MLB Draft 2022: Explaining signing bonuses, slot machine values ​​and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The 2022 MLB Draft is officially over.

From the first pick on Sunday to the 20th and final round on Tuesday, there’s no doubt that future superstars have been selected this week.

We won’t know who these stars are for a few years as these young players progress through the minors, but that’s what makes baseball unique. Draft picks in other major sports often slot directly into the starting lineup, while most of those MLB prospects won’t see the big leagues for three or more years.

Here’s everything you need to know about 2022 MLB Draft pick money, signing bonuses and more:

How much money do first-round MLB draft picks make?

The MLB draft isn’t just about prospect talent and positional suitability — it’s also about money. Each pick in the first 10 rounds has a designated slot value (signing bonus), with the first pick obviously being the highest at just under $9 million.

However, prospects don’t always sign up for the exact salary. Depending on the player, a team can sign their pick for “over-slot” or “under-slot”. So if a team selects a lesser touted prospect in the first round and signs him below the slot, the team can spend more on a better prospect in a later round.

Here is the slot value for each first-round pick in 2022, with the caveat that teams may try to negotiate a lower slot value for these players:

How do they determine signing bonuses for MLB draft picks?

As mentioned above, every draft pick in the first 10 rounds has a preset value. Each team has a specific value they can spend, and this value is determined by adding the listed value for each of their picks in the first 10 rounds.

Teams cannot exceed this total slot value, but it can exceed the slot for specific players. For example, if a team accepts an under-slot signing bonus for their first-round pick, they may accept an over-slot signing bonus for one or more of their subsequent picks. As long as the total value after the first 10 rounds is not greater than the indicated total value, the team is in the clear.

Signing bonuses are negotiated between teams and prospects (and their agents). If a player accepts a sub-slot signing bonus with a team before the draft, he can ensure that he will be picked in a certain position.

This year, pitcher Kumar Rocker was expected to be a late first-round pick after he was not signed as a first-round pick in 2021. Instead, he was drafted at No. 3 by the Texas Rangers. Although the move seemed confusing at first, it was later reported that it accepted a $5.2 million signing bonus – more than $2 million less than the listed value. This gave Rangers more money to allocate in later rounds.

Who was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft?

The Baltimore Orioles selected Jackson Holliday as their first pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. A shortstop from Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, Holliday is the son of former major league outfielder Matt Holliday. The eldest Holliday was a seven-time All-Star and 2011 World Series champion before retiring in 2018.

Jackson Holliday, 18, has committed to play at Oklahoma State but is expected to bypass college and join the Orioles organization.

How many picks are there per round in the MLB Draft?

There are 30 picks per round in the MLB Draft…usually. There can be more or less than 30 picks in a round depending on a number of variables, including free agent additions or losses, luxury tax penalties, draft pick signings from the previous year and more.

Beyond a normal draft round, there are also compensatory and competitive balance rounds. These rounds have far fewer choices, as they are awarded based on free agent losses (compensatory) and low-income teams (competitive balance).

What is the Competitive Balance Round in the MLB Draft?

There are two competitive balance rounds in the MLB Draft. Competitive balance round A takes place after the first round, while competitive balance round B takes place after the second round.

So how do teams earn picks in competitive balance rounds? Well, it’s complicated.

The 10 lowest revenue teams and teams from the 10 smallest markets are eligible for a competitive balance round pick. All eligible teams are given a pick in Round A or Round B. Unlike normal draft picks, Competitive Balance Picks can be traded.

Here are the competitive balance picks for the 2022 MLB Draft: