Fort Worth Stockyards take MLB’s center stage on Sunday night

Cowtown becomes Showtown on Sunday.

The Major League Baseball Draft’s first two rounds will be held at the Fort Worth Stockyards on Sunday and be broadcast on national sports networks.

ESPN and MLB Network will show the draft live from the Cowtown Coliseium, beginning at 6 p.m. CT.

On Sunday, the first two rounds, compensatory rounds, competitive balance rounds and prospect promotion incentive will be selected.

Six of the potential first-round high picks have been invited to attend the draft. They include left-handed pitcher Cam Caminiti from Saguaro (Ariz.) High School, switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje from Mississippi State University, shortstop Kaelen Culpepper from Kansas State Universit, outfielder Braden Montgomery from Texas A&M University, second baseman Christian Moore from the University of Tennessee and shortstop JJ Wetherholt from West Virginia University.

The coliseum is being staged to reflect that cowboy culture with a star-shaped stage and cattle pens meant to reflect the surrounding Stockyards. Fans will be able to get on the ground floor as the rodeo arena will be open along with the surrounding grandstand.

The setup is more intimate than drafts in the past, said Jeremiah Yolkut, MLB’s vice president of events.. While the entire draft will be broadcast, only the first 30 picks will be open to the public. Fans can watch the rest of the draft at a watch party outside the coliseum.

Admission is free, but fans need to register online to get a seat. Seating will be doled out on a first-come-first served basis, but fans can come and go as they please.

Besides the draft at the coliseum, there are several other baseball-related activities scheduled around the Stockyards, including former MLB player autograph signings, special appearances and more.

The draft continues on Monday at 1 p.m. with rounds 3-10, then concludes on Tuesday at 1 p.m.with rounds 11-20. Those two days will not be completed virtually and not at the Stockyards.

The Cleveland Guardians have the first pick in the draft.

Staff writer Harrison Mantas contributed to this story.