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Draft Eligibility Assistance

06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
OK websters, I need some advice on the best way to help this young man.

We have a player, a right-handed pitcher, who recently left his NAIA school for a D-1 last fall, but didn't care for the D-1 school, dropped out and is now not attending college. He wishes to become eligible for the June draft. He has completed two years of college, so he still has eligibility left.

He was recently invited to a workout in Arizona with a MLB team but they cancelled his workout (he hadn't left home in CA yet) as soon as they found out about his NCAA eligibility. As soon as I heard about this, I got on the phone with a scout that I know and asked for some advice. He did confirm that the player is completely off limits until he can clear up his situation with the NCAA and MLB. So, here is where I need some help. Do any of you have advice on how I can go about assisting this young man with obtaining whatever waiver or clearance is necessary to become eligible for the June draft?

While we're working on this, he's preparing himself physically for workouts. Since he isn't in a college program at the moment, he's throwing bullpens several times per week, running, lifting, etc.

By the way, he's already been to an MLSB tryout in Texas last summer. He throws a fastball, slider, change and splitter. FB 90-92. Slider in mid-80's, good movement to his split and change. He's 23 yrs. old and 6'7" tall so we're thinking that there could be some interest in him if we can take care of the eligibility issues.

Any help would be most appreciated!
Last edited {1}
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06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
Both the player and myselft thought his situation was more simple than it appears to have become. I talked with an area scout who I trust, and he indicated that he didn't think this player could be looked at by anyone until he gets some kind of clearance from the NCAA for the draft. The problem seems to revolve around the fact that he's been attending a 4 yr. university, and hasn't completed his Jr. year yet. The scout did think that the problem might be able to be resolved if he just goes and enrolls in a local juco, but wanted me to get confirmation from the NCAA or MLB.

I'm hesitant to go down the "advisor" road with him just yet, as he's not very familiar with the process and I'd like to take things slowly with him. I've got several friends and relatives who are former professional players that we'll rely on for that kind of advice for the time being.

I'm not any type of advisor, I just lead a local summer program with 18U and 16U teams. Since this is a local kid and his younger brother used to play in our program, I'm trying to help him get his affairs in order. While I'm working on this aspect, my son is catching bullpens for him several times per week after his own HS practices, and he is working out diligently to be in the best possible condition for when he pitches for scouts.

I'm hoping to have everything in order and him ready to show by mid March. So, any suggestions will really help.
Last edited by 06catcherdad
FrankFFrankF1,000+ posts
Agree about Bono because he signed before going back to school. If however, he would have started classes this fall he would have been in the same situation as Townsend and would be back in the draft. It appears even though this young man is 23 years old, attending college is the sticky point.

Keep us posted.
RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
Agree, the issue is not whether this player is eligible for the draft, but when can he sign. If he attended school this year my understanding is that he cannot sign with any team now, but must wait for the June draft. If he is not selected by a team as part of the '05 draft, he can then sign with any team that later makes an offer.
B Bee>1,000+ posts
ya got me too??
from the original post at 23 yrs old he's been an "undrafted free agent" at least twice, maybe 3 times, depending on his birthdate - including last summer at the MLSB tryout --
before school began any of 30 teams could have signed him for anywhere from big$ to a bus ticket

or - am I missing something??
Last edited by Bee>
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
Thanks Zen. That is pretty much what I've confirmed. He took 12 units at a D-1 school last fall and then dropped out after the end of the semester, so he's got to go through the draft if he's to play professionally. We're beginning the process of getting his eligibility taken care of and hope to be ready to have him pitch for scouts in about a month.
C carolina10+ posts
I have a question about the draft, similar to this last one. Maybe someone knows the answer. If a sophomore at a 4 year institution decides to not return their junior year in college, but has played 2 years, can they still be drafted in the 2006 draft even if they are not 21 years of age in June 2006? Could they sign as a free agent when they turn 21? The situation would be that they played 2 years of their 4 year eligibility and never returned for their junior year. What would their draft status be?
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
I would contact MLB for the answer but I think being 21 years old makes one eligible???

The Major League Rules govern which players are eligible for selection in the Draft. These Rules are detailed, but the basic eligibility criteria can be described as follows: Generally, a player is eligible for selection if the player is a resident of the United States or Canada and the player has never before signed a Major League or Minor League contract. Residents of Puerto Rico and other territories of the United States are eligible for the Draft. Also considered residents are players who enroll in a high school or college in the United States, regardless of where they are from originally.

Certain groups of players are ineligible for selection, generally because they are still in school. The basic categories of players eligible to be drafted are:


High school players, if they have graduated from high school and have not yet attended college or junior college;

College players, from four-year colleges who have either completed their junior or senior years or are at least 21 years old; Junior college players, regardless of how many years of school they have completed; and

21-year-old players.
Last edited by Fungo
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
Now that the summer is nearly over, I thought I'd provide a follow-up to this thread. The player in question, Nathan Pudewell, was not drafted but everything worked out wonderfully for him nonetheless.

Nathan worked out diligently during the spring and attended an open tryout for the Long Beach Armada of the Golden League. He was one of 8 players that the Golden League selected from that tryout, from a pool of over 120 hopefuls. Nathan continued to workout after that tryout, and before leaving for spring training. During that time, he threw for several scouts here locally. Off he goes to spring training and his first taste of professional baseball....

Draft day comes, first day then second day...nobody drafts Nate. I get a call very late at night (you know, the time when its either a wrong number, obscene call or someone juust died time)on June 8th. It's Nathan's father telling me that the Atlanta Braves have just purchased his son's contract from the Golden League a couple hours after the draft concluded, and that Nate will be playing in the Braves organization in Florida.

Nate ended up playing rookie ball, suffering an injury, re-habbed and back to rookie ball. He ended the summer pitching for the Brave's single A affiliate and from what I heard did fairly well.

Sometimes, it all comes together, even if it happened in a very unconventional manner.

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