Pro or College

I've not read this whole thread, but am replying to the primary question....

Minor league players get $1100 MONTH.... and maybe $20 of meal money on the road... they get to the park around 2:30-3 pm play a game... the older players head out to a bar or place to eat... around 10:30-11:00 at night.... with maybe a few groupies hanging out... they sleep to noon or otherwise play video games... Social interactions are mainly only with teammates...

College players also have a difficult schedule but they have academic advisors and study halls to keep them in line... They have the awesome experience to go and attend tailgates and football games.... basketball games, pep rallies... live in dorms with hundreds if not thousands of kids their same age.... and all the social aspects that provides for growing up....

They get to make mistakes that are not noticed at college as much as they would be in the real world... They get to mature.... AND most importantly they get an education which they can use if they don't make MLB. For me.... College was a very important step in my son's development as not only a baseball player but as a man.... Look at the odds.... Most never do make MLB...

SDBB,

quote:

Originally posted by SDBB:
I've not read this whole thread, but am replying to the primary question....

Minor league players get $1100 MONTH.... and maybe $20 of meal money on the road... they get to the park around 2:30-3 pm play a game... the older players head out to a bar or place to eat... around 10:30-11:00 at night.... with maybe a few groupies hanging out... they sleep to noon or otherwise play video games... Social interactions are mainly only with teammates...

SDBB, the good thing is that the salary for Milb goes all the way to $1,600 in A Ball and $2,200 in AA.
The part of your posting that might be incomplete or a bit misleading is the suggestion all players arrive around 2:30-3pm for their pregame. While there are some who might consistently arrive at 2:30-3pm, there are many who arrive around Noon, or even before.
I watched more than a few in A ball who absolutely struggled with the bat at that level. Others needed considerable work in the field.
Working with their hitting coach, they completely remade their swings and approaches. Working with another coach, they would take so many groundballs it was hard to believe.
Most of them did it from noon to 2:30pm on weekdays and from 9:30 to noon on Sunday day games. Done in the scorching heat and humidity in towns throughout the Midwest, those guys worked as if there was no tomorrow.
For the ones who could not make the adjustments, that proved true, there was no tomorrow.
For those who made them, they have moved another notch up and are reaping the huge financial rewards.

ifd

true enough. it ain't easy.

Also be aware that life is a bit different for pitchers than position players. Starting pitchers have to report early am day after their start with trainer and go over what they did the night before with their pitching coach and roving instructor if he is in town. They usually run early am, then report afternoons and do their tossing, bullpen and PFP's, etc. or assigned bucket duty at batting practice before gametime and then sit for 3-4 hours.
They also find a way of entertaining themselves during gametime and are expected to be the team cheerleaders.

quote:

SDBB, the good thing is that the salary for Milb goes all the way to $1,600 in A Ball and $2,200 in AA.

Well my son got $1100 in A ball this year... maybe I need him to talk to his agent... just kidding...

I imagine reporting time depends on the teams and their coaching staff... and I forgot to mention the wonderful BUS tours and TOP notch accommodations they get..

quote:

For those who made them, they have moved another notch up and are reaping the huge financial rewards

.

I wouldn't count on HUGE rewards... The huge rewards don't start until arbitration years.... and the odds of that are small even for the players that are signed as pros..... I think its less than 5%. Its a long road.. and only the top few blessed with talent and determination make it....

I just read where the Braves released John Scherholtz's (sp?) son... at age 30... never made it out of AAA and that's the President of the club... And he made how much in 10 years???? Don't think it would be considered huge financial rewards

Depending on the choice your son makes out of high school, you may not be weighing pro vs. college just the one time.

My son went to JC after his first draft experience even though he found just being drafted at all dazzling and thought at the time that signing was what he would do at the end of his DFE year. (good choice, considering he was 25th round out of h.s.)

Even though he had a pretty good run that first year at a good J.C., Yavapai College, his stock dropped all the way down to 48th round. Boy, was that a long day!

After that, he transferred for soph year to a good D1 program, which enjoyed a #1 preseason ranking in 2008. Things were looking good.

