge factor.

One coach told me that aug 15 is pretty late, only a day or two away from when class begins anyway. What they (MLB) really wanted was to be able to get back a pick if their pick didn't sign and this was the agreement that had to be made. Some players who are drafted (especially college players) would go off to the summer leagues to play baseball to try to increase their $$, coaches still didn't know where they stood. This may eliminate that as well. It's going to be a yes or no thing. Also, due to changes in MLB personel, no one wanted to start negotiating all over again in sept, october, etc.

I was just told, be prepared when visited by scouts because MLB teams will have the leverage. You might need ot seek advice as to what to say on this issue. If you say teh wrong thing, next thing you know, everyone knows.
No one will be able to know the impact of all of this until aug 15 of next year.

"I was just told, be prepared when visited by scouts because MLB teams will have the leverage. You might need ot seek advice as to what to say on this issue. If you say the wrong thing, next thing you know, everyone knows."

TPM- Are you referring to college kids? And, do you mean summer visiting by scouts after a kid has been drafted or earlier?

NC,
What I meant, when being visited by scouts, you should be prepared on what to say and be truthful about it.
That would include being familiar with round or "slot" money.
If you lead a scout to beleive that you will most likely go pro for a certain amount and then when drafted you start holding out, it's easier now for them to walk away. Most first visits are for informational purposes this time of year. Leading closer to draft time, you might have an indication of where your son may fall.
But you should seek advice if you feel that your son may be a high draft choice.

Hey TPM,
It was great meeting you in Jupiter. I am impressed by your broad knowledge on this topic. Where are you getting your info from? This site is the only place I see this topic refrenced. Do you think that this should have a bearing on whether an athlete should choose a JUCO over a 4 University.
This is all new to me, so I am sorry if I am slow to comprehend. It does seem to be a profound change though, one that seems like it may be important to fully understand if your Son's primary goal is to play professionally. It seems like some are saying that smaller signing bonuses are coming, so be ready to be offered less money, as well as a higher level of competition from Latin countries (that traditionally sign for less).

Floridafan,
You have a pm.

Thanks TPM. They've already started visiting and they are alreadying asking. Everyone told us not to give a $ amount but that really doesn't seem to make sense, especially this early in the year. As we get closer to June, we'll worry about it more then...

Thank you TPM! My Son had his best game at the appropriate time!

nc,
don't know what to tell you

You might wantto get in touch with your area scout representative to MLB. If your son is a prospect, he most likely will know your son.

I found ours to be most helpful.

nc42 - sent you a pm