Major League Baseball made it official Wednesday announcing that the 2020 first-year player draft will take place in Omaha, Neb., site of the NCAA Men’s College World Series.
The first round of the three-day draft will be moved from June 8 to June 10 and will not conflict with any NCAA games for the first time. The College World Series will start June 13.
Since 2009, the MLB draft has taken place at the MLB Network headquarters in Secaucus, N.J. The 2019 draft took place during NCAA Tournament regional finals, with some players learning they had been drafted while they were playing in a key game.
All 2020 College World Series participating teams will be invited to take part in MLB Draft festivities.
“The College World Series is a world-class championship experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans,” NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a release. “Major League Baseball’s decision to move the Draft to Omaha shines an additional spotlight on NCAA college baseball and the opportunity for our baseball student-athletes who may play professionally to pursue their dreams.”
Rounds 2-10 of the draft will take place on June 11, while the conclusion of selections, through Round 40, will take place June 12. The 2020 MLB Draft will be held on site at Omaha’s Holland Performing Arts Center.
