MLB & NHL Drafting High School kids

[saint0917]

If a High School kid is drafted by a major league team but that kid doesn't sign and decides to go to college for one year or all four years does that major league team get to keep the rights to that player, or does he go back into the draft pool?

[andy7171]

If a High School kid is drafted by a major league team but that kid doesn't sign and decides to go to college for one year or all four years does that major league team get to keep the rights to that player, or does he go back into the draft pool?

I could be wrong, but I think the team has right to him for two years.

[GannonFan]

And actually, at least for baseball, I think once they decide to go to college I think they need to go to college for two years before they can go pro - I'm not sure a team keeps their rights, though.

[danefan]

I have no clue about the NHL, but with the MLB Rule 4 draft the following applies:

Teams have until 11:59pm on August 15th to sign their picks.

The deadline doesn't apply to college seniors. It doesn't apply to players drafted out of independent leagues or those who don't play college baseball again between two drafts.

Here's what happens to players who don't sign:

- High schoolers who enroll in a four-year college program after being drafted aren't eligible again until after their junior year of college or their 21st birthday.
- Drafted players who go on to attend junior college are again eligible after their freshman and sophomore years.
- College juniors who don't sign are available in the next draft.
- These players can't be drafted by the same team twice in a row unless they give permission.

[saint0917]

Thanks for the info.