Professional baseball scout/advisor

quote:

Originally posted by brsfan:
My son is a rising high school senior and LHP and has been to several mlb/pre draft workouts. We had an "Advisor" talk to us after one of his workouts but how do you find more "Advisors". We don't want to rush this process. Can anyone help?

Welcome to the HSBBW.
You don't find advisors, they find you. The more talented your son is, the more inquiries you will get.
Feel free to ask any questions.

A few for you. Has your son commited to college yet? His height, his velo and what pitches does he throw for strikes? Were these private workouts or group? Has your son been contacted by many scouts?

You don't have to rush through this process, the draft is not until next June, that is approximately 11 months away.

Thank you for the reply. His height is 6'1" and he throws fastball 85-87, change-up, curve, slider and yes he throws all of them for strikes. His plans are to go to a juco so he can be draft eligible every year. No individual workouts just group stuff. Maybe you can help with this question. He did go to a MLSB tryout in June and they talked to him after he pitched. Told him since he was a rising senior in high school that he was a "book". I am guessing that is where his name goes in a book of kids to keep an eye on? Any information would be very helpful. As far as the advisor, one the other day said he would be able to help him for a small fee. DO they usually charge a fee to be an advisor? Thanks again for your help

every scout has their own terms/sayings Book could mean any number of things. but i'm uessing he's in his "book".

advisors typically take a set % of the signing bonus, then no money (maybe some % from endorsements if any are there) until i think the 3rd yr in MLB. there isn't anything to negotiate money wise until then. be dilligent in your homework before you agree to work with an advisor, their are some snake oil salesman out there.

quote:

Originally posted by brsfan:
Thank you for the reply. His height is 6'1" and he throws fastball 85-87, change-up, curve, slider and yes he throws all of them for strikes. His plans are to go to a juco so he can be draft eligible every year. No individual workouts just group stuff. Maybe you can help with this question. He did go to a MLSB tryout in June and they talked to him after he pitched. Told him since he was a rising senior in high school that he was a "book". I am guessing that is where his name goes in a book of kids to keep an eye on? Any information would be very helpful. As far as the advisor, one the other day said he would be able to help him for a small fee. DO they usually charge a fee to be an advisor? Thanks again for your help

Anyone can take a fee for advisement if they are NOT an agent. I am learning this is a new thing, people willing to give you info and help you to understand the draft process without being in the business of baseball (agent). Be careful.

Do you need an agent? If the scouts are showing up in the fall, calling to speak to you, at HS games specifically to see your son, if he is a highly ranked player out of HS (ex. PG), then yes, you need to speak to someone regarding the draft and the implications of being drafted out of HS, the MLB scholarship plan, signing bonus, etc.

I never heard that expression "book". I can tell you this though, if your son doesn't have a college commitment and has indicated to scouts that he is going to JUCO to remain eligible for each draft year, he just lowered any bonus by alot, if drafted.
You need to do some reading regarding life at the minor league level for very young players (out of HS). A book I suggest is "Inside Pitch" by George Gmelch, try amazon.
Big decision, do your homework.

Thank you for the advise. We will def. do our homework. Thanks again!

Hi!
Do not exchange money, gifts, or sign a contract with anyone for advise regarding the draft. Like TPM said, if your son is getting a lot of attention from MLB scouts and is considered a top prospect for the June draft, good advisors with solid reputations will contact you. They will gladly answer any questions about the draft for free. There is no rush to select one. Take your time and check their references.

If you do not get a lot of contact from advisors/agents you really don't need one. College will be your son's best option.

quote:

Originally posted by TxMom:
good advisors with solid reputations

Who pays these advisors? Do they have another job? Do they work for mlb teams?

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:

quote:

Originally posted by TxMom:
good advisors with solid reputations

Who pays these advisors? Do they have another job? Do they work for mlb teams?

I am pretty sure it is understood that an agent can only "advise" you in the process (unless you get drafted and signed). His advice is free.

Since you brought it up, how do you and others feel about someone wanting to charge to give advice regarding the draft process, helping with negotiations, etc. An advisor that IS NOT an agent?

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
His advice is free.

Are you saying he is just a nice guy? How does this fellow make a living? What qualifies him to give out free advice? Can a player have more than one advisor? I'm asking.

As far as paying someone for advice that could effect my future, I don't see what's wrong with it. I don't rely on web md or some guy on the corner to tell me "what's this thing growing out of my neck?". I go to a real doctor, who charges me.

Scott Boras = Advisor/Agent

Advisor and then later Agent.

The good ones tend to get the best players and they do much better than just make a living.

If you are an advisor for a player that ends up signing for $2 million, you make $60,000 or more. That's just one player of many you might be working with. And the big $$$ come later when and if your player makes it big.

So, is an advisor a liason between player and mlb team? I still don't get it. If the advisor negotiates, how is he not an agent?

Advisor can not negotiate with MLB club, though it has been done. He can only advise his client. This only pertains to NCAA rules. No one wants to break those rules.
1. it can cause elegibility problems if the player attends school.
2. It can cause the player to lose some leverage ($$$)with MLB club when it is known he could have NCAA eligibility problems.

If the advisor negotiates, he techically becomes the agent. If the player ends up signing rather than go play college baseball, there is no penalty.

Basically advisor is just a word used to describe an agent in order to keep everything legal. 99% of all the advisors I know, make their living as an agent.

Ok, so I have a question for the experts. What do MLB scouts look for in a left handed pitcher. Velocity, height, weight, pitches, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Advisor... can only advise his client.

OK, thanks.

Purely hypothetical situation:

A kid gets multiple D1 offers and signs nli in Nov. Pro scouts disregard nli, and attend several games to watch said player. Let's pretend player has an advisor. June, MLB draft- what 54 rounds?- and kid's name never appears...

Some other kid's dad asks 'what happened to so and so?'. A little bird tells him 'the kid's number was way too high'.

So, somehow, some way, a 'number' was discussed between mlb teams and 'who knows who'.

My next question is "who is advising the mlb teams?"

AntzDad,

Commiting to a college doesn't stop MLB scouts from doing their job.

An advvisor can talk to his client about "numbers", he just can't legally negotiate with the MLB club. It still happens though.

Not sure what you mean by "who is advising the MLB teams".

I'm asking how dollar amount to sign as a pro gets back to the mlb teams interested in a player. Can a kid's parents say to a mlb scout, "not for less than $1 million" and not jeopardize college eligibility?

SO back to the question I posted earlier. What do mlb scouts look for in a left handed pitcher? Speed, pitches, height, weight, any thing else? Do they really look at how the ball moves but doesn't throw 90? Is velocity all they really look at? Any input would be helpful. Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:
I'm asking how dollar amount to sign as a pro gets back to the mlb teams interested in a player. Can a kid's parents say to a mlb scout, "not for less than $1 million" and not jeopardize college eligibility?

The scouts will ask how much money the player is looking for prior to the draft.

Whom do they ask?