The 3/4 year mindset versus the 40 year mindset

I might come across as the all in but I'm not.  I think out of HS you have to have good grades but some kids can't pull off great grades.  I think you use education as a means whether it is HA or C's get degrees.  For many jobs you need a degree and that is important even if it is just a piece of paper on a wall that is a starting point for a certain job.  But I do think there are those kids/men who want it more than others.  For some baseball is a means and for others baseball is life.  You have to have both to make it work in college and even in the minors.  I think it is tough trying to put the two together in either format.  For those who it is a means to get where they ultimately want to be outside of baseball the driving force is there but different. 

In high school, it rears it's head all the time.  The kids who just want to play the game and be on the team versus the kids who are all in and know there is a future.  I've seen it for years in HS that it is frustrating for both sets of parents and players.  The all in families think the others are holding them back and the others think the all in families are out of their minds too serious about a game.

Great topic.

I think you have to be all in.  Take advantage of any opportunities along the way but don’t deviate from the dream.  Get your degree while you are at school, or park your signing money away for after it ends.

 You love baseball. If someone is willing to compensate you to play baseball, how can you turn that down?  For every guy that drops out and complains about the grind, the sacrifice, the travel; know that there are a LOT of people who would give anything to be in your shoes.  Play as long as you can,  leave knowing you gave it your all.  Or quit early and get a jump on that 401k as you join the exciting life of a middle class working guy.

This!  If they say they want to chase their dreams of being a pro, then they must be delusional and not realize the odds.   We as parents must be idiots for even supporting them in it.  So, we don’t really come out and say that is the ultimate goal.    The local newspaper came to his school when he was in second grade and took pictures of him and some classmates and asked them what they wanted to be when the grew up.   So, I open the paper and there he is saying he wants to be a professional ball player.   Do we tell him it’s too hard or do we say it’s going to take a ton of work but we are behind you?  What are you supposed to do when that’s all they want?  The “what if’s” seem harder to live with than  the “well at least you gave it a shot”.   I wonder what percent of college players are there to get the education and don’t plan on playing after college?   

Great topic. I'm sure I come across as all in as well but actually I'm the opposite. I try to be realistic. Are you a pro prospect or not? 

Are you playing for a high level club team? And I'm not talking about the Mid Atlantic Yellow Cougars. I'm talking the Canes, EC, TE, 643, CBA, etc. If not, are you being approached by people to play for/against those teams? Do your kid's numbers look similar to a kid in that circle? Are there MLB scouts asking to fill out questionnaires, coming to HS games? Then you probably aren't pro material and should not worry about going all in. 

If you're not one of the top guys in your state, county/region (if you're from one of the better baseball states) then you need to use baseball as an opportunity to either help make college for affordable or use it as leverage to get accepted to a school you might not have without any help. 

I see posts on here every now and then asking about NAIAs, D2s, Jucos with average baseball halfway across the country and I just shake my head. Unless you're getting a 50% ride wouldn't it just be easier to say hey it was nice while it lasted but you're better off going to the state school, its a better school and significantly cheaper. 

It's no secret that LSU, Ole Miss, and MS St aren't exactly academic powerhouses. But their baseball programs are powerhouses and they put kids in the pros. I see kids that are 6'4 220 majoring in Parks and Recreation. That makes sense. To see a kid at a poorly rated D2 majoring in Sports Management I have to scratch my head a little bit with the decision making. So yes go to Arkansas and just stay eligible. But do not go to Northeast Central Christian University and just stay eligible. A former MS St player can give lessons and coach for a living when you played for an SEC power and made it to a CWS. A former NAIA pitcher is less likely to have that opportunity. 

One of the biggest things I tell my son is that "You do not want to be 40 yrs old and sitting on a couch thinking I could of , would of , should of..."      

I am sure many of the posters on this board have had these thoughts at times.  They are negative and not productive, yet- they are there

The Kid can always get his degree and can always work and have a successful career if Baseball doesn't pan out.  I know many people who did not figure out their careers until in their 30's and 40's and even later and are "considered successful"  (success is a broad , vague term with no definition other than - ARE YOU HAPPY?)

I think the successful ball players need to give baseball their all (if baseball is their passion and -if they think they have even a slight shot ) to maximize their potential.   The fall back plan of being a business person, doctor, lawyer, father, employee, husband ,rat race ,etc can always wait.   

