Following NFL and NBA, ESPN Investing Big Into MLB Draft

ESPN is putting unprecedented levels of production and promotional muscle behind the MLB Draft — hoping to bring its coverage closer in presentation to its much more popular NFL and NBA counterparts.

For the first time, the network will take a lead role in producing the MLB Draft — set to start this year July 9 — evolving from a prior, shared framework with the league. 

This year, the draft will also make its first appearance on ESPN+, supplementing first-round linear coverage on ESPN. The network is additionally boosting its coverage of Home Run Derby, which typically garners one of its largest audiences each summer. 

The network will once again feature primary coverage on ESPN and a StatCast alternate presentation on ESPN2, with the latter production supplemented with new 3D animations tracking ball flights.

The 2023 MLB Draft will be held at Seattle’s Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seahawks and MLS’ Sounders, as MLB will hold the event along with All-Star Game festivities for the third straight year.

Lagging Behind

Most MLB draft picks require time in the minor leagues — and despite recent milestones, college baseball has nowhere near the stature of college football and basketball. Historically, the MLB Draft hasn’t generated anything close to the TV audiences for the NFL and NBA Drafts, even with similar primetime slots.

The 2022 edition on ESPN and MLB Network drew a combined average audience of 843,000. The 2023 NFL Draft averaged 6 million viewers across four Disney-owned networks and the NFL Network, while the 2023 NBA Draft drew an event-record 4.9 million on ABC and ESPN.