2023 Cubs MLB First-Year Player Draft Ticker Tracker

CUBS 2023 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS 

DAY ONE (7/9)

1st ROUND (13) 
Matt Shaw, SS 
R/R, 5'11 185, age 21
U. of Maryland 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year... was also named a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and won the Brooks Wallace Award as the top shortstop in college baseball (previous winners include Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, and Alex Bregman)... broke the Terrapins career HR record in just three seasons... average exit velo was 107 (albeit with a metal bat)... hit 341/445/697 with 24 HR & 69 RBI, 20 doubles, and 80 runs scored in 62 games (317 PA), with more walks than strikeouts (43 BB and 42 K), plus eight HBP... 14% walk-rate and 14% K-rate... has above-average speed... 18 stolen bases (only one CS) in 2023... began college career as a second-baseman before moving to shortstop as a sophomore... has a below-average arm and so he projects to be a second-baseman or possibly a left-fielder in pro ball... played for Bourne Braves in Cape Cod League (top summer collegiate summer wood bat league) in 2022, hit 333/421/485, and was named Cape Cod League Player of the Year...    
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $4,848,500

2nd ROUND (N/A) 
NOTE: Cubs 2023 2nd ROUND pick was forfeited after signing Qualified Player Dansby Swanson   

2nd ROUND / COMPENSATION PICK (68) 
Jaxon Wiggins, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 225, age 21
U. of Arkansas 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Missed 2023 season after undergoing right elbow UCL transplant (TJS) in May... repertoire includes FB 94-95 T-97, a mid-80's SL, a CH, and a 12-6 CV... touched triple digits with his FB as a reliever (part-time closer) as a freshman at Arkansas in 2021 and again later that year with Team USA... was the Saturday (#2) starter behind Cubs 2022 9th round pick RHP Connor Noland in his sophomore year (2022) at Arkansas, but had a disappointing season, going 6-3 with a 6.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, allowing 65 hits (including 11 HR), .253 OppBA, with 43/82 BB/K, seven HBP, and 12 WP, in 66.0 IP... however, he was projected to be the Razorbacks #1 SP in 2023 after showing improved command & control in fall practice... played baseball and basketball in HS (Roland, OK)...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,101,000
NOTE: Compensation Draft pick was awarded after St. Louis Cardinals signed Qualified Player Willson Contreras
 

DAY TWO (7/10)

3rd ROUND (81)
Josh Rivera, SS
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22 
U. of Florida 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: 1st Team All-SEC... one of the top-rated college seniors in the draft... was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award (top college shortstop)...  hit only 254/351/429 with nine HR in 2022 and was not drafted as a junior, but then hit 348/447/617 with 19 HR & 72 RBI, 18 SB (4 CS), and more walks than strikeouts (46 BB and 35 K - 15% BB-rate and 11% K-rate) for Gators in 2023... is an above-average defensive SS... has only average speed, but he is an above-average baserunner with a high baseball IQ... played for Chatham in the Cape Cod League (the top summer collegiate wood bat league) after sophomore season in 2021 and hit 248/318/325... was drafted by Padres out of IMG Academy in 22nd round in 2019 but did not sign...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $872,400

4th ROUND (113)
Will Sanders, RHP 
L/R, 6'6 230, age 21 
U. of South Carolina
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was the Gamecocks #1 (Friday) starter in 2022 when he went 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, allowing 84 hits (14 HR), with 31/91 BB/K, in 89.1 IP... was projected as a potential top half of 1st round pick coming into 2023 season, but stock dropped after disappointing season that ended with a season-ending foot injury... went 4-4 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, allowing 54 hits (11 HR), with 26/77 BB/K in 62.2 IP in 2023 before season ended early... throws from a 3/4 arm slot and features a 92-94 MPH T-98 FB that was battered by college hitters in 2023 (opponent OPS over 1.000), but he gets swing & miss with his CV... CH is his best pitch... was named to SEC All-Freshmen Team and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team in 2021.. was a reliever and teammate of Cubs 2nd round (compensation) pick Jaxon Wiggins with Team USA after freshman season in 2021... was named an Under Armour All-American at Woodward Academy senior year in HS... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $591,800

