College baseball has long lived in the shadows of football and basketball. Every fall, college football witnesses packed stands and primetime games. Something that can give MLB games a run for their money. But when spring comes, things take a turn. At that time, college baseball struggles to command even a fraction of that same energy or attention. Well, insiders feel that part of the problem lies in timing.

There is no doubt about the talent in baseball. The traditional and nostalgic value attached to the game is second to none. But the spotlight? Nowhere to be seen. For starters, the NFL and NBA leverage their respective drafts to heighten interest in their college pipelines. But MLB holds its draft midseason, when most college teams have already packed up and gone home. Ahh, that surely disrupts momentum and leaves fans with little context for the names called on draft day.

But what if that changed? A simple shift in the MLB Draft calendar could work wonders. Insider A.J. Pierzynski thinks it would be good not just for the draft itself, but for the relevance of college baseball as a whole. He suggested, “Here’s a great idea for you. And I didn’t come up with it, someone else did—way smarter than me. Have the Draft at the College World Series.”

He didn’t conclude just there. Supporting his argument, Pierzynski added, “Supposedly, the best eight teams are there with the best players. Then, you have all the high school kids flying out there. And they’re all committed to these schools. And then, these kids can get drafted, and we can watch the college coach trying to cry. And be like, ‘No, please come. We’ll pay you a million dollars to come to Florida instead of going five million in the draft.’ Think of the drama we can have, it would be an awesome show. Plus, everybody would be in one location.“

So, will it work if the college World Series and MLB Draft are combined?

Well, combining them could transform both into a must-watch event for the fans. In baseball, amateur players rarely become household names before turning pro. Hence, merging these two events would shine a much-needed spotlight on the next generation of stars. Also, for fans, it offers continuity, a narrative, and most importantly, a reason to care.

So, it could offer the kind of drama and buzz that is still lacking in college baseball. Television ratings would likely surge, fueled by the anticipation of championship baseball and a draft night. The emotional highs of victory, defeat, and life-changing selections all in one week. Pierzynski says Bring it on!

Time for MLB to take on NFL

Apart from college baseball, MLB still needs to go further to catch up with the NFL. As for now, even at the highest level, baseball is unable to compete with gridiron. And well, the major reason for that is the national media rights.

In the NFL, nearly every game on its schedule commands national interest, a rare sight these days. Its dominance is reflected in the numbers—broadcast deals totaling over $110 billion across ten years. This is a huge testament to both its unmatched popularity and the power of a high-stakes season.

But for MLB in particular, a league with 162 regular-season games per team is both a strength and a barrier to broader engagement. While the NFL is enjoying the fruits of national media rights, MLB is sitting with regional media rights. Big teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets are taking the largest share, leaving little for the others. Check the payroll disparities of MLB teams in 2025, and you will understand.

Hence, a primetime draft event tied to college baseball’s biggest stage would showcase emerging talent with more excitement. All this before the players even reach the minors. It can thus create a rare moment where fans of all teams come together, much like the NFL and NBA drafts, to speculate, celebrate, and debate. It’s a missed opportunity for MLB. Let’s see if they can make the best of it before it’s too late.