The MLB Draft is the ultimate leap into the big leagues for baseball’s rising talent. This year, you can watch the three-day event starting Saturday, July 9, on ESPN, ESPN+, and MLB Network.
Coinciding with MLB All-Star Week, the draft is one of many exciting events happening around the Midsummer Classic. It’s also a great way to see high school and college baseball players enter the spotlight.
Keep scrolling to see how you can watch every draft round, and don’t miss our MLB All-Star Game viewing guide for more baseball festivities.
What channel is the MLB Draft on?
Pro tip: You can listen to the first round of the MLB Draft on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio (ch. 89). The satellite radio channel will also feature live coverage of the MLB All-Star Game, All-Star Futures Game, and Home Run Derby.
2023 MLB Draft schedule
The 2023 MLB Draft will occur this July during All-Star Week at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Though, other important draft events happen beforehand, as outlined in the schedule below.
| Event | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB Draft Lottery | December 6, 2022 | 8:30 p.m. | MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB app |
| MLB Draft Combine | June 20–25, 2023 | Various | MLB Network |
| MLB Draft Day 1 (Rounds 1–2) | July 9, 2023 | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Round 1), MLB Network, ESPN+ |
| MLB Draft Day 2 (Rounds 3–10) | July 10, 2023 | 2 p.m. | MLB.com, MLB app |
| MLB Draft Day 3 (Rounds 11–20) | July 11, 2023 | 2 p.m. | MLB.com, MLB app |
Data effective as of post date.
MLB Draft selection order
After winning the MLB Draft Lottery in December, the Pittsburgh Pirates will select first during the 2023 draft. Below is the complete draft order for Round 1. To see other rounds—including incentive and compensation picks—check out MLB’s 2023 Draft Order page.
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 2 | Washington Nationals |
| 3 | Detroit Tigers |
| 4 | Texas Rangers |
| 5 | Minnesota Twins |
| 6 | Oakland Athletics |
| 7 | Cincinnati Reds |
| 8 | Kansas City Royals |
| 9 | Colorado Rockies |
| 10 | Miami Marlins |
| 11 | Los Angeles Angels |
| 12 | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 13 | Chicago Cubs |
| 14 | Boston Red Sox |
| 15 | Chicago White Sox |
| 16 | San Francisco Giants |
| 17 | Baltimore Orioles |
| 18 | Milwaukee Brewers |
| 19 | Tampa Bay Rays |
| 20 | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 21 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 22 | Seattle Mariners |
| 23 | Cleveland Guardians |
| 24 | Atlanta Braves |
| 25 | San Diego Padres |
| 26 | New York Yankees |
| 27 | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 28 | Houston Astros |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the MLB Draft
The best TV plan for watching the MLB Draft depends on how much additional coverage you want. Sling TV’s Sling Orange plan with the Sports Extra add-on is the cheapest viewing option. The package includes ESPN and MLB Network for as low as $51 a month. However, you won’t get FOX for watching the MLB All-Star Game.
A simple over-the-air (OTA) antenna can set you up with FOX as long as you’re within range of a local affiliate station. But if you’re looking for a quick, short-term way of watching the draft and other All-Star events, you’re better off trying a live TV streaming free trial. fuboTV offers a seven-day free trial, and its Elite plan comes with FOX, ESPN, and MLB Network.
Which TV providers carry the MLB Draft?
Most TV providers carry the opening rounds of the MLB Draft via ESPN and MLB Network. Though, MLB Network may require a higher-tier plan or add-on package. Our table below illustrates which providers offer the two channels.
| Provider | Price | ESPN | MLB Network | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $56.00–$139.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $64.99–$154.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $64.99–$154.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | $79.99–$109.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| fuboTV | $74.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read fuboTV review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $69.99–$82.99/mo. | ✔ | — |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $35.00–$115.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $25.00/mo. | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $40.00–$55.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $59.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
| Vidgo | $69.99–$99.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Vidgo review |
| Xfinity | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo. | ✔ | — |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
How to watch the MLB Draft for free
The great thing about the MLB Draft is that you can watch most of it for free on MLB.com and the MLB app. But you’ll need a TV provider to watch the first two rounds across ESPN and MLB Network.
Fortunately, live TV streaming services like fuboTV and YouTube TV offer various free trials. If you haven’t signed up before, we recommend trying fuboTV’s Elite plan during the MLB All-Star Week. Not only will you get access to Day 1 of the MLB Draft, but you’ll also be able to watch the Home Run Derby and MLB All-Star Game. Just be sure to cancel before your trial period ends—otherwise, you’ll strike out on the freeness.
Final take
To watch MLB Draft coverage on TV, you’ll need access to ESPN+ or MLB Network for the first day. ESPN also airs Round 1 of the draft, but you’ll need to switch to ESPN+ or MLB Network for Round 2. The second and third draft days stream on MLB.com and the MLB app.
Sling TV’s Sling Orange plan ($40 a month) with the Sports Extra add-on ($11 a month) is the cheapest way to get MLB Network. But if you only want quick access to Day 1 of the MLB Draft, you can save money by signing up for a free fuboTV trial. fuboTV’s Elite plan includes FOX, ESPN, and MLB Network, so you can watch several All-Star Week events—including the draft.
How to watch the MLB Draft FAQ
How can I watch the MLB Draft without cable?
You’ll need a live TV streaming service that offers ESPN and MLB Network to watch the first draft day. Otherwise, the final two draft days stream entirely on MLB.com and the MLB app for free.
How can I watch the MLB Draft on my phone?
You can watch the MLB Draft on your phone through ESPN+ on the ESPN app or by using the MLB app. You’ll need a TV provider login to watch Day 1 via MLB Network on the MLB app, but all other days will stream for free within the app.
Where can I watch the MLB Draft Lottery?
You can watch the MLB Draft Lottery on MLB Network. The inaugural event took place during the MLB Winter Meetings in December 2022.
Methodology
Our sports experts watched the MLB Draft over the last several years across various TV services and devices. Using that experience, we researched this year’s draft viewing options and compared popular TV services head to head. Ultimately, we based our provider recommendations on ease of use, pricing, and overall MLB event access.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
