Hancock - Any News?

I know this much: He hasn't been released by the Rockies. He is not playing ball now. There is the 90 day rule for JUCO, but since he hasn't been release, he probably won't fall under that. He will never play NCAA D1, D2, or D3 ball. There may be a possibility in the future for JUCO or NAIA. Not sure on that though.

It sounds like this young man got some terrible advice or none at all. Very unfortunate.

Thanks for the update. What a shame... Sorry to hear this for the kid's sake. Have any idea how long the Rockies would continue to hold his rights? At this point could he still report to the Rockies or have they since soured on him?

When he signed with the Rockiesw, he signed for 6 years. That is the standard minor league contract. If he wants to play ball at all, it is going to have to be for them.

Talked to Kyle on the golf course. He's still trying the legal system with not much sucess. Things will work out for the kid in the end what ever that is.He does play to a scratch handicap by the way...

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Talked to Kyle on the golf course. He's still trying the legal system with not much sucess. Things will work out for the kid in the end what ever that is.He does play to a scratch handicap by the way...

Last time I checked they don't have a draft for scratch golfers...

Dude he's only 17 and he only wonders why you would care?

Hate to ask this again but was wondering if there are any updates on his situation of being re-instated to play D1? Or has anything been worked out between him and the Rockies?

as far as D-1 goes you can forget it. Do not allow signed professionals to compete in that sport. He could play at Juco only if he gets a release. He could play NAIA after i year of inelibility only if gets his release. that is the key. Now a high pick such as him, he will probably not recieve that release for at least one year if they are nice. He could play NCAA golf though right now if he is tht good

So, for how long do the Rockies hold his rights if he never received money? Until the next draft? At that time, is he draft eligible again? Could he attend JUCO or NAIA or D2 after one year? Despite many of us considering it a "sad" situation, it is interesting from the standpoint of the team's rights, etc.

I am sure he signed the standard contract which means he is contracted to the Rockies for 6 years. If he wants to play baseball, he will play for the Rockies or not play. One the issue of the money, I am sure the Rockies paid the bonus as required. Even if he returns it, that does not do the player any good whatsoever unless the team is willing to accept all the money back and agree to give up their contractual right.. So long as that team asserts he signed a valid contract, which they seem to be doing, he cannot reenter the draft or negotiate with any other team

Good information but....I wonder how many here would consider it wrong for Kyle to keep the money? If he has no rights to move on with his baseball life outside of the Rockies organization, then it seems he should be entitled to some compensation. JMO.

he is under control of the Rockies regardless if he returned the money or not. if he did return the money then the rockies "might" release him in a year or two. he apparently walked out on them and they wont forget that for awhile. they sure dont want him to go to another organization in the near future. Do you know why he left?

Personally, I don't think the player is in a strong legal position. If you keep the money, then you will need to play as that is why you got the money pursuant to the contract. If you keep the money and don't show up to play, that may lead to the money then being spent on attorneys. The Rockies would claim a breach of contract with ample justification. Everything I have read says the player showed up in Casper and did not like the professional environment and had significant misgivings whether he made the right choice. Unless there is more, that is not a very good defense to the Rockies' claims concerning the existence of the contract.

Son went to Arkansas vs Auburn game last weekend ran into Kyle at the game. Kyle was meeting with Arkansas coaches about enrollment at semester. It's in the courts hands but does sound postive his way and you could one day see him taking the mound for the razorbacks. That day could be sooner than you all expected.

He can not play any college baseball at ANY LEVEL, PERIOD. He signed a professional contract and is currently on the restricted list of the Colorado Rockies. His contract was negotiated by a professional sports agent. Even if the Rockies were to release him. The NCAA would not allow him to play because he had an agent that did his contract for him. If he wants to play baseball again he should start begging the Rockies to take him back.

One other thing. He has not recieved one dime of money. The contract states that he has to wait 90 days from the day he signed his contract to recieve part of his bonus. But because he quit, he was placed on the restricted list. Which means he will not recieve any money until he is reinstated.

Wonder who his advisor/agent was because it sounds like he got some lousy advice.

