NCAA-to-pro pipeline: Baseball

The GIST: With the MCWS nearly done and dusted, college baseball’s best are now eyeing the July 14th MLB Draft. Though the draft includes many high school and international athletes, the NCAA is a proven training ground for tomorrow’s big-leaguers.

The process: During the draft, pro teams select a whopping 614 athletes across 20 rounds. Since 1965, only 23 draftees have gone straight to MLB, with everyone else (hopefully) working their way up through the minor leagues — though that’s much easier said than done.

• Only about 47% of all MLBers played NCAA ball. But data shows that college athletes are generally drafted earlier, spend fewer years in the minors, and are more likely to eventually make the Show.

The pipeline: During last year’s draft, 444 college players — about 5.1% of all draft-eligible NCAA athletes — were called up. Nearly all (428) were Division I (DI) players, and those in the pool from Power Five schools had a 43.1% chance of an MLB level-up.

• Again, being drafted doesn’t guarantee they’ll square off against MLB superstars like Shohei Ohtani anytime soon (though it could happen), but developing in the NCAA clearly provides a major (league) leg up.

The names: This year’s draft class is led by Georgia’s new Golden Spikes winner (college baseball’s MVP award) Charlie Condon. The Bulldog third baseman was unstoppable at the plate this season, earning him the coveted honor that has a history of selecting future MLB stars.

• Condon and fellow Golden Spikes finalist Travis Bazzana (Oregon State) are the athletes most likely to hear their names first on July 14th, but Florida legend Jac Caglianone is also in the No. 1–pick mix.

• Another expected first-rounder? Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore, who boasts a nation-leading 110 hits on the season. Today, Omaha, NE — tomorrow, Cooperstown, NY.