Why are drafted players allowed to return to (or go to) college?

[502 to Right]

Question: Why is that MLB drafted players can choose to not sign with the team that drafted them and return to (or go to) college? In both the NFL and NBA if you declare for the draft, college is no longer an option. Why isn't this the case for baseball?

[jjgott]

Do baseball players actually "declare" for the draft? I think in this case, MLB teams can draft you whether or not you are planning on going pro. Isn't there always some story of a kid who tells teams NOT to draft him b/c he wants to go to college?

[CheezWizHed]

Because NFL and NBA don't make MLB rules?

 

NBA used to allow players go back to college if they didn't hire an agent. But the drafting team retained the rights. I think the NHL does something similar.

[Bombers]

NFL & NBA do not allow HS kids to enter draft. They "force" them to go into college. Now once in college, yes they "declare" draft eligibility and thus can't go back.

 

In Baseball, I think it is different with the ability to sign a kid straight out of HS. As a high school kid, you may want to see where you get drafted and if you don't like it then you go the college route. I don't think this is a horrible strategy vs the alternative of forcing HS kids to go into college. In my opinion it would be very difficult to force a HS senior to make a pretty impactful decision without the resources of college coach guidance. Most of these HS kids really have no idea on where they will be drafted. Sure the guys at the very top know, but after that it seems like a crap shoot. So it gives them the capability to say, I am better than that.

 

Take Carlos Rodon for instance. The Brewers drafted him in the 16th round in 2011. Say he "declared" for the draft. Where would he have been selected? 5th round? Even at that - he was better off going the college route. This year he is the 3rd overall pick.

 

In the end, to me atleast, it appears they have this rule to give HS kids flexibility on their options. They really have no idea on where they will be drafted so don't force them into a corner.

[stoutdude04]

Yes, NHL teams retain draft rights of players who go to college. I think this would be something that MLB should look into.

[Bombers]

Yes, NHL teams retain draft rights of players who go to college. I think this would be something that MLB should look into.

 

I do not follow Hockey - so help me a little - how does that work? So they are drafted in the 10th round by the Bruins. They go to college for 4 years and at the end they just have to report in "spring training" for work with Boston and don't get drafted?

[TheCrew07]

Take Carlos Rodon for instance. The Brewers drafted him in the 16th round in 2011. Say he "declared" for the draft. Where would he have been selected? 5th round? Even at that - he was better off going the college route. This year he is the 3rd overall pick.

 

I think in terms of maximizing their draft signing bonus that's true. However in terms of a career many of these high profile HS guys have been putting their careers at risk by going to college and getting burnt out. They get abused in through their teens, go to college and get abused, and then if they end up in the wrong organization (someone who needs an instant splash and typically drafts in the top #5 picks) they are pushed too far too fast in MLB as well. If they are lucky someone helps them with their delivery along the way but more an often than not they are left alone because what are they are doing is working at that level.

 

Also, comparatively, any signing bonus is much less than a player would make in their first year of free agency so if they in fact have a career they actually hurt their earning potential by delaying their entry into the draft.

 

It's odd because under normal circumstances I would never advise any young man against college, but in the case of the higher profile high school pitchers until the college game gets completely on board with pitch counts and proper training I'd much rather the pitchers jump right to MiLB and get better coaching and improved workload monitoring. Very few teams will push a HS kid hard and with those that have like Bundy and Fernandez they ended up needed TJ anyway so it can still be a bad situation, but that may have been a forgone conclusion based on what came previous, it's tough to know for sure. At least the young men affiliated with professional programs should be getting the best rehab possible.

[Bombers]

Thanks for the input TheCrew. I agree with that. Good insight on the thought process some of these HS kids should have. I agree - if you can be picked in one the top rounds, you should take it. Look at Hunter Morris. He was drafted in the 2nd round by Boston in 07 and then drafted by Milw in the 4th round in 2010. Who gave him that advice? That is just silly, IMO. You are really going to turn down being a 2nd round pick?

 

I guess for a hitter it makes sense to do what Jemile Weeks did (Drafted in 8th round in 05, then 12th overall pick in 2008.) As hitters, if you feel you are better than that, sure go the college route. But as a pitcher, I agree - the faster you get to MLB the better.

[502 to Right]

I get why the current rules benefit a HS player. But I don't get how they benefit MLB teams at all and they make the rules.

[stoutdude04]

Yes, NHL teams retain draft rights of players who go to college. I think this would be something that MLB should look into.

