2018 MLB draft: How to watch and Tampa Bay Rays info

On Monday, the Detroit Tigers will be on the clock with the No. 1 pick, and the annual draft will begin.

How to watch Day 1 of the draft

When: Monday, June 4, 6 p.m. (preview show) 7 p.m. (draft)

TV: MLB Network

Online: MLB.com

How to watch Day 2 of the draft

When: Tuesday, June 5, 12:30 p.m. (preview show) 1 p.m. (draft)

Online: MLB.com

How to watch Day 3 of the draft

When: Wednesday, June 6, 12 p.m.

Online: MLB.com

Day 1 will feature the top 78 picks, which include the first round and second rounds, two competitive balance rounds, and two compensation pick rounds. Day 2 will be rounds 3-10, and Day 3 will be the final 30 rounds.

On the first day of the draft, the Rays will be represented by baseball operations administrator Sandy Dengler and scout Lou Wieben in the MLB Network studio.

The Rays will have the No. 16, 31, 32, 56, and 71 picks on the first day. On the second day, they’ll have the No. 92 pick, No. 120 pick, and every 30th pick after that.

Players

The DRaysBay staff covered quite a few players the team could take. Check out these previews:

College pitchers
Corner bats
High school pitchers
Up-the-middle bats

If you’re looking for industry rankings and reports on even more players, here are some additional sources:

Minor League Ball
FanGraphs
MLB.com
Baseball America ($)
ESPN ($)

Who might the Rays take?

Here is some of the latest mock draft buzz:

Baseball America ($): RHP Grayson Rodriguez
ESPN ($): C Noah Naylor
FanGraphs: RHP Mason Denaburg
MLB.com: 1B Triston Casas

An important thing to know

The Rays can spend up to $12,415,600 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 10 rounds, bonus money in excess of $125,000 in the final 30 rounds counts against the cap.

Trivia that is not important to know

No. 16 pick in 2017: Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt (has not pitched)

Top No. 16 picks

1. Lance Berkman (52.1 WAR)
2. C Lance Parrish (39.5 WAR)
3. OF Shawn Green (34.7 WAR)

Other No. 16 picks

2015: RHP James Kaprielian
2014: SS J.P. Crawford
2013: RHP Lucas Gioilto
2010: RHP Hayden Simpson
2003: RHP Jeff Allison
2002: OF Nick Swisher
1986: RHP Roberto Hernandez
1977: IF Wally Backman

No. 31 pick in 2017: Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (did not sign)

Top No. 31 picks

1. RHP Greg Maddux (106.7 WAR)
2. LHP Jarrod Washburn (28.2 WAR)
3. LHP J.P. Howell (7.9 WAR)

Other No. 31 picks

2014: LHP Justus Sheffield
2011: OF Mikie Mahtook
2010: C Justin O’Conner
2009: OF Brett Jackson
1997: RHP Jason Standridge

No. 32 pick in 2017: Reds SS Jeter Downs (has reached Class A)

Top No. 32 picks

1. IF Dave Magadan (21.1 WAR)
2. LHP Lee Lacy (20.2 WAR)
3. LHP Justin Thompson (12.8 WAR)

Other No. 32 picks

2013: OF Aaron Judge
2012: RHP Jose Berrios
2011: IF Jake Hager
2010: SS Cito Culver
2008: RHP Jake Odorizzi
2005: RHP Chaz Roe
1997: OF Nathan Haynes
1984: RHP John Farrell

No. 56 pick in 2017: Astros RHP Corbin Martin (has reached Double A)

Top No. 56 picks

1. LHP Jimmy Key (49.1 WAR)
2. SS J.J. Hardy (28.4 WAR)
3. OF Richie Zisk (25.1 WAR)

Other No. 56 picks

2015: RHP Brady Singer
2011: OF Kes Carter
2005: RHP Chris Mason
2000: OF Jason Bourgeois

No. 71 pick in 2017: Indians SS Tyler Freeman (has reached complex league)

Top No. 71 picks

1. 3B Ken Caminiti (33.5 WAR)
2. LHP Floyd Bannister (26.6 WAR)
3. C A.J. Pierzynski (23.9 WAR)

Other No. 71 picks

2006: RHP Justin Masterson
2002: RHP Brandon Weeden
1989: LHP Jerry Dipoto
1980: OF Danny Tartabull
1979: C Bob Melvin