Are my eyes deceiving me, or can this really be done?
In 2004 a player from our area who my son had played against was drafted out of HS in the middle rounds. He has minor league stats for 2004 and 2005. I'm not sure if he played in the minor leagues in 2006 or not.
But a few days ago a local college (D2) listed him in a story about players who have signed to play for them this year (2007).
I thought that signing a pro contract made a player ineligible for NCAA competition. How can a player who has been in MiLB later play for a D2 college?
Posts: 3612 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
I seem to remember reading something similar to this here a while back.
What I had gotten from the discussion was that if you have never attended or perhaps it was never played college ball you can go back and play for certain colleges. It would have to be a college that was not governed by the NCAA rules (like a NAIA Colleges) and the years of pro ball would count against you. Such as, if a player has played two years of pro ball then he would only have two years of eligibility left of college ball.
However, I really can’t remember all the details, so maybe one of the experts here will be able to answer this.
If the college you are talking about is under NCAA rules, then I am curious as to how he could play there, also.
Posts: 144 | Location: South | Registered: September 12, 2005
HowUbe is right. Even the NAIA regulations prohibit someone who has signed a professional contract from being eligible to play at an NAIA member school.
I'm curious. Which college is it? That might help solve the issue.
Posts: 1180 | Location: Georgia | Registered: January 06, 2003
It's a private (Lutheran) college that plays against public D2's and it has the NCAA logo on the baseball page. The blurb does say the coach "announced the addition of six players", but from what you are all saying, I can only guess that maybe he is joining them as a student assistant coach. Just a guess.
Posts: 3612 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
I recall the NCAA changed their rule allowing partipation of former professionals with remaining eligibility, 4 years in 5, at the D2 level. I'll post a link if I find it.
Posts: 4782 | Location: Florida | Registered: December 26, 2002
To our military men, women and families - You are all awesome - that flag is yours and I thank you for the opportunity for giving me the honor of removing my cap prior to every baseball game I see.
Posts: 1041 | Location: Lanta | Registered: February 21, 2005
I think I might be able to clearify some of the confusion on this link. First of all, the NCAA is a web of rules that can drive you nuts. Here's the deal for DIII--A player after playing professional baseball can return to play NCAA college DIII baseball as long as he did not sign with an agent, they must spend a "year in residency" before becoming eligible and would have 3 yrs of eligibility remaining. Next question does everyone have an agent? Answer: The MLBPA only allows those that make more than league minimum to officially hire an agent to take part of their cut. If a player is drafted lets say round 25 or lower, they usually do not have an agent and if they were to get released, they would have the option to return to DIII. Yes, a friend of mine is on a major league team, playing everyday, rookie, making league minimum believe it or not sets up everyone of his own interviews and showings because he is not allowed to hire an agent, go figure. As for DII, I know there are provisions to play pro and return to DII as well, however I am guessing they are different than what we have at the DIII level, which by the way was instituted Aug 1, 2006. So ifyou know anyone in a similar situation, please email me or call me, I'd be more than happy to talk to them about my opportunity on the east coast :-)
I know of a player that was drafted after he graduated in '03. He spent 2 years, I think, playing minor league ball. He was then released.
He is now at a D2 school. After sitting the '06 season out, he now has 3 more years of eligibility.
I talked to him this summer about it and he told me that he is not eligible to play D1, D3, or juco baseball. We did not discuss NAIA. He said he had to sit out a full year of organized baseball, which included summer ball.
Posts: 415 | Location: plano, tx usa | Registered: September 23, 2003
ASU RAM, He's dead on, except the ruling for DIII changed on Aug 1, 2006 therefore he would now be eligible to play at the DIII level. It is a pretty cool rule that not many know about.
MLB is a business and can be cruel world, the NCAA has "partially" recognized that kids sometimes get caught up in the hype and has given them a way to still enjoy somewhat of a college life...
VJC, Thanks for the clarification. I see that you are a Head Coach at a D3, great to know, we can come to you for clarification or direct any D3 questions to you!
One thing though, I am not understanding why the MLBPA prohibits some players in regards to hiring an agent, even with your explanation.
Posts: 10709 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Tiger Paw Mom, I'm not sure of the answer to that? I was talking to my buddy who plays for the O's and he didn't know why either. I think it is because when you are in the minors, and didn't sign a nice contract there's not a whole lot of money to be made and MLBPA is trying to protect them from giving it away to agents when their not needed at that point because the team owns them. This is purely my take, who knows if its right but it adds up in my mind?
I believe that when this rule first came to be for DII, the number of seasons played in the minors was counted against college eligibility. For example, two years in the minors....only two years of DII eligibility remain, after sitting out one season.
Posts: 1062 | Location: Michigan | Registered: December 27, 2002
Tho I am not aware of the rule, I am pretty sure that the MLBPA is not doing much to protect the minor league players. The minor league guys are not protected by, and generally don't benefit from much of anything the MLBPA does. The only exception I could think of who might benefit from the MLBPA would be players who signed major league contracts after they were drafted, but those are few and far between.
JMHO
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