5th ROUND (149)
Michael Carico, C
L/R, 6'0 190, age 20 
Davidson 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was rated the consensus #2 college catching prospect coming into the 2023 season, but season was cut-short after 21 games after he suffered a season-ending broken wrist in March... was hitting 350/514/688 with seven HR and six doubles at the time of his injury... led NCAA D-1 in OBP and HBP in 2022 when he hit 406/559/843 with 21 HR & 57 RBI, 21 doubles, 46 BB and 35 K, and 26 (!) HBP in 54 games (272 PA)... won an ABCA / Rawlings Gold Glove and was named an ABCA / Rawlings and Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American and Baseball America Third Team All-American in 2022... hit 263/482/447 for Rochester in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... was invited to Team USA training site in 2022 but did not make the final roster after too much swing & miss versus high-velo FB while facing quality "live" pitching... has a high-angle uppercut swing, and an average arm from behind the plate... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $416,900

6th ROUND (176)
Alfonsin Rosario, OF 
R/R, 6'2 210, age 19 
P27 Academy (Lexington, SC) 
HIGH SCHOOL 
COLLEGE COMMIT: Chipola JC 
COMMENT: Native of Dominican Republic... has above average speed, a plus-plus arm, plus bat speed, raw HR power, and lots of swing & miss... throw from outfield was clocked at 101 MPH at Perfect Game National Showcase in 2022... brother Eguy is an infielder in Padres organization... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $325,600

7th ROUND (206)
Yahil Melendez, SS 
L/R, 6'3 165, age 17 
B You Academy (Caguas, PR)  
HIGH SCHOOL  
COLLEGE COMMIT: Rice 
COMMENT: Rated the second best SS prospect and the sixth best prospect overall out of Puerto Rico in 2023 draft by Perfect Game... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $254,500

8th ROUND (236)
Brett Bateman, CF 
L/L, 5'10 170, age 21  
U. of Minnesota 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Was named Golden Gophers MVP in 2023... high-contact "singles hitter," lead-off man, and centerfielder... has above-average speed but absolutely no HR power... hit 320/404/373 with no HR, 22 doubles, 61 BB & 58 K, 42 SB (12 CS) in 127 games (556 PA) over the course of three seasons at Minnesota... hit 332/412/386, 29 BB & 18 K, with 26 SB (2 CS) in 58 games (234 PA) in two seasons (2021-22) playing for Willmar in Northwoods League (summer collegiate wood bat league)... is presently hitting 500/519/587 in 13 games (53 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League... was named 2nd Team All Big Ten in 2023... Academic All Big Ten in 2022... father is a college baseball coach...   
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $203,600

9th ROUND (266)
Jonathon Long, 1B 
R/R, 6'0 210, age 21 
Long Beach State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: 2nd Team All Big West in 2023... hit 317/408/543 with 26 HR & 105 RBI, 32 doubles, and 65 BB and 117 K in 132 games (576 PA) over the course of three seasons at The Beach... has below-average speed... hit a disappointing 197/296/239 with no HR, one double, and one triple, with 18 K in 32 games (83 PA) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022... played 3B at Orange HS... 
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $179,400

10th ROUND (296) 
Luis Martinez-Gomez, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 170, age 20
Temple CC  
JC SOPH 
FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE COMMIT (TRANSFER): Angelo State (D-2) 
COMMENT: Went 7-4 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP, allowing 46 hits (three HR), with 29/56 BB/K, in 63.2 IP (15 G - 13 GS -3 CG) for Leopards in 2023... features a 92-97 FB, a 79-83 SLURVE, and a low-80's SPLIT... was 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing 30 hits (one HR), with 20/76 BB/K in 56 IP (14 G - 5 GS) for Fort McMurray in WCBL (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022...  spent freshman year at San Bernardino Valley JC, going 5-4 with a 6.90 ERA, allowing 55 hits (two HR) in 45.2 IP for the Wolverines, but despite the high ERA he was named to ACMD All Conference 2nd team... will transfer to Angelo State if he does not sign with Cubs...  
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $168,300
 

DAY THREE (7/11)

NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $150,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP). 

