Opinion

Major League Baseball's draft is unique in comparison to other popular sports like football and basketball. The ultimate goal of finding new stars is the same, but the process is different. 

When the 2016 MLB draft begins Thursday, fans will get to see scouts earn their money. Anyone can recognize a player's talent at the top level. It doesn't take a genius to see why Mike Trout, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are superstars. 

In terms of instant gratification, the MLB draft is guaranteed to be a disappointment. However, there's no question a handful of future stars are sitting in the 2016 class.

On a cold and windy late-April morning, Barnegat High School pitcher Jason Groome made his first start in nearly three weeks. Behind home plate, officials placed orange cones to reserve room for more than 25 major league scouts and executives. Those men held radar guns and took notes.

With unwavering regularity, every baseball season eventually turns into an arms race. The long slog through the summer months gives front offices plenty of time to evaluate their rosters, playoff chances and payroll situations.

There is almost never enough good pitching, even for the best teams, so the player wish lists drafted well before the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline are often chock-full of hurlers, both starters and those in relief.

The kid was something special, all right. But the story of how Clayton Kershaw, a skinny stick-figured high schooler, landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers 10 years ago as the seventh overall pick in the draft?

The astounding true fact that five pitchers—count 'em—were drafted ahead of him?

Oh, that story is every bit as dramatic as Kershaw's current, majestic strikeout-to-walk ratio of 109:6.

The San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner is one of the best left-handers in baseball. He's a three-time All-Star, a three-time champion and a National League Championship Series and World Series MVP.

Here's a scary thought for opposing hitters: He might also be getting better.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — After digging in the left-handed batter's box, a teenage Cavan Biggio stared over his shoulder at a familiar face.

Roger Clemens gazed back with his trademarked, surly, uber-competitive look any wannabe baseball player would recognize. But Cavan had a unique relationship with the 354-game winner, who was a teammate of his father, Craig Biggio, with the Houston Astros.

While the Major League Baseball season is in full swing, all 30 teams are also focusing on the future this week with the 2016 MLB draft starting Thursday in Secaucus, New Jersey.  

Remember when the Los Angeles Dodgers were going to trade for Cole Hamels?

The Baltimore Orioles beat up the Kansas City Royals 9-1 at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, but the main event was Manny Machado versus Yordano Ventura.

In the fifth inning, with the Orioles leading 5-1, Ventura plugged Machado with a 99 mph fastball. Machado promptly removed his helmet, charged the mound and landed at least one solid punch to the Royals' slender right-hander before the two men went to the ground and the benches cleared.