These are the South Florida baseball players to watch when the 2020 MLB Draft happens

There will be an MLB Draft this year, and it will happen no later than July 20. However, in a deal announced last week in conjunction with the players’ union, commissioner Rob Manfred was given the right to cut this year’s draft from 40 rounds to as few as five.

According to a story in D1Baseball.com, sources in baseball are reporting that the draft will likely range between five and 10 rounds, and bonus money will not be paid all at once but rather staggered — 50 percent by July 1, 2021, and the rest by July 1, 2022.

Should a player go undrafted, his signing bonus would be capped at $20,000, and that limit will also be in place next year. That could mean more top-end high school seniors playing college baseball and more standout collegiate juniors returning to their respective universities.

Manfred will also have the option to cut the 2021 draft to 20 rounds.

It will be interesting to see what impact all this has on local stars such as Miami Hurricanes right-handers Slade Cecconi and Chris McMahon, who are candidates to get drafted in the first round this year.

FIU left-hander Logan Allen is ranked among the top 60 prospects and will likely be a candidate to get selected in the top two rounds.

The status of Hurricanes shortstop Freddy Zamora, who missed this season because of an injury, is anybody’s guess.

As for high school baseball players in Dade and Broward counties, here are the top prospects:

▪ Victor Mederos, RHP, Westminster Christian: The 6-4, 225-pound Miami recruit throws his fastball 91-97 mph.

▪ Alejandro Rosario, RHP, Miami Christian: The 6-1, 165-pound Miami recruit throws 93-97 mph and also has a changeup and slider. He has electric stuff but needs to work on control and deception, according to reports.

▪ Enrique Bradfield Jr., CF, American Heritage: The 6-0, 155-pound Vanderbilt recruit hit .542 last year and is the fastest player in the nation, according to scouting directors who are paid to know such things. He is also ranked the nation’s second-ranked defensive outfielder. He has been compared to Juan Pierre but with a better arm.

▪ Timothy Manning, LHP, Cardinal Gibbons: The 6-2, 175-pound Florida recruit went 8-2 with a 1.65 ERA as a junior. His fastball runs 87-91 mph, and he has one of the best curveballs in this draft class. His changeup is above average.

▪ Coby Mayo, 3B, Douglas: The 6-4, 215-pound Florida recruit has a fearsome swing — an exit velocity clocked at 105 mph. He also has a strong arm at the hot corner (94 mph), but his power bat is his biggest strength.

▪ Yohandy Morales, SS, Braddock: The 6-4, 195-pound Miami recruit has premier arm strength and power potential. He needs to cut down on his strikeouts, according to reports, and could eventually move to third base.

▪ Carlos Rodriguez, RHP, Miami Christian: The 5-11, 180-pound Miami recruit has a quick arm (88-93 mph). He also has potential on two off-speed pitches — a 12-6 curve and a slider with late bite.

▪ Jordan Carrion, SS, American Heritage: The 6-1, 160-pound Florida recruit will be 19 by draft day, which is old for a high school player. But he has exciting tools on both sides of the ball, including a strong arm. “He has great range and can throw at any angle,” Heritage coach Bruce Aven said. “He’s a contact hitter with plus speed. His defensive instincts are way above average.”