11th ROUND (326)
Zyhir Hope, CF 
L/L, 6'0 193, age 18 
Colonial Forge HS (Stafford, VA) 
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of North Carolina 
COMMENT: One of the fastest players in the draft... also has a plus-arm... lefty hitter with a line drive-stroke... lots of swing & miss in his game right now...  has indicated a strong desire to play college ball and he will enroll at the University of North Carolina if he does not sign with Cubs, so Cubs will probably have to offer a bonus well in excess of $150,000 to sign him away from UNC. 

12th ROUND (356)
Carter Trice, 2B-OF 
R/R, 6'0 200, age 20 
North Carolina State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT:  Spent first two years at Old Dominion before transferring to NC State... played 2B, RF, and LF (mostly RF) at ODU.. was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year, a 2nd team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and a first-team Freshman All-American by both Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game in 2021 and helped lead the Monarchs to the Conference USA Championship by hitting 358/431/642 with 14 HR & 54 RBI, 17 doubles, and 28/59 BB/K in 57 games (261 PA) ... played for Team USA in 2021 but hit only .056 with one HR and a 39% K-rate... transferred to NC State after his sophomore year, hitting a disappointing 248/348/479 with only six HR in 41 games as a part-time LF for the Wolf Pack in 2023... makes hard contact but also has a lot of swing & miss in his game... played two summers (2021-22) for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (collegiate summer wood bat league) and hit only 218/280/324 with just one HR in 84 PA combined over the two seasons...  

13th ROUND (386)
Sam Armstrong, RHP 
R/R, 6'2 245, age 22
Old Dominion 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: Friday night (#1) starter at ODU in 2023... went 9-4 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, allowing 69 hits (seven HR), with 28/72 BB/K in 77.0 IP (15 G - 15 GS) for the Monarchs in 2023... is currently pitching for Harwich in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) and has allowed only one hit & one run in 10 IP with 13 K...  spent freshman and sophomore years at County College of Morris (JC) in New Jersey...  
 
14th ROUND (416)
Grayson Moore, RHP 
B/R, 6'3 215, age 22 
Vanderbilt 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Bullpen guy (mostly) for Commodores... went 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, allowed 51 hits (9 HR), with 29/81 BB/K in 59.0 IP (33 games - only 3 GS) over the course of three seasons at Vandy... also has played some outfield in his college career... pitched for Wareham in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, threw 19.1 IP and allowed only 12 hits (no HR), while walking six and striking out 25, and was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team... speaks fluent Spanish and is a member of the National Honor Society...  

15th ROUND (446)
Ty Johnson, RHP 
R/R, 6'6 205, age 21 
Ball State 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Valuable swing-man workhorse (47 games - 28 GS) for the past three seasons... went 15-8 with a 5.39 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, allowing 135 hits (20 HR), with 70/179 BB/K (11.4 K/9), in 157.0 IP for the Cardinals 2021-23 (combined)... pitched for Cotuit in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2022, and went 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA, allowing 15 hits (two HR), with 15/19 BB/K in 21.2 IP...     

16th ROUND (476)
Daniel Brown, LHP 
L/L, 6'3 200, age 20 
Campbell 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: Converted outfielder... Hasn't pitched much at Campbell (four games), but when he has pitched he has displayed a 100+ MPH FB and has been literally unhittable... struck out the side 1-2-3 for the only three outs he recorded this season, but unfortunately he has also walked nine with four WP (albeit no hits allowed) in his other three outings...   

