Do Pro Players Use Personal Assistants?

While my son is rather self sufficient in the day-to-day functions, his agent is there for whatever question he has or "professional" need he requires. Even though he was just drafted, I suppose a good agent looks at the client/player as an investment and with that profession being a "dog-eat-dog" business and the return is not realized until down the road it is probably in the best interest of the agent to be "there" for his guys.

But then again I speak with very, very limited experience/knowledge.

My knowledge is limited also, same as rz. My son is pretty self sufficient as well, with his advisor to advise him with certain things, but I am not too sure his responsibility is to come in and "mop up" if he has to leave in a hurry. I would imagine pros at the higher levels are used to what goes on and either take care of it themselves or have a person who does. Plus, they are pretty much more stable in their situation than those in the minors.

I asked this question once of OPP, Zach Duke's dad, and he said he has left stuff behind and gotten it after the season when called up quickly. Like anything you learn to adjust and you know pretty much for the season you need to travel lightly and be able to leave quickly, part of the job. That is why we were advised not to let him take his transportation and two bags to check in, max.

My son also opted to renew his lease in Clemson for an extra six months, not worrying about storage and where he will go back to when season is over. There he has full use of facilites for workouts, and trainers if necessary, and enjoy the fall school activities (football especially) and his former teammates. It is more or less his "permanent" home at this point.

TPM
IT may be different for pitchers but won't your son be headed to Florida for instructional league when his short season is over?

njbb,
We are assuming he will be headed here but one never knows. Sometimes for pitchers it is about rest and that's a management call. So with that in mind he kept his place.
Most of the pro guys head back to Clemson in the fall, you will even find some of the MLB guys there. BAck to classes, use of facilities are always free as is rehab facilities and trainers. Last fall my son (who banged his knee during practice) sat in the tub with Khalil. It's one of those places that you just never seem to want to leave.

During the season, a player need's a bed, a laptop, a cell phone, Transportation is optional if you have someone else with a car.
One Suitcase, and one Big Bag.
Take enough cloths on road trips to get you by for a few days.
You might get moved up on the road, Plane ticket be there.
Everything else can be Packaged and sent.
EH

son doesn't have a laptop but he can't live with out the ipod

In answer to the posed question ... for our son ...
yes, he does have a personal assistant ...
and we call HER (Mrs) Katie Shappi

I'm getting the picture... Moms and Dads are the main personal assistants on an as-needed basis when the player is in the minors.

I suppose it would be the agent who would utilize personal assistants to help him keep up with his player/client's needs for those who reach the show.

I am sure that in the past ordinary things like getting bills paid was a huge challenge with all the travel these guys do. With automatic billing and debit cards, a lot of those issues probably disappear nowadays.

I think I read in Dale Murphy's book that there were just so many day-to-day details he simply couldn't stay on top of, and that go me wondering...

The agency my son will sign with does not invlove themselves with any of their players finances, personal issues, taxes, etc. They have people they refer their clients to for those things.
An agent, IMO, should only be involved with anything that pertains to baseball.
In college my son paid one bill, his rent, after we put money in his account. He still has the same box of checks he left with 3 years ago. I imagine things will remain teh same.
When I was a supervisor at American Express, lots of players (all sports) parents would call to discuss their sons accounts. For many, family still remains the most trusted.

As an assistant clubbie for a triple A baseball team, I can attest, at the other end of the spectrum without having a kid in the minors, that many guys are tired, grumppy, and its a long season. In fact we have an unload here in about 3 hours as the team is driving back from a 13 hour road game. It seems as if laptops, ipods and travel bags are essential. Hardly ever, unless the player is on rehab or a minor leaguer with a big league contract, will you find someone in the minors who someone at there side. I have only witnessed this once as the former big leaguer (who is on his way out of the game) had what seemed to be a personal assistant at his side. As almost everoyne here knows, the minors is a rough life. There are guys in triple-A who tell me that last year in high A ball they were calling there parents to buy them more bats. And of course as you rise in the minors, the clubhouse dues and costs skyrocket.

quote:

his agent is there for whatever question he has or "professional" need he requires.

Same here. Son's agent (actually other employees in the agency) do provide all his necessary equipment, negotiate equipment deals, and provide tax service for state and federal returns. All is included as part of the agent/player contract (no additional fees). I think this is a very good thing.

The amount of family dependency is left up to each individual player and his family. You have to understand the extreme diversity here too. Some players are more independent, some are married, some are from other countries, some are wealthy and some are poor.

Personal assistants are for those that lead "complicated" lives. The life of a pro player may be tough but is not very complicated. It's eat, ride, eat, practice, play, eat/drink, watch TV, sleep. Just to break the monotony you might throw in a urine test and an interview every now or then.

ktcosmos ...

quote:

Moms and Dads are the main personal assistants on an as-needed basis when the player is in the minors.

In our son's case, the Mrs Shappi is HIS Mrs Shappi and not his mom.

Fungo ...

quote:

It's eat, ride, eat, practice, play, eat/drink, watch TV, sleep. Just to break the monotony you might throw in a urine test and an interview every now or then.

You forgot listening to his iPod and/or using the Playstation/Xbox etc. And don't forget the poker games, or now it is Euchre, on the bus rides.

Major League players do employ personal assistants. A friend of mine, Tony Chiracosta, whose son Nick graduated Douglas (Parkland)in 2005 handled the affairs of such notable players as Maglio Ordonez. His main concerns were foreign born players who were unfamiliar with everything from immigration rules to banking procedures, aquiring temporary and permanent housing, and travel planning.

bigjd39, I left you a PM.