Tuesday, June 7, 2011

I Never Understood This

The Major League Baseball draft was yesterday, and the Yankees signed third baseman Dante Bichette Jr. who I'm