17th ROUND (506)
Ethan Flanagan, LHP 
L/L, 6'3 205, age 21 
UCLA 
COLLEGE SOPH
COMMENT: Draft-eligible sophomore... was named to Freshman All-American and PAC-12 All-Conference teams in 2022 when he went 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA & 1.28 WHIP, allowing 49 hits (six HR), with 28/76 BB/K (11.3 K/9) in 25 games (60.1 IP),.. attended Team USA training camp after his freshman season... missed start of the 2023 season with unspecified injury, then went 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA & 1.39 WHIP, allowing 28 hits (three HR) with 16/;31 BB/K in nine games (6 GS)... had TJS as a senior in high school which postponed his college entry by one year (which is why he is a draft-eligible sophomore)... features a 89-91 MPH T-94 FB with tremendous movement, a plus-CH, a SL, and a CV...       

18th ROUND (536)
Brian Kalmer, 3B 
R/R, 6'2 215, age 22 
Gonzaga 
COLLEGE SR (REDSHIRT JR) 
COMMENT: Began his career at hometown Arizona State but didn't play much, so he transferred to Wabash Valley JC in Mt. Carmel, Illinois... he was named NJCAA National Player of the Year in his one year playing JC ball, as he led the Warriors to the NJCAA World Series... then he transferred to Gonzaga as a junior redshirt, and hit 358/454/682, with 15 HR & 51 RBI, 16 doubles, and 36 walks and 56 strikeouts, in 52 games (240 PA) for the Zags in 2023... he has plus-power to all fields, but he also has lots of swing & miss in his game (23% K-rate in 2023)... a below-average defender at 3B, Kalmer projects as a first-baseman in pro ball...    

19th ROUND (566)
Nick Dean, RHP 
R/R, 6'3 180, age 22 
U. of Maryland 
COLLEGE SR 
COMMENT: College teammate of Cubs 1st round pick Matt Shaw... a reliable hurler who made all of his scheduled starts, Dean pitched in 43 games (all 43 as a SP) in his college career... was the Terrapins #3 (Sunday) starter in both 2021 and 2022 before getting promoted to the #2 (Saturday) slot in 2023... went 3-2 with a 5.54 ERA & 1.47 WHIP in 2023, while allowing 78 hits (13 HR), with 32/77 BB/K in 74.2 IP (15 games - 15 GS)... the 2023 ERA and WHIP were the highest (worst) of his career (his best season was 2021), as his performance has declined steadily each season... features a 90-93 MPH FB, a swing & miss CH, a slurvy SL and a slow CV...   

20th ROUND (596)
Drew Bowser, 3B 
R/R, 6'4 225, age 21
Stanford 
COLLEGE JR 
COMMENT: High school teammate of Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong at Harvard-Westlake HS in L. A... played SS, was a three-time team captain, won the Perfect Game High School All American Classic Home Run Challenge at Petco Field in San Diego in 2018, was named a Perfect Game High School All-American in 2019, and played for Team USA 18-U in 2019 and helped lead his team to a silver medal at the WBCA World Cup in South Korea... he was projected to be a potential Top 5 round pick coming out of HS in 2020 (the same year buddy PCA was drafted in the 1st round by the Mets), but he wasn't selected in the shortened (five round) CoViD draft, and so he honored his commitment to Stanford... he played both 2B and 3B at Stanford 2021-23, and hit 287/350/526 with 39 HR & 139 RBI, 38 doubles, and 64/196 BB/K in 175 games (754 PA) over the course of three seasons in Palo Alto... he also played two summers for Yarmouth in the Cape Cod League (2021 and 2022), but he hit only 181/278/234 with one HR and 36 K in 108 PA (33% K-rate) with a wood bat... he is a below-average runner with a plus arm and plus raw power, but the "hit tool" is well below average, and he has difficulty making contact...  

MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) 

Beginning with the 2022 First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft"), the draft will be held over a three-day period between June 1st and July 20th. 
NOTE: The draft will be held July 9-11 in 2023. 

Beginning with the 2022 season and going forward, the draft will be twenty rounds.

Beginning with the 2023 draft:

1. Draft order for rounds #2 - #20 will be based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie;

2. Draft order for the first six picks in the first round (only) will be determined by a weighted lottery similar to the one used the NBA. Only the 18 clubs that did not qualify for the post-season in the previous season are eligible to participate in the lottery.
NOTE: The 2023 MLB Rule 4 Draft draft lottery was held on 12/6 at the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego. The Cubs fell back one slot and will pick 13th in the 1st round of the 2023 draft. 

3. Draft order for the twelve clubs that did qualify for the post-season in the previous season will be determined by when the club was eliminated from contention in the post-season and that club's  revenue-sharing and/or tax status, with the four Wild Card round losers selecting #19 - #22, the four LDS losers selecting #23 - #26, the two LCS losers selecting #27-#28, the World Series loser selecting #29, and the World Series winner selecting #30. Within the Wild Card losers, LDS losers, and LCS losers groups, draft order  will be determined by whether the club received revenue sharing funds (higher pick), paid a Competitive Balance Tax (lower pick), or neither received revenue sharing funds nor paid a CBT (middle pick), with the tie-breaker the same as used in rounds #2 - #20. 

Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted in two groups (Competitive Balance Round "A" is slotted after the 1st Round, and Competitive Balance Round "B" is slotted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds). 
NOTE: Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd round) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

If an Article XX-B Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another (different) MLB club prior to the MLB Rule 4 Draft (MLB First-Year Player Draft), the player's former club (the club that lost the Qualified Player) normally will receive a compensatory draft pick in the MLB Rule 4 Draft between the 2nd & 3rd rounds (after Competitive Balance Round "B"). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would receive a compensatory draft pick immediately after the conclusion of the 1st round (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") - IF - the Qualified Player signs a contract worth at least $50M (the club would receive a compensatory draft pick between the 2nd & 3rd rounds and after Competitive Balance Round "B" if the Qualified Player signs a contract worth less than $50M), and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would receive a draft pick between the 4th & 5th rounds. 
NOTE: If more than one club receives the same type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the comp picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie). 

CUBS ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS POST-2022 (last updated 12-9-2022):
Willson Contreras, C 

An MLB club that signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP. 
NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold will be $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and $244M in 2026.

POST-2022 ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS SIGNED BY CUBS (last updated 12-21-2022): 
Dansby Swanson, INF   

The next highest Rule 4 Draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed). 
NOTE: A CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 3rd & 6th highest selections if the club signs a second Qualified Player, its 4th & 7th selections if the club signs a third Qualified Player, and its 8th & 9th highest selections, 10th & 11th highest selections, etc, for additional Qualified Players signed. 

Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 Draft picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade). Competitive Balance draft picks (including Competitive Balance draft picks acquired in a trade) and a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft are - NOT - subject to forfeiture.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks were subject to forfeiture.

A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).

Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, any MLB club that had a payroll from the previous season that was $40M or more above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold will have its highest draft selection moved down ten slots, unless its first selection is among the top six picks in the draft, in which case it will have its second-highest draft slot moved down ten slots.
NOTE: In determining whether a club would have its highest or second-highest draft pick moved down ten slots, the six "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected."

If a rookie player with less than 60 days of MLB Service Time (0+060 MLB ST) coming into a season accrues a full season and wins the Rookie of the Year Award, or finishes top three in MVP or top three in Cy Young Award prior to becoming eligible for salary arbitration,  the player's club will receive a bonus pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the draft. 
NOTE: Only one bonus draft pick permitted for any one player. 

