Day One of the MLB Draft is barreling down on us this Saturday, July 11th, starting at 1 PM ET on NBC, Peacock, and MLB Network, and honestly, the stakes for these college programs are wild. We're talking rounds 1 through 4 on Saturday, and then Day Two wraps up with rounds 5-20 on Sunday, July 12th, over on MLB.com. For some teams, getting just four or five of their top commits to actually show up on campus instead of getting snapped up early in this draft is gonna feel like a championship win.
The Draft Schedule, Because It's Gonna Be Wild
Okay, so this year's draft coverage is, in a word, weird. But you gotta know when to tune in, right? Saturday, July 11th, kicks off with Picks 1-10 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock. Then, Picks 11-40 go from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB TV, and MLB+. Finally, Day One wraps up with Picks 41-135 from 4:30-7:45 p.m. on MLB.com, MLB TV, and MLB+. Day Two rolls around on Sunday, July 12th, with Rounds 5-20 running from 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on MLB.com, MLB TV, and MLB+. The prospects we're talking about are the real deal, hitting at least two out of these three big lists: MLB.com's Top 250, Kylie McDaniel’s ESPN Top 250, or Perfect Game's Top 500. If they aren't on those, they're probably heading to college, no problem. This class, man, it's got the potential to launch some teams back into the elite, even pushing for a #1 seed in the 2027 postseason. We're definitely gonna lose a few to the draft's early rounds, but this group is deep. Like, deepest freshman class in a long time deep.Meet Eric Booth Jr.: The Top-10 Talent Coming Your Way
When you talk about players who might get snatched up on Day One, you gotta talk about OF Eric Booth Jr. This kid is legit. His dad, Eric Booth Sr., actually turned down the Blue Jays way back in 1993 as a 34th-round pick and went on to be a record-setting kick returner in college. But Junior, he's taking that inherited speed and athleticism straight to the diamond. He's been polishing his swing and defense this spring, and that combo of tools and skills should absolutely put him in the top 10 picks. His grades are bananas: Hit 55, Power 50, Run 70, Arm 50, Field 55, and an Overall 60! While his left-handed stroke can look a bit choppy because of an unconventional setup, he still makes consistent contact and barrels balls, showing off a seriously good sense of the strike zone. That bat speed and strength? It's translating into impressive exit velocities. Smooth out that stroke and launch a few more, and we're talking 20-25 homers a year. Oh, and he won the home run derby at Perfect Game, so yeah, he can mash.Back to Reality: M's Hit a Bump
While we're all buzzing about the next wave of talent, our M's just took a bit of a hit. The Seattle Mariners unfortunately fell to the Miami Marlins, 4-8. That's a tough one, especially when you're keeping an eye on every single game early in the season. Gotta shake that off, regroup, and come back strong. The draft is all about the future, but our guys on the field right now? We're with them, always.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.