Bad advice????? How about a bad choice. He didn't like the professional environment in Casper. What's to say he will like college any better. He should honor his contract!!!

kyle is a great example of why "most" highschool players should go to college first and learn how to grow up and mature mentally and physically before they get into pro ball. If he does enroll at arkansas for the spring semester I guarantee the rockies will keep him on the restricted list for every year they can.

Personally, I am sympathetic to the player. How many of us at 18 years old have not made choices and then wanted to go a different direction or back out. The problem is that making the choice between college/professional baseball at age 18 does not allow "go back." If you choose professional, the NCAA and its bureaucracy have a maze of rules and regulations that all but preclude college baseball as an option. If you go professional, the contract is 6 years and it precludes other options. Emphasizes the importance of having the very best advisor possible and really understanding and investigating the options before signing anything.

the drafting of Hancock wasn't a surprise to anyone, least of all him and his family. I would have thought this would have been sorted out long before he signed the contract, not after he arrived for his first assignment. There are not alot of "do overs" in life. As an adult (which he is) we make decisions all the time and we hope that they are the correct ones, which in my case is about 60%-40% but I am working on that I am sorry that the decision he made was in hindsight not the right one for him, but it is still the decision he made and as an adult he should honor it. I feel for Kyle but it could be worse! Signing bonus, professional baseball, and if it doesn't work out for him then he has enough money to afford a pretty good education. At worst he has learned by his mistakes. WELCOME TO MANHOOD!

There is a lot of good input here and I agree with most of it. With that said it appears that the appeal process has not completely run it course yet with the NCAA based on what I have heard. There is an appeal process and I for one have not heard any hard facts stating that the appeal has been denied. Based on the rules the NCAA has in place I personally do not see any way he could come back, but there are always exceptions.

A really bad situation for somebody with his amount of talent.

Having been signed to contract, he is stuck for the next 6 years. If he doesnt get released (which I doubt the Rockies would do) there are exactly zero baseball options for him now. No other professional team (affiliated or independant) can sign him. No college can take him. Where can he play to stay in game shape?

After getting hosed by Matt Harrington and Boras a few years back, I bet the Rockies hold onto Hancock's contract just to prove a point. They basically wasted their 5th overall pick (87th overall) on a player that quit on them. I'm sure they're not bitter at all.

Kyle started receiving scouts into his home to meet with him as early as April of his Senior season. Each scout from each club lays out all the options, the positives and the negatives. There are 30 teams, so thats 30 visits possible. He told the scouts in those visits he WANTED TO SIGN and would do so as long as he was picked in the 1st 5 rounds. If he didn't want to sign, he should have said so to the gentlemen who were responsible to their clubs best interest. Baseball America has reported his contract Bonus was $460,000. Also included in that contract was a full 4 year college scholarship. I very fair contract for a 3rd rounder.

I wouldn't think the Rockies or any other club would "BE BITTER" as you say. Folks, its Corporate America, its BIG business and a professional business. Matt Harrington DID NOT sign a contract. Mr Hancock DID!!!!!!!

My understanding is that he was uncomfortable with the circumstances when he reported. People can argue whether his response was "appropriate" or not...but everyone is different. And despite preparing for his decision by learning all he could, no scout or club official can lay out the team landscape and accurately predict how an 18-19 yr old will feel once he moves away from home and goes to work. How many kids move home from college after a semester because they don't like the surroundings, etc.? And I am not saying that he was homesick or immature. It's easy for us to sit here and "judge" his decision, eh? -- how many of us would love to have been in his shoes? <-- all irrelevant to KH.

The Rockies lost a high pick -- the player lost a year of his baseball career, his D1 college eligibility and, right or wrong, a degree of credibiity (for some). But signing a player (no matter how high the pick) is never guarenteed. Other than the complex bureaucratic NCAA situation, I think this situation should be treated like other unsigned players -- he should be eligible to re-enter the draft after one year. The Rockies' "damages" were no worse than those suffered by teams that did not sign their first round picks. One might argue that they were able to use the money to sweeten other deals. Why keep a kid from playing for 6 years over a mistake -- Rockies mistake? Player's mistake? Yes, on both fronts?

Having said all this -- I think he needs to play college baseball -- at whatever level -- to prepare for the commitment. It seems apparent that his next exposure will include 1) less money, and 2) the same minor league experience ---- perhaps he will be ready to handle it when/if there is another opportunity for him.

