The number of high school prospects that get selected in the MLB Draft has declined since 2020, when the number of rounds decreased from 40 to 10 during the pandemic.
Even though the number of rounds settled at 20 in recent seasons, there are still fewer high school draft picks on average. NIL deals have made it more enticing for high school prospects to go to college -- and get paid to play. High school players also have more leverage to negotiate for signing bonuses, so pro teams select college players who are willing to sign for less.
In 2025, 33 of the first 90 selections were high school players; however, this number skewed heavily toward college prospects as the draft progressed.
Still, five New England high school prospects have emerged as legit pro prospects heading into the 2026 MLB Draft. Here's a look at how they ascended to that level.
