The current international signing process is plagued by unethical practices, systemic inefficiencies, and glaring disparities. Early talent commitments and the uneven distribution of signing bonuses are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, the landscape is further complicated by the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and HGH, the influence of financial entities, and verbal agreements that manipulate the economics of talent acquisition.
The aggressive pursuit of young athletes, some as young as 11-12 years old, has turned international baseball into a high-pressure ecosystem. This raises serious concerns about the health implications of PED use in children. In Latin America, where many young players come from impoverished backgrounds, families often see baseball as a lifeline to financial stability, leading them to make sacrifices or “whatever it takes” to achieve the goal—sometimes at the expense of the child’s education or well-being.
It’s common for 12-year-olds to leave school and enter training academies that end up raising these childs. They provide food, education, and elite baseball training. For families desperate for a way out of poverty, this seems like the only viable option. Scouts monitor these children regularly, leading to early verbal agreements between teams and agents that promise lucrative signing bonuses. However, these non-binding agreements often leave families vulnerable. They (mistakenly) make financial plans based on uncertain promises, and when teams back out or reduce bonuses, the consequences can be devastating. Lenders, seeing an opportunity, extend loans with exorbitant interest rates, further trapping families in financial hardship. In some cases, broken promises have even led to lawsuits, such as those filed against the Los Angeles Angels in Dominican courts after the team reneged on deals with two young players in 2022.
Financial entities are significant stakeholders in the international market, making high-risk investments in players. These investors often pressure teams and agents to secure signing deals that will return their investment modifying the talent selection process, but in many cases, they never recover their money.
The MLB International Draft: Traditional Draft Regulations Lack Real Solutions
To address these systemic issues, MLB has proposed an International Draft to foster a more level playing field. However, this solution has inadvertently deepened some challenges, pouring more resources into an already bloated free-agent market and widening the gap between wealthier well networked and less networked teams and academies.
While the idea of a global amateur player draft promises a theoretically more organized and fair system for international talent acquisition, it doesn’t guarantee to fix the most relevant pain points in the International Market and it won’t be without significant logistical, legal, and stakeholder resistance.
Moreover, the proposal does little to address the rampant PED use among young athletes, an issue that should be treated with the urgency of child protection laws and political intervention. Simply implementing a draft won’t resolve these issues unless the regulations and frameworks put in place are truly designed for long-term success.
In light of these challenges, I am sharing some insights that leverage creative and advanced technological approaches to align with MLB’s goals of building a more equitable, transparent, and competitive framework for international talent acquisition. Our plan addresses the root issues in the current system—especially PED use and predatory financial entities—and seeks to create a sustainable model that respects the unique cultural and socio-economic realities of international baseball communities.
Let’s create real, sustainable change rather than pouring more resources into an already bloated system. The draft is a start, but specific and clear regulations are needed to ensure a more balanced, ethical, and respectful process for scouting and developing international talent while preserving the integrity of the sport and the health of young athletes.
A Vision for a More Ethical System
To build a fairer, more transparent system, I would love to contribute to the Draft conversations with the following insights aimed at addressing the core issues:
1. Protecting Athlete Health: Stronger Anti-Doping and Physical Testing
Young athletes should never have to choose between their health and their dreams.
Insights:
Anti-Doping Testing: Conduct anti-doping tests at the start of the registration period for all potential Level 2 candidates.
Comprehensive Physical Exams: Ensure transparency with neutral, MLB-sanctioned physical exams for all Level 2 prospects to avoid last minute drawbacks.
Sanctions and Appeals Process: Establish a clear protocol for Agents/Players sanctions and appeals in the event of a positive doping result, a failed physical exam or unethical behavior.
2. Enhancing Draft Regulations for Strategic Flexibility
The draft could be made more attractive by allowing for greater strategic flexibility and financial balance.
Insights:
3rd Round Bonus Pool Adjustment: Allow teams to allocate their 3rd-round bonus pool to the 20th round, providing flexibility to sign multiple players or concentrate funds on top talent that reject their pick. On the agent's side, players selected from the 4th round and beyond can reject their pick in pursuit of a better deal in the last round, with teams that passed on their 3rd-round selection.
Limit on Transferable Picks: Cap the number of transferable draft picks at four (two from the first 10 rounds and two from the second 10 rounds). This encourages teams to use their picks strategically while maintaining competitive balance.
3. Elevating the Trainer Partnership Program: Raising Standards and Accountability
Trainers and agents are often at the center of criticism, frequently blamed as part of the problem, when in fact they are a crucial part of the solution, playing a pivotal role in guiding young prospects through the signing process. However, without proper regulation and thoughtful consideration, the Draft could harm talent development and lead to significant failure. It’s also true that large, well-connected academies can manipulate the market, leaving smaller, honest academies at a disadvantage.
Insights:
Mandatory Knowledge Tests: Ensure trainers and agents are knowledgeable about advanced technologies, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), anti-doping policies, and ethical treatment of young talent.
Comprehensive Study Resources: Provide detailed materials to prepare trainers and agents to guide international prospects ethically.
Small Academy Support/Mentorship Program: Establish a program where larger, academies (MLB Partnership members) mentor smaller ones. This would make it easier for MLB to monitor players and agents who adhere to regulations. Additionally, it would support non-Partnership members in ranking their prospects without undermining their efforts.
4. Data-Driven Talent Evaluation: Objective and Fair
Talent evaluation has always been a complex process, requiring the assessment of physical, mental (IQ) and emotional (EQ) attributes. Technology has made it easier to measure physical talent, and the draft can help level the playing field by incorporating data-driven insights.
Insights:
Objective Tool Value (OTV) Ranking: Introduce a ranking system based on raw data captured with tracking systems (exit velocity, first step, reaction time, vertical break, etc.).
All Around Rank: Aggregate OTV scores to provide a comprehensive market value or Draft Pick of the Raw talent for each player.
Behavioral Assessments: Include emotional intelligence and leadership assessments to provide extra info to teams by identifying players suited for high-pressure environments.
5. The MLB Showcase Tour: Global Access to Talent
To ensure equal opportunities for all international players, it would be ideal to keep MLB Showcases by officially adding data collectors programs to the MLB Showcase Tour.
Insights:
Local Showcases: Leverage existing showcase companies and tech based data collectors to host regional events a year ahead of the signing class, providing early exposure to talent.
Regional Showcase for Level 2 Prospect Selection: These would select 150, MLB and Teams voted “Level 2 Prospects”.
- National/International Showcase: Level 2 Prospects would participate in a final showcase for MLB teams to assess their talent.
- Draft Combine: this event could be open to every player or a more selective one as part of the Level 2 National/International showcase which would contribute to the AAR of each player.
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