junior college level are constantly scouted, evaluated, and eligible to be drafted during their
career. Therefore, it seems two-year colleges have a few competitive advantages when it comes
to baseball and the drafting of prospects by Major League Baseball.
The Major League Baseball first-year player draft began in 1965 and features the best amateur
prospects year in and year out. The draft showcases players from high school and college levels
as well as players from all over the world. Although the number of rounds and, therefore, the
number of players drafted has changed throughout the years, most recent drafts have had 50
rounds or roughly 1,500 total selections. While it may seem that most players typically get
drafted out of high school or NCAA universities, junior colleges have achieved extraordinary
success during the draft’s 46 year history.
Since 1965, approximately 56,000 players have been drafted to MLB teams. Of those 56,000
athletes, more than 25% (or roughly 15,000) have competed from NJCAA, NWAACC, or CCCAA
colleges. More than ONE QUARTER of players drafted in the Major League Baseball draft have
come from the junior college ranks. Furthermore, an average of 326 junior college and
community college players are drafted every year with 123 players being selected from NJCAA
colleges alone in 2011. Since 1998, the number of players drafted from the CCCAA and NJCAA
has increased nearly every year. The average round in which players from the NJCAA are drafted
is the 22nd round. In 2009, the CCCAA alone had 59 former baseball players on active MLB
rosters and at the start of the 2010 MLB playoffs, there were 25 former NJCAA, NWAACC, and
CCCAA players that made the active, postseason roster. An even more impressive statistic is that
the 2010 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers featured eight
former junior college baseball players. Finally, Hall of Fame players such as George Brett, Rollie
Fingers, Joe Morgan, Frank Robinson, Jackie Robinson, Tom Seaver, Duke Snider, and Willie
Stargell all competed at the junior college level.
The names and numbers speak for themselves. When taking into consideration the number of
college baseball programs and the number of players competing at the NCAA level compared to
the junior college level, the relative success achieved by junior colleges is simply