2021 Major League Baseball draft explained

2021 Major League Baseball draft
Date:July 11–13, 2021
Location:Bellco Theatre
Denver, Colorado
Network:MLB Network
ESPN (first round)
First:Henry Davis
Pittsburgh Pirates
First Round:36
Overall:612
Rounds:20
Prev:2020
Next:2022

The 2021 Major League Baseball draft took place on July 11–13, 2021. In conjunction with the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the draft was held in Denver.[1] The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2020 MLB season standings.[2] In addition, compensation picks were distributed for players who did not sign from the 2020 MLB Draft and for teams who lost qualifying free agents.[3] On March 26, 2020, MLB and the MLBPA reached a deal that included the option to halve the draft to 20 rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] MLB ultimately opted to shorten the draft to 20 rounds.[5] In total, 612 college and high school players were drafted.[6]

The Pittsburgh Pirates, who had the worst record of the 2020 season, selected Henry Davis with the first overall pick in the draft.[7] As punishment for their role in the sign stealing scandal, the Houston Astros forfeited both their first- and second-round picks in the draft.[8]

On April 2, 2021, MLB announced that the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, along with the draft, was being relocated from Atlanta in protest of the Georgia State Legislature's passage of the controversial Election Integrity Act of 2021; three days later, Denver was announced as the new host city.[9] [10]

Chase Silseth made his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Angels on May 13, 2022, making him the first player from the 2021 draft to make his major league debut.

Draft selections

The deadline for teams to sign drafted players was August 1, 2021.[11]

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All-Star
Player did not sign

First round

PickPlayerTeamPositionSchool
1Pittsburgh PiratesCatcherLouisville
2Texas RangersPitcherVanderbilt
3Detroit TigersPitcherHeritage Hall School (OK)
4Boston Red SoxShortstopEastlake High School (CA)
5Baltimore OriolesOutfielderSam Houston State
6Arizona DiamondbacksShortstopJesuit Dallas (TX)
7Kansas City RoyalsPitcherEast Catholic High School (CT)
8Colorado RockiesOutfielderRed Land High School (PA)
9Los Angeles AngelsPitcherMiami (OH)
10New York MetsPitcherVanderbilt
11Washington NationalsShortstopWinder-Barrow High School (GA)
12Seattle MarinersCatcherNorth Cobb High School (GA)
13Philadelphia PhilliesPitcherCalvary Christian Academy (FL)
14San Francisco GiantsPitcherMississippi State
15Milwaukee BrewersOutfielderBoston College
16Miami MarlinsShortstopWake Forest High School (NC)
17Cincinnati RedsShortstopUCLA
18St. Louis CardinalsPitcherUC Santa Barbara
19Toronto Blue JaysPitcherOle Miss
20New York YankeesShortstopEastern Illinois University (IL)
21Chicago CubsPitcherKansas State
22Chicago White SoxShortstopSouthridge High School (IN)
23Cleveland IndiansPitcher
24Atlanta BravesPitcherWake Forest
25Oakland AthleticsShortstopThousand Oaks High School (CA)
26Minnesota TwinsPitcherMainland Regional High School (NJ)
27San Diego PadresShortstopSeverna Park High School (MD)
28Tampa Bay RaysShortstopTorrey Pines High School (CA)
29Los Angeles DodgersPitcherUMS-Wright Preparatory School (AL)

Competitive Balance Round A

PickPlayerTeamPositionSchool
31Miami MarlinsCatcherWilliamsville East High School (NY)
32Detroit TigersPitcherTexas
33Milwaukee BrewersSecond basemanWright State
34Tampa Bay RaysSecond basemanBaylor School (TN)
35Cincinnati RedsCatcherFlorida State
36Minnesota TwinsShortstopOzaukee High School (WI)

