MLB Draft (1 Viewer)

[Treynwreck3]

Kids can be drafted out of high school by MLB. If they attend a day of college, they cannot be drafted or sign with an MLB team until they have completed their junior year or have reached 21 years old.

My son has a verbal commitment with a D1 school as a sophomore in HS. He has some peers that have committed also, though they are projected first 4 round draftees.

My question is, at what $$ point do you make the decision to forego a paid college education for a chance to play pro ball?

 

[Mario Kart]

Moneyball... watch it.

 

[TLEF316]

One of my brother's best friends was drafted after his sophomore year a few years back (he was a year old for his grade, so he was eligible). He was a starter at a MAJOR program (went to the CWS both years he was there). He has had some good years in the minors, but it doesn't look like he's ever going to make it to the show.

In addition to his signing bonus (which was more than the suggested amount for his draft slot to encourage him to come out) the club that drafted him agreed to pay for his education in the event that he doesn't make it. I'm guessing that's pretty common for underclassmen or HS players who sign.

I think a lot of it would depend on whether I was a position player of a pitcher. If I'm a pitcher, I take the money while I can get it.

 

[sporthenry]

I'd say around that 300-400K mark it starts to become attractive. Either getting them to pay for college or making sure he has enough money to complete it if his career goes down.

At that point, it becomes about the kid. If he has plans post baseball and can major in it, then college makes sense. But if he has no idea, then a 4 year degree might be in something totally irrelevant to what he wants to do. Playing D-1 baseball is probably a grind so he won't get to necessarily enjoy it as much as the common person. But then again, once you get to the minors, it becomes a business so you have little room to be a kid. I'd also imagine family finances would play a part.

 

[Treynwreck3]

One of my brother's best friends was drafted after his sophomore year a few years back (he was a year old for his grade, so he was eligible). He was a starter at a MAJOR program (went to the CWS both years he was there). He has had some good years in the minors, but it doesn't look like he's ever going to make it to the show.

In addition to his signing bonus (which was more than the suggested amount for his draft slot to encourage him to come out) the club that drafted him agreed to pay for his education in the event that he doesn't make it. I'm guessing that's pretty common for underclassmen or HS players who sign.

I think a lot of it would depend on whether I was a position player of a pitcher. If I'm a pitcher, I take the money while I can get it.

There is an agreement between the NCAA and MLB wherein if a kid is drafted after his junior year (or 21yrs old), MLB will agree to pay for up to two years of tuition/room/board if the kid goes back to college after leaving pro ball. That is what we were told when we were offered a scholarship.

My son's pitching coach was drafted out of Ole Miss after his junior year. He played a couple of years in the minors and went back to get his degree. He told us that prior to the start of each semester he faxed his fee bill and a copy of his apartment lease to MLB offices in NY and they FedExed him a check.

Signing bonuses are getting ridiculous. The minimum slot for the last pick in the 5th round (166th overall) of the 2014 draft this June is $275,000. For comparison purposes, a 70% scholarship to a private D1 school is worth approximately $160,000 over 4 years.

 

[Premier]

Definitely definitely definitely get the money now.

 

[Treynwreck3]

I'd say around that 300-400K mark it starts to become attractive. Either getting them to pay for college or making sure he has enough money to complete it if his career goes down.

At that point, it becomes about the kid. If he has plans post baseball and can major in it, then college makes sense. But if he has no idea, then a 4 year degree might be in something totally irrelevant to what he wants to do. Playing D-1 baseball is probably a grind so he won't get to necessarily enjoy it as much as the common person. But then again, once you get to the minors, it becomes a business so you have little room to be a kid. I'd also imagine family finances would play a part.

I am not so worried about the "grind" or my son enjoying his college experience. To get to that level requires a passion for the game to the point that if he is playing ball he is happy.

 

[MattFancy]

I'd take the chance at the draft now. What would happen if something happened and he blew his arm out? Could be a once in a lifetime chance to go now.

 

[Abraham]

Our neighbors kid went in the 8th out of high school, went to Rice a didn't get any better. Fastball hung between. 89-91 for four years. Got drafted in the 15 th last year.

Take the money.

 

[pollardsvision]

I'd lean towards taking the money, but it doesn't seem like a slam dunk either and I think would just come down to a personal decision for the kid.

Unless it's a huge bonus (the $300K mark sounds about right), going to college could make a lot of sense.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Definitely definitely definitely get the money now.

College isn't going anywhere, while youth and talent is finite.

 

[Annyong]

Definitely definitely definitely get the money now.

College isn't going anywhere, while youth and talent is finite.

Agreed, take the money and don't blow it all on cars/hookers/blow. If he flames out he can always go back to school with a hell of a lot of money in his pocket. Or he can go backpacking through SE Asia for a year. Or hookers and blow. I wouldn't pass on a chance to play pro ball, at any level.

 

[TLEF316]

One of my brother's best friends was drafted after his sophomore year a few years back (he was a year old for his grade, so he was eligible). He was a starter at a MAJOR program (went to the CWS both years he was there). He has had some good years in the minors, but it doesn't look like he's ever going to make it to the show.

In addition to his signing bonus (which was more than the suggested amount for his draft slot to encourage him to come out) the club that drafted him agreed to pay for his education in the event that he doesn't make it. I'm guessing that's pretty common for underclassmen or HS players who sign.

I think a lot of it would depend on whether I was a position player of a pitcher. If I'm a pitcher, I take the money while I can get it.

