When baseball is “Plan A and B”

I'm a little confused.  Do you mean when there is no "Plan B"?  That the goal is to play, or coach, or analyze baseball?  Or sell baseball equipment, or run a travel organization, or work for Perfect Game?

Plan B usually means, "if baseball doesn't work out, I'll do xxx".

Sorry. I guess a better way to say it would be “when baseball is plan a, b, c, etc”. A kid who would like to have a career in baseball whatever that looks like, recognizing almost no one gets paid to play. Thanks.

@DroppedStrikeThree posted:

Sorry. I guess a better way to say it would be “when baseball is plan a, b, c, etc”. A kid who would like to have a career in baseball whatever that looks like, recognizing almost no one gets paid to play. Thanks.

It's an interesting question. I think the answer would vary widely.  For a example, a guy who becomes a stats guy for an MLB club would have a much different route than a future baseball coach, or a future baseball team trainer, or a future MILB marketing guy, or a future guy in Scott Boras's office.

Is said kid smart enough to get into MIT or Harvard?  That’s the most clear, current path to entry jobs in MLB front offices.

Good questions. Let’s limit it to on field options - which I guess would primarily mean coaching (but open to other suggestions if there are others). I think the Harvard path is very similar to the “40 year plan” because it puts just about all options on the table for the kid (but may limit coaching opportunities?).  

@3and2Fastball posted:

Is said kid smart enough to get into MIT or Harvard?  That’s the most clear, current path to entry jobs in MLB front offices.

Yep.  My son had a college teammate (D1 Ivy...not Harvard) who was not a very good college player.  I believe part of the reason he was on the team is that his father (started, owned and operated a well known hedge fund) and endowed the ADs salary.   He pitched only one out in four years.  Ironically, that out is a current MLB player.  This guy was absolutely fantastic with numbers and had connections to MLB teams where he interned three summers.  My son is an engineer and pretty darn good with numbers...when he says the guy was incredible with numbers then I believe him.   This guy is currently in an MLB front office, and has a World Series ring.   

So, I think to answer your question.....if a kids wants to get into an MLB front office it is about the school, serious connections, and the academic horsepower of the student.   If the kid wants to be manager, coach or player it is more about actual playing experience and networking on the field.  The higher college levels are going to give him more street cred and connections into those higher levels.   I look at somebody like Robert Woodard ( former All-American) who played at UNC.  All his stops since playing at UNC have been at the D1 level including UNC, Virginia Tech, UNCW, and now HC at UNC Charlotte.  Talent, connections and experience have helped his career from a volunteer coach all the way to a HC.

JMO.

Yeah there are different paths to work in baseball. The good thing about the analytics jobs is that while the pay is not good either those skills will be very useful for a regular career after baseball in case it doesn't work.

If you want to work in coaching studying something like biomechanics probably helps as even the only field coaching is getting more "nerdy" and they expect that guys use technology and so on.

Stil having pro ball experience does help, teams are signing college guys too but the pro ball experience is still a thing that does help.

Guys who have a bit of both and can use tech, data and biomechanics but still have some playing experience ideally at the pro level are sought after and the classic old school baseball lifer not really so much anymore.

Stand as close to coaches all the time and share future plans.  Become a volunteer assistant as soon as possible

@PitchingFan posted:

Become a volunteer assistant as soon as possible

Or student or grad assistant.

But still, no-one has answered DroppedStrikeThree's original questions.  Does it matter what school you choose (or what chooses you)?

@anotherparent posted:

But still, no-one has answered DroppedStrikeThree's original questions.  Does it matter what school you choose (or what chooses you)?

No. I dont think it does.

Lots of different examples and  good advice above.

The one thing to remember is that many careers in baseball begin with relationships. 

@3and2Fastball posted:

Is said kid smart enough to get into MIT or Harvard?  That’s the most clear, current path to entry jobs in MLB front offices.

Actually the best path (arguably) to a front office job in MLB is to attend and play baseball for Haverford College in Philly. Check it out.

Iowa has an extremely strong student manager program.  Student managers run on field practices, generate analytics, do social media promotion. Basically all aspects of behind the scenes baseball (including catching some bullpens, which is not something I would chose to do) One was hired by a couple of MLB teams to help them learn to use various analytics programs while in school and after graduation became director of player development at a BIG10 school. He has a blog at https://www.simplesabermetrics.com/blog, which I use when I want to understand what my son is saying to me.

At Western Illinois, they offer a sports journalism major and the school has a small TV studio where students learn all aspects of covering sports. I'm sure that's available at other schools.

There are lots of jobs in baseball/sports.

Seems to me, choosing a school for that kind of job is the same as choosing a school to play. What area do you want to learn?  What kind of program do they offer? How respected is it? A business major would be handy for some, math for others, social media journalism for others.

My son plans to teach and coach after baseball, but I think he'd be a terrific analyst. He was out though when the head of the broadcast program told him he should be in front of the camera because he has a nice smile.

