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Post by beaverdave on Jun 27, 2017 11:04:35 GMT -8
I found it interesting during the LSU series the frequent mention of the LSU juniors who opted to return rather than sign a pro contract. it's got me thinking. Naturally, I'm going to come up with lots of reasons for the guys drafted to return, but thinking objectively about it, it may not make sense to jump early.
The real money to be made in MLB is not based on where you're drafted. It's based on your first contract, or your follow up contract. Look at Ellsbury. Who cares what his signing bonus was. It's peanuts compared to his contract. He earned that regardless of when he left school. Conforto is well on his way to a similar story, maybe not as lucrative but definitely will dwarf his signing bonus. Sure, these are the superstar examples. What about the rest?
Get drafted in the first 3-4 rounds, collect a nice bonus, then what? Play a minor league career or get a shot at the MLB but not in a significant way. The bonus becomes everything in these cases and who knows how long it will last. In order to get this bonus, you forfeit your final year with your college team and you do not get your college degree. If you don't make it in baseball, that degree might be nice to have! I wonder about the guys who bolted after the 2006 NC. Where are they now? Do they stand by their decision or is there something that makes them wonder what it would have been like to hang around for the second NC? I'm not sure.
"But you lose leverage as a senior". Yep. but my point remains. The contract is the goal. It shouldn't be the signing bonus. You're either going to make it or not make it. If MLB is in your future, the bonus doesn't matter so stick around for your SR year. If you're a MLB flop, the bonus matters more, but you should also stick around for your SR year to enjoy the college baseball experience and get your degree. You never know which one you're going to be, but in either case, there's an argument to consider returning, especially if there's a great chance to take care of some unfinished business. |
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Post by ag87 on Jun 27, 2017 11:22:03 GMT -8
The advantages of staying or leaving varies with every guy. And that's only from a baseball perspective and doesnt account for if you enjoy school, are a good student, like the lifestyle and all the non-baseball stuff. Look at Caleb Hamilton. If he had stayed, where would he have played? I'm guessing he would have played about 1/3 of the games mostly as an outfielder. He was drafted in the 23rd round, so I think the bonus was minimal. But he is playing everyday and catching sometimes. His path to the majors is helped by the experience he is gaining this year. And the bonus he received is probably more than a year of tuition, and room and board.
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Post by mbabeav on Jun 27, 2017 12:28:50 GMT -8
The advantages of staying or leaving varies with every guy. And that's only from a baseball perspective and doesnt account for if you enjoy school, are a good student, like the lifestyle and all the non-baseball stuff. Look at Caleb Hamilton. If he had stayed, where would he have played? I'm guessing he would have played about 1/3 of the games mostly as an outfielder. He was drafted in the 23rd round, so I think the bonus was minimal. But he is playing everyday and catching sometimes. His path to the majors is helped by the experience he is gaining this year. And the bonus he received is probably more than a year of tuition, and room and board. And normally, there is a clause in a lot of draftees contracts that guarantees that their schooling will be paid for when their career ends - so go for it if you have the chance. Besides, our squad usually has a lot of smarts, and given that these kids are usually year-round students, many of them are graduating by the end of their Junior year, unless you are on the 5 year plan like Max; he'll have to come back to finish his masters. |
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Post by joecool on Jun 29, 2017 12:41:17 GMT -8
You can always go back to school and get your degree. You can't always go to professional baseball and continue that dream of making it to the majors.
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Post by baseba1111 on Jun 29, 2017 13:40:09 GMT -8
You can always go back to school and get your degree. You can't always go to professional baseball and continue that dream of making it to the majors. Every situation is unique. I've had kids who were not "students". Not having to attend classes vs cash and "pro ball" was a no brainer. Even with schooling paid for, most contracts have a monetary and time frame limit. A lot of kids do not take advantage of it. Some are more mature at 25-26 and do use it. Just no hard and fast rule... |
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Post by baseba1111 on Jun 29, 2017 16:49:01 GMT -8
You can always go back to school and get your degree. You can't always go to professional baseball and continue that dream of making it to the majors. Every situation is unique. I've had kids who were not "students". Not having to attend classes vs cash and "pro ball" was a no brainer. Even with schooling paid for, most contracts have a monetary and time frame limit. A lot of kids do not take advantage of it. Some are more mature at 25-26 and do use it. Just no hard and fast rule... |
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Post by thewizard on Jun 30, 2017 6:20:47 GMT -8
The advantages of staying or leaving varies with every guy. And that's only from a baseball perspective and doesnt account for if you enjoy school, are a good student, like the lifestyle and all the non-baseball stuff. Look at Caleb Hamilton. If he had stayed, where would he have played? I'm guessing he would have played about 1/3 of the games mostly as an outfielder. He was drafted in the 23rd round, so I think the bonus was minimal. But he is playing everyday and catching sometimes. His path to the majors is helped by the experience he is gaining this year. And the bonus he received is probably more than a year of tuition, and room and board. And normally, there is a clause in a lot of draftees contracts that guarantees that their schooling will be paid for when their career ends - so go for it if you have the chance. Besides, our squad usually has a lot of smarts, and given that these kids are usually year-round students, many of them are graduating by the end of their Junior year, unless you are on the 5 year plan like Max; he'll have to come back to finish his masters. I believe Max got his degree in 4 years. This past year he was working on his Masters. That is the reason he was able to play. |
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Post by mbabeav on Jun 30, 2017 10:54:54 GMT -8
And normally, there is a clause in a lot of draftees contracts that guarantees that their schooling will be paid for when their career ends - so go for it if you have the chance. Besides, our squad usually has a lot of smarts, and given that these kids are usually year-round students, many of them are graduating by the end of their Junior year, unless you are on the 5 year plan like Max; he'll have to come back to finish his masters. I believe Max got his degree in 4 years. This past year he was working on his Masters. That is the reason he was able to play. He was able to play because he had eligibility; he was working on his Masters because he had completed his undergraduate degree. It was a fortuitous (academically anyway, he had to work to overcome his injuries) coincidence. OSU baseball has the highest gpa of any team and Max is one of those reasons. I wish him the best because the team that drafted him got a gem. |
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Post by zeroposter on Jun 30, 2017 11:12:38 GMT -8
The undergrad assistants working for the Beavers have been a big asset to the staff. I take it that most were being helped by their signing clause on tuition assistance. Who better to help a young catcher than guys like Ortiz and Rodriguez. Andy P has been a very good first base coach.
Now, Max would eventually make a great grad assistant, but I don't hear much about actual grad assistants in baseball. Do those positions exist? Tuition clause in contract for grads?
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