As you go thru the recruiting process what do you think ? -- College First or Pro Ball?
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After years of training, it would be hard to turn down a pro jersey.
ive been thinking more and more, if youve got a chance to play in the world series, go to college. its an amazing life changing experience that only few get to enjoy. the likely hood of making it to the majors is slim, and than ever making it to the world series is even more unlikely. so enjoy the journey and play college unless your getting offered a rediculous sum of money
I would say, if you want to be a Coach or Insructor, the Pro label gives you instant credibility. If you have a chance to sign and that's your goal, I say go for it! You never know what's around the corner. A bird in the hand....
Should be a process, obtain a college commitment, then work towards the goal of proball if that is what one desires. You don't have to make a decision until faced with it. Always keep working towards your goal.
I don't think that there is one person here who can admit that pro ball doesn't cross ones mind during the process in HS, not necessarily just the player but for the parent as well. Been there done that.
Everyone has different goals and different dreams. For our player, part of that was to make it to Omaha and play at the cape, it worked out for him, and I know if you asked him he would say he wouldn't have it any other way now that he has seen both sides. That doesn't mean putting off his pro career works for everyone.
Wearing a pro uniform is special, wearing a college uniform is just as special. JMO.
I don't think that there is one person here who can admit that pro ball doesn't cross ones mind during the process in HS, not necessarily just the player but for the parent as well. Been there done that.
Everyone has different goals and different dreams. For our player, part of that was to make it to Omaha and play at the cape, it worked out for him, and I know if you asked him he would say he wouldn't have it any other way now that he has seen both sides. That doesn't mean putting off his pro career works for everyone.
Wearing a pro uniform is special, wearing a college uniform is just as special. JMO.
quote:Originally posted by powertoallfields:
I would say, if you want to be a Coach or Insructor, the Pro label gives you instant credibility. If you have a chance to sign and that's your goal, I say go for it! You never know what's around the corner. A bird in the hand....
Playing only minor league baseball doesn't make you credible as a coach, scout or an instructor. Years of experience does. Years ago a good argument was that minor league had better instruction. I read an article that the shift is now to coach or instruct in college, better pay, year round positions for most. You only make money in the big league.
I was recently talking to a kid from our high school who chose the pro route. He signed for around 125K.
He was still seventeen (fall birthday) when rookie ball started. A majority of the players in the league were twenty-one or twenty-two. He was handed a starting job. He washed out after two years. He played Indy ball part of last year and will play again this year.
He said he knows it's a longer shot now. But he's still only twenty. He said he wished he had gone to college for three years of physical maturity.
He was still seventeen (fall birthday) when rookie ball started. A majority of the players in the league were twenty-one or twenty-two. He was handed a starting job. He washed out after two years. He played Indy ball part of last year and will play again this year.
He said he knows it's a longer shot now. But he's still only twenty. He said he wished he had gone to college for three years of physical maturity.
quote:Originally posted by RJM:
I was recently talking to a kid from our high school who chose the pro route. He signed for around 125K.
He was still seventeen (fall birthday) when rookie ball started. A majority of the players in the league were twenty-one or twenty-two. He was handed a starting job. He washed out after two years. He played Indy ball part of last year and will play again this year.
He said he knows it's a longer shot now. But he's still only twenty. He said he wished he had gone to college for three years of physical maturity.
In this situation, how would college have helped this player regarding physical maturity? If he played low level minors a couple years, from a competitive standpoint, isn't he playing with and against players who are better than anybody he'd be playing with had he went to college pushing harder him to better his game?
I'd be more inclined to believe if he washed out, it would be from the mental side where as maybe going pro made him grow up fast and wasn't mature enough to handle it while going to college might have helped the maturing process a student goes thru in college.
RJM,
Players drafted at 17 are usually given more time to mature than those that are drafted later. HS players projection is usually 5-6 years on average, unless you are drafting a phenom.
Was he released or did he leave on his own? Seems to me that there is more to the story.
Players drafted at 17 are usually given more time to mature than those that are drafted later. HS players projection is usually 5-6 years on average, unless you are drafting a phenom.
Was he released or did he leave on his own? Seems to me that there is more to the story.
Love the college experience for son. He is not only earnign a degree and learning the responsibilities of balancing school, baseball, money etc., he is working with a team on a common goal. WHile highly competitive, the boys all pull for each other for personal success which leads to team success. I would not want my son to miss this. The low minors are not working on a team goal, but individual goals to advance to the next level. It seems to be rather cut throat. While a HUGE chunk of change would have surely made it worthwhile, I feel the college world better prepares for the future with or without baseball.
I dont know if anyone read the article in the latest SI about the guy from Yale that played a little minor league ball. At the end, hes talking to a guy that had been released after 5 years. No bonus $ left, no degree, guys 24 years old with no skills, wife and a kid at home, and now what?? Ijust cant help but to think that unless you are getting life changing $, go to school if at all possible.
He had a rough rookie season at the plate and in the field. He returned to rookie ball the next year with the same results. He said he lost confidence in his ability.quote:Originally posted by TPM:
RJM,
Players drafted at 17 are usually given more time to mature than those that are drafted later. HS players projection is usually 5-6 years on average, unless you are drafting a phenom.
Was he released or did he leave on his own? Seems to me that there is more to the story.
I've casually known the kid since he started high school. I know some of his former coaches in two sports. Everyone who knows him says he's a great kid. I thought he was drafted too high for his baseball ability. The team may have seen a phenomenal athlete (could have played college football or basketball)). I'm thinking maybe the team that drafted him realized they overrated him. Then when he lost confidence they didn't see a prospect anymore.
Don't you think there's a difference in physical maturity between most seventeen and twenty-one year olds. Compare the physical build of a freshman entering college and what he looks like junior year.quote:In this situation, how would college have helped this player regarding physical maturity?
I agree 100% IF you're college material. The mistake the guy in your story made is he didn't have a plan. He should have been thinking, stay single, if baseball doesn't work out, head back to college.quote:unless you are getting life changing $
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
As you go thru the recruiting process what do you think ? -- College First or Pro Ball?
Its a tough problem to tackle. Been through it twice with my sons. One went to college and one went pro.
We were lucky and he went in low rounds for a large sum. We set a round and dollar amount and stuck to it. I did all the research a parent would do but, like I said we got luck. In both cases we set a figure higher than what we thought they would pay. The way things turned out I would not have changed a thing.
My thoughts are unless a player is just not a good student I would not even consider the pros past the 3rd round. Besides the money there are just more perks for early draftees, glove and accessorys contracts, multiple player card contracts, rooming advantages at some clubs, not to mention just the way they are treated by the club office and coaching staff.
Later round HS draftees can just about figure that the college draftees will be placed ahead of them for the next two or three draft years.
The opposite side of the question is the real late round HS draftee who might not get a Good D1 scholly or needs to go to a Juco, might want to take a chance on the pros first they do offer a good scholarship program coming out of the pros.
JMO but, look at college first. If a good draft presents its self make a decision then.
quote:Originally posted by RJM:
Don't you think there's a difference in physical maturity between most seventeen and twenty-one year olds. Compare the physical build of a freshman entering college and what he looks like junior year.
But whether he develops in the pros or college, how would that change him physically once he hits 21? If pro baseball was the goal, he's gonna have to face the same tough competition whether he played it in college or went directly to pros out of high school. Besides, don't pro teams allow a younger player develop longer, especially a 17 yr old hs grad? The one thing going to college does allow is the player to grow up a little, mature and get an education making him a more mature and smarter ballplayer out of college. Of course this assuming the player is college material and can hit the books too.
strik3,
Thank you for posting! I noticed that you have been a member for about a year and have made just a couple of posts so far. I hope you will share with us some of your sons' experiences (and yours), with both college and pro baseball.
I think I know who one of your sons might be - rated a 10 by Perfect Game, not too shabby!
Welcome, and I hope we will hear more from you!
Julie
Thank you for posting! I noticed that you have been a member for about a year and have made just a couple of posts so far. I hope you will share with us some of your sons' experiences (and yours), with both college and pro baseball.
I think I know who one of your sons might be - rated a 10 by Perfect Game, not too shabby!
Welcome, and I hope we will hear more from you!
Julie
strik3,
I agree good post!
While your son signed after HS, I will bet you never gave up on the college recruiting process and he turned down an opportunity to play college ball, which again should be the primary goal before one's draft year.
Best of luck to your son.
I agree good post!
While your son signed after HS, I will bet you never gave up on the college recruiting process and he turned down an opportunity to play college ball, which again should be the primary goal before one's draft year.
