College Or Pros, What Pays For Young Baseball Players?

If your son is a professional baseball prospect, youcollege player's signing bonus should, as a minimum,
might want to know what makes more sense forcover the remaining costs of his college education,
him: continue playing at the collegiate level, or turnplus the wages he might have earned by using his
pro right away. The price where it pays to go prodegree, but not playing baseball. The player with a
might surprise you. Of the four major U.S. sports,community college degree has already invested in his
only baseball and basketball draft high school andeducation; he can use his community college degree
college players together. However, the basketballto find work, continue his education at a four-year
draft lasts only two rounds and includes players fromcollege, or turn pro. The community college graduate
overseas professional leagues, while baseball providesmight need as much as $100,000 to complete a
far more opportunities. The Amateur Baseball Draftfour-year degree at a private college. His entry-level
lasts ten rounds and includes only high school andsalary, after completing his bachelor's degree, might
college players. While baseball offers immediaterange from $35,000 to $55,000 depending on grades
professional opportunities to high school graduates, aand course of study, and, this player might still need
minor leaguer ballplayer usually needs three or fourthree to four years of seasoning in the minor leagues.
years of seasoning to be ready for the major leagueThis player would need a signing bonus in excess of
roster. A player who signs a contract in 2007 and$180,000, but he has a chance of getting a larger
immediately reported to a Rookie League or Class Abonus if he stays in school and performs well the
team should be on the major league roster on ornext season. The scholarship player who completed
before the 2010 season. First year salaries for ahis degree can play ball, or use his education to do
minor league ballplayer range from $850 a month forsomething else. Like other prospects, he may need
the first contract season to $2,150 when the playersome seasoning in the minors--and his salary after
reaches Triple-A, one level below the major leagues.three or four years of non-baseball employment
Given the low salaries, the decision to skip college hascould approach, maybe exceed $50,000, almost the
to depend on the player's signing bonus and thesame as tuition and expenses for college. His bonus
quality of the college programs that are offeringshould also be in excess of $180,000. How many
scholarships. It might not pay for a ballplayer to passcollege draftees earned the recommended minimum
on a top college program if the academics are strongsigning bonus of $180,000? There were 150
enough to help them with life after baseball. What isprospects who received a signing bonus of $180,000,
a good guideline for a signing bonus for a high schoolor more, with the lowest ranked player selected at
baseball player? My rule of thumb is that the signingthe top of the fifth round of the draft. What is the
bonus should equal or exceed the projected cost ofmajor tradeoff? The top high school baseball
four years of college plus the major league minimumprospect must consider the risk of postponing college
salary. This assumes the player would remain inagainst his chances of making a major league roster
college through his senior year-although it is commonwithin four years. It is quite difficult for a professional
for baseball players to drop out without completingbaseball player to attend college in the off-season
their degree. At worst, if the player does not makebecause of travel and seasons that overlap into the
the major leagues, he should have the opportunity tofall and spring semesters. Top prospects are also
save enough money to pay for college while he toilsencouraged to play winter ball; that also overlaps into
in the minors. Following this rule of thumb, a highstudy time. However, the number of high school
school player would need to receive a minimumplayers who can command the big bonuses that
signing bonus of $600,000. The $600,000 minimum ismake it pay to go pro is an elite few-and that
based on: - The combined costs: tuition, fees, roomnumber fluctuates from year to year because it is
and board and essentials at a top private universitybased on the annual level of talent in the pool of
and traditional baseball powerhouses such asdraft-eligible players. The top college prospect must
Stanford, the University of Miami, or the University ofconsider the opportunities to complete his education
Southern California approached $45,000. It is quiteand increase his signing bonus after each season of
likely that these costs will approach, if not surpass,amateur competition. The college prospect will have a
$200,000 to complete a bachelor's degree. - A 2010degree, but he will be off to a later start in his
major league minimum salary of $400,000, asprofessional career, especially if he needs seasoning in
stipulated in the most recent agreement betweenthe minor leagues. However, the college graduate has
the Major League Baseball Players Association andmore options for life after baseball. Unless the player
the owners of the all 30 Major League Baseballbecomes an established major league star, it would
teams. The 2011 league minimum is not known at thisbe better for him to build a post-baseball life off a
time; it is tied to a future cost of living increase. Howcollege degree than return home to lament glory
many players chosen in the 2006 Amateur Draftdays.
earned the recommended minimum signing bonus ofStuart Nachbar has been involved with education
$600,000? Only the top 60 players received a signingpolitics, policy and technology as a student, urban
bonus of $600,000 or more. Only 27 were highplanner, government affairs manager, software
school players, the rest were college prospects.executive, and now as author of The Sex Ed
What about the ballplayer who has finished some ofChronicles. Visit his blog, Educated Quest.
his college education or completed his degree? A