If not playing (or even playing) go to Amherst. Huge pipeline to baseball's front office.

everyone is talking pro career level jobs in baseball and that's the brass ring.  more likely, if someone wants to make a career out of baseball, the local level jobs are way more numerous.  on the bottom end, i see a bunch of travel team coaches/owners who are good baseball people but who don't have a lick of baseball sense.  just absolute morons with money.  in general, i think that people fall into coaching youth and teen level baseball because they  don't have many other options. if someone were to go into the business with a clear business plan in addition to the knowledge and desire to coach youth baseball (the real money, i think, lies in 12u and below bc there's more kids there and more parents willing to pay), then there's real potential to both make a good solid income as well as develop a saleable asset once the program becomes established. 

with that in mind, as much experience you can get is important (college, indy, affiliated, etc) to establish your  program's bonafides, but also make sure you have a good, solid business background in your schooling resume.

The cheapest route is to use social media to advance your career in both amateur and professional ranks.

I don't think saying "I want a career in baseball" is sufficient to make a plan.  It's like saying "I want a career in the auto industry"... doing what exactly? - designing cars, manufacturing them, marketing them, selling them, fixing them, painting them, racing them, etc., etc.  Each role requires a different set of skills and different preparation - different education, different experiences, different apprenticeships, etc.  

Likewise, as noted above, there are lot's of different types of roles in the baseball industry.  If son wants to be a coach, what is he doing to prepare to be a coach?  If he wants to be an agent, what is he doing to prepare for that?  Etc, etc.  He needs to break it down and start to develop a plan to go after what he wants to do (i.e., what role/job type), as opposed to the industry (baseball) he is targeting.

Good stuff.

One of the Brewers announcers is a friend of ours. We met him when son was in AA. That was his passion and he made it big time. I dont know if he ever played, but more than likely.  Many college programs have opportunities that pay in grad school credits. Baseball operations, student managers, trainers, analytics, academic advisors to name a few.

FWIW one of sons teammates at Clemson who started with one travel team now has an entire travel program all ages, found an investor and built a huge facility. Trains not just baseball but soccer as well. That was his passion and he found a way to make it worth.

One of our beloved websters (who passed recently) son is a beat reporter @The Athletic. Covers LSU sports.

Discover your passion and go for it.

@DroppedStrikeThree posted:

Good questions. Let’s limit it to on field options - which I guess would primarily mean coaching (but open to other suggestions if there are others). I think the Harvard path is very similar to the “40 year plan” because it puts just about all options on the table for the kid (but may limit coaching opportunities?).  

If we are limiting to on field/coaching...

School choice can be a factor but the player has to play and have some level of success.  I say school choice is a factor mostly because a player will have a much harder time reaching paying coaching positions at any level above what he played.  Not impossible but the path is much more difficult.  Both playing success and playing level establish credibility.   The majority of HC's will be very reluctant to hire paid AC's that would not be viewed as properly qualified.  The majority of AD's will be very reluctant to hire HC's who would not be viewed as properly qualified.

I would strongly advise that your son become intimately familiar with how difficult finding paid coaching positions can be and how flooded the pipeline is at all times.  There really should be consideration to a different plan B, whether it is in other baseball-related arenas as others have mentioned or another viable career path should this one become unattainable for any of a variety of reasons. 

Absolutely pursue the dream.  But understand that many things out of your control can ultimately prevent you from taking this path.  Think significant injury.  There are many others.  Have a strong viable backup plan that is not on field baseball. 

Haven't seen anyone mention private instruction.  The best hitting instructor near us has a very skimpy playing resume from a tiny school.  However he is an amazing teacher who has spent 20 years learning his craft.  Now has several P5 All Conference players among his clients and about 5 '21 P5 commits coming up.

Lots to think about. Thank you everyone for taking the time to share your thoughts.

@K9 posted:

The best hitting instructor near us has a very skimpy playing resume from a tiny school.  However he is an amazing teacher who has spent 20 years learning his craft.  Now has several P5 All Conference players among his clients and about 5 '21 P5 commits coming up.

^^^^ THIS

Being a great player does. not. automatically. translate. into being a great coach.

They are two different skill sets. Sometimes it translates, sometimes it doesn't.

@K9 posted:

Haven't seen anyone mention private instruction.  The best hitting instructor near us has a very skimpy playing resume from a tiny school.  However he is an amazing teacher who has spent 20 years learning his craft.  Now has several P5 All Conference players among his clients and about 5 '21 P5 commits coming up.

Sure, but this is not the norm.  My area is littered with former college and pro players trying to figure out how to earn a living giving lessons.  It's a very tough slog.  How do they get their client base started without a strong resume?  Where do they give lessons?  Most can't afford their own facility so they have to give 40-60% of their fee to the facility, not to mention their work day is compressed between 3pm (after school) till about 8pm or 9pm.  I get that people end up here and I admire their work ethic and drive, but I wouldn't recommend a young person pursue this path as a plan without getting the best possible resume for it and understanding the business plan of this career.

"Strike 3"

Your son is now 16, he has several decisions to make in forming his future education and the game.

Learn from the game - read books, attend College games, talk with the players and parents, attend the College Coaches Convention, gather information, talk with Pro Scouts. Keep a diary.

Determine your ability to play at the next level, what Degree [Marketing, teaching, economics, social science].

From this you can develop a "personal" crystal ball.

In 6 years, the game will be changed from today's game. Oakland A's will locate to Portland or Las Vegas.

TV revenues, attendance $$$, are always important. Game strategy will constantly change. The Minor Leagues have changed.

Bob

Summer College Leagues and MLB do summer internships on all levels that allow you to specialize in what you want to do.  Great opportunities.