You have one chance at this life.  Give it everything- or don't do it at all.

All in.  100%.  If you can't attend a better school once Baseball is done, you were never cut out for top notch academia anyways.

Son wanted to play baseball in college.  He did the best he could in high school and on his travel team(s).  He played with, and against, some of the best.  Not being drafted as a HS student didn't diminish the dream.  He just wanted to play in college.  Getting drafted out of HS is reserved for the very few elite.  

Even though I had been on this site, I didn't realize the importance of which conference players should aspire to.  We live in an ACC area, and after two schools looked once, twice, three times (and probably more) at my son and didn't make an offer, I had to have the hard convo with my son to scratch them off his list and move on.

ONE college made an offer.  ONE.  It was an early offer, but since the other schools had passed on my son, he knew he was going where he was loved.  He started as a freshman.

It was an in-state, high academic, mid-major college in a mid-major conference.   Airplane rides maybe once a year, many of the away games were riding long hours on a bus.  Some schools with cruddy fields, or no lights.  But he got to play against  'Ol Miss, UNC, UVA, Florida, and get a taste of what playing in great stadiums and fields felt like.

The (now-ex) girlfriend had their lives together all planned out.  Like, "if he goes pro, he will play for two years, then will start a family".  Again, another hard conversation with my son about if you DO get drafted you can't go into the pros thinking you will only play 2 years or you will NOT succeed.  The gf broke up with him the middle of his junior year.  

Due to hip surgeries, he only played one summer of summer ball, but it was with the Northwoods League.  More long bus trips and non-high end hotels. He loved every minute of it.

He tried to keep his grades up, maintain the gf relationship, and play the game he loves, and play well.

We supported our son the best we knew how.  We showed up to games.  We paid the tuition.  We paid for the bats, gloves, and a hitting thingy or two.   He umpired to make  spending money.   But it was up to him to practice and develop his God given talents.  If he was all in -  we would be, too.

Drafted 5th round.

You DON'T have to be drafted out of HS.  You DON'T have to play at a Power 5 or ACC school or CWS contender.  But I think you DO have to be all in.   All the time. 

(Side note:  after going back to school last fall, only 7 more credits needed for that degree!)

Interesting topic. I can't tell anyone else what's right for them. The path I've been taking with my 2020 is to have a worth while degree at 21 with 0 debt. My son complains all the time about his age (will enter college at 17). I understand that almost no one gets a full ride, but planning that the combination of athletic/academic and what I can pay handles it all.

While I doubt my son will get drafted out of HS, it's possible given his year to year improvements and his age. There have been players with similar stats and age  by us that have. That said, it wouldn't be a high round, and I can't think of a situation where he'd sign vs. going to college and developing into a higher draft pick.

I do think it gets tougher to go back to school as you get older. I started working right out of HS during the dotcom era. I've never had a need for a degree but decided to go back in my late 20's. Maybe some can do it, found it wasn't for me later in life.

PABaseball nailed it. It depends on the kid. 

Here's a podcast with Matt Hobbs, the pitching coach at Arkansas (and former pitching coach at Wake Forest and Missouri): https://ericcressey.com/elite-...ecruiting-matt-hobbs

At the 35-minute mark: "It doesn't make a ton of sense if your son is a 3.2 student to be shopping him to Ivy League schools . . . you gotta really just decide, what are your big rocks in recruiting? . . . your biggest rock should be academics . . . the next biggest rock should be part of the country and ability for this person to be successful there . . . and the third rock is, now, does it fit athletically? And I think that people usually start with athletics, and then they go to is it too far or not far enough away from home? And the third thing they look at is there something he can study there? That's just the wrong way to go about this process I think, because we've got really good players at the places I've coached and I can count the number of big leaguers on two hands."

Vanderbilt is a baseball powerhouse. Every year 12-15 freshmen enter the program believing they are future MLBers. There are currently 12 former Vanderbilt players from the last 14 years in the majors.

Obviously there are some very recent grads in the minors who will become MLBers. But others who are currently in will be out. 

One of the biggest things I tell my son is that "You do not want to be 40 yrs old and sitting on a couch thinking I could of , would of , should of..."      

I chuckled to myself and thought, “Depends on your options and the view from your couch.”

At the end of the day you have look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. What kind of athlete am I? what kind of upside do I have, what kind of student am I?

