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MLB wants top prep players in college first. High school coaches see pros and cons

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Etowah baseball coach Greg Robinson still remembers the first time he laid eyes on Kansas City Royals outfielder Drew Waters.

Robinson was umpiring a middle school game when Waters stepped up to the plate.

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“I’m behind the plate when he’s coming to bat and I’m watching him and he barrels a ball into center field,” Robinson said. “And I’m like, ‘This guy’s going to be special.’”

Years later, Robinson sat at Waters’ MLB Draft party as the then-18-year-old received the call from the Atlanta Braves – a moment that Robinson saw coming for a long time.

Over his 32 seasons as a high school head coach, Robinson has watched numerous other stories like Waters’ unfold. From Dexter Fowler to Sawyer Gipson-Long and now Trevor Condon and Matthew Sharman, Robinson has coached plenty of stars along the way.

But in just a few short years, those moments might be delayed.

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On June 18, MLB proposed the elimination of high school draftee eligibility, stating players wouldn’t become draft-eligible until the completion of their sophomore year of college, encouraging athletes to attend college.

Robinson believes the change could strengthen college baseball but also take opportunities away from certain players who are prepared to begin their professional careers.

“It’s a maturity level thing that these guys are ready for mentally,” Robinson said. “So, I think those guys ought to be rewarded with the opportunity to go ahead at the next level.”

However, this could also be an opportunity for continued growth at the college level. With more elite prospects on hand, college baseball would become even more competitive.

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“There’s a lot of value in a kid going off to college for a couple of years and playing 60 games,” Robinson said. “Look at these facilities. Look at the competition.”

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The Barron Collier Cougars compete against the Estero Wildcats in the Class 4A District 12 championship at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla., on Friday, April 17, 2026.

(Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News and The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida, Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News and The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

South Walton head coach Nick Borthwick agrees the proposal could further elevate the college game while narrowing the gap between college baseball and the minor leagues.

“I guess what that would do is turn college baseball into an affiliate to the minor leagues,” Borthwick said. “College baseball is not a bad place to develop.”

Borthwick, who played baseball at Alabama Southern, also believes college offers benefits beyond just baseball.

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“Collegiate athletics is designed to kind of help develop a complete person on and off the field,” Borthwick said. “I think those opportunities are sometimes overlooked in today’s climate.”

Borthwick is the long-time coach of two projected draft picks this year, including his son, Coleman Borthwick, a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher ranked No. 35 among MLB’s prospect rankings.

Although Coleman would not be affected by this proposal because he is eligible for this year’s draft, Borthwick is confident that his son is prepared for whatever the next chapter brings.

“I’ve no doubt that wherever he goes, whether it be Auburn or goes to the draft, he’ll be able to help whatever team win,” Borthwick said. “And that’s what he’s done his whole career.”

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If Coleman hears his name called on July 11, he’ll join a long list of stars who began their professional careers right out of high school – Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts to name a few.

At the same time, many of today’s biggest stars were college standouts before they reached the big leagues. Aaron Judge, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Paul Skenes are just a few players who are a testament to the development that college offers.

“I don’t think all kids have the opportunity to develop in high school like [Coleman and Denton Lord] had,” Borthwick said. “I think they’re in a unique situation not just with the talent, but the support system around them throughout their high school careers. I think that they’re as ready as any players in the country to start their professional careers.”

Whether the proposal is ultimately adopted in the next collective bargaining agreement or not, the decision won’t change the mission of high school coaches like Robinson and Borthwick.

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“I’m trying to develop young men that will be ready for life after baseball,” Robinson said. “Baseball is really second to what I try to do with these guys. We try to be selfless people, relentless people and care for others first. That’s going to play a lot longer than baseball.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB wants top prep players in college first. High school coaches see pros and cons

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