 

I do not follow Hockey - so help me a little - how does that work? So they are drafted in the 10th round by the Bruins. They go to college for 4 years and at the end they just have to report in "spring training" for work with Boston and don't get drafted?

 

Hockey is a bit odd. All players who will be 18 years old on or before September 15 and not older than 20 years old before December 31 of the draft year are eligible for selection for that year's NHL Entry Draft. In addition, non-North American players over the age of 20 are eligible. However, if a player doesnt sign a contract he can re-enter the draft. However, once they are over 20 they are no longer able to be drafted and can only become free agents. This basically makes it so most high school kids/young adults sign a contract with the team that drafts them. Then that team holds the rights to the player throughout their college career. If after one year of playing college hockey that player decides to turn pro, he does and goes right to that team. It is interesting to see some players playing in the NCAA tournament and then join their pro team for the end of the season/playoffs.

 

Many players are drafted when they are playing 'juniors'. This is basically a league before heading to college. Then they go to college and once the college season is over they can join the big club or get sent to the minors.

 

EDIT:I am pretty sure my numbers are correct, I didn't look them up recently and have only talked with a friend of mine who wasn't drafted and is basically in the free agent aspect of it.

[brewerprospectwatch]

I get why the current rules benefit a HS player. But I don't get how they benefit MLB teams at all and they make the rules.

 

If you are an MLB team, you would much rather draft a HS kid before a college coach can get his hands on a player and give him different instruction than what your organization teaches. If I ran a team I would much rather get a high profile arm out of HS than a kid that has attended LSU for 3 years throwing 130 pitches a game.

 

Financially it probably doesn't help to get kids out of HS for the teams, it just hastens the development and gets their hands on a player 3 years sooner.

[stoutdude04]

I get why the current rules benefit a HS player. But I don't get how they benefit MLB teams at all and they make the rules.

 

If you are an MLB team, you would much rather draft a HS kid before a college coach can get his hands on a player and give him different instruction than what your organization teaches. If I ran a team I would much rather get a high profile arm out of HS than a kid that has attended LSU for 3 years throwing 130 pitches a game.

 

Financially it probably doesn't help to get kids out of HS for the teams, it just hastens the development and gets their hands on a player 3 years sooner.

 

What you said is true, but I don't think you understood what he was getting at.

 

I believe hes asking, "How do the current rules about a HS player being able to leave for college after being drafted benefit a MLB team?"

[JohnBriggs12]

If I'm a parent of a kid drafted out of high school who also has a college scholarship available, I'd advise him to sign if the signing bonus exceeds the value of a 4 year college scholarship. Otherwise I'd advise him to take the scholarship and play college baseball. If the high school player then washes out of pro ball in 2 or 3 years, he can always go to college and get a degree as a normal student using that bonus money.

[bork]

I was wondering how often this happens or if it is even possible any more? Chris Crawford was drafted by the Astros. He pitched in the summer, but they paid his way through Marquette, where he played basketball. Then he ended up getting drafted in the NBA and playing there for a few years. Can guys still sign a pro contract in baseball, but play another sport in college?

[TheCrew07]

I was wondering how often this happens or if it is even possible any more? Chris Crawford was drafted by the Astros. He pitched in the summer, but they paid his way through Marquette, where he played basketball. Then he ended up getting drafted in the NBA and playing there for a few years. Can guys still sign a pro contract in baseball, but play another sport in college?

 

You mean like a certain Badger QB did just recently?

[brewerprospectwatch]

If I'm a parent of a kid drafted out of high school who also has a college scholarship available, I'd advise him to sign if the signing bonus exceeds the value of a 4 year college scholarship. Otherwise I'd advise him to take the scholarship and play college baseball. If the high school player then washes out of pro ball in 2 or 3 years, he can always go to college and get a degree as a normal student using that bonus money.

 

In this situation it really isnt about the value of the scholarship. It's about the value of the contract offered. Very few college degrees will pay a graduate $1,000,000 or $800k or $400k or whatever the sum may be. It could take someone, depending on the field entered, 20 years to earn $1,000,000, and that is if you can find a job right out of college.

 

I value education, but the monetary value of a MLB signing bonus (in cases of the first 10 rounds or so) for any 18 year old kid is going to be infinitely more valuable than a college degree and education.

 

Unless a kid is 100% certain that they wont get injured in college, and that he will be drafted HIGHER than what he is out of college, signing is always going to be more valuable in my opinion. And again, I am talking about the big $500k bonus type and above players. Heck even $300k and above does it for me.