Contract Structures

Contracts can be structured in different ways.

The signing bonus does not include college money, but to the individual it does and MLB clubs will consider it part of the deal.

Usually the bonus is paid in the first two years, but that also can be different from one case to the next.

If your son will have this decision, especially if it involves as much as $500K, chances are that you will be having some home visits. The scout visiting will be able to answer all your questions. He has no reason to mislead you on these type questions. It appears that you do not have an advisor yet.

$500K is early round money. Best of luck.

quote:

It appears that you do not have an advisor yet

PGStaff, thanks for the quick response. As of now we do not have an advisor, the $500k I put out there was just a round number to make it easy. Really not sure if we need an advisor, all I know is this summer some scouts saw my son play. The scout spoke to me and new tons of information about my son and stated he would be seeing a lot of us this coming spring. Not sure what that means at all.

there is still plenty of time. as a matter of fact many get drafted without ever talking to a scout. you just have to keep working at it.......the rest takes care of itself.

I'm sure it varies but our experience was the pro scouts came out of the wood work on the first day of spring practice of the high school season.

I am curious about the pro contacts as well. Our son has received 10 questionaires in the past few months and got his first call from area scout who wants to come north this winter to see him hit and talk with him.

He has signed an NLI to ACC school - we don't know what all these inquiries mean?

Thanks

There will be many players who will draw draft interest for the first time this coming spring. However, if a player has had “no” contact with scouts or the Major League Scouting Bureau before the draft takes place… he will not be drafted. Those on the draft board are assigned an identification number that is actually called out during the draft. The ID # leads to the players file that has information about that player.

High School players considered early draft picks by now, should have scouts scheduling home visits between now and the draft if not already. However, all of the draft picks have not been determined as of yet. I would say that if no one has asked for information before the draft, there is no chance of being drafted. However, it is possible to get drafted by a club where the scout has never talked to the player before the draft. The basic information they get from the MLSB, who compiles info on many players.

We are also very busy before the draft with decision makers calling for additional information about players they are interested in. We have a very extensive database, again by ID#s, of the majority of the players who end up getting selected in the draft.

Once in a great while a relatively unknown player is discovered in the spring high school season and becomes an early pick, even first round pick. Last one I can remember is Colt Griffin who was throwing triple digits his senior year in high school. Typically it takes something very rare (100 mph) for that to happen because it’s hard for scouts to judge players that they haven’t seen compete against something better than high school competition.

Most of those who end up first round picks are well known entering their final year of high school. These types tend to draw lots of scouts to their final high school season games, which becomes a good opportunity for those playing with or against those players. Lots of players are discovered because someone else drew all the scouts to their final high school games.

quote:

Originally posted by nhmonty:
I am curious about the pro contacts as well. Our son has received 10 questionaires in the past few months and got his first call from area scout who wants to come north this winter to see him hit and talk with him.

He has signed an NLI to ACC school - we don't know what all these inquiries mean?

Thanks

Because your son signed at an ACC school, that alone will bring attention.
Mine signed at an ACC school and the first scrimmage for spring practice the place was loaded with scouts to watch son, and it continued that way all spring, but circumstances were he was never drafted.
Just sit back and enjoy your son's last year and if it happens, then it happens. Try not to analize what this or that means, it will drive you nuts.

PG is correct, if no contact is ever made, most likely a player will not be drafted.

2010 players have between now and the draft to get noticed. A player should be working hard on what he needs to do, to do well this spring, reardless.

Some teams hold showcases (with multiple teams invited) for players in the area and scouts contact you for that information, they do that here alot, because of so many kids.

If a player is talented enough there are always some predraft showcases and camps. One that I know of is heavily scouted.

It's really a good sign if a player is asked to go workout predraft at the clubs Major League Stadium or other venue.

There are also a few things in the winter down south that are scouted by the highest level scouts (MLB Scouting Directors and National Crosscheckers).

However, if son has already received a lot of attention, they will probably be coming to the HS games this spring.

Would you say that in home visits by scouts indicates high round possibiities and what is your definition of "high." In your opinion what is the criteria for needing an advisor? Thank you very much!

overthelights,

High round “possibility”? Guess you could say that, but typically scouts have a list of potential draft picks in the area they are responsible for. Starting with those considered the best, they will start to schedule home visits. Some clubs are more into home visits than other clubs.

Personally, I would consider high pick first or second round. However, I might consider a player selected in the 10-15 round as having high pick ability. It is all about signability with some players and that is one of the major reasons for home visits. However, a good scout is a good detective and he can learn all kinds of things during a home visit.

Just because there is a home visit doesn’t mean a player will be drafted in any round. In fact, there are players that go undrafted after having home visits, while others have been selected in a good round without a home visit from the club that selected him.

The home visits simply show interest and that is a good thing. The scout might have a predetermined idea of a possible round, but these things change. The scout might try to get an idea of what round it might take in order to sign the player. All of this stuff is subject to change.

The first time we talked to Carl Crawford’s uncle who was Carl’s advisor at first… He told us Carl would sign immediately for $50,000. That was in January, then in May (4 monthes later) we asked him again, what it would take for Carl to sign. With no hesitation, he told us… $1.3 million. BTW, that was about what Carl got after being the first pick of the second round.

IMO, the things that would dictate needing an advisor, would be the amount of knowledge or lack of knowledge the players family has… The expectation the family has regarding the draft… and most important would be who the advisor is. Just like everything else, there are good and bad advisors. There are advisors out there that give terrible advice. Better to go it alone, than have one of these screwing things up.

Most of the bigger agencies actually rely on their own scouting to find players they are interested in. Boras, SFX, etc. will send 2 to 4 scouts to many of our events. These people are excellent scouts and very intelligent. In most cases, the advisor goes after the player, rather than the other way around. I real telltale sign of being a possible early draft pick is when several of the top agencies are wanting to be your advisor and then your agent. So in the end, those who are regarded the best draft prospects will be the ones that will be asked the most about home visits, visits from advisors, asked to attend the most events, etc. Oddly enough, often the very best, receive a fairly low number of college offers. Who wants to devote a lot of time trying to recruit a Justin Upton? When the whole world knows what’s going to happen.

I guess the most important criteria for having an advisor is if you feel like you need one. If so, do your homework and get a good one.

There are times when it is good to be proactive... but really the truth is... If you have to look for and contact a college to create interest... If you have to contact a scout to create interest... If you have to look for and contact an agent/advisor to help you... Chances are you're not a high priority to these people or you are unknown. You can do something about the unknown part, but in the end it is all up to other people to determine your value. Still good to be proactive and that can help, but there are many ways to be proactive and it is best if you are one of those who don't need to be very proactive. At least, when it comes to the draft or highest level D1 college. The best approach is to be in a position where most everyone involved in recruiting or the draft knows who you are. Better when these people are calling you rather than the other way around.

That was a "hall of fame" post PG!

quote:

Originally posted by jerseydad:
That was a "hall of fame" post PG!

PGStaff,

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!

PG, that was over the top, very informative. Our son had the questionnaires, no home visits, no D1 offers. And not drafted. If it happens it happens, don't get all dreamy over the draft. You have to realize not to fret over things you have no control over.

That Harper kid is an example of money in the bank as far as being drafted.