The Nebraska baseball season is in full swing and as is always the case, once the season comes to an end and then the College World Series comes and goes, it’s time for Husker fans to turn their attention to who they might be losing of this year’s squad. That brings up an important question that doesn’t have an easy answer. Do you have to play three years of college baseball?
The short answer is that no, players do not need to wait three years to play Major League Baseball. They can in fact, go pro right out of high school. The MLB is really one of two major sports that still draft high school players. The NHL is the other. While the NBA has done it from time to time, it’s a no-no these days and the NFL never touches high school players.
However, should you, as a high school player, decide that the college route is better for you than immediately going pro, that’s where the can be a bit of a hangup. The NCAA rules do say that if you enter a four-year college, you must complete three years of college to regain professional eligibility to be drafted, or have turned at least age 21 before starting your third season.
Do you have to play 3 years of college baseball?
In other words, most players who enter a four-year college will have to be Juniors or redshirt sophomores before they’re eligible for the draft again.
Things are a little different when talking about going to to a two-year college. Should a player enter one of those, they can be eligible for the MLB Draft again after just one season. So, the answer to do you have to play 3 years of college baseball, is no.