Draft - Open Letter To Father's Of Prospects

I received a couple of emails this past week from father's of kids that expect to be drafted next week in the MLB Draft.

This would be a good time to let you know how I feel about the process of being drafted, either out of high school or college, should you sign, should you get an agent, etc. Again, this is just my opinion after being around this process for years.

1. If your son is drafted and qualfies as a bonus baby, take the money and sign him up, regardless of whether or not he has an agent. This may be the last time he ever gets the chance of getting a check like this and you'll know in 2-3 years tops if you made the right decision. At the same time, the money will be in the bank.

2. I'm asked if your son needs an agent. trust me, if he's tops in his game, they have already called. Your best advisor on this is not you, other members of your family, or friends at the game. Talk to the coach.

3. What if he's drafted out of high school? Should he sign and pass on college?

tough question... first, put aside his baseball accomplishments and think about what your son would be planning if he never picked up a bat. If the kid is a 4.0, was in the top of his class, and is close to finding the cure to cancer, by all means send him to college instead.

regaridng your family's financial status, don't pimp your kid to pay your bills. This is his life and, franky, his decision. You have no idea what the grind is like for an 18-year old who overnight has to play with and against adults, and ride those buses to all those dog towns in rookie ball. Less than 5% come out of this process with a major league baseball future.

if he's that good, he'll be that good in college and will be drafted at least two more times... I never went to college and I've always regretted not having that experience at that age. Playing with your new-found friends on campus is something every kid should experience, not wlaking the jungles of Nam.

4. Okay, he's drafted, gets some bonus money, and it's time to decide do you pass of sign him up with the team that drafted him.

depends on the team...

the chances of a Big market club staying with a high school kid for five years and turning him into a MLB starter is... frankly... very rare. You can do the math and go look at the 25-man roster of the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, etc... They are stocked with free agents, trade players, and usually average far less past draft picks than small market teams.

small market teams will never have the salary budget to sign free agents like the big market teams, thus, more kids will make it up the chain. Look at a kid like C Jesus Flores. He still wouldn't be a Met if they protected him in the Rule V, but since he was signed by Washington, and they had an immediate need for a catcher (and no budget to sign a FA), Flores got to the majors two years ahead of where he would be today if he was a Met. Is he a star? No. Does he now make $300,000 more than he did as a Met? YOu get the picture...

5. If your son is a high school SP...

go to college... teams like colleges to train their future players... the grind isn't as bad as the minors, but much harder than high school... if he's good, he'll be drafted again, and if he's real good, he'll come out at 21-22 years old and could start in AA.

6. If your son is a centerfielder, second baseman, shortstop, or catcher...

sign... the international market is flooding the rosters with talented middle fielders... you want your kid in the system as quick as possible (especially if it's a small market team)

7. If your son is a right fielder or first baseman...

sorry... most don't make it because they weren't talented enough in the field, or given the God--given talent to play in the field to the level the major league teams need. Remember... there is only one player at every position that starts in the majors. That's 8 starters, 5 starting pitchers, a back-up catcher, and eight relievers... that totals 22... the team is 25... you do the math.

Hope this helps

Mack