I would really like to hear from all of those players and parents who as a family were faced with the difficult (or easy) decision of whether to have their player sign professionally out of high school or go to college and whether faced with the same decision all over again, would you make the same decision twice!? I understand that each decision is a personal one for each family but really trying to see if the whole college experience was sorely missed or never looked back having the opportunity to play professional baseball?
Posts: 439 | Location: Virginia | Registered: June 10, 2007
Much depends on the player and whether he wants to attend college or if he can attend college. If the player wants the college experence by all means go to college. If the player is unsure about going pro or college I say go to college.
Posts: 1193 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
j2h6, We didn't make the decision, son did with our help and guidance. I can only give you what he has communicated to us, yes he would make the same decision (going to college first) if he had to make it again today. He has even indicated he would make the same decision even if offered quite a bit of money to sign out of HS. But there are circumstances that make each situation unique. You can't miss something if you havenot experienced it. Mine loved the college experience, with or withour baseball.
IMO, after making the decision, no matter what it is, not to look back and regret what you have decided, that is what is most important.
Posts: 11036 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Of course, every situation is different -- but there is much more to going to college than just better baseball.
Life in the minor leagues is hard; that first short season, there are daily games with maybe 2 or 3 days off from the time they report to the beginning of September. They are being paid very little, they may be called upon to pick up and move to another town on a moment's notice, they'll have to cope with playing the game as a business for the first time. That's a lot to ask of a kid who has never lived away from home.
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." --- Terry Pratchett
Dad04, In the NYPL for short time he was there, DK found the trips shorter. The nice part is for night games an hour or two away from field, getting in late means you don't have to get up early a.m. for class.
Giving up the college experience should be based upon many factors if one has to choose. Where you are going to college, where you are drafted (if bonus money is a consideration) and what team drafts you, where you will be sent for rookie league, etc. My son's roommate this summer was a HS rookie, drafted later rounds. He was so enthusiastic when he first arrived, by end of season that changed most likley realizing the road is very long and difficult. For him, it was up and gone by 6:30 a.m. and home very early afternoon, with almost the whole day in front of him. It's normal to be homesick whatever the decision, but with a full schedule at school, little time to think about missing your home and family.
Posts: 11036 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Except for the can't miss high school prospects, I would think three or four years of maturing in college would make a significant difference in learning how to deal with being away from home and the bumps in the road in the minors.
Posts: 624 | Location: . | Registered: August 12, 2007
Ditto with the Northwest League, nj. And the buses were straight out of Bull Durham...or the first Major League movie . On one trip, the 8 hour ride was interrupted by a 2 hour brakdown.
Cal League had more commuter trips with a nice over-the-road coach. The higher you get, the better it is, of course.
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." --- Terry Pratchett
Orlando, Must of been on the same old bus!same type of bus as Bull Durham !shifting gears kept the players awake at night, could barely get over over the mountains and also broke down . But were else can you see buffalo out your window and have cattle stampede though the center of town ! Son was drafted out of high school was home sick but other wise handle it fine. I think it would as hard if he had gone to college that far from home.
Posts: 1193 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
I had the opportunity to play pro ball out of high school, and I turned down a nice bonus to go to school? Do I regret it? NEVER. I had four great years in college and I was fortunate enough to have pro ball waiting for me when I was done with school. For me, having a degree in my back pocket has taken a lot of pressure off of me in pro ball. However, I believe that it depends on the wants and needs of the player and his family. For me, this was the path I chose and I do not regret it one bit.
"Hitting a baseball is the single most difficult thing to do in sport" - Ted Williams
Posts: 253 | Location: Seattle | Registered: June 01, 2007
Son was drafted late rounds. And also offered D1 Schollys.
Decided College, for many reason's. Maturity and the Experience of College life was part of it.
If a Player is Mentally and physically ready for the pro's out of HS, I don't see a problem going into the minor league's. Just know what your getting into.
EH
Posts: 2494 | Location: northern california | Registered: December 17, 2005
Beemax, I always respected your dad's advice about going pro when he mentioned that he was a scout and sent his kids to college. I think that sent a strong message. In a private pm he suggested mine go to college first, pro ball would be waiting for him when he was ready. It is a personal decision, but I valued a professional giving advice that was not one sided.
I also know it bothered him very much when scouts tried very hard to influence those who should go to college to sign out of HS.
He gave an unbiased perspective on things and we miss him very much.
Posts: 11036 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
Posts: 5809 | Location: Huntersville,NC | Registered: December 27, 2002
Mine went high school straight to pros and at this point he wouldn't change a thing. Believes he is further along in his career than he would be had he went to college and feels that he hasn't missed a thing as far as the experience goes. Actually had the discussion that should anything happen or not make it, he would go back to school and play basketball. Was a great student, feels that he can always go to school long after he is not capable of playing anymore.
Posts: 747 | Location: illinois | Registered: June 24, 2005
With out a doubt we would make the same decision. Go to school. It was a tough decision for us he would of been a high draft choice (supplemental or 2nd round) if we lowered our number. He ended up sliding to the 14 round. We had a great scholarship and we felt our son had to mature physically, 6-3 165 out of H.S. We thought he was ready mentally. Boy were we wrong. After seeing him mature after 1 year of college and summer ball we realized that he was not even close to being ready out of H.S.(both physically and mentally). He now weighs 185 was an All American and had a great summer in the Cape and one year of college behind him. Hopefully in the next two years he will continue to succeed in the classroom and on the field.
Posts: 2 | Location: calif | Registered: October 09, 2007
. On one trip, the 8 hour ride was interrupted by a 2 hour brakdown.
