MLB signing players out of high school

IMO, MLB doesnt do enough for their young players who get paid millions at 17, 18.  

There really is no one to watch over them. I guess thats why Harpers parents lived with him.  

But no way will they ever have a system like the NBA or NFL.  Baseball is just an entirely different animal.  What they are doing is bringing up prospects earlier. Thats the ones they have invested millions in, let them learn on the big stage. Everyone else gets stuck in the milb system for 4-6 years if that.

And keep in mind if you sustain an injury, you do nothing. Some compare it to being a groundhog.  I could see how a young player could get in trouble.  An injured college player still has a full day of classes and study.

 

For the record hockey players are drafted at eighteen to twenty. They can still attend college or play junior hockey. They don't become professionals until they sign. An NHL team holds the right to a drafted player for two years. if a kid plays college hockey the drafting team holds his rights until his eligibility expires Or he leaves school. A majority of D1 college hockey players play a couple of years of Juniors before college. It's not uncommon for a freshman to be twenty.

This topic makes me think about the future of Jameis Winston.  I like Jameis, but only knew him through PG events.  He obviously has made some bad decisions while being in college.  I have to wonder if being a brand new multi millionaire will have a positive or negative effect.  

 

Even back as a high school player Jameis liked to have fun.  I think he would have been a comedian if it wasn't for sports.  You can have a lot of fun with 30+million.  Sometimes fun and money can get in the way.

There's no question that MiLB is an obstacle course; one with a host of types of obstacles. I will always believe that MLB intends for it to be that way, in part, to help separate the "wheat" from the "chaff."

 

At one of his minor league stops, my son was assigned to an apartment that had 3 other players living in it. One of the 3 was a recent early-rounder out of high school. 

 

Over dinner one evening during a weekend visit, my distressed son said to me, "Dad, I'm seriously considering calling the Head of Player Development and working out an arrangement that would allow me to be 'Johnny's' life coach. If they'd give me that assignment, I'd prevent them from watching the 7-figure bonus they have invested in him get frittered away by him."

 

"He never works out, he stays out until all hours almost every night, he wastes money right and left, and his personal nutrition and hygiene are a train wreck. Because he never works out, he's on and off the Disabled List all the time. He's a mess"

 

"Given the responsibility and authority, I think I could get him turned in the right direction."

 

My counsel at the time was that I felt like my son had enough to say grace over looking out for himself and his own development as a player; not to mention that there was a decent chance that the two of them could get separated from one another at any moment. However, it certainly made me wonder how many millions had been wasted over the years on high draft picks who, when left to fend for themselves, allowed themselves to drown in the excesses of their new circumstances.

OMG, Prepster, that sounds so familiar!

For those of you who have seen the real world of the MiLB; do you (and others) think Harper's parents had the right idea?  Should the parents of a HS draftee consider living with him for that first season?  

 

 

Yes for him they got it right. They and others had a LOT invested in him.  Most dont. You dont give up your life for a pick out of HS who will never see a ML roster.  
My opinion will always be, for most out of HS grow up in college.

This question is one of the most complex I have seen. I think each and every kid has a best choice hidden out there amongst a multitude of factors. Maturity, value placed on education, injury, money, potential....girlfriend, parents...work ethic, family economic situation...other choices...draft round...and many, many more. 

 

I used to to think the answer would be simple, but even looking in the rear view mirror I think it's one of the most complex decisions if you are really in search of your best answer. 

 

I I don't even know for sure if we made the best decision with our older son - would he have developed better/faster in a pro system or would his life have become a twisted mess?  Prepster's story about a teammate is the one we all worry about and it's real. 

 

i just don't know - but I like where he's at and there's no looking back. 

To your point PG, Jameis seems like a very likable young man and does seem to have a good sense of humor. Last fall his father said that Jameis should be provided 24/7 around the clock supervision. I'm not certain how I feel about that but, it sounds like he too had concerns for his son's behavior and decisions taking place while in the limelight. Johnny Football falls into this same category. It does seem that the media does a fantastic job of covering those NCAA football and sometimes basketball stars which begins the flood gates of fame and grandiose living. But these guys have had 2-3 years of growth in college before going professional so one would think a little more maturity might be there. Unfortunately it's not always the case. 

 

In Prepster's comment I can only imagine how this unfolds in every city that has a MiLB team. Great advise to your son about keeping his focus upon himself. That he cared about this young "millionaire" living with him speaks volumes to his big heart and caring for others. Maybe I am just missing the link in all this and I'll be the first to admit "I know nothing" as Sgt. Schultz from Hogan's Heros used to say. It just seems like it would be logical at minimum for these MLB teams to hire a professional "babysitter" and park him/her in each MiLB town to mentor, teach, guide, instruct any of these young men day to day. For the most part every decision that came about in their high school days were made by their parents, coaches, teachers, etc. And now they're handing these individuals EPIC life-changing checks to enjoy and I assume expecting them to walk upright and make wise choices. The problem is: they don't know HOW to. 

 

I'm in no way discounting or devaluing that all or most of this falls back on the parents and how they chose to raise their sons. But even parents with the best upbringing and intentions of their son's there are just some things they can't know what is ahead when their sons leave the nest. 

