Off Season for MiLB players

YGD,
Most teams have instructional leagues for their young players but many pitchers turn it down depending on how many innings they put in over the year or if they need a rest. It is not mandatory. I would imagine that could be what it is (long season). There is no charge for instruction and they don't get paid, room and board is provided. Sometime later teams have mini camp in nov, dec maybe that is a later option.

The GCL is called complex ball, you do not play games at the field, but rather in the practice fields. Up very early and games done by 1-2 and no one is watching. Heat and humidity is difficult for most not used to it. For many it's their first experience and it's not what they expect, he may just need some time at home doing nothing before he has to hit the gym to get ready for next spring.

Last night we had a player stop over on his way back to Canada (home), we were his host family back when he and my son were on an 18u team together.

He had just completed his first season, and loves it!

It was real interesting talking to him and learning more about professional baseball. He did not get a large bonus, so he lives on the money he currently earns. I was surprised at how it works, all the way down to being required to pay for a van service to pick them up from host family homes (I thought that was over!) and being billed $50 per week, even if he did not require the service. He clears about $200 a week after all his charges for room and board! He does get a $25 per diem while away for food.

It was an eye opener! It is amazing what lengths some of us will go through, to hope our son's will get to enjoy the rigors of MiLB.

He only pitched I think 20+ innings so I know his arm can't be tired or sore.

Just curious if most players would jump all over this opportunity to improve themselves

quote:

Originally posted by YoungGunDad:
He only pitched I think 20+ innings so I know his arm can't be tired or sore.

Just curious if most players would jump all over this opportunity to improve themselves

Was that just in pro ball, where was he before he was drafted? They may have wanted him to get in more innings as well. That happens. But he doesn't have to, that's his decision.

As far as improving yourself, depends on whose going to help in the improvement, do not always assume that instruction is better in the minor leagues. That's a misconception. JMO.

Some organizations are better at developing players than others, that's not meant to be a dig, but that is just the way it is, especially for pitchers.

Keep in mind that the purpose of milb is continuosly learning your craft, I am not sure how much true instruction goes on for 4 weeks in the fall and then retained for spring training.

I know of a player that turned down instuction to go work with his HS coach who got him drafted in the first place.

Younggun
Sounds like fall instructional league, I don't know about pitchers but son as a position player was invited several years and he always went, not everyone is "invited" to instructs. The club is giving you the opportunity to improve and unless you have a good reason not to I think its in your best interest to attend.
How would you view it if you were an employer and offered an employee add'l training/education and the employee turned it down ?

Floridafan

If the player is taking home $200 wk he is doing better than most
Son's 1st full season he grossed $850 mo, after taxes the team took $400 mo for rent of the motel room (which he shared with another player)then he payed club house dues. He had less than $100 wk to feed him self and since he was staying in a motel he had to eat his meals out. He had to buy a bike so he could get to a place to eat!

Hitters need at bats to improve, a hitter doesn't have a seasonal "at bat" count, while pitchers do and need shut down time, so we really don't know the entire circumstance and we really don't know if the pitcher in the discussion had other plans for instruction (many new college draftees go back to work with their college coaches and take classes).

A lot depends on his draft position as well. Most top drafted pitchers put in lots of work to get drafted high, they need time off.

The biggest question I have is why didn't you ask the reason he wasn't going? It's kind of hard to answernot knowing his circumstances.

If injury or tiredness were the reason for not going, I doubt the team would have invited him.

No idea why that guy turned them down, but in my way of thinking that was a big mistake. If the goal is to be a big leaguer and not just a Gulf Coast Leaguer, then he needs to be down getting instuction from the best minds in baseball.

Instructional Leagues send their top coaches from across the organization. Using the Cardinals as an example, would you want to turn down an opportunity to learn from a guy like Dennis Martinez? There are guys like that in every organization - willing to work with the young talent.

The other aspect here is building relationships, networks, and alliances. It takes a team of coaches and scouts to get a player to the big leagues. The more that they like you, know you, and believe in you, the more "votes" you'll have when they (the collective organization) decide someday whether or not you'll ever put on a big league uniform.

Instructional leagues and winter ball are very important tools for developing into a big leaguer. Only a small percentage from each organizqation get asked to participate and if any of your kids ever get the chance, there is only one logical thing to do (assuming health is not an issue and assuming they actually want to play in the big leagues).

While I agree, I disgree in some aspects.

Guys like Martinez are rare, he doesn't do instructional league, he goes back to run one of the leagues in Nicaragua, in fact the cardinals don't do instructional league anymore. I am not sure that's a good thing, but they don't, they stopped doing it a few years ago. I think the Marlins did too? They do have camp for rehabbing players. They would rather move players up (some college guys actually have moved 2-3 levels sometimes in a season and head off to winter ball if the need work) and the young latin players are headed back home to play.

There must be a reason, (if it is the player I am thinking of), he didn't sign until late and never played in 2010 (JUCO player), and did extended before GCL began. That meant he had plenty of instruction before he started playing this season. It might benefit him for sure in more ways than one, but everyone has their reasons for why they do and do not do things and should be respected.

Maybe he's just burned, this is a tough job (yes it is a job),reality is, it isn't for everyone.

He was drafted in the 19th round in June 2010 draft. Didn't play or pitch any during the year. So he went into ST fresh. As mentioned, he only pitched approx 20+ innings this season. No tired or sore arm. No reason to NOT go that I am aware of.

I was just simply asking was this a wise decision of his to turn down the opportunity.

I agree with you CD. All those reasons I believe are reasons TO go...especially the networking one.

Thx

His innings listed are only what he pitched in league, not sure what he pitched in spring training or in extended spring training. Reality is that he spent 6 months in Florida playing on practice fields.

Since he signed late last year, did he attend instructs last fall?

CD and njbb are correct that you take every opportunity given to improve your game and get to know people in the organization.

I am just trying to help you figure out the why.
No reason not to go but there obviously was a reason.