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The 2016 MLB Draft kicks off Thursday. Here is a schedule of events for the week:
Day 1 (June 9)
Preview show: 6 PM (MLB Network)
Rounds 1-2: 7 PM (MLB Network and MLB.com)
Day 2 (June 10)
Preview show: 12:30 PM (MLB.com)
Rounds 3-10: 1 PM (MLB.com)
Day 3 (June 11)
Rounds 11-40: 12 PM (MLB.com)
Thursday's broadcast will cover the first 77 picks, which encompass the first round, the compensation round, the first competitive-balance round, the second round, and the second competitive-balance round.
Thursday's broadcast will also feature Andy Sonnanstine announcing the Rays' second two picks.
The Rays hold picks No. 13, 53 and 77 Thursday. On Friday, they will pick 90th overall, 120th and then every 30 picks after that for the rest of time.
Players
The DRaysBay staff brought you several pieces to prepare the community for some of the players available:
Up-the-middle position players
Corner position bats
Pitchers with stuff
Pitchers with control
John Town took a stab at projecting the first 34 picks, and you can find a round up of the main stream mock draft here.
Important thing to know
The Rays can spend up to $7,643,100 on their picks. The league arrives at this number by adding up the valuations of a team's picks in the first 10 rounds.
Players are not tied to those individual values at all, but teams cannot exceed that by a certain amount without facing financial and draft pick penalties in future drafts. Although that number only accounts for picks in the top ten rounds, players drafted beyond that that sign for more than $500,000 count against the cap.
Not really important
No. 13 pick in 2015
Rays outfielder Garrett Whitley (has reached short-season Class A)
Top No. 13 picks
1. Manny Ramirez (69.2 WAR)
2. Frank Tanana (57.9 WAR)
3. Chris Sale (29.0 WAR)
Other No. 13 picks
2014: Trea Turner
2003: Aaron Hill
2001: Casey Kotchman
1997: College baseball analyst Kyle Peterson
1994: Paul Konerko
1982: Former Pirates manager John Russell
No. 52 pick in 2015
Mets outfielder Desmond Lindsay (reached short-season Class A)
Top No. 53 picks
1. Gary Carter (69.9 WAR)
2. Andy Messersmith (40.2 WAR)
3. Phil Bradley (18.5 WAR)
Other No. 53 picks
2011: Dwight Smith Jr.
2002: Kevin Jepsen
1995: Sean Casey
1979: Pitching coach blamed for Jake Arrieta not being good in Baltimore Rick Adair
1978: Steve Bedrosian
No. 77 pick in 2015
Rockies pitcher Javier Medina (reached advanced Rookie ball)
Top No. 77 picks
1. Alex Wilson (2.0 WAR)
2. Ken Patterson (1.9 WAR)
3. Rich Folkers (1.8 WAR)
Other No. 77 picks
1993: Jesuit H.S. grad Troy Carrasco
1987: Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh