Sign or College......That Is The Question!!

Old Pitcher, Good topic but like you say ---no answer.

There are many different ways you can look at this. Take your pick!

Let me get deep here ----You can ONLY compare your situation and the way you are doing it ---- to ----- yourself if you were doing it another way and since it is impossible to do two things at once, there will never be an answer.

Let me give you two fabricated answers to the same question using my son using his actual situation as an example and both could be true --- or untrue --- take your pick.

#1 answer (used with family members and college educated friends)
My son chose the right path. He didn’t sign when drafted out of high school and opted to go to college, work toward a degree and play college baseball. He had a great time in college and is well on his way to a degree that should provide him with the basics necessary for a good future. He has since been drafted again and opted to play professionally. Doing it this way allows him the best of both worlds; almost a college degree AND playing professional baseball. I am so proud of him!

-------------OR-----------------

#2 answer (used at the county club and the poker game after a few brews)
My son chose the wrong path. He should have signed out of high school. He was drafted and offered a sizable signing bonus that would have provided him with a comfortable life for a number of years and more than enough where he could have focused his attention to becoming a MLB player. Had he signed out of high school I’m sure he would be on a MLB roster and making a seven figure salary TODAY.... But NO..... he wallowed around, socializing. playing college ball and failed to get a degree. While he is more mature he is also older by three years and will not be given as much time and attention toward fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing ML baseball. Had he signed out of high school, I know at this instant I would have my new $300,000 RV (nicknamed “Fungo’s Fastlane”) that I could follow him around in ---- but I
don’t.

The preceding answers are to be used as an example only. Fungo gave up golf, doesn’t belong to a county club, no longer consumes adult beverages, or plays poker .... Or owns an RV.

quote:

If I had gone to college, maybe I wouldn't have been injured and then maybe gotten drafted again and maybe made it to the show.

Old Pitcher, this is an interesting topic.

I am sure there are a lot of “what ifs” out there. Some may wonder what would have happened if they had gone to college, while others could wonder what would have happened if they had gone pro right after high school.

In the case where Old Pitcher got hurt playing pro ball, there may also be those who got hurt playing college ball and never got the chance to play pro ball again.

I would like to hear some of these stories, too.

It comes down to a personal situation--what are the needs? How much $$ can make you sign?

Pitchers are in a tougher spot than position players --- it's a little tough to "overuse" a left fielder. Injuries are a factor at either level, but the overuse (see TR's "Ouch" thread) and (argueably) less extensive training/medical facilities at college would lead me to believe a quality pitcher drafted high enough to know he was getting a serious look (and enough of a bonus to know the club had made an investment in him) should probably go with the draft.

As for stories, let's see, there's the old LL hero, touted for the first couple of rounds but with parents who laid down the law on college. He was signed to a major-perennial-CWS program, and hasn't pitched much since his sophomore year because of arm problems.

Conversely, there's the Grienke story and how strange is that?!

Maturity is the key either way: would he be able to handle minor league life, able to recognize how the organization regards him and hang in there or cut his losses as the case may be, would he go on to college a few years down the road if things didn't work out?

Or, can he handle the rigors of academics and athletics, and recognize when he needs to protect his body without getting too precious about it? If academics have always been a strong suit, that argues in favor of college.

Then there's a compromise route: consider a JuCo in a competitive conference like the Panhandle Conference here in FL. He can get his AA, transfer to a DI, and be constantly eligible for the draft.

$1 million and more...take the money.

Poor student...take the money.

If you're a stud, and likely to be drafted in the top 5 rounds, go to college.

If you go from 10th round to 50th round...Go to college if you don't get more than a plane tickets and some McDonald's coupons.

So far, I like what you guys have said. Keep them coming......interesting stuff!! Thank you!

Fungo - That's hysterical!!!! A lot of wisdom in that humor too, of course!

Old Pitcher - I've always said that if a kid chooses to skip college and go on to try his hand in the minors, he'd have my understanding and support. I still feel that way. However, I know players that have bypassed that chance and gone on to college first. As has been said, it's their choice, their decision, and they'll be the ones that live with the consequences - just as you did.

You do understand that for every story similar to yours - there's a kid that went on to college to not be drafted again or to have a career ending injury there.

Unfortunately, (well, maybe fortunately) none of us know what the future holds and can only make the best decisions at the time. Many of us have a regret or two lying around - part of life.

I would have to say that, looking back on my career and my life in general, an education would have helped me tremendously for life after baseball. I was finished at 22 years old, married, needed money and went to work for my dad, thinking I had it made. Wrong. A college education would have made my life since a little easier in my opinion.

I loved the opportunity I had playing baseball. I just wish I had been smart enough to realize how important an education is.

Old Pitcher - This question always comes up. One of my thoughts and feelings has been that if a kid is motivated enough to go to college, that he can do that at 30 or 40 just the same as 18. However, I do understand, that for many players, baseball really is the motivating factor to obtain an education.

Did you go on to school or did you ever consider going to school when baseball ended? Or were you not interested because baseball wasn't a part of that scenario any longer? Interesting thoughts you've shared.

quote:

Old Pitcher - This question always comes up. One of my thoughts and feelings has been that if a kid is motivated enough to go to college, that he can do that at 30 or 40 just the same as 18. However, I do understand, that for many players, baseball really is the motivating factor to obtain an education.

Did you go on to school or did you ever consider going to school when baseball ended? Or were you not interested because baseball wasn't a part of that scenario any longer? Interesting thoughts you've shared.

lafmom,

Thinking back to that time, I guess I just didn't think school was for me. I had a great job working for my dad. He sold the company 5 years later and I went to work for the new owners. I didn't like some things they did to change what my dad and I had worked so hard to make the company better, so I decided to go out on my own and own my own business. I felt I didn't have time to go to college at that time and just didn't realize how much you really need to think about the future and not the here and now.

Old Pitcher - Thanks for sharing your story. You certainly point out some valid thoughts. I guess it's a difficult thing for many of our young guys to completely understand what the future means and what it takes to be prepared for whatever the future holds.

An education has made the difference in many of our lives. While all of us here are passionate about our baseball, an education is an opportunity most of us desire for our kids to have as well.

Again, no easy answers to your question!

One Thought:


BASEBALL is not forever !!!!! Players need to be prepared for the "fallout" when it is over!

OP: You made the right choice at the time. Unfortunately, it didnt work out the way you wanted.

You could have gotten hurt in college too. Nobody knows what would have happened if you did something else.

You took your shot, at least you had the chance. There are probably millions of men who wished they had that one in a million chance to make it.

Go back to college if you feel you need it.

You made the right choice for yourself at the time. As each other player will do every spring.

I was just wondering how big a jump it is from high school to rookie ball? You hear so much about player development, but it seems to me that it would be very hard to skip a level (college) and go straight to professional ball.

P.S. Sorry if this is off topic.

HowUbe, it is a significant jump from high school to rookie ball. In many ways, professional baseball is so much different than college. Going to college, however, isn't necessarily a "stepping stone" to rookie ball, viewed only from the baseball side. In fact, in some "rookie" leagues, a 19 year old will be competing with recent college signees.
Taking it only from a baseball perspective, it is quite a big jump from high school to "rookie" ball. You will play upwards of 75 games in about 80 days, long bus rides, will be playing guys 3-4 years older and some younger, especially from the Latin countries. If you are a position player, it will be a rare day the opposing pitchers (3-4 of them)do not throw 90mph with some pretty good command of at least one other pitch. If you are a pitcher, you will find the other teams 6-9 hitters were probably better than anyone you faced anytime during high school. The game is faster, more intense and a place where you quickly move from the success or failures in one game to being ready for another challenge...as soon as you get off that darn bus. You will generally not experience the emotions, the highs/lows you might in a college season, but if you really love baseball, you will play plenty of it with the associated improvement you might expect.

infielddad,
I am not sure so someone can correct me if wrong.
My understanding is that "rookie camp" was more or less for those directly out of HS.
Most college signees go into short season or low A, etc, depending on team.

TPM, "Rookie" ball is also known as the Rookie league. The Gulf Coast league, Arizona league and Appalachian leagues would all be considered "Rookie" ball and anyone who is drafted in June out of high school and chooses to sign could end up with such an assignment. These are all short season teams but classified as "Rookie" as opposed to "short-season A." Plenty of college players end up with assignments in "Rookie" ball after they sign. I would propose that upwards of 1/3 to 1/2 of the college signees end up at that level. I would fully agree that most college players selected in the first 20 rounds end up in short season A and some in low A and a few even above that level. College players after the 20th round have a pretty good chance of being in a Rookie league where a lot of high school players start.
There really is no "rookie camp." At the end of Spring training, if a minor leaguer does not get an assignment to a full season team, they can stay in extended Spring training awaiting an assignment in June to a short season team and that does happen with high school players who signed the previous June but are not yet ready for a full season assignment.

Infielddad,
Thanks, I think that is what I meant!

OP,
After seeing some of the pitch counts from this last weekend of several pitchers, it is a very big decision to consider just what could happen to a young college pitchers arm during his college career.
Scary actually to see counts of 147, 137, 124 and some pitchers well past 60+ innings mid way through season. And done week after week. We used to be horrified seeing this in Omaha, now it is happeneing on the road to Omaha.

Interesting to learn that most pitchers entering college have at one time or another pitched too much already in HS. Then there is college summer leagues, fall practice. If there is no pitching depth, the starters have to go deep. This usually happens with juniors and seniors, but now seeing freshman and sophmores with high pitch counts.
My suggestion, watch closely the schools that have shown great interest in your son. This might be a deciding factor as to where he chooses to attend, or not to attend college at all.
On the other hand, I often hear many say that for position players, getting at bats, maturing and developing tools, college should be the choice.

Fungo,Great post.
I can only dream to help my son with that decision in 3 years.