Most people suck at being honest with themselves at what they are looking at. Even a lager percentage of parents suck at being honest with themselves about their kids...the system will tell 99.9% of players what they are even if they don't want to listen. 

All in on anything is a risky game plan and I own several businesses so I do understand the need to be all in. It just depends where, when and how. All in as a teenager or college student is an extremely volatile choice and you are most likely wrong. 

I saw a post from a local D3 coach where he essentially said to not work over the summer, focus on your game and getting better...like clearly indicating working for the summer is for uncommitted players. What tool, you talk about a man who doesn't get it. 

Baseball lifers are a different breed, they all think they are brilliant, they hang out in a small baseball circle and confirm each others opinions of themselves and continue to repeat the cycle...kind of like school teachers. 

nycdad posted:

Interesting topic. I can't tell anyone else what's right for them. The path I've been taking with my 2020 is to have a worth while degree at 21 with 0 debt. My son complains all the time about his age (will enter college at 17). I understand that almost no one gets a full ride, but planning that the combination of athletic/academic and what I can pay handles it all.

While I doubt my son will get drafted out of HS, it's possible given his year to year improvements and his age. There have been players with similar stats and age  by us that have. That said, it wouldn't be a high round, and I can't think of a situation where he'd sign vs. going to college and developing into a higher draft pick.

I do think it gets tougher to go back to school as you get older. I started working right out of HS during the dotcom era. I've never had a need for a degree but decided to go back in my late 20's. Maybe some can do it, found it wasn't for me later in life.

 

I would rethink the $0 debt goal.  If your son has the chance to go to a high quality school, but come out of it with say $10K-$20K in loans, that may pay off in spades long term.  Also, helps to have the kids have a stake in the game, will teach him to budget, curb spending, etc. IMO.

Remember: debt is good, IF handled properly!

I prefer to think of it more as - some debt is not necessarily bad if handled properly. maybe the same but kind of not. 

Investment debt on passive income can be wonderful, even in the business world debt is the thing that will sink you in a downswing. Your long term gains will come from proper reinvestment and transfers to delay taxes not thru the value of debt. 

At the end of the day I am just not a debt guy and that IMO is a 40 year mindset. 

CTbballDad posted:

nycdad posted:

Interesting topic. I can't tell anyone else what's right for them. The path I've been taking with my 2020 is to have a worth while degree at 21 with 0 debt. My son complains all the time about his age (will enter college at 17). I understand that almost no one gets a full ride, but planning that the combination of athletic/academic and what I can pay handles it all.

While I doubt my son will get drafted out of HS, it's possible given his year to year improvements and his age. There have been players with similar stats and age  by us that have. That said, it wouldn't be a high round, and I can't think of a situation where he'd sign vs. going to college and developing into a higher draft pick.

I do think it gets tougher to go back to school as you get older. I started working right out of HS during the dotcom era. I've never had a need for a degree but decided to go back in my late 20's. Maybe some can do it, found it wasn't for me later in life.

 

I would rethink the $0 debt goal.  If your son has the chance to go to a high quality school, but come out of it with say $10K-$20K in loans, that may pay off in spades long term.  Also, helps to have the kids have a stake in the game, will teach him to budget, curb spending, etc. IMO.

Remember: debt is good, IF handled properly!

Good points. I guess I don't mean 0. I just don't want him to come out of school paying off loans into his 30s from a school that he wouldn't have attended if not for baseball.

Great post and responses.

We chose to support our son with baseball and go all in. He was never going to Harvard, becoming a doctor, attorney, investment banker or biomedical engineer. While an A student though school with the capability to more, I guess we settled for him chasing his dream and seeing where baseball went. We did stand firm that he would not get a degree in Parks and Rec Mgmt...((we are so tough  ) In retrospect as of today, he has some money put back, paid zero to go to school at Clemson through his Jr season, lacks one year of school to get his bachelors and that will be paid for by the Tiger Fund. Add to that he has $100k to use while going back for school related expenses that cannot be spent elsewhere and i think he'll probably go back and get his Masters and coach as a Grad Assistant while there to give back to Clemson.

Where he goes from there.......hell, i have no idea but one thing i know is this, he is loving his life playing a game and getting paid to do so. The long bus trips, $25 per diems, clubhouse meals, living conditions and all the baggage that comes with the Milb are all just part of the process towards his goal on making it one day. These could all be crippling if you don't have the $$ and your situation includes more that just yourself...i get that. 

I had a few regrets from my early years and have consistently told my kids to live life and chase your dreams and both are doing that. 

So looking back to the original ?? " Does the player have a better chance to "make it" if he is all in?" The answer is unequivocally YES.

The next logical issue is to define "make it." Make it to MLB? Stick in MLB? Cash in Arbitration &/or Free Agency at MLB? Be a fringe up & down player at MLB? Maybe you "make it" & you are unhappy with the travel, strain on your relationships etc. Maybe you "get there" & you look around & go, is this it? Now huge pressure to stick.  

I banged around for 6 years in MILB. Big League camp a couple times & hung them up voluntarily at 28 when I was married & had two small kids & a wife at home. Have no regrets & still managed to eventually run as successful business with a 2.8 meaningless, stay eligible, GPA  from a mid level college.

The contrast in this question is best illustrated by witnessing the level of intensity & commitment of the "all in, I'm going back to poverty if this fails," Latin American MILB players in contrast to the USA "I have other options if this does not work out" player. It is profound. The "all In" player eats the other guys lunch all day. It's not even really close on an overall level if you look objectively.

So basically, if you are going to compete at the highest level possible, the KEY distinguishing factor is your mental mindset. You have your freaks like Ken Griffey & A Rods etc but most everyone else is relatively comparable with skill sets. Who wants it more?? is what determines outcomes to a large extent.

All in - does not  mean you don’t assume risk.  You just know what those risks are, and are willing to take them.   All in doesn’t mean you don’t have a plan B.  That is just smart.  All in still knows baseball will end one day.  It’s just not “today”

keewart posted:

All in - does not  mean you don’t assume risk.  You just know what those risks are, and are willing to take them.   All in doesn’t mean you don’t have a plan B.  That is just smart.  All in still knows baseball will end one day.  It’s just not “today”

 

100% on point!

keewart posted:

All in - does not  mean you don’t assume risk.  You just know what those risks are, and are willing to take them.   All in doesn’t mean you don’t have a plan B.  That is just smart.  All in still knows baseball will end one day.  It’s just not “today”

 

I totally agree with this as the right approach and mindset.  It sounds so simple and straight forward on the surface.  But when a competitive all-in player is navigating his path, he is always thinking he can outwork the other guy, he can be a little bit better than he is now, he can play at that next level, he can strive to achieve more, etc.  He is conditioned by his support team to think that way and to work toward his goals and dreams.  So, yes, self-assessment is often "enthusiastic".  He will want to reach for that bigger, better school from a competitive standpoint, willing to make the sacrifices he always does.  Unfortunately, that often translates into maybe sacrificing a better choice academically (college selection) in order to put himself in a position to succeed in his efforts for that which he is "all in".  

And, one could argue, if that young man is allocating some small percent of his efforts to make sure he has a solid plan B or 40 yr plan, is he really 100% all in on his baseball pursuit?  Or is he just 95% in, or 98% in?  What is the proper counsel from the parent?  If the advice is to actively plan for when baseball is over (which I happen to agree is best), will he be giving up that slight edge, that 2%, to the other great players who are truly all in, end game be damned?  Always one of the more intriguing topics.  One constant is that every single person's particular set of circumstances is unique.

I feel the proper parent counsel is, without question, have a backup plan & in fact, choose the college on academics first & baseball second. There are enough hrs in the day to devote the time needed to prepare for a pro shot if you are at that level. If you get a pro shot, sink it in 100% until they take your uni away, play & train like you have no backup,  & you will have no regrets.

On the other hand.... Vegas is Billions upon Billions built on a 3% advantage. So if we have a spectrum of players with equal talent, the players with the 3% edge will prevail over time.   

The regrets in your 40s can go both ways...my brother maximized baseball through HS and college.  Literally majored in something called "Leisure Studies".  Had a huge career for a while, held NCAA, school and Cape League records.  His arm broke down as a senior in college.  He eventually graduated but had a sub par education and few real skills.  His career has been lackluster.  I know that he wishes he had put more thought into Plan B.

Steve A. posted:

On the other hand.... Vegas is Billions upon Billions built on a 3% advantage. So if we have a spectrum of players with equal talent, the players with the 3% edge will prevail over time.   

We don’t 

Why can't you be all in in baseball and still be all in in the classroom?

greatgame posted:

Why can't you be all in in baseball and still be all in in the classroom?

Easier said than done. At some schools, and in some faculties, just graduating is a feat, let alone graduating and playing a Varsity sport. 

