| If your son is a professional baseball prospect, | | | | players, the rest were college prospects. |
| you might want to know what makes more | | | | What about the ballplayer who has finished some |
| sense for him: continue playing at the collegiate | | | | of his college education or completed his degree? |
| level, or turn pro right away. The price where it | | | | A college player's signing bonus should, as a |
| pays to go pro might surprise you. | | | | minimum, cover the remaining costs of his college |
| Of the four major U.S. sports, only baseball and | | | | education, plus the wages he might have earned |
| basketball draft high school and college players | | | | by using his degree, but not playing baseball. |
| together. However, the basketball draft lasts only | | | | The player with a community college degree has |
| two rounds and includes players from overseas | | | | already invested in his education; he can use his |
| professional leagues, while baseball provides far | | | | community college degree to find work, continue |
| more opportunities. The Amateur Baseball Draft | | | | his education at a four-year college, or turn pro. |
| lasts ten rounds and includes only high school and | | | | The community college graduate might need as |
| college players. | | | | much as $100,000 to complete a four-year |
| While baseball offers immediate professional | | | | degree at a private college. His entry-level salary, |
| opportunities to high school graduates, a minor | | | | after completing his bachelor's degree, might |
| leaguer ballplayer usually needs three or four | | | | range from $35,000 to $55,000 depending on |
| years of seasoning to be ready for the major | | | | grades and course of study, and, this player might |
| league roster. A player who signs a contract in | | | | still need three to four years of seasoning in the |
| 2007 and immediately reported to a Rookie | | | | minor leagues. |
| League or Class A team should be on the major | | | | This player would need a signing bonus in excess |
| league roster on or before the 2010 season. | | | | of $180,000, but he has a chance of getting a |
| First year salaries for a minor league ballplayer | | | | larger bonus if he stays in school and performs |
| range from $850 a month for the first contract | | | | well the next season. |
| season to $2,150 when the player reaches | | | | The scholarship player who completed his degree |
| Triple-A, one level below the major leagues. Given | | | | can play ball, or use his education to do something |
| the low salaries, the decision to skip college has to | | | | else. Like other prospects, he may need some |
| depend on the player's signing bonus and the | | | | seasoning in the minors--and his salary after three |
| quality of the college programs that are offering | | | | or four years of non-baseball employment could |
| scholarships. It might not pay for a ballplayer to | | | | approach, maybe exceed $50,000, almost the |
| pass on a top college program if the academics | | | | same as tuition and expenses for college. His |
| are strong enough to help them with life after | | | | bonus should also be in excess of $180,000. |
| baseball. | | | | How many college draftees earned the |
| What is a good guideline for a signing bonus for a | | | | recommended minimum signing bonus of |
| high school baseball player? | | | | $180,000? |
| My rule of thumb is that the signing bonus should | | | | There were 150 prospects who received a signing |
| equal or exceed the projected cost of four years | | | | bonus of $180,000, or more, with the lowest |
| of college plus the major league minimum salary. | | | | ranked player selected at the top of the fifth |
| This assumes the player would remain in college | | | | round of the draft. |
| through his senior year-although it is common for | | | | What is the major tradeoff? |
| baseball players to drop out without completing | | | | The top high school baseball prospect must |
| their degree. At worst, if the player does not | | | | consider the risk of postponing college against his |
| make the major leagues, he should have the | | | | chances of making a major league roster within |
| opportunity to save enough money to pay for | | | | four years. It is quite difficult for a professional |
| college while he toils in the minors. | | | | baseball player to attend college in the off-season |
| Following this rule of thumb, a high school player | | | | because of travel and seasons that overlap into |
| would need to receive a minimum signing bonus | | | | the fall and spring semesters. Top prospects are |
| of $600,000. | | | | also encouraged to play winter ball; that also |
| The $600,000 minimum is based on: | | | | overlaps into study time. |
| The combined costs: tuition, fees, room and | | | | However, the number of high school players who |
| board and essentials at a top private university | | | | can command the big bonuses that make it pay |
| and traditional baseball powerhouses such as | | | | to go pro is an elite few-and that number |
| Stanford, the University of Miami, or the | | | | fluctuates from year to year because it is based |
| University of Southern California approached | | | | on the annual level of talent in the pool of |
| $45,000. It is quite likely that these costs will | | | | draft-eligible players. |
| approach, if not surpass, $200,000 to complete a | | | | The top college prospect must consider the |
| bachelor's degree. | | | | opportunities to complete his education and |
| A 2010 major league minimum salary of | | | | increase his signing bonus after each season of |
| $400,000, as stipulated in the most recent | | | | amateur competition. The college prospect will |
| agreement between the Major League Baseball | | | | have a degree, but he will be off to a later start |
| Players Association and the owners of the all 30 | | | | in his professional career, especially if he needs |
| Major League Baseball teams. The 2011 league | | | | seasoning in the minor leagues. However, the |
| minimum is not known at this time; it is tied to a | | | | college graduate has more options for life after |
| future cost of living increase. | | | | baseball. |
| How many players chosen in the 2006 Amateur | | | | Unless the player becomes an established major |
| Draft earned the recommended minimum signing | | | | league star, it would be better for him to build a |
| bonus of $600,000? | | | | post-baseball life off a college degree than return |
| Only the top 60 players received a signing bonus | | | | home to lament glory days. |
| of $600,000 or more. Only 27 were high school | | | | |