ST. LOUIS -- On the eve of the 2020 MLB Draft, Cardinals scouting director Randy Flores and his team have adapted to everything thrown their way while preparing for a shortened Draft during the coronavirus pandemic.

Next up: Selecting their first-round pick virtually.

“We’ve had to adjust how we scout, how we meet, our communication,” Flores said during a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday. “Adjusting that work-life balance, trying to figure out what the new routines are. At least in the prep stages, a lot of that difference we’ve already worked through. Now we’ll see how different it is to actually make the pick digitally.”

The Cardinals will select at No. 21 on Day 1 of the Draft, which begins tonight at 6 p.m. CT on MLB Network and ESPN. They’ll make six more picks on Thursday.

Flores will lead the Cardinals’ virtual Draft room from Busch Stadium. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak will be there too, with safety precautions in place. The rest of Flores’ team will communicate over Zoom.

The energy of having all the scouts and analysts in the war room might be lacking, but Flores thinks that the chemistry will still be there. The picks still matter.

“It’s competition,” Flores said. “There’s an energy if you have a roomful of scouts, analysts, your front office, and you make a pick -- there is a real tangible feeling in that room. That being said, it’s competition, and the stakes are just as high. The atmosphere might be different, but internally, that chemistry will feel very similar to every other Draft. It’s just that it will be missing 50-plus people in the seats observing those decisions.”

Flores, team have ‘no restrictions’ in bonus pool

Mozeliak said Tuesday that the Cardinals' Draft group will not have restrictions on spending their bonus pool, despite economic concerns stemming from a pandemic-shortened season. The Cards have a pool of $7,901,100, including $3,132,300 to spend on their first selection.

They also aren’t limited in pursing non-drafted free agents, although Mozeliak speculated it won’t be a big group. For 2020, there is a $20,000 limit on bonuses for non-drafted free agents with no limits to the number of players teams may sign. These bonuses do not count toward the pool total.

“I’m purely speculating here, but I would imagine that you’re going to have a small select group that’s willing to go take that $20,000,” Mozeliak said. “Part of the problem is there’s not the opportunity just to go start your career. So some players are just going to have to make their own decision on staying in college, or going to college, versus trying to begin a professional career.”

Flores noted that signing non-drafted players might be difficult, given the cap on the signing bonus and the challenges that come with beginning a professional career. But the Cardinals’ strength has been developing the players they draft in the middle rounds, and they will try to use that to their advantage as the signing period opens.

“I would say that one of the things that the Cardinals have prided themselves on is the attention to detail at all spots in the Draft,” Flores said. “… We’re absent that traditional 40-round Draft, but I would say that same pride and attention to detail is spent canvassing and exploring opportunities for those players who are excited and willing to start their career under the parameters of this Draft.”

Post-Draft location for signees to be determined

Usually after the Draft concludes, the Cardinals sign many of their picks and send them to Jupiter, Fla., for workouts before assigning them a Minor League team. With no season right now, and the Cards’ complex still limited in capacity, where the team will send its newest players after they sign is still up in the air.

“I think right now this is still a TBD,” Mozeliak said. “Obviously, right now when you think about our entire Minor League system, it’s not getting an opportunity to develop. So I would imagine if everything stays the course, you’re going to see that happen with this Draft class.

“Now, could there be an opportunity if we do end up with an agreement where there could be a small camp that is opened where maybe somebody from this year’s Draft class could join? We don’t know the answer, but we haven’t ruled that out yet.”

Worth noting

• Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader has joined teammates in St. Louis, Mozeliak confirmed Tuesday. Paul DeJong, Kolten Wong, Tommy Edman, Adam Wainwright and Kwang-Hyun Kim are also in St. Louis and are occasionally working out at Busch Stadium under social-distancing guidelines.

• Mozeliak also said that the Cardinals still are planning to have Spring Training 2.0 at Busch Stadium this summer if baseball returns.