Eight players with local ties were selected during the three-day Major League Baseball first-year players draft that concluded early Wednesday afternoon. All 1,525 drafted players have until Aug. 15 to sign a contract with the team that drafted them, or explore other options, such.

As entering or remaining in college. Drafted players unsigned by the deadline cannot sign with another major league team but may be eligible for the 2011 draft. Players not chosen in the draft are free to sign with any major league team.

After signing, the vast majority of players are sent to low-level minor league teams such as the short-season or rookie ball levels, which begin play June 18. Very few draftees are considered advanced enough to start their professional careers at Class A ball or higher.

To be eligible for the draft, athletes must be a resident of the U.S. or its territories, or be from Canada. They must never have signed a professional contract. High school seniors are eligible if they have not attended college. A player attending a Division I or Division II college is not eligible until after his junior season, while Division III players can be drafted after their sophomore year. Community college players can be drafted at any time.