MLB RULE 4 DRAFT ELIGIBILITY 

An individual is eligible for selection in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) if the person is at least 17 years old, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, and is either a resident of a U. S. state or territory or Canada and has been for at least one year, or is not a resident but was enrolled in a high school (known as "secondary school" in Canada) or college in a U. S. state or territory or Canada within the previous year, and...

1. Player has graduated from high school (or "secondary school") and has received a diploma (if the player graduates early and receives a diploma prior to turning 17, the player is eligible for selection if he turns 17 no later than 45 days after the draft and the player submits written notice of early graduation to the MLB Commissioner by January 15th);

2. The player's high school class has graduated (12th grade) and player has not yet graduated from high school but player's high school athletic eligibility has expired, or player dropped out of high school at least 365 days prior to the draft, or player attended a junior college the previous school year, or player is attending a four-year college and the school has no baseball program, or player is attending a four-year college and player has completed at least junior year of athletic eligibility, or player is attending a four-year college and is age 21 or older (or will turn 21 within 45 days of the draft), or player withdrew from a four-year college at least 120 days prior to the draft.

A player dismissed from a four-year college for academic reasons less than 120 days prior to the draft is eligible for selection only with the consent of the MLB Commissioner. 

For purposes of draft eligibility, a GED is not considered a high school diploma.
NOTE: Prior to the 2017 draft, a GED was considered equivalent to a high school diploma for purposes of draft eligibility. 

A club is not permitted to select a player in the Rule 4 Draft two years in a row, unless the player gives his approval in advance.

A high school player eligible for selection may elect (in advance) to have his name removed from draft eligibility in that particular Rule 4 Draft.

Prior to the draft, the MLB Commissioner's office will designate what it considers to be the Top 300 players in the draft, and offer each of the players an opportunity to furnish in advance of the draft access to the player's certified medical history available to be reviewed by all 30 MLB clubs. Players are not required to participate in the program, but if a player declines to participate, the player may not furnish medical records to any club or clubs prior to the draft.    

From among the Top 300 players, the MLB Commissioner's office will designate what it considers to be the Top 50 pitchers in the draft, and offer each of the pitchers an opportunity to submit a recent certified MRI of the pitcher's shoulder, elbow, or any other part of the body that has received medical treatment during the course of the previous season, available for review by all 30 MLB clubs prior to the draft. Pitchers are not required to participate in the program.   

MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DTAFT) - NEGOTIATION LIST

Players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) are placed on a club's Negotiation List.

The signing deadline is 5 PM (Eastern) on August 1st or 14 days after the last day of the draft, whichever comes first (July 25th in 2023).   
NOTE: The signing deadline cannot be on the same day as the MLB Trade Deadline. 

A player selected in the Rule 4 Draft will be declared a free-agent if he is not offered a contract by the signing deadline.

In most cases, a player selected by a club in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until either the player signs or until the signing deadline (whichever comes first), and if a club does not sign a Rule 4 Draft pick by the deadline, the player is removed from the club's Negotiation List and becomes eligible for selection again in the next Rule 4 Draft in which the player would be eligible for selection.

A college senior with no eligibility left who is selected in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until the player signs or until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft.
 
If a player is selected in the Rule 4 Draft after the 10th round and enrolls in a junior college and remains enrolled for the entire school year, the player can be signed during a period of time beginning with the completion of the junior college's baseball season (including post-season) up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft. 
NOTE:  Called a "draft & follow," a club signing a previously-selected JC player prior to the next draft can offer a maximum bonus of $225,000, and the bonus does not count against the club's Rule 4 Signing Bonus Pool. 

A player eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft who is not drafted ("Non-Drafted Free-Agent" or "NDFA") can sign with any club after the conclusion of the draft any time up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft, unless and until the NDFA enrolls in a four-year college, in which case MLB Rule 4 Draft eligibility rules apply.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on July 12th, but clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA prior to or during the draft. 

A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA cannot be signed to a Major League contract.

