How many rounds are in the MLB Draft?

With this year’s MLB draft just a few days away, we take a look at how many rounds there are, including competitive balance rounds and comp picks.

The 2022 MLB Draft is just a few days away as the first round is set to get underway this Sunday night, July 17 at 7 p.m. EST. Coverage will continue Monday and Tuesday with both days continuing the draft at 2 p.m. EST.

As we near draft day, let’s take a look at how many total rounds there are in the event.

2022 MLB Draft: How many rounds are there?

The short answer is, more than any other professional sport’s draft.

The long answer, however, is that there are more than 20 rounds in the MLB Draft. The first two will come this Sunday, July 17 beginning at 7 p.m. EST. After the first two rounds, there will be compensatory pick rounds and competitive balance rounds. Rounds 3-10 are on Monday and rounds 11-20 will come on Tuesday.

The compensatory picks are awarded to teams who lost free agents that rejected the Qualifying Offer earlier in the offseason. The competitive-balance rounds are free picks awarded to the small-market and low-revenue teams around the league including the Orioles, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Guardians, Rockies, Padres, Marlins, Twins, Athletics, Rays, Tigers, Brewers, Reds, Mariners and Royals.

The draft order in the first round is as follows for this year’s MLB Draft:

1. Baltimore Orioles

2. Arizona Diamondbacks

3. Texas Rangers

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

5. Washington Nationals

6. Miami Marlins

7. Chicago Cubs

8. Minnesota Twins

9. Kansas City Royals

10. Colorado Rockies

11. New York Mets

12. Detroit Tigers

13. Los Angeles Angels

14. New York Mets

15. San Diego Padres

16. Cleveland Guardians

17. Philadelphia Phillies

18. Cincinnati Reds

19. Oakland Athletics

20. Atlanta Braves

21. Seattle Mariners

22. St. Louis Cardinals

23. Toronto Blue Jays

24. Boston Red Sox

25. New York Yankees

26. Chicago White Sox

27. Milwaukee Brewers

28. Houston Astros

29. Tampa Bay Rays

30. San Francisco Giants

The New York Mets have an extra pick in the draft since they failed to reach an agreement with RHP Kumar Rocker in last year’s event. Notably, the Los Angeles Dodgers are without a first-round pick due to penalties for exceeding the tax threshold last year.

The first competitive balance round will come after the first round is complete. The order for this round sees the Orioles picking first, followed by the Diamondbacks, Royals, Pirates, Guardians, Rockies and Padres.

After the second round of the draft is complete, the second competitive balance round will follow. The Marlins will have the first pick in the second CB round followed by the Twins, Athletics, Rays, Tigers, Brewers, Reds and Mariners.

At the conclusion of the competitive balance rounds, there will be compensatory picks being handed out to clubs. These picks are set to be as follows:

• The Toronto Blue Jays received two picks, one for the Mariners signing Robbie Ray and one for the Rangers signing Marcus Semien.
• The New York Mets receive a pick for the Angels signing Noah Syndergaard.
• The Boston Red Sox receive a pick for the Tigers signing Eduardo Rodriguez.
• The Atlanta Braves receive a pick for the Dodgers signing Freddie Freeman.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers receive a pick for the Rangers signing Corey Seager.
• The Houston Astros receive a pick for the Twins signing Carlos Correa.
• The Cincinnati Reds receive a pick for the Phillies signing Nick Castellanos.
• The Colorado Rockies receive a pick for the Red Sox signing Trevor Story.

The New York Mets would have received another compensatory pick if free agent outfielder Michael Conforto signed with a new club but after Conforto sustained an injury the expectation is he will not sign with a new team until next season.