What exactly is the use of an "advisor" and when would a college junior have a need for one?

they have the contacts to find out if you're really going to be drafted where people are telling you ...plus market analysis for your position ...and broken down to each club.

can be a useful tool in deciding whether to stay or go.

Is the summer before Junior year too early to look into this?

One needs to be careful when dealing with "advisors"----keep in mind that are basically "agents in waiting"

Technically they are not permitted to even have conversation with pro teams and no contract can be signed with them no can any money be exchanged

puma ..

The summer before his junior year, our son hooked up witn his advisor (actually just before he headed to the Cape to play ball). It was beneficial for him because of the kind of pitcher he is (not a lefty and not a fireball thrower) and because of all the shadows he was behind from other more projectable and notable pitchers. His advisor helped him through a minor arm injury at the end of his junior season that kept him off the mound for 4 weeks ... he was still drafted in the 9th round but was prepared to go back to school if not drafted. He was able to sit down and speak with his advisor ... actually had him over to our house with son's fiance as well ... to hash out the 'what ifs' and I know it was beneficial for him.

So if your son thinks an advisor would benefit him ... there are many thoughts on who needs them and who doesn't and that can be searced on the site if you are interested in different points of view ... I would think this was a good time of year to find one. He can help get scouts out to see him in fall ball, etc.

Good luck to your son. He has an exciting year ahead of him.

Advisors take an much more active role in giving advise to college players, in HS the advice is usually pretty much through parents.
My son also found it helpful for the fall when scouts are hanging around to speak with players. He was well versed on what to say and what not to say and how to fill out those endless questionaires. The advisor is also helpful in letting your son know what he is worth "on the market" as they say.

Just remember one thing, they are agents, which means they are looking to have your son drafted so they can collect a fee. Your son wants to know that person will help him to achieve his goals even after he is drafted and not just disappear after he gets paid.

Have your son ask what else the advisor as agent will do for your son. Card deals, equipment deals and will he supply some things needed to do his job. Ask what other players he represents on the 40 man roster. Can he do business with MLB? Will he not collect a fee again until your son recieves ML contract. Does he have relationships with ML organizations?
Advisors can become just as annoying as scouts, so some players like to make decisions early, not sure if the summer is too early or not.

There is no way son could have gotten through the year without him, he, like FBM's son's advisor was very helpful when situations arose and very much a good support system during the playing season.

If you have a high profile player in high school that might get drafted coming out of high school the "advisors" will come out of the wood work and try to work with you in hopes of if you are drafted they will become your agents. They can provide very good advice on how to work through the draft process.

As others have indicated, more advisors work with college juniors and seniors who might get drafted out of four year schools or at a JC.

Remember, there are some very specific rules against having an agreement with an advisor and if you have an agent, you most likely lose your amateur status with the NCAA.

Oliver sueing NCAA

Thanks for the advisors advice. Just don't really know where to start when selecting one. What makes one better than another? Are higher profile companies more expensive when it comes time to pony up? Is a big company with alot of stars going to give son less personal attention than a small one with less clients? I appreciate your input.

quote:

Originally posted by puma1:
Thanks for the advisors advice. Just don't really know where to start when selecting one. What makes one better than another? Are higher profile companies more expensive when it comes time to pony up? Is a big company with alot of stars going to give son less personal attention than a small one with less clients? I appreciate your input.

Most players don't need an advisor/agent, most advisor/agents don't need lots of players. A lot depends on the players projection as to the draft. I suggest an advisor for any player who is projected to fall in the first 10 rounds. That shouldn't limit anyone to what they should or shouldn't do, and sometimes the college coach can be very helpful as well in the process for his players. I would not feel comfortable if son choose an advisor/agent who has a very large stable of milb players but no ML players. good Agencies don't make money on milb players other than to collect on the signing bonus. The good ones make money on their ML players. My son's agent took a nice fee, but son got back more than half of it on a unique card and equipment deal and kept it under a certain amount so that he didn't have to pay the agent a fee. He also offered a variety of services for free (income tax preparation). Income tax reporting is a bit different for baseball players than for us regular folks.
Most advisors take a standard percentage, some may take more or less depending on the bonus.
The most important thing, IMO, is making a choice for a top prospect (and that should be your son's choice more than a parents) for an advisor who is selective in his choices and has ML players in his agency and been through the arbitration process with clients. Most large agencies have advisors assigned to each player, smaller agents handle everyone on their own. It's a matter of preference.

TPM....Wow! I just noticed you are closing in on 10,000 posts! Pretty amazing.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions.

Your welcome, but I do not think that I posted that many, a few months ago it took a double jump, maybe when they did a switch over.

TPM


You are equating agents with advisors and that is not true