What Diamondbacks fans should know for the 2020 MLB Draft

The Arizona Diamondbacks will have two selections during the first day of the 2020 MLB Draft and five overall throughout the shortened event that will take place Wednesday and Thursday.

Major League Baseball shortened the numbers of selections to five rounds and 160 picks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic, the draft had been scheduled to take place at Omaha, Nebraska, ahead of the now-canceled College World Series.

Clubs were able to reduce the draft as part of their March 26 agreement with the players association. The combined value of their signing bonus pools is $235,906,800 and the amount of signing bonus pool money eliminated is $29,578,100.

A few more things to know about this year’s draft:

What picks do the Diamondbacks own?

Round 1: 18th overall

Competitive balance round A: 33rd overall

Round 2: D-backs lost this pick after signing free agent pitcher Madison Bumgarner

Round 3: 90th overall

Round 4: 119th overall

Round 5: 149th overall

When is it and where can I watch?

The first day of the draft on Wednesday begins at 4 p.m. MST and will run through 37 selections, encompassing the first round and eight competitive balance round picks with teams participating via video conference calls. MLB Network and ESPN will air live coverage that will include video interviews with several top picks and team representatives.

Shortened from 40 rounds because of coronavirus pandemic, the draft will conclude Thursday night with Rounds 2 through 5 for total of 160 players selected. The second day of the draft will be broadcast on ESPN2 starting at 2 p.m. MST.

Who are the top prospects?

Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, Vanderbilt third baseman Austin Martin, Texas A&M left-hander Asa Lacy, Georgia right-hander Emerson Hancock, New Mexico State second baseman and Cienega High School (Vail, Ariz.) product Nick Gonzales, Minnesota right-hander Max Meyer and Florida high school outfielder Zac Veen are among the best prospects in the class.

What are the competitive balance rounds?

Eight teams were awarded picks for the competitive balance round A following the first round through a formula that considers winning percentage and revenue.

Six additional teams received picks for competitive balance round B following the second round. Competitive balance picks can be traded up until a few hours before the draft begins but teams are not permitted to deal any other picks in the draft.

Which teams lost picks?

The Houston Astros were stripped of their first- and second-round picks by baseball commissioner Rob Manfred as part of the punishment for breaking rules against using electronics to steal signs during games. The Astros have one selection among the top 100, No. 72, received as compensation for the loss of pitcher Gerrit Cole, who signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.

The Boston Red Sox lost their second-round pick for violating rules against in-game use of video to identify pitch signals and has one pick among the first 88.

When is the signing deadline for picks?

Teams must sign drafted players by Aug. 1.

What happens to unsigned players after this shortened draft?

Players not selected in draft can sign with major league teams beginning on June 14 at 6 a.m. MST but are limited to signing bonuses of $20,000 or less.

Full 2020 MLB Draft order, Day 1

First round

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Baltimore Orioles
3. Miami Marlins
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Toronto Blue Jays
6. Seattle Mariners
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
8. San Diego Padres
9. Colorado Rockies
10. Los Angeles Angels
11. Chicago White Sox
12. Cincinnati Reds
13. San Francisco Giants
14. Texas Rangers
15. Philadelphia Phillies
16. Chicago Cubs
17. Boston Red Sox
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
19. New York Mets
20. Milwaukee Brewers
21. St. Louis Cardinals
22. Washington Nationals
23. Cleveland Indians
24. Tampa Bay Rays
25. Atlanta Braves
26. Oakland Athletics
27. Minnesota Twins
28. New York Yankees
29. Los Angeles Dodgers

Competitive balance round A

30. Baltimore Orioles
31. Pittsburgh Pirates
32. Kansas City Royals
33. Arizona Diamondbacks
34. San Diego Padres
35. Colorado Rockies
36. Cleveland Indians
37. Tampa Bay Rays

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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