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The 2015 MLB Draft is finally upon us. Things get underway on Monday night and the draft will run through Wednesday. It tends to take a while for top high school and collegiate prospects to become major names but many franchises aim to build through each year's June selections.
While the players selected in the NFL and NBA drafts are expected to contribute right away, more often than not, baseball draft picks develop through minor league systems. There is a notable amount of talent in this year's draft class and with 50 rounds, there will inevitably be quite a few misses.To kick things off in the 2015 version of the draft, the Diamondbacks will make their selection with the first overall pick. The Astros, Rockies, Rangers, and Astros again will pick 2-5, respectively.
Here's everything you need to know before the draft:
The first round tends to be the most popular and some clubs do not pick the way they are expected to. Here are a few headlines to keep track of:
-Meet your top 200 prospects here. Some of these athletes could be drafted early.
-Houston has been blocked from redrafting two of its former picks.
-You can watch 12 top prospects in Super Regional action.
-There are quite a few talented pitchers available. Which pitchers have the edge? High school or college arms?
-Three shortstops are atop the latest MLB.com mock draft.
-While there are quite a few shortstops available, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman says there are more arms to watch.
-Pay close attention to the first few picks. There is no consensus for who will be selected first overall, according to ESPN's Keith Law.
-Arizona wants to sign their first overall pick below the slot deal. Here's why.
-Every team has a different need. But it is always tempting to take the best player available.
Where to Watch
First round coverage
Date: Monday, June 8
Time: 7:00 P.M. EST
TV: MLB Network
Streaming: MLB.com
Rounds 3-10
Date: Tuesday, June 9
Time: 1:00 P.M. EST
Streaming: MLB.com
Rounds 11-40
Date: Wednesday, June 10
Time: 12:00 P.M. EST
Streaming: MLB.com
Draft Eligibility and Rules
Any United States or Canadian citizen who has not signed a minor or major league contract is eligible to be selected in the draft. Foreign born individuals who are enrolled in a United States high school or college are also eligible to be drafted.
Teams will make selections in each round of the draft based on the reverse order (records) of the previous season. Major League clubs cannot trade their draft picks; only competitive balance round selections can be dealt.
Who to follow?
Twitter is a great resource, so if you cannot watch your team's selection, make sure you are following these writers and analysts. Below is a list of national reporters followed by team beat writers who will help you keep track of your team's picks.
@JonathanMayoB3, MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com Writer
@jimcallisMLB, MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com Writer
@BerniePleskoff, Former scout and current MLBPipeline.com Writer
@Ken_Rosenthal, FOX Sports Writer
@JonHeymanCBS, CBS Sports Writer
@Buster_ESPN, ESPN Writer
AL Writers
Bryan Hoch - , Yankees beat writer
Pete Abraham - , Red Sox beat writer
Gregor Chisholm - , Blue Jays beat writer
Brittany Ghiroli - , Orioles beat writer
Marc Topkin - , Rays beat writer
Scott Merkin - , White Sox beat writer
Paul Hoynes - , Indians beat writer
LaVelle Neal - , Twins beat writer
Andy McCullough - , Royals beat writer
Jason Beck - , Tigers beat writer
Bill Shaikin - , Angels beat writer
Ryan Divish - , Mariners beat writer
Brian McTaggart - , Astros beat writer
Susan Slusser - , Athletics beat writer
Evan Grant - , Rangers beat writer
NL Writers
Jim Salisbury - , Phillies beat writer
Adam Kilgore - , Nationals beat writer
Adam Rubin - , Mets beat writer
Joe Frisaro - , Marlins beat writer
Mark Bowman - , Braves beat writer
Carrie Muskat - , Cubs beat writer
John Fay - , Reds beat writer
Tom Haudricort - , Brewers beat writer
Derrick Goold - , Cardinals beat writer
Dejan Kovacevic - , Pirates beat writer
Troy Renck - , Rockies beat writer
Nick Piecoro - , Diamondbacks beat writer
Dylan Hernandez - , Dodgers beat writer
Henry Schulman - , Giants beat writer
Corey Brock - , Padres beat writer
*Stay tuned to SB Nation and Daily Dish for pick-by-pick news and analysis. Keep up with our coverage here.