Fans, players and MLB.com Draft experts can connect by "Tweeting the Draft"
NEW YORK, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, will launch the first online social community integration of the First-Year Player Draft as it brings the real-time short-messaging service, Twitter, into its live interactive media experience, the MLB.com Draft Caster, beginning Tuesday, June 9. This additive feature will allow fans to watch Draft coverage live, including direct access to a searchable database of all eligible players, their biographical data, statistics, scouting reports and video, while offering the opportunity to connect and engage in Draft-related discussions with other fans, MLB.com reporters and Draft experts, industry insiders and numerous Draft-eligible players such as @Michael_Trout, @Eric_Arnett, @JacobMarisnick and @DrewStoren.
On Twitter, any posting utilizing the hashtag "#mlbdraft" will be displayed within the MLB.com Draft Caster live during the three-day event. Registered members of Twitter can also enter commentary to join the Draft conversation directly from the application.
The 2009 First-Year Player Draft will be held at MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, NJ, beginning live on MLB Network and MLB.com at 6:00 p.m. (EDT) on June 9. Following MLB Network's live broadcast of the first round, MLB.com will be the exclusive destination for every pick through
the final round on June 11, streaming each of the nearly 1,500 selections live. Here are highlights of MLB.com's content offerings:
Up-to-the-minute reporting leading to the Draft's first pick
On-demand Draft recap video programs for all 30 Clubs
Live video look-ins to Draft 'war rooms' of select Major League clubs
Live audio-only simulcast of entire Draft
Interviews with Hall of Famers, Club dignitaries and 2009 draftees
More than 150 original stories, including behind-the-scenes perspectives from all 30 Clubs
Enhanced video scouting reports for 100 of the top Draft-eligible prospects
Scouting video for over 700 Draft-eligible players
Complete history of the Draft, including full Draft listings dating back to 1965
