PROS AND CONS

The myriad ramifications of moving the 2021 draft back a month

- CARLOS COLLAZO

In late August, Baseball America reported that the 2021 draft was being pushed back to July 11-13, the latest it has ever been held. The event will take place in Atlanta during All-Star Game weekend.

While moving the draft back on the calendar might seem like a minor tweak, the ramifications and ripple effects that it has for amateur players, college teams and both amateur and pro scouting officials are plentiful.

The most obvious benefit of the new system is avoiding a scenario where college players are drafted in the middle of a College World Series run.

“We’ve had players who are playing and get drafted in the middle of a game,” one Power 5 Conference college coach said. “Like, we’re about to play and you just got drafted in the second round. Congrats. Did you really even get to enjoy that moment with your family?”

For scouts, it means they can breathe easier after recommending a college player who will get millions of dollars.

“There’s always the worry about injuries during the College World Series,” one scouting director said. “Some of the pitchers, as they are playing to win this thing, the amount of pitches and innings that they throw—you kind of just hold your breath after you have already drafted them. It’s going to be a little bit more peace of mind with that being done.”