The 2021 MLB Draft is finally here, as all 30 professional teams — including the Los Angeles Angels — will get to select their new crop of young talent. This year, the festivities are taking place during All-Star week, and every team is hoping to select some players that will eventually play in the Midsummer Classic.
The Angels are home to the No. 9 overall pick — and the ninth pick in each of the 20 rounds — and have several ways to go about their selection. The likeliest scenario is that the Angels use their No. 9 pick to draft a pitcher.
While the Halos have drafted just four pitchers in the first round since 2010 and just one — 2020’s Reid Detmers — since 2014, there has never been a clearer need. The Angels are home to one of baseball’s best offenses, and that doesn’t project to change any time soon given the ages of their core players.
Among the pitchers who could be available and of interest to the Angels are Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker, high school prospect Jackson Jobe, Texas’ Ty Madden, and Mississippi State’s Will Bednar. If they choose to go for a position player, there are several prized shortstop and outfield prospects in the first round.
The MLB Draft will be held over three days at the Bellco Theater in Denver, Colorado, the same site as all All-Star festivities. On Day 1, there will be 36 selections, including 29 first-round picks, one compensatory pick, and six Competitive Balance A picks.
Day 2 will be rounds 2-10 and all Competitive Balance B selections, while Day 3 will be rounds 11-20. From there, all drafted players will begin to work their way up the Minor League ranks with the hopes of eventually making it to The Show.
MLB Draft TV Info
Bellco Theater, Denver, Colorado
Draft Preview: Sunday, July 11, 3:00 p.m. PT, MLB Network
Round 1 Date: Sunday, July 11
Time: 4:00 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN and MLB Network
Rounds 2-10 Date: Monday, July 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT
TV: MLB.com live stream
Rounds 11-20 Date: Tuesday, July 13
Time: 9:00 a.m. PT
TV: MLB.com live stream