quote:
An advisor should give you the pros and cons of going pro HS vs. college.
TPM, since we have never had an advisor or an agent, but strongly feel they are necessary if your son is in a position where he is an attractive client, I will provide some additional thoughts and perhaps a bit of a different view on the one subject listed above.
Personally, I would not want an advisor to provide the pros and cons of professional vs college. Most of us know what were are getting in college, or at least we should know if the research was done. No matter what, every advisor is going to bring some element of bias to this and that bias is likely to sign as that is how they make money. I just don't think a family/player needs the advisor's recommendations on what to do.
What most of us don't know is professional baseball and the business side, and there is a lot to know and learn. I would want an advisor to help to fully understand the game of professional baseball and business of professional baseball so the player and family can then balance the pros/cons of college and professional ball and make a decision.
Things I would be looking for from an advisor, in addition to those you have included:
1.) Explain the MLB college scholarship program;
2.) How do you see the 8/15 mandatory signing date affecting signing bonuses/slot money compared to past years and why;
3.) Should the 8/15 date change the way the player/family should approach the draft;
4.) What benefits are provided to minor leaguers;
5.) Help me understand what life is like in the minor leagues--differences between Rookie ball/short season vs AZL/GCL; is development different in professional ball than college and how is it different?
6.) Can an invitation to Fall instructionals be included in the negotiations; how important is it for a player to participate in Fall instrux?
7.) How long is the contract that players sign and what are my rights under that contract?
8.) Are there organizations that are better/worse for development/investment in their minor leaguers, especially for the position I play? Can you provide specifics?
9.) What benefits are available to minor leaguers?
10) In minor league ball, where do I live, who arranges it, who pays for it, what will my days be like?
11.) Do you provide off season conditioning recommendations and do you have baseball specific trainers you can recommend?
12.) What if I don't perform well in Milb? Can I change my mind and go back to college?
13.) What if I don't perform well in Milb my first year? What can I expect? Will I sit on the bench?
While I have others, these are some that I would include if I were the parent of a high school senior talking and evaluating advisors. I know most of us want to assume everything will go well whether our son goes to college or signs. I think it is very important to realize that isn't always true as players make this step. College ball provides a support mechanism to make that adjustment that is different than minor league ball.
They both can work but they are much different. It is the difference in Milb that I would want a good advisor to help my high school senior and our family understand.l
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, but hopefully not the type referred to, I can vouch for the difficulty for a lay person to tell which is which. I honestly don't think anyone benefits from the "sleazy" type of "assistance" except the one "providing" the assistance. 
