What Is 2019 Major League Baseball draft

Overview

The 2019 Major League Baseball draft marked the 55th annual selection meeting for MLB teams to recruit amateur players. Held from June 3 to June 5, it began with the first round televised from Secaucus, New Jersey, before continuing online for subsequent rounds.

This draft was notable for its final year under the 40-round format before MLB shortened it to 20 rounds in 2020 due to the pandemic. It featured a mix of high school and college talent, with position players and pitchers both highly sought after.

• Adley Rutschman, a catcher from Oregon State, was selected first overall by the Baltimore Orioles due to his elite defensive skills and offensive consistency.
• The draft spanned 40 rounds, a structure that had been standard since 1996, resulting in 1,217 total selections across all teams.
• June 3, 2019 marked the start of the draft, with the first 36 picks broadcast live on MLB Network and ESPN2 from MLB Network Studios.
• The Baltimore Orioles held the first pick after finishing with the worst record in the 2018 MLB season, a reward under the league’s reverse-order draft system.
• Rutschman received a $8,133,300 signing bonus, the maximum allotted under MLB’s 2019 draft slot values, making it the largest bonus of the draft.

How It Works

The MLB draft operates under a structured system balancing competitive fairness and player development. Teams select in reverse order of the previous season’s standings, with draft order adjustments for qualifying offers and competitive balance picks.

• Reverse Order Selection: The team with the worst record in 2018, the Baltimore Orioles, picked first, ensuring weaker teams get early access to top talent for rebuilding.
• Competitive Balance Rounds: Introduced in 2012, Competitive Balance Rounds A and B provide extra picks to small-market or low-revenue teams to promote parity.
• Draft Slot Values: Each pick has a predetermined monetary value; teams must stay within 10% over or under the assigned slot total to avoid penalties.
• Signing Deadline: Players selected must sign by 5 p.m. ET on August 15, 2019, or they become eligible for the next year’s draft if unsigned.
• Amateur Eligibility: Eligible players include high school graduates, college athletes who have completed junior or senior years, and international players residing in the U.S.
• Compensation Picks: Teams losing qualified free agents in the prior offseason could receive compensation picks, though this system was revised in later years.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2019 MLB draft to prior and subsequent years highlights structural and strategic shifts in player acquisition.

The table shows that 2019 was the last year of the traditional 40-round format. While the number of picks remained stable around 1,200, the 2020 pandemic drastically reduced rounds to five, reshaping how teams evaluate talent depth. The gradual increase in signing bonuses reflects rising investment in top prospects.

Why It Matters

The 2019 MLB draft had lasting implications for team development and league competitiveness, shaping future rosters and performance trajectories.

• Adley Rutschman quickly became a cornerstone for the Orioles, reaching MLB by 2022 and emerging as a potential franchise player.
• Teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, who selected Term Arrizabalaga 2nd overall, invested heavily in high-upside arms to rebuild their pitching staff.
• The draft emphasized college players, with 25 of the top 30 picks coming from NCAA programs, reflecting MLB teams’ preference for polished talent.
• Signing bonuses continued to rise, with 11 players receiving over $3 million, indicating increased financial commitment to early-round picks.
• Several draftees, including Marcelo Mayer (4th overall in 2021), were influenced by the 2019 class’s success, raising expectations for future drafts.
• The 2019 draft also highlighted geographic diversity, with players selected from 48 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, showcasing MLB’s broad scouting reach.

Ultimately, the 2019 MLB draft served as a bridge between traditional scouting methods and modern analytics-driven player evaluation, setting precedents for how teams approach talent acquisition in the modern era.