A player who signs after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be traded until after the conclusion of the World Series (no earlier than 9 AM on the day after the final game of the World Series), or for 90 days if the player signs after the World Series. 
NOTE: Previously, a player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft could not be traded until the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract.

A player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be a PTBNL in any trade made prior to the conclusion of the World Series.

CUBS 2023 MLB RULE 4 NEGOTIATION LIST (Last updated 7-8-2023)
TBD 

MLB RULE 4 DRAFT - SIGNING BONUS POOL

There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money that each club can pay as signing bonuses to players selected in a First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) before penalties begin to accrue.

Prior to the Rule 4 Draft, each MLB club is assigned a “Signing Bonus Pool” (SBP) equal to the aggregate pre-assigned bonus value of all of the club’s draft slots in the first ten rounds (including supplemental & compensatory draft picks). The higher the slot, the higher the bonus value. (The collective MLB SBP is determined in advance by calculating industry revenues). 

The Cubs 2023 Rule 4 Draft SBP is $8,962,000 (was $10,092,700 in 2022)

If a club fails to sign a player selected in the first ten rounds (including supplemental draft picks), the value of that slot is deducted from the club’s SBP.

There is no bonus value assigned to draft slots after the 10th round, but if a club pays a signing bonus in excess of $150,000 to a player selected in the 11th round or later or to a player eligible for selection who was not drafted, the amount of that bonus in excess of $150,000 is deducted from the club’s SBP.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final day of the draft. However, clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA anytime prior to 9 AM on the day after the final day of the draft.   

If a club exceeds its SBP in a given Rule 4 Draft, a tax will be assessed and future Rule 4 Draft picks could be forfeited, depending on how much the club exceeded its SBP. (The club’s 1st Round draft pick in the next Rule 4 Draft is forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 5-10%, its 1st & 2nd round draft picks in the next Rule 4 Draft are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 10-15%, and the club’s 1st Round picks in the next two Rule 4 Drafts are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by more than 15%).

Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their SBP will be distributed to qualifying clubs as Revenue Sharing funds, and forfeited draft picks will be reassigned by lottery. (Any club that exceeds its SBP is excluded from the lottery).

MLB RULE 4 COMPENSATION DRAFT PICKS 

A Rule 4 Draft compensation pick is awarded to a club if the club is unable to sign a player selected in one of the first three rounds of the MLB Rule 4 Draft (including compensation draft picks between rounds 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4, Competitive Balance draft picks, draft picks awarded to a club after the club loses an Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent Qualified Player, and draft picks assigned to clubs from the SBP forfeited draft pick lottery).

A club must offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign. 
EXCEPTION: A club is required to offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign - UNLESS - the drafted player is one of the Top 50 pitchers designated by the MLB Commissioner's office prior to the draft and the pitcher declined to submit an MRI

If a player selected prior to the 3rd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season.

If a player selected in the 3rd round of the draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection after the 3rd round in the next Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).
NOTE: In 2020 (only), if a player selected in the 3rd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season rather than after the conclusion of the 3rd round. . 

A club would receive another compensation pick in the next Rule 4 Draft after that if a player selected with an extra compensation pick does not sign (same slot as the extra compensation draft pick for a player not signed after being selected prior to the 3rd round, and between the 3rd round compensation picks and the 4th round for a compensation draft pick not signed after being selected after the 3rd round), but there is no additional compensation pick awarded the following season (three years removed from the original draft pick) if a club is unable to sign that player.

A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after the club is unable to sign a player selected in a previous draft is NOT subject to forfeiture if that club signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another club.

ARTICLE XX-B FREE-AGENT / QUALIFYING OFFER COMPENSATION DRAFT PICK 

A club will receive a compensation draft pick if another MLB club signs an Article XX-B free-agent prior to the next Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) if the club extended a Qualifying Offer to the player and the player declined the offer.   