 

Again, this thread is just food for thought and has no really right or wrong answers. Just a thought provoking thing that came to mind when I read that article about Tate above and the paths he chose after leaving high school. 

In my final year of the Area Code games, I proposed to MLB to have the young players attend a College in the Community where they played their 1st year of pro baseball. The colleges are prepared to work with the player's schedule. One class each day would not effect the daily pre-game preparation. Road games would allow the player to use his computer to continue his class work.

 

A few MLB General Managers were positive. I mapped each Minor League city for the local college and there was 90% coverage. Also prepared the class schedule.

 

Bob

It's a good thing that all of those things happened to Tate in the minors and not in college or he would of never seen that kind of money.

The reward for a MLB team to get it right on a 17 year old can be huge. There is always a chance that you get a Jeter, a Chipper to build your organization around for the next 10-15 years.

PG has talked before about how it's not for everyone and it was a great read. And for some people it makes lots of sense. I always root for these youngsters when they make this move. I wonder if the clubs do better at selecting the right kids compared to 10-20 years ago.

Kobe Bryant had his mother living with him his first couple of years in the NBA. There are other young players who have done this. Nike assigned an employee to live with Allen Iverson after his first year in the NBA. Nike was afraid Iverson's behavior off the court would taint the brand and offset what he was accomplishing on the court. 

 

It it would be much harder for a baseball player to have his parents with him in the minors. Most players don't sign multi million dollar contracts. If the player fast tracks he could be moving twice a year.

The Doctor,

 

I think they do a better job now than they did years ago.  There is so much information about players available now days compared to 20 years ago.

 

That said, mistakes will always happen when you're dealing with young men.  Often on this site we talk about the life style and lack of pay in the minor leagues.  If you look at things from MLB clubs perspective, they invest a lot of money in players.  The best players get the most money.  If you look at the draft, the players they think will be the best, get the most money.

 

Scouting and evaluating a young high school players ability is only half of the battle.  In fact, it is the easiest half.  Makeup often determines the players potential and that is much harder to evaluate.  Makeup includes so many different things in addition to just good character.  Championship makeup can sometimes include a few things most people look at negatively.  Confidence and desire can show up in different ways.

 

Then there is the money!  Often the reason someone signs is mentioned as "life changing money".  Well, it has been proven that life changing money has changed some lives for the better, but also has changed lives for the worse.  

 

Will lots of money get on the way?  For some it has, for some it ends up being total distraction and destruction.  Others have said it and I agree, if the "only" reason is the money, get your rear end in college.  Satisfaction is a baseball players worst enemy.  It can be very satisfying for some when they have millions of dollars.  Some that have the talent end up losing the necessary drive and never come close to their potential.

 

So if we look at the money players received many years ago and what they get now, it creates another dilemma for scouting departments.  What will this boy do once he has all this money?  There is no shortage of people out there that want some of it.  Does he want to be a celebrity more than a baseball player?  

 

Anyway, I always feel sorry for those who don't get much to sign a contract and have to live off the small salary.  At the same time, I have a special feeling for those guys because they aren't there just for the money.  And those that give it a shot and hang up the spikes deserve respect as well.  They have received an additional rare special education that most people will never truly understand.  To me, trying to accomplish something is never a waste of time If you have learned something along the way.

 

I also believe that money is not a good enough motivator to do what you're capable of.  It is the passion that drives most people to their full potential.  The goal should be happiness not wealth. If you love what you do, you will be happy, and guess what, because of that you might even end up being wealthy, too. Point is, that is why most kids want to play baseball at the next level.  They love the game!  Sometimes money causes bad decisions.

 

Sorry, sometimes I get to thinking about things and just can't stop.  

Solid, thanks PG

Thanks for that insight PG. Dead on as always. 

 

My son is up in Fargo, ND right now with the Redhawks and about to begin his 2nd season of Indy pro ball. I just texted him your quote from above for motivation: "Satisfaction is a baseball players worst enemy". That will preach right there! lol

 

YGD

The article posted in this topic refers to players out of HS becoming millionaires. Isnt this a no brainer?  Who wouldnt sign? Trout, Harper, Kershaw, Bumgatner, Miller, Porcello , Stanton are examples of special talents and I am sure that they had people watching out for them.  But then there are many that just didnt get it right, drugs, alcohol, drugs, wild spending happens when you are 17, 18 with lots of money.  I was kind of refering to the player that has little options but signs out of HS, for no money.  Mom and dad do not have to live with them, mom and dad have to work.  If that is a question on your mind, send your player off to college.  Both have temptations, you decide the lessor of the two evils by doing your homework.

 

Self motivation should always be the motivator. But I am pretty sure most players want to get to the next level because of the paycheck, and then when they do get there, they have to work hard to stay there to keep that paycheck coming. Rarely do you see a 40 or 25 man rostered player walk away from the game.

 

Then there's Josh Hamilton and Jeff Allison.

 

http://www.si.com/vault/2004/1...the-pride-of-peabody

 

 

Not to mention those that have been caught taking steroids.