Open thread: 2021 MLB Draft, Round 1, 7/11/21

For the first time ever, the Major League Baseball will host its annual Rule 4 Draft, better known as the First-Year Player Draft, during the month of July, held in conjunction with All-Star Game festivities. Before this change, the draft was held in the beginning of June, just as high school/college seasons were winding down and just before the start of the short-season leagues.

If you’re unfamiliar with the process and how want to learn more about it, we have you covered.

Here’s the schedule for this year’s draft:

• July 11, 7:00 PM EDT: Day 1 (Round 1), MLB Network/ESPN
• July 12, 1:00 PM EDT: Day 2 (Rounds 2-10), MLB.com
• July 13, 12:00 PM EDT: Day 3 (Rounds 11-20), MLB.com

The Mets ended the COVID-shortened 2020 season with a 26-34 record, in fourth place in the National League East, and will make the 10th overall selection in the draft this year. The last time the Mets had the 10th overall pick was 2015, and they selected Michael Conforto. In total, the Mets have a bonus pool valued at $9,026,300, with an assigned slot value for the 10th overall pick of $4,739,900.

The 2020 MLB Draft was unlike any draft that had come before it. Normally 40 rounds long, the 2020 was limited to just five, its 160 picks down 87% from the 1,217 selected in the 2019 MLB. This year’s draft will not be as abbreviated, but it will not return to the 40-round format that had been the norm since 2012, as Major League Baseball and the MLBPA agreed that the 2021 MLB Draft will last 20 rounds.