Opinion

The 2016 MLB draft concluded Saturday, and every team hopes its scouting paid off in the form of an impact prospect.

The draft was a three-day process. The first and second rounds took place Thursday. Rounds 3 through 10 unfolded on Friday, and Saturday saw the fourth round through 40th round come to an end.

Of the so-called four major professional sports leagues in the U.S., MLB's draft is by far the hardest to assess.

Even the best players won't make their big league debuts for two or three seasons. The ones who get fast-tracked are more than likely to be short relievers—guys who aren't typically drafted high enough to garner national attention.

There are two guys in the NL Central having great bounce-back seasons but whose efforts are being wasted on clubs that are about as bad as everyone expected them to be.

It sounds like these two guys would be better off in greener pastures. And before long, the summer trade market could make it happen.

Exactly 1,216 picks later, the 2016 Major League Baseball draft is over. We'll know how everyone made out in, oh, five years or so.

But while we could wait patiently until then, here's a better idea: Let's rush to judgment!

The MLB draft is quite the different animal than its NBA and NFL counterparts. 

That isn't to say it's less entertaining or important. Whereas the other two leagues helped popularize the draft process for everyone to look for help now and later, the MLB edition is almost strictly about the later and the rounding out of farm systems.

Two days into the 2016 MLB draft, a handful of franchises must hope fortune will favor the bold.

In a class lacking can't-miss phenoms, teams searching for difference-makers were forced to roll the dice and accept a substantial amount of risk. Health hurdles, off-field issues and signing concerns caused top talents to plummet down the board until daring organizations swung for the fences.

After an exciting first day, the MLB draft resumed on Friday with less firepower than Thursday.

The third round kicked off Friday's fast-paced Day 2 of the draft, and there were some notable picks in Round 3 that boosted, lowered or kept teams' draft grades the same.

Here's a refresher of Thursday's beginning to the draft, as well as some added names from Day 2.

What Alex Rodriguez was for the 2015 New York Yankees, CC Sabathia has been for the 2016 New York Yankees.

That is to say: seemingly against all odds, a hugely productive player. 

It's time for America's favorite game show, "Jump to Conclusions!" 

Really, that's about all we can do now that Day 2 of the 2016 MLB draft is in the books. Without the benefit of time travel and psychic powers, we can only draw conclusions about the picks teams have made as baseball's three-day draft continues.

Player: Preston Palmeiro

Position: 1B

DOB: Jan. 22, 1995 (21 years old)

Height/Weight: 6'1", 190 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/R

School: NC State

Previously Drafted: Not Drafted

Background