Major League Baseball proposed a sweeping overhaul of its draft eligibility system on Thursday, June 18, including the elimination of high school draftee eligibility as a part of the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with the MLBPA.
Under the proposal, players would become draft-eligible following their sophomore year of college. Currently, players who enroll in college cannot enter the draft until after their junior season or upon turning 21, whichever comes first.
"Over the last several years, college baseball has undergone a remarkable transformation," MLB said in a statement. "Expanded scholarships, NIL opportunities, revenue sharing and significant investments in facilities and player development have made college baseball an increasingly important pathway that is producing major league-ready talent at an accelerated rate."
The number of high school players selected in the draft has already declined in recent years as college baseball has become more attractive. In 2021, there were 115 high schoolers drafted. By 2025, that number had fallen to 96.
This announcement comes just one month before the 2026 MLB Draft, which will see a number of elite high school players drafted. Of the 334 players invited to the MLB Draft Combine next week, 140 players are in high school.