<Li> High school and college baseball, the primary sources of MLB draftees, are not nearly as popular as college football, college basketball, and, in Canada and certain parts of the U.S., college and junior hockey . Consequently, most prospective top draft picks were unknown to the casual sports observer at the time of their draft . However, this is slowly changing: NCAA baseball has enjoyed a spike in popularity in the 2000s and top collegiate baseball players have enjoyed greater media exposure, though still far below that of their basketball and football counterparts . </Li> <Li> Unlike top draft picks in the NHL, NBA, and NFL, all of whom are expected to make immediate impacts, top MLB draftees are nearly always assigned to the minor leagues for several years to hone their skills, usually at low levels (Rookie or Class A) initially . Due to this, fans cannot see the newly drafted players perform immediately, causing them to forget or lose interest in them . The entire 2007 first round (64 players) totaled one inning of major league playing time as of the end of the 2008 season; as of the 2009 season, the vast majority of 2008 first - rounders were still assigned to minor league organizations . In contrast, every first - round pick in the 2008 NFL draft had played in the league by the end of the 2008 season . </Li> <Li> While many NHL, NBA, and NFL draftees will eventually reach their respective leagues, the vast majority of players selected in the first - year player draft will never play in a single MLB game, including many first - rounders . For example, only 31 of 52 first - round draft picks in the 1997 draft eventually made a big - league appearance, and only 13 of those 31 appeared in more than 100 games as of 2009 . In 1997's sixth round, only five of the 30 players selected eventually made a big league appearance, and only two of those five (Tim Hudson and Matt Wise) played more than 40 innings in the majors . Further illustrating the unpredictability of the draft's middle and later rounds, none of the 30 players selected in the 18th round ever reached the major leagues, but the 19th round eventually produced an all - star and World Series MVP, David Eckstein . </Li> <P> The 2007 draft was televised live for the first time in the draft's history on June 7, 2007 . The draft coverage took place at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida . Since the 2009 draft, the first round of the draft is broadcast on MLB Network live and in prime time from its studios in Secaucus, New Jersey . </P>

How many picks are in the first round mlb draft