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The 2015 MLB Draft is just hours away with no clear design on how the first few selections will turn out. At No. 1 overall, the Arizona Diamondbacks don't have an obvious choice like the Washington Nationals did with Stephen Strasburg in 2009 and Bryce Harper in 2010.
Prep shortstop Brendan Rodgers and college shortstop Dansby Swanson are considered the top two talents in the draft, but the D-backs could opt for prep catcher Tyler Stephenson in an effort to save money that could be used on later draft picks who are tougher signs, as a recent Baseball America mock draft has it.
However that choice turns out, the Colorado Rockies won't have long to wait before they are on the clock for the third overall selection. But the MLB Draft is more than just the first round; it's an endurance test. The NBA Draft? One night for two rounds. The NHL Draft? Two days for seven rounds. The NFL Draft? A bloated three-day affair for seven rounds. The MLB Draft, though? Forty glorious rounds over three days. You're in it for the long haul and we're here to help.
How long is the draft?
The draft takes place over three days: Monday, June 8, through Wednesday, June 10. The first day of the draft consists of Rounds 1 and 2 and a few compensation and competitive balance rounds. The second day covers Rounds 3-10, and the third day covers the remaining Rounds 11-40.
OK, but how do I follow it?
The MLB Draft is almost a decade into finally having some coverage on television. MLB Network coverage begins at 5 p.m. MT and is scheduled to last until 9:30 p.m. That will take care of the first round, the compensation round, Competitive Balance A round, the second round, and Competitive Balance B round.
What if I don't have MLB Network or won't be around a TV?
You're in luck! MLB.com will live stream its MLB Network coverage and will be the exclusive provider of coverage for the other two days of the draft. Tuesday's coverage picks up at 11 a.m. and Wednesday's starts at 10 a.m. MLB.com will also have a live draft tracker should you not able to watch on TV or the live stream.
Alright. Now tell me where the Rockies pick.
The Rockies have the No. 3 overall pick in the first round, but in all other regular rounds the team will select second. Though the Rockies finished the 2014 season with the second worst record (behind the Arizona Diamondbacks), the Houston Astros failed to sign 2014 No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken. As a result, the Astros gained a compensation pick that slots in at No. 2 overall, shifting the Rockies down one spot.
What about these irregular rounds? Do the Rockies have picks there?
Yes. The Rockies have the first selection of the compensation round, the No. 27 overall pick, and the No. 38 overall pick in the Competitive Balance A round. The former comes as a result of extending a qualifying offer to Michael Cuddyer, whom the New York Mets saw fit to sign and give up their first round choice. The latter competitive balance round has been around since 2012, under the current CBA, and is designed to help smaller market teams.
To recap, the Rockies have what selections?
Day 1
First round: No. 3 (Brendan Rodgers, SS)
Compensation pick: No. 27 (Mike Nikorak, RHP)
Competitive Balance A round: No. 38 (Tyler Nevin, 3B)
Second round: No. 44 (Peter Lambert, RHP)
Day 2
Rounds 3-10: Second selection
Day 3
Rounds 11-40: Second selection
Great. Who might the Rockies select with the No. 3 overall pick?
There are three names connected to the Rockies in most mock drafts: Brendan Rodgers, a high school shortstop from Florida; Dansby Swanson, a college shortstop at Vanderbilt; and Tyler Jay, a left-handed college pitcher at Illinois. Rodgers and Swanson are usually ranked near the top of draft boards, with Jay a bit farther down.
Who are some notable No. 3 draft picks?
The Rockies selected Jon Gray there in 2013, and he's likely to make his major league debut later this season. All other No. 3 overall picks since 2010 have already made the majors: Carlos Rodon (2014, White Sox), Mike Zunino (2012, Mariners), Trevor Bauer (2011, D-backs, now with Indians), and Manny Machado (2010, Orioles).
In 2006, the Tampa Bay Rays took Evan Longoria with the third pick, much to the dismay of Rockies fans. That was the year the Rockies passed on Longoria and selected Stanford's Greg Reynolds with the No. 2 pick.
Robin Yount (1973) and Paul Molitor (1977) are the two best players to come from the No. 3 selection. Matt Williams (1986) and Troy Glaus (1997) also rank high as successful picks at that choice.
So, if the Rockies draft either Rodgers or Swanson does that mean the team will trade Troy Tulo--
No.
Alright, but why draft a pitcher at No. 3? The team is just going to ruin him.
Stop it.
But party deck!
We're done here.
Sorry, sorry! One last question. What's the full first round selection order?
Here you go, and we'll even update this for you as selections are made. The full draft order is here.
# | Team | Selection |
1 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Dansby Swanson, SS, Vanderbilt |
2 | Houston Astros | Alex Bregman, SS, LSU |
3 | Colorado Rockies | Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary HS (Fla.) |
4 | Texas Rangers | Dillon Tate, RHP, UC Santa Barbara |
5 | Houston Astros | Kyle Tucker, OF, H.B. Plant HS (Fla.) |
6 | Minnesota Twins | Tyler Jay, LHP, Illinois |
7 | Boston Red Sox | Andrew Benintendi, OF, Arkansas |
8 | Chicago White Sox | Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt |
9 | Chicago Cubs | Ian Happ, OF, Cincinnati |
10 | Philadelphia Phillies | Cornelius Randolph, Griffin HS (Ga.) |
11 | Cincinnati Reds | Tyler Stephenson, C, Kennesaw Mountain HS (Ga.) |
12 | Miami Marlins | Josh Naylor, 1B, St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS (Canada) |
13 | Tampa Bay Rays | Garrett Whitley, OF, Niskayuna HS (NY) |
14 | Atlanta Braves | Kolby Allard, LHP, San Clemente HS (Calif.) |
15 | Milwaukee Brewers | Trent Clark, OF, Richland HS (Tx.) |
16 | New York Yankees | James Kaprielian, RHP, UCLA |
17 | Cleveland Indians | Brady Aiken, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.) |
18 | San Francisco Giants | Phil Bickford, RHP, Southern Nevada |
19 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Kevin Newman, SS, Arizona |
20 | Oakland Athletics | Richie Martin, SS, Florida |
21 | Kansas City Royals | Ashe Russell, RHP, Cathedral HS (Ind.) |
22 | Detroit Tigers | Beau Burrows, RHP, Weatherford HS (Tx.) |
23 | St. Louis Cardinals | Nick Plummer, OF, Brother Rice HS (Mich.) |
24 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Walker Buehler, RHP, Vanderbilt |
25 | Baltimore Orioles | D.J. Stewart, OF, Florida Sate. |
26 | Los Angeles Angels | Taylor Ward, C, Fresno State |
27 | Colorado Rockies | Mike Nikorak, RHP, Stroudsburg HS (Pa.) |
28 | Atlanta Braves | Mike Soroka, RHP, Bishop Carroll HS (Canada) |
29 | Toronto Blue Jays | Jon Harris, RHP, Missouri State |
30 | New York Yankees | Kyle Holder, SS, San Diego |
31 | San Francisco Giants | Chris Shaw, 1B, Boston College |
32 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Concordia Lutheran HS (Tx.) |
33 | Kansas City Royals | Nolan Watson, RHP, Lawrence North HS (Ind.) |
34 | Detroit Tigers | Christin Stewart, OF, Tennessee |
35 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville |
36 | Baltimore Orioles | Ryan Mountcastle, SS, Hagerty HS (Fla.) |