If you don't go the baseball route, you probably have the same odds stacked against you as pro ball.

Probably 80% that you muddle along and have huge college and mortgage debts, have your dreams crushed, and retire with not enough savings.  Maybe higher.

The consensus seems to be that a player should be "all in on baseball" . . . Question: is going to college being "all in on baseball"? It's not when compared to Dominican kids . . .

Thought this article was interesting:

"When I asked scouts which college programs developed hitters the best, the most common answer was laughter, but when forced to answer, many still stumbled and refused to confidently name even one program"

"almost any pro contract with a six figure bonus includes provisions that the entirety of your education be paid for after you retire, even at pricey institutions like Vanderbilt. There are almost no collegiate prospects who are on 100% athletic scholarships, as each school has 11.7 scholarships for 27 players with a 25% minimum for each player. Even with additional, non-athletic scholarships, players rarely get to 100%. In addition to not getting paid to play baseball and actually going out of pocket, players get less individual instruction, a lower quality of instruction, and fewer practice reps. Players have to go to class; the nutrition/training is often good but doesn’t match a professional level. They may not even play for long stretches of their three years, and if the coach gets fired, they could be forced to transfer to an even worse environment. "

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sw...ools-and-player-dev/

Great topic RJM...I don't know why it took me this long to read it.

So, last night my youngest son, wife and I were having dinner and catching up.  We got to talking about all the people (about 50-60) that the family knows (well or casually) through high school, travel,  and college that got drafted and/or playing professional baseball.   We further qualified that to who made it to AAA and beyond.   We came up with one name that stuck with AAA and beyond, and six for AA that are waiting their turn there or retired at that level.  Professional baseball is a tough, tough gig and you've got to be "all in" because that becomes your livelihood and puts food on your plate.  

But the real question for me is WHEN does this 3/4 mindset happen or the 40 year mindset happen...at what point do you go from "hedging" to "all-in"?  First, I think it is different for position players than pitchers for all kinds of reasons.  My oldest RHP son never saw himself playing professional baseball.  He knew he did not have professional talent.  He loved college baseball, and that was going to be the end of the road for him.  Professional baseball  was never plan A or plan B.  So, he was a 40-year mindset the minute he graduated high school.   Second, there are others on this board that I know pretty well and they've done a pretty awesome job of hedging to the point when they got drafted into an acceptable level that met their financial requirements.  They had options, and chose "door A" because that is what they've wanted to do if the opportunity presented itself.   Also, my middle son works with a guy who's son is in high-A and is a top MLB prospect.  My middle son played against this guy many, many times in high school and travel.   He graduated from an ACC school with a degree in chemical engineering (in 3 years) and 4.0 GPA.  This kid had options all the way to the point when he got drafted and signed.  This guy had a 3/4 mindset all the way but had a pretty strong plan B.  He was "all-in" for both.  For me, this becomes a true exercise in self awareness (what are your true talents) and what do you want to do with your life.  

I have an insight from a father I know who played for the Astros for three years. He said the game is all about seeing how far you can go. The game will spit you out when you reach the farthest you can go - and they choose someone better than you. After all, coaches and managers are trying to keep their jobs by winning games. This dad told me he was an absolute dominant player all throughout his youth - until he got into the big leagues. He then realized it was just a matter of time before he was going to get released. He said “It’s harder to say in the MLB, than it is to make it into the MLB.” A very telling quote. He said the players at that level were “athletic freaks.” And he, for the first time, found himself at the bottom of the heap. But he made it into the big leagues and got a taste of his dream. He now works for google, married with kids and is doing just fine. My opinion is we’ve only got one life so we might as well go for whatever the dream is. No regrets when we’re 80 and can’t find our damn glasses anywhere... Oh yeah, they’re on my head. 

2019Dad posted:

The consensus seems to be that a player should be "all in on baseball" . . . Question: is going to college being "all in on baseball"? It's not when compared to Dominican kids . . .

