| If you want to play independent professional | | | | rental car/airfare (if applicable), hotel stay, and |
| baseball this year, consider the advice from | | | | incidental expenses. |
| former players, managers, and front office | | | | - Attend third-party tryouts which target several |
| decision makers in independent professional | | | | independent baseball leagues as well as the |
| baseball. Do what you can to prepare before you | | | | occasional non-U.S. team. |
| attend any of the independent baseball tryouts so | | | | - Bring extra food and water to the tryout as |
| that you give yourself the best odds of being | | | | well as your own equipment. Many times nothing |
| noticed, assuming you have the minimum required | | | | is provided by the team hosting the tryout other |
| level of physical talent and skill. | | | | than practice baseballs and field equipment. |
| Here are some suggestions: | | | | - Get the names of those running the independent |
| - Go to the individual independent baseball league | | | | baseball tryout. A day or two later send a physical |
| and team websites in order to determine their | | | | thank you note. This is rarely done, especially by |
| requirements for the number of rookies and | | | | a prospective player who does not get signed. It |
| veterans allowed on any given team roster. Some | | | | is a mark of class and helps you stand out when |
| do not have restrictions; instead some leagues | | | | independent baseball decision makers talk about |
| have a salary cap. | | | | extra players on which to keep tabs during the |
| - Determine if you can live on the minimum | | | | season. |
| contract amount offered by the team or league. | | | | - Bring a few copies of your career bio |
| If you cannot make ends meet with the minimum | | | | information. Much like a job interviewee should |
| salary - factoring in your meal money, | | | | bring extra copies of his resume to a job |
| team-provided apartment (or host family living | | | | interview, you should bring multiple copies of your |
| situation), and player appearance fees then talk | | | | information. Include all of the basic information like |
| with the general manager after they express | | | | height, weight, bat. throw, links to stats, |
| interest in you. Discuss what else you can to do | | | | third-party respected references, and any |
| survive financially. | | | | academic or civic awards you earned. |
| - Go to multiple tryouts provided that you have | | | | Do this and you will be better prepared than the |
| the time and budget to attend these events. | | | | majority of the guys who will be attending the |
| Remember that each tryout usually will require an | | | | independent baseball tryout with you. |
| attendance fee as well as money for food, gas, | | | | |