I want to be careful that my opinions do not "slam" this player in any way. I have three sons, two have dealt with similar decisions, etc. -- on a much smaller stage of course. Plano East faced him last year and he is no doubt an excellent talent.

-PD

I signed a contract when I was 17 to join the US Military. When I got to boot camp (1500 miles from home) nobody prepared me for the treatment that I was about to endure. After 2 hours I realized that I had made a huge mistake. I was making $1,000 a month with no signing bonus. I stayed for 6 years . It prepared me for the real world, and I wouldn't change it if I could.

I'm sure many have stories like yours txdad06 -- and it is a pretty decent analogy. Life is about choices. And Kyle will probably do fine, with or without professional baseball.

$1000 a month wasn't bad back then, eh?

seeings as how I didn't get to enjoy the money for 10 weeks, I just sat there and looked at the uncashed checks dreaming of the posibilities. To most 17 yr olds $1,000 dollars is alot of money until you have bills and children.

My advice to Mr. Hancock would be to have fun. If it ain't fun, go do what you like. Life is too short for you to do what everyone else wants you to do. I hope that is baseball but if it is not, so be it.

Don't you just love the Doctor (rookie) on Field of Dreams!

To everyone else - success may always seem like a bed of roses from the outside but it rarely is. Remember the old joke about marrying into wealth - you end up earning every penney of it.

txdad06 - not talking about you and thanks and a tip of the hat to your service to your county. They ought to let vets cut in at the front of every line! You and yours enable the freedom to make the choices like I mention above.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on this thread for their comments, I have a senior son, and this has greatly helped our decision making process, all due to the comments I have read.

I have read this thread with great interest and I sincerely hope all works out for Mr. Hancock, everyone deserves a break once in life!

Vance34 is correct in everything he wrote. Period.

Mistakes are ok. However, you have to pay for your mistakes. The team felt misled. They were.

If the NCAA starts making exceptions regarding this situation, where will the line be drawn? I see this as a tough life-lesson and hope other players can learn from it. Accountabilty for your decisions is an admirable character trait. I hope this young man lands on his feet and has a rewarding baseball career.

PantherDad.....you made the comment above that Mr. Hancocks situation should be dealt with like other UNSIGNED PLAYERS...here is your quote.....I think this situation should be treated like other unsigned players -- he should be eligible to re-enter the draft after one year.

PROBLEM IS......HE SIGNED A CONTRACT for 460 grand. When high school players want BIG money they better be ready for LIFE. and they better be ready to grow up quick!!

Another of your comments.....How many kids move home from college after a semester because they don't like the surroundings, etc.? The answer would be none if you gave them $460,000 dollars to go!!!!!!!!

Vance -- he never received a penny from Colorado -- except perhaps the airfare to and from his assignment. So, to be stuck on the idea that his signing bonus was...whatever...is ridiculous.

Also, regarding the high-and-mighty NCAA -- why do they allow released professional players that sit out a year to play at the D2 level? Seems hypocritical to me.

Colorado is exercising their option to hold his rights. Apparently, they can prevent him from playing professionally for 6 years....but the kid's decision wasn't about the club, as he would have found the same (or similar) circumstances at most every rookie team. From all accounts, it was about his readiness to live that life-style.

Perhaps he'll star in the DABA in the near future.

Congratulations Mr. Hancock for making the decision that you felt was right for you. Most people let money get in the way of happiness and what they think is the right decision for them. I think you are fantastic for standing up for yourself and your beliefs. You will come out a stronger better person. And for all you people on here with so much advice, get the kid some space. It is his life not yours.

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It is his life not yours.

Agreed it is his life but it is a life in the real world, not the life of the carefree. When you get drafted and sign a professional CONTRACT, you are committing yourself, legally. To the extent that he wants to play baseball, he is in a very difficult situation and it is, unfortunately, due to his actions or inactions. Admire if you want but when people over the age of 18 sign contacts, they legally commit. Everyone who signs a legal agreement should fulfill the agreement. That, to me, is the way people should be measured. Panther Dad and base4, I think you are are wrong, in terms of baseball and in terms of understanding that when you make a committment and sign a contract, you stand behind your committment. This is not about the NCAA or the Rockies and there is not rationalizing that the player is not fulfilling what he legally promised to do.