OAKLAND -- Much of the A’s excitement entering 2020 centered around the additions of top prospects A.J. Puk and Sean Murphy, Oakland's first- and third-round Draft picks in 2016, to a talented big league roster that already includes stars like Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, both former first-round selections by the A’s.

It’s a prime example of how the MLB Draft can change the outlook of an organization. Now, the club is in search of its next wave of homegrown stars.

The 2020 MLB Draft is a bit different, with only five rounds set to take place. The move is certain to impact Draft strategies around MLB.

Day 1 of the 2020 Draft airs tonight on MLB Network and ESPN at 4 p.m. PT and includes the first 37 picks. Day 2 begins at 2 p.m. PT on Thursday on MLB Network and ESPN2 and spans the remainder of the 160 picks.

• MLB Network channel locator

Comprehensive coverage will be available on MLB.com and MLB Pipeline, which will simulcast MLB Network’s broadcast. Go to MLB.com/Draft to see when teams pick, the Top 200 Prospects list, mock drafts from analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, scouting video and more. And follow @MLBDraft and @MLBDraftTracker on Twitter to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying and to get each pick as it’s made.

Here’s how the Draft is shaping up for the A’s, whose first selection is the No. 26 overall pick:

State of the system
With the A’s top three prospects (Jesús Luzardo, Puk and Murphy) all set to soon graduate to the Majors, the club seeks to reinforce the system with talent. Having added shortstop Logan Davidson in the first round of last year’s Draft, as well as signing international infield prospect Robert Puason, the middle infield appears to be a strong area of depth.

What they’re saying
“Every Draft is different and is dictated, obviously, by where you pick and, more recently, the size of your pool. We know that big leaguers come from all over the Draft and [scouting director] Eric [Kubota] and his staff have worked hard to identify the best players.” -- A’s general manager David Forst

Whom might they take?
MLB Pipeline gurus Mayo and Callis both have the A's taking a right-handed college pitcher with the No. 26 pick, although they're projecting different hurlers to be on the way to Oakland.

In Callis' most recent mock, he's projecting the A’s to take Louisville's Bobby Miller, a 6-foot-5 right-hander with electric tools that include a 95-96 mph fastball to go with a swing-and-miss slider/cutter. Mayo's latest mock has Oakland selecting the University of Miami's Chris McMahon, although he notes that Mount Carmel High School (Ill.) shortstop Ed Howard also "could come into play."

Money matters
Each team gets an allotted bonus pool equal to the sum of the values of its selections in the Draft. The more picks a team has, and the earlier it picks, the larger the pool. This year, with a five-round Draft, all signing bonuses of drafted players will apply toward the bonus pool total.

For 2020, there is a $20,000 limit on bonuses for non-drafted free agents. There is no limit to the number of undrafted players teams may sign, but they cannot go over $20,000 per player. These bonuses do not count toward the pool total.

The A’s have a pool of $5,241,500 to spend, including $2,653,400 to spend on their first selection.

Shopping list
Luzardo and Puk’s impending full-time moves to the Majors will leave the A’s with only one left-handed pitcher on the organization’s Top 30 Prospects list still in the Minors, so that is an area the club will likely look to address. The A’s have usually looked to land the best player available early on in recent years, but the shortening of the Draft could put pressure on certain clubs to perhaps address immediate needs earlier than usual.

Trend watch
The A’s have selected college players with their top pick in five of their past six Drafts, and that trend is likely to continue, as the club often favors more experienced players who are advanced in their development, whether it’s a pitcher or position player.

The recent top picks
2019: Logan Davidson, SS (No. 29)
2018: Kyler Murray, OF (No. 9)
2017: Austin Beck, CF (No. 6)
2016: A.J. Puk, LHP (No. 6)
2015: Richie Martin, SS (No. 20)
2014: Matt Chapman, 3B (No. 25)