Second round

PickPlayerTeamPositionSchool
37Pittsburgh PiratesPitcherBishop Eustace Preparatory School (NJ)
38Texas RangersOutfielderOregon
39Detroit TigersThird basemanFriendswood High School (TX)
40Boston Red SoxOutfielderFlorida
41Baltimore OriolesSecond basemanEast Carolina
42Arizona DiamondbacksShortstopAuburn
43Ben KudrnaKansas City RoyalsPitcherBlue Valley Southwest High School (KS)
44Colorado RockiesPitcherLSU
45Los Angeles AngelsPitcherSaint Mary's
46Calvin ZieglerNew York MetsPitcherTNXL Academy (FL)
47Daylen LileWashington NationalsOutfielderTrinity High School (KY)
48Edwin ArroyoSeattle MarinersShortstopArecibo Baseball Academy (PR)
49Philadelphia PhilliesOutfielderSouth Alabama
50San Francisco GiantsPitcherFordham
51Russell SmithMilwaukee BrewersPitcherTCU
52Miami MarlinsShortstopBoston College
53Andrew AbbottCincinnati RedsPitcherVirginia
54St. Louis CardinalsOutfielderDexter Southfield School (MA)
55New York YankeesPitcherStanford
56Chicago CubsThird basemanJames Madison High School (VA)
57Chicago White SoxThird basemanDesert Mountain High School (AZ)
58Cleveland IndiansPitcherOle Miss
59Atlanta BravesPitcherNebraska
60Oakland AthleticsThird basemanVirginia
61Steven HajjarMinnesota TwinsPitcherMichigan
62San Diego PadresOutfielderIMG Academy (FL)
63Kyle ManzardoTampa Bay RaysFirst basemanWashington State

Competitive Balance Round B

PickPlayerTeamPositionSchool
64Pittsburgh PiratesOutfielderMalvern Preparatory School (PA)
65Baltimore OriolesOutfielderSouthern Miss
66Kansas City RoyalsSecond basemanAlabama
67Arizona DiamondbacksCatcherMiami (FL)
68Joe RockColorado RockiesPitcherOhio
69Cleveland IndiansPitcherFlorida
70Ryan HolgateSt. Louis CardinalsOutfielderArizona
71Robert GasserSan Diego PadresPitcherHouston

Other notable selections

Round PickPlayer<--use sortname template-->TeamPositionSchool
372Pittsburgh PiratesPitcherNorth Oconee High School (GA)
374Detroit TigersPitcherAlabama
376John RhodesBaltimore OriolesOutfielderKentucky
377Arizona DiamondbacksPitcherELEV8 Baseball Academy (FL)
378Kansas City RoyalsCatcherPark Hill High School (MO)
380Los Angeles AngelsPitcherLSU
384Philadelphia PhilliesOutfielderReedy High School (TX)
385San Francisco GiantsPitcherLehigh
386Milwaukee BrewersThird basemanLouisville
391Toronto Blue JaysPitcherGolden West College
392New York YankeesPitcherHamilton High School (AZ)
394Chicago White SoxPitcherMaryland
395Cleveland IndiansSecond baseman / OutfielderLakeland Christian School (FL)
396Atlanta BravesPitcherSoutheast Missouri State
397Oakland AthleticsPitcherGardner-Webb
398Minnesota TwinsPitcherNebraska
399San Diego PadresPitcherArkansas
4104Detroit TigersPitcherBryant
4109Colorado RockiesCatcherMemphis
4110Los Angeles AngelsPitcherVanderbilt
4113Seattle MarinersPitcherTexas A&M
4116Milwaukee BrewersPitcherMcLennan Community College
4118Miami MarlinsOutfielderMississippi State
4121Toronto Blue JaysPitcherTennessee
4122New York YankeesSecond basemanLouisville
4123Chicago CubsOutfielderArkansas
4126Atlanta BravesShortstopTexas Tech
4127Oakland AthleticsOutfielderCal State Northridge
4128Minnesota TwinsThird basemanOklahoma State
4129San Diego PadresPitcherWest Virginia
4131Los Angeles DodgersPitcherUCLA
4132Houston AstrosPitcherBall State
5140Colorado RockiesPitcherNC State
5141Los Angeles AngelsPitcherSouth Carolina
5142New York MetsPitcherFlorida
5145Philadelphia PhilliesPitcherVirginia
5148Houston AstrosOutfielderWright State
5151St. Louis CardinalsPitcherVillanova
5154Chicago CubsShortstopTennessee
5156Cleveland IndiansPitcherCal State Fullerton
5160San Diego PadresSecond basemanTennessee
6164Texas RangersPitcherAlabama
6170Colorado RockiesCatcherTexas Tech
6174Seattle MarinersPitcherCal Poly
6182Toronto Blue JaysPitcherMissouri State
6183New York YankeesPitcherAuburn
6190San Diego PadresPitcherWest Virginia
6191Tampa Bay RaysPitcherTexas Tech
7295Detroit TigersPitcherGeorgia Tech
7207Milwaukee BrewersOutfielderSouthern Illinois
7216Cleveland IndiansPitcherFlorida
7218Oakland AthleticsThird basemanGonzaga
8230Colorado RockiesOutfielderFlorida State
8232New York MetsPitcherVirginia
8239Miami MarlinsPitcherTexas Tech
8243New York YankeesPitcherSoutheastern Louisiana
9273New York YankeesPitcherUSC
9276Cleveland IndiansPitcherMcNeese State
10295Philadelphia PhilliesOutfielderTroy
10296San Francisco GiantsOutfielderFlorida Southern
10302Toronto Blue JaysPitcherUL-Lafayette
10303New York YankeesShortstopMaryland
10306Cleveland IndiansPitcherFlorida
11316Boston Red SoxFirst basemanNotre Dame
11321Los Angeles AngelsPitcherArizona
11327Milwaukee BrewersSecond basemanThousand Oaks (CA)
11339Minnesota TwinsPitcherTexas Tech
11340San Diego PadresPitcherUNC Pembroke
12347Baltimore OriolesPitcherNew Mexico
12356San Francisco GiantsPitcherUNC Wilmington
12358Houston AstrosPitcherDallas Baptist
12363New York YankeesCatcherDartmouth
12367Atlanta BravesPitcherIllinois
12372Los Angeles DodgersPitcherSouth Mountain Community College
14411Los Angeles AngelsPitcherKansas State
15453New York YankeesPitcherVCU
16485Chicago White SoxOutfielderNC State
17499Kansas City RoyalsCatcherNC State
17501Los Angeles AngelsPitcherMichigan State
19555Detroit TigersFirst basemanWestern Carolina
20596San Francisco GiantsShortstopSalisbury High School (NC)
20597Samuel MendezMilwaukee BrewersPitcherCisco College
20602Toronto Blue JaysPitcherWilson High School (PA)
20610San Diego PadresPitcherBeech Senior High School (TN)

