How does the MLB draft work?

Question

i know that in the NFL draft, the worst team gets the first pick and the best team gets the last pick (unless there are some trades)

in the NBA they have a lottery draft, the worst team has the best shot at getting the first pick while the best team has the worst shot

and even though i do believe i know a ton about baseball, i will admit i do not fully understand how the major league baseball draft, in its entirety, works.

Answer 1

MLB goes based on the previous seasons record, regardless of the currrent season record. Like the Rays got #1 pick because they had worst record last year. Even the regular draft is complicated because you can get situations like JD Drew or HS players who opt not to sign and go to college. Here is a link to explain the amateur draft: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Leagu...

There is also the Rule 5 draft. It's tough to explain but here are two links. I really like the first link but the second one will give you more insight.

http://www.mlb.com/news/article_perspect...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_5_draf...

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/ar...

Answer 2

it doesnt...

Answer 3

Just like the NFL

Answer 4

For the standard MLB draft (the one in June), draft picks are given in reverse order of the team's record the previous season.  (I don't remember what they do when two teams had the same record.)  Teams also get supplemental picks during the first round if they failed to sign their first round pick the previous year; supplemental picks after the first round are also given when a team has lost a major player to free agency.  There are 50 total rounds of the draft.

Any player from the U.S.A. or Canada who has (1) completed high school and is not enrolled at a 4-year college, or (2) has finished his 3rd year at a 4-year college is eligible to be drafted.

The Rule 5 draft takes place in December - it is when MLB teams are allowed to pick players from other team's minor league systems who have not been protected by that team.  (The rules there are more complicated and significantly less interesting.  You only see a couple players per year from this draft who make any difference at all for their new teams, so knowing much about it really doesn't make much difference.)