Just like you'll always slump after you streak, his D1 (Arizona) is not having a good year (2009) but he has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of college life.

Now he's personally having one heck of a season and would really like to go pro at the end of this, his junior year, but now we wonder how the fact that his school isn't doing well will affect his own draft stock.

Yes, he could go back for his senior year and he does have a nice scholarship. But he that now's the time to go and we're crossing his fingers that will work for him.

No regrets about any of it so far, even though we lurched naively through all the decisions that got us to this place.

Thank goodness for HSBBW!

quote:

Now he's personally having one heck of a season and would really like to go pro at the end of this, his junior year, but now we wonder how the fact that his school isn't doing well will affect his own draft stock.

I don't know anything about the draft, but it seems to me that a hitter's performance is affected mostly by the opponent's record, not his own team's. So what matters is the strength of the conference rivals' pitching, not Arizona's.

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:

quote:

Now he's personally having one heck of a season and would really like to go pro at the end of this, his junior year, but now we wonder how the fact that his school isn't doing well will affect his own draft stock.

I don't know anything about the draft, but it seems to me that a hitter's performance is affected mostly by the opponent's record, not his own team's. So what matters is the strength of the conference rivals' pitching, not Arizona's.

I agree with 3FG. To expand a bit, his draft position will be how scouts think his success with metal will translate using wood and his willingness to sign.

If he is accepted and enrolls in college full time and is drafted and he accepts a minor league assignment the team that drafts him pays for his college. That used to be negotiated into every contract. Now I believe it is a MLB standard policy.

The MLB scholarship plan is avaliable, what is negotiated is the anount.

The team should be willing to pay for what is left at the college he is attending. Include inflation in your negotiation.

right now i have a 12 year old that throws 77 in games and has touched 81 in practice. I bet none of you will believe that but its ok, no one does until they see the gun. The biggest problem i have with him is grades. He keeps saying that he wants to go d1 or pro but his grades don't show that. He says if he isnt drafted in the first 6 rounds then he wants to to texas a&m. is that good?

Colleges are only interested in his HS grades. Post your question again in a few yrs

quote:

Originally posted by rocketdad10:
right now i have a 12 year old that throws 77 in games and has touched 81 in practice. I bet none of you will believe that but its ok, no one does until they see the gun. The biggest problem i have with him is grades. He keeps saying that he wants to go d1 or pro but his grades don't show that. He says if he isnt drafted in the first 6 rounds then he wants to to texas a&m. is that good?

rocketdad - I'm trying to figure out if you're a serious poster or a pot-stirrer? OK, yes...every once in a while a 12-year old throws around 80. Robert Stock is the only one I can remember.

But lets just assume you came here for some genuine help. So here's advice.

1. Make sure no coach overuses your son...many will try.
2. Don't worry about added strength or velocity (as you posted in another thread)...he's got it. See #1 again.
3. Tell your kid the last thing he should be thinking about now is which round in the draft he will go.
4. Let him be a kid...ride bicycles, play other sports, hang out with some girls (his own age).
5. Get him to focus on school. Arms blow out, dreams don't always come true.
1. Make sure no coach (that includes you) overuses your son. Many will try.

Good luck.

Rocketdad, who does your son play with?

Nice

quote:

Originally posted by rocketdad10:
right now i have a 12 year old that throws 77 in games and has touched 81 in practice. I bet none of you will believe that but its ok, no one does until they see the gun. The biggest problem i have with him is grades. He keeps saying that he wants to go d1 or pro but his grades don't show that. He says if he isnt drafted in the first 6 rounds then he wants to to texas a&m. is that good?

I believe it. It's not that uncommon. I'd concentrate on grades...seriously. High 70's at 12 is nice, maybe even special, but really isn't that terribly uncommon. If he learns to pitch, it could get interesting, though.

JB is right. Guard that arm, though. Most folks try to get ready for the next level. For him it might be learning to pitch on a 60'6" mound.

Ref: rocketdad10

All, please see my post in the "velocity" thread in the Pitching and Throwing forum.

Thanks,
AG19Dad