Thought this article was interesting:

"When I asked scouts which college programs developed hitters the best, the most common answer was laughter, but when forced to answer, many still stumbled and refused to confidently name even one program"

"almost any pro contract with a six figure bonus includes provisions that the entirety of your education be paid for after you retire, even at pricey institutions like Vanderbilt. There are almost no collegiate prospects who are on 100% athletic scholarships, as each school has 11.7 scholarships for 27 players with a 25% minimum for each player. Even with additional, non-athletic scholarships, players rarely get to 100%. In addition to not getting paid to play baseball and actually going out of pocket, players get less individual instruction, a lower quality of instruction, and fewer practice reps. Players have to go to class; the nutrition/training is often good but doesn’t match a professional level. They may not even play for long stretches of their three years, and if the coach gets fired, they could be forced to transfer to an even worse environment. "

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sw...ools-and-player-dev/

I wanted to make a few comments.  (I did go back and read the entire article and the comments following).

1) The Dominican players:  many/most are coming here at early ages to escape a dreadful life.  Baseball is a way out.   Many players are sending part of their measly milb salary back home.   Half of bonuses were paid to their coach/adviser.   If you have not seen it yet, watch the documentary "Ballplayer:  Pelotero."  It is well worth your $2.99 to stream it.

2)  The intangibles of going to college and playing ball for 3-4 years vs. going pro right out of high school (setting aside bonus money since that varies by family)

• making life long friends (you still do this in the pros, but there is a lot of comings and goings on rosters during the year, rather than just from year to year)
• getting life's "kinks" out while in college...rather than in the pros.  If you sleep in, and are late for practice in college you may get benched for a game or two and have to run poles; but in the pros, you are scratched from the lineup and the top brass sees that and questions it.  I know a player that was released for that. 
• and the very tangible getting 3 years of college "out of the way", while playing ball.

Last year my son played with a fellow drafted out of HS that was his age, their birthdays just days apart.  They were on the same team...so, you can get your rookie play in with the pros, or with 3 years of college, and be at the same spot.  (1st rounders excluded since they will be on the fast tract....but not always).

--------------------

3) The MLB baseball scholarship is spelled out in each individuals contract.  Yes, it may pay for 100% of the years remaining to graduate, but you may not want to wait until you retire.  You have 10 years to commence, and the start date is the date on the contract.   (The possible thought being after 10 years if you are still playing ball you are making big bucks and can pay your own way?)  Plus, the scholarship may be spelled out in a dollar amount based on current tuition rates....and tuition, room and board increase each year.  After 10 years, that dollar amount MLB offered to pay may not go as far.

And to make matters worse, many teams want to see your grades first so the tuition/room/board/books are reimbursable...meaning you have to cough up payment initially and submit receipts and grades to get reimbursed.  Vandy?  That is $37,000 per semester for incoming freshmen this year. ( I do know of several large schools (Clemson, Kentucky) that have funds set aside for their players to come back and take classes and graduate, so there is no expense to the those players.)   So, you cough up money for your tuition/room/board/books, whether that is $17,000 or $37,000 for the semester, submit your receipts and grades and the end of the semester, and the check that comes back about 27-33% less!  Taxes are taken out since it is considered income!

So parents, if you are thinking MLB is going to pay 100% of your child's education for 1-4 years....plan on paying at least 25-33% of the total amount, plus any increases each year.  Uncle Sam gets his part.  It isn't really a free ride.  But look at it as a 75% scholarship lol!

One of the least understood things about wealth is you only have to be right once to achieve it.   You can fail over and over until the time comes when you are right.  The most recognizable names in American history are people that went all in on something....Bezos, Gates, Edison, Carnegie, Morgan and Ford etc.   

So if you have the passion and the drive - take the 3/4 year shot.  If you fail - you have 9 more in you over 40 years.

The real unasked question is - if you get KO'd can and will you be able to get off the mat and keep going? 

And the answer to that for almost everyone is hard to know until you have to.  

luv baseball posted:

One of the least understood things about wealth is you only have to be right once to achieve it.   You can fail over and over until the time comes when you are right.  The most recognizable names in American history are people that went all in on something....Bezos, Gates, Edison, Carnegie, Morgan and Ford etc.   

So if you have the passion and the drive - take the 3/4 year shot.  If you fail - you have 9 more in you over 40 years.

The real unasked question is - if you get KO'd can and will you be able to get off the mat and keep going? 

And the answer to that for almost everyone is hard to know until you have to.  

Well Said!   Our Kids , and ourselves can all use this great advice. 

According to NCAA, of almost 500,000 HS baseball players, 7.8% will play 4 year NCAA baseball (a bit more than 2.2% D1) and 775 of that 35,000 will be drafted.

https://twitter.com/NCAA/statu...678378797936642?s=09