Notes

Compensation picks

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MLB Prospect Watch: One 2021 MLB Draft prospect worth watching on each NCAA Men's College World Series team . R.J. . Anderson . . June 17, 2021 . June 19, 2021.
  2. Web site: Here's the 2021 MLB Draft order . Jim . Callis . . October 12, 2020 . October 13, 2020.
  3. MLB's New Free Agent Compensation Rules Are Incredibly Complicated, So Let's Break Them Down. Sports Illustrated. November 7, 2017.
  4. Web site: Bill. Baer. MLB, MLBPA reach agreement on service time, pay, draft. NBC Sports. March 26, 2020. July 27, 2020.
  5. Web site: Simon. Sharkley-Gotlieb. Report: 2021 MLB Draft will be 20 rounds long. theScore. April 2, 2021. April 3, 2021.
  6. Web site: 2021 Draft Tracker . MLB Draft Tracker . MLB Advanced Media . July 14, 2021.
  7. Web site: David. Schoenfield. Pittsburgh Pirates draft Louisville catcher Henry Davis with No. 1 pick; Jack Leiter goes to Texas Rangers at No. 2. ESPN. July 11, 2021. July 13, 2021.
  8. Web site: Bradford William. Davis. Manager A.J. Hinch, GM Jeff Luhnow get one-year suspensions for Astros' sign-stealing; Carlos Beltran not punished. New York Daily News. January 13, 2020. July 27, 2020.
  9. Web site: '21 All-Star Game, Draft moved from Atlanta. April 2, 2021. MLB.com. Anthony . Castrovince . April 2, 2021.
  10. News: Rockies to host 2021 All-Star Game . Thomas . Harding . MLB.com . April 6, 2021 . July 11, 2021.
  11. News: MLB Draft 2021: Why most first-round picks will sign, and other signability questions answered . R. J. . Anderson . . July 11, 2021 . July 12, 2021.