Best of luck to your son.
se habla espanol?
Just something many pro players mention to rookies.
Just something many pro players mention to rookies.
TRhit, very good post here as son may have to make such a decision. I agree with strik3, it has to be low round to bypass even JUCO scholarship.
My question is - how do you define "life changing" money? A 650K bonus yields a $65K salary for ten years....and then what? W/O a college degree, what is the upside? In this economy, you can't bank on investments - only income.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
quote:A 650K bonus yields a $65K salary for ten years
Actually, it would yield a lot less than that after taxes...
What about school money in the MILB standard contract? How would that effect your decision? I know of a kid that was drafted in the 47th round and signed.Went for 1 year decided to enter school and now is a draft eligible sophmore.He is project to go in the 1st round this upcoming draft.I'm not sure how many kids go this route but I'd bet he is not the only one. Will still have school money when he is done .
quote:Originally posted by Infield08:quote:A 650K bonus yields a $65K salary for ten years
Actually, it would yield a lot less than that after taxes...
Again, if a player is drafted in low rounds or is paid say 500K or more he is treated very differently in the Minors.
As far as the money unless he buys extravagant items with good money management he should see his origional 500k return to him with in 3 yrs. If he signs for that much or more you can bet he has a full 8 semesters paid for in college also. He will have at least one card deal and glove and accessory deals range from free items to nice bonuses. A baseball player is self-employed so tax benefits are also high.
With that said IMO most players even low round draft picks could make more money by going to college. The risk is about the same concerning injury can end it all. The one thing is in college there are alot of colleges that will still honor a scholly to an injured player where in the pros your done unless you have college in your bonus.
One more thing whether college or pro EVERYTHING IS NEGOCIABLE. You have to remember that college schollies are for ONE YEAR at most D1 schools. Due to NCAA restrictions most offer nice scholarships to incoming freshmen only to have it reduced the next year. CC's will hate me for this but, if you are going to go to college especially in baseball You need to ask right up front if the scholly is good for 4 yrs or will it be cut back. This is negociable. They will tell you the truth if ask and will work with you at that time. After you have enrolled its too late and you have no complaint. JMO but, if you can come to a consencus at that time its much better to be a little disgruntled and have time to excepted what ever is worked out than to be disgruntled at the beginning of the soph year and maybe it effect play.
Hi Julie
650 the player falls in the 35% tax bracket, plus state taxes, medicare and ss, agent fees he would yield roughly 400K, maybe less.
That to me is not life changing money, but rather a means to survive longer than most can to get to where you can make life changing money.
Baseball players are not self employed, they do not get 1099 butW2. They can deduct living expenses if they do not play in their tax state.
Scholarships are for one year, renewable, very rarely will one see a reduction (maybe a fifth year) and honest coaches keed their word. The MLB scholarship plan amount is negotiable.
Lodi explain the situation you are talking about? Did he sign, play go back to school and play? Confused a bit.
That to me is not life changing money, but rather a means to survive longer than most can to get to where you can make life changing money.
Baseball players are not self employed, they do not get 1099 butW2. They can deduct living expenses if they do not play in their tax state.
Scholarships are for one year, renewable, very rarely will one see a reduction (maybe a fifth year) and honest coaches keed their word. The MLB scholarship plan amount is negotiable.
Lodi explain the situation you are talking about? Did he sign, play go back to school and play? Confused a bit.
[QUOTE]
Baseball players are not self employed, they do not get 1099 butW2. They can deduct living expenses if they do not play in their tax state.
QUOTE]
Yes, those players do get a 1099 misc, for activity outside mlb, glove contracts that pay money and card contracts they send you a 1099. Agent fees lawyer and most common business type expenses are deductible.
Baseball players are not self employed, they do not get 1099 butW2. They can deduct living expenses if they do not play in their tax state.
QUOTE]
Yes, those players do get a 1099 misc, for activity outside mlb, glove contracts that pay money and card contracts they send you a 1099. Agent fees lawyer and most common business type expenses are deductible.
yes, they get 1099 for those things.
I thought that you meant they didn't work for anyone, they do, the team. Not only do they work for them, milb players are owned by them.
I thought that you meant they didn't work for anyone, they do, the team. Not only do they work for them, milb players are owned by them.
CPA for hire 