There is an agreement between the NCAA and MLB wherein if a kid is drafted after his junior year (or 21yrs old), MLB will agree to pay for up to two years of tuition/room/board if the kid goes back to college after leaving pro ball. That is what we were told when we were offered a scholarship. My son's pitching coach was drafted out of Ole Miss after his junior year. He played a couple of years in the minors and went back to get his degree. He told us that prior to the start of each semester he faxed his fee bill and a copy of his apartment lease to MLB offices in NY and they FedExed him a check.

Signing bonuses are getting ridiculous. The minimum slot for the last pick in the 5th round (166th overall) of the 2014 draft this June is $275,000. For comparison purposes, a 70% scholarship to a private D1 school is worth approximately $160,000 over 4 years.

My brother's buddy was a 7th rounder. His signing bonus was over 700k

 

[pollardsvision]

Definitely definitely definitely get the money now.

College isn't going anywhere, while youth and talent is finite.

Agreed, take the money and don't blow it all on cars/hookers/blow. If he flames out he can always go back to school with a hell of a lot of money in his pocket. Or he can go backpacking through SE Asia for a year. Or hookers and blow. I wouldn't pass on a chance to play pro ball, at any level.

I pretty much agree, but when you start getting down around the 10th round or later, you might be looking at bonus of $100K or less. (Teams can pay up to $100K in the 10th round or later without it going towards their capped allotment).

At that point, and maybe a touch before (maybe around Round 6), college can be a pretty enticing option. The compensation gets down around the value of a scholarship and college can be a great place to raise draft stock.

Most would also prefer the environment and lifestyle of a D1 college player over a minor league player, so that's of course a factor.

 

[MCguidance]

As an educator, if your kid is drafted after the 10th (roughly), I'd say go to college, get the experience and become a better player/person.

As a baseball coach, I say if your kid is drafted in the top 10 rounds out of HS, take the money and go play ball. College can wait.

 

[AcerFC]

I say take the money. At worst, he can use it as a down payment on a house, car, engagement ring for a finace and other big life moments (babies, wedding etc)

Then he can still go to college and have mlb pay for it if that is something he wants

 

[Long Ball Larry]

One of my brother's best friends was drafted after his sophomore year a few years back (he was a year old for his grade, so he was eligible). He was a starter at a MAJOR program (went to the CWS both years he was there). He has had some good years in the minors, but it doesn't look like he's ever going to make it to the show.

In addition to his signing bonus (which was more than the suggested amount for his draft slot to encourage him to come out) the club that drafted him agreed to pay for his education in the event that he doesn't make it. I'm guessing that's pretty common for underclassmen or HS players who sign.

I think a lot of it would depend on whether I was a position player of a pitcher. If I'm a pitcher, I take the money while I can get it.

There is an agreement between the NCAA and MLB wherein if a kid is drafted after his junior year (or 21yrs old), MLB will agree to pay for up to two years of tuition/room/board if the kid goes back to college after leaving pro ball. That is what we were told when we were offered a scholarship. My son's pitching coach was drafted out of Ole Miss after his junior year. He played a couple of years in the minors and went back to get his degree. He told us that prior to the start of each semester he faxed his fee bill and a copy of his apartment lease to MLB offices in NY and they FedExed him a check.

Signing bonuses are getting ridiculous. The minimum slot for the last pick in the 5th round (166th overall) of the 2014 draft this June is $275,000. For comparison purposes, a 70% scholarship to a private D1 school is worth approximately $160,000 over 4 years.

My brother's buddy was a 7th rounder. His signing bonus was over 700k

This says that 7th rounders get $160-$200K: http://ht.ly/k7AbT

 

[TLEF316]

One of my brother's best friends was drafted after his sophomore year a few years back (he was a year old for his grade, so he was eligible). He was a starter at a MAJOR program (went to the CWS both years he was there). He has had some good years in the minors, but it doesn't look like he's ever going to make it to the show.

In addition to his signing bonus (which was more than the suggested amount for his draft slot to encourage him to come out) the club that drafted him agreed to pay for his education in the event that he doesn't make it. I'm guessing that's pretty common for underclassmen or HS players who sign.

I think a lot of it would depend on whether I was a position player of a pitcher. If I'm a pitcher, I take the money while I can get it.

There is an agreement between the NCAA and MLB wherein if a kid is drafted after his junior year (or 21yrs old), MLB will agree to pay for up to two years of tuition/room/board if the kid goes back to college after leaving pro ball. That is what we were told when we were offered a scholarship. My son's pitching coach was drafted out of Ole Miss after his junior year. He played a couple of years in the minors and went back to get his degree. He told us that prior to the start of each semester he faxed his fee bill and a copy of his apartment lease to MLB offices in NY and they FedExed him a check.

Signing bonuses are getting ridiculous. The minimum slot for the last pick in the 5th round (166th overall) of the 2014 draft this June is $275,000. For comparison purposes, a 70% scholarship to a private D1 school is worth approximately $160,000 over 4 years.

My brother's buddy was a 7th rounder. His signing bonus was over 700k

This says that 7th rounders get $160-$200K: http://ht.ly/k7AbT

Typically this is true. However, since he was a sophomore (and obviously had plenty of leverage, since he could go back to school for 2 more years) they threw a bunch of extra money at him to entice him to sign.

http://www.tarheeltimes.com/article675.aspx

 

[dparker713]

They can't just throw big money at later picks now under the current draft allotment system. Players down in the draft basically get slot or less.

As for the OP, his kid should go pro if he can, especially if he's a pitcher. College coaches at all levels abuse their pitchers. They'll pitch their Friday starter a full 9 and have him pitch relief on Sunday. The vast majority of college coaches don't give a crap about the future health of their players - they're paid to win now. Plus, the instruction in pro ball is just flat better. If the kid is serious about making baseball his profession, he should start that profession right away.

Also, most kids don't improve their draft stock during college. They mature and lose projectability.