Beginning with the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Article XX-B Qualified Player Compensation draft picks will be slotted between the 2nd & 3rd round of the draft (immediately after Competitive Balance Round "B"), between Rounds 1 & 2 (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") for any club receiving revenue sharing funds that loses a Qualified Player who signs a major league contract worth more than $50M, and between rounds 4 & 5 for Competitive Balance Tax payers (club's payroll exceeds the so-called "Luxury Tax").

If a player selected with a draft pick awarded as the result of a club losing a Qualified Player does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.

A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player to another club is subject to forfeiture if that club signs a player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another MLB club.

PROSPECT PROMOTION INITIATIVE (PPI) COMPENSATION DRAFT PICK 

Beginning with the 2022 season, a PPI player is any player in an MLB club's organization who enters a season with rookie status and  having accrued no more than sixty days of MLB Service Time and who is rated as a pre-season Top 100 minor league prospect by Baseball America, ESPN, and/or mlb.com Pipeline (at least two of the three), and then accrues a full year of MLB Service Time in his rookie season. Once a player receives PPI designation, he retains that designation going forward until he is traded or becomes eligible for salary arbitration (whichever comes first).  
EXCEPTIONS: A "Foreign Professional" player (at least 25 years old and has spent all or part of at least six seasons in a recognized foreign professional "major" league), or a player who signs a multi-year major league contract prior to making his MLB debut, or a player who signs a multi-year contract extension after his MLB debut that buys-out his first year of salary arbitration eligibility, cannot be designated a PPI player.  

2023 CUBS POTENTIAL PPI PLAYERS: 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 

An MLB club will receive a compensation draft pick between the first and second round of the next MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) if a PPI player  wins the Rookie of the Year Award, and/or finishes in the top three in MVP and/or Cy Young Award voting prior to becoming eligible for salary arbitration.  

1. A club can receive no more than one PPI compensation pick in any one draft, even if more than one of its PPI players wins the Rookie of the Year and/or finishes in the top three in MVP and/or Cy Young Award voting;  

2. The same PPI player can generate a compensation draft pick in as many as three different drafts, as long as the player is not traded and/or has not yet qualified for salary arbitration.  

If a player selected with a PPI compensation draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.

A PPI compensation draft pick is subject to forfeiture if that club signs a player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another MLB club prior to the Rule 4 Draft.

If a PPI player is traded prior to qualifying for salary arbitration, the player is no longer is designated a PPI player, and so he cannot generate a compensation draft pick for his new club. 

MLB RULE 4 COMPETITIVE BALANCE DRAFT PICKS 

"Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "A") and between the 2nd and 3rd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "B").

Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs, some of which are the same club) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd rounds) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be subject to forfeiture by clubs signing a Qualified Player.

A Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only during a period of time starting on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft). The slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the slot cannot be "flipped" to a third club.
NOTE: 2020 and 2021 Rule 4 Competitive Balance draft picks cannot be traded beginning on March 28, 2020, and extending through the conclusion of the 2021 draft.  

If a player selected with a Competitive Balance draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance compensation draft pick does not sign.

MLB RULE 4 DRAFT - FORFEITED DRAFT PICKS 

A Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft pick that is forfeited because a club exceeded its Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool limit will be reassigned to another club by lottery to be held on the Wednesday following the MLB Rule 4 Draft signing deadline. All MLB clubs that have not exceeded its SBP limit as of that point in time are eligible to participate in this lottery.

As with Competitive Balance draft picks, Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft picks can be traded, but only during a period of time beginning on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Rule 4 forfeited draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the pick cannot be "flipped" to a third club.

If a club that is awarded a Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft pick subsequently exceeds its SBP, the pick will be forfeited and another lottery will be held (date and time TBA by the MLB Commissioner) to allocate the pick to another club.

If a club trades a Rule 4 Forfeited Draft pick to another club, it cannot subsequently sign a player subject to the club's Rule 4 SBP if signing the player causes the club to exceed its SBP.

If a player selected with a Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than the forfeited draft pick slot from the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a compensation Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign.