Minor League Life

As the Drafted players sign and get sent out to their respected affiliate teams to start their Professional Careers, it brings up a great question on how on of that works.

How much do minor league players make?
What are the different minor league levels?
What do these levels mean?

Not everyone knows how the process works after someone signs a professional baseball contract. Aside from getting their signing bonuses, which not everyone gets a large amount, Minor Leaguers make almost no money. The current monthly income for a first year professional player is $1,100 per month. Might I add, they only get paid as long as the season is long. The Minor League season spans from April through August and drafted players play from June through August. In theory, a drafted player could only make $3,300 before taxes for the year. For those who play an entire season would make $5,500 for the year.

If you can get past the minimal salaries, there are 7 different Minor League levels before one reaches the MLB.

1) Rookie Level (Mostly High School Players)
2) Advanced Rookie Level (High School and College Draftees)
3) Short Season – A (Mostly College Players)
4) Low –A (Ages ranges from 20-23)
5) High – A (Ages ranges from 22-25)
6) Double – A (Ages ranges from 24-27)
7) Triple – A (All Ages)
8) Major Leagues

It takes High School Players 4.5 years to reach the MLB if they make it at all. It takes College Players 2.5 years to reach the MLB if they reach it at all. The “Road to the Show” is the hardest most grueling of all the sports. Hockey is a close second, but they don’t play the amount of games in such a short period of time.

But that’s not all! Most of these drafted players then have to participate in a mandatory instructional league or Fall baseball league attached with the organization that drafted them. They don’t get paid for the instructional leagues, but they do take care of all room and board.

Like I said…. It’s a tough road.

If you choose to do this for a living you MUST do it 100% or else you will not cut it. If you don’t someone else is.

Baseball Mentor
Baseballmentor1@gmail.com

Should I sign or go to College?

With the 2009 Draft quickly approaching, the very first issue I would like to discuss is the question whether to sign a professional contract or go to college. This is a very common dilemma that thousands of student athletes have to deal with every year.

Everyone should approach every major life decision rationally. Quick decisions rarely pan out. I suggest that you sit down and make a pros and cons list for the solution.

High School Player

High School Players are often sought out and highly touted across the country. If things do work out professionally they start their Major League careers at an earlier age and ultimately have long careers. That's if everything goes perfectly. Alex Rodriguez comes to mind. He signed out of High School and broke into the MLB at the age of 18 in 1994. He has now played into 2 mega free agent contracts. He is one of few. Usually if a High School player signs he starts at the Rookie Ball level. (There are 7 total levels: Rookie, Short-Season, Low-A, High-A, Double-A, Triple-A, MLB) If that player is so lucky to reach the Major League Level it will take him on average 4.5 to 5.0 years to do so. The average MLB Debut age for a High School signee is around 22 to 23 years old.

Starting your career early has its advantages, but as a High School player you must have the mental toughness to handle the everyday grind as a professional player. Normally during a High School season you play twice a week and in some cases three times a week. You sign a pro contract and all of a sudden you're playing everyday with only 2 to 3 days off a month! The difference is astounding. It often results in injury or major fatigue. If you don't have the mental toughness or the support system around you it could eat you alive and be home after 2 seasons at the age of 20.

School, School, School.... This is what should be on your mind as you play your senior season before the draft and it should be the only thing on your mind until that opportunity comes your way that makes sense for you to forgo your Collegiate Career.

College baseball simulates more of a professional schedule than high school baseball. You play around 60 games in a 3 month span and if you are at a Division I school or similar you are lucky enough to travel the country as well. The combination of being a few years older and getting the taste of college life makes the transition to pro baseball a more smoother one. If a College player makes it to the MLB he does so on average of 2.5 to 3.0 years, which makes him 23 to 24 years old. As you can see the difference between the debut age from High School to College is only a year.

In closing,
If the opportunity to go Pro out of High School does not fit your criteria then go to College and continue to improve your game. Don't be afraid to say no, because if you are good enough to play Pro ball then you should have the confidence to play at the Collegiate level. If the opportunity to go Pro is right for you then take it and don't look back!

Thanks,

The Baseball Mentor
baseballmentor1@gmail.com

Introduction

I am writing to you because, as an aspiring baseball player, I did not have a person in my corner to take my hand and show me the ropes as I progressed as a baseball player. The process from when we were little leaguers to playing professional baseball is a long road. It's a road without street signs telling you where to go or what to do and with people along that road pulling one way or another tempting to come their way. Questions arise. Decisions need to be made. But what are the right decisions? Which way do I go? The wrong decision can cost you a lot or it could be the best decision you ever made. I had great people around me. My family and my friends. They were supportive in whatever I did, but they didn't know which road to take.....yet! They couldn't tell me what to do to improve my opportunity to advance to the highest level of baseball my talent and heart desired.

I want to reach everyone who will listen about the process one goes through from their little league days to their Major League days. I've seen it, lived it and I know what it takes.

Please log on and you will read on issues like:

Getting Drafted out of High School vs. out of College?
What kind of money you get in the draft and how much time it buys?
How long does it take to get to the MLB?
What are the odds to make it to the MLB?

and more.....

Thanks for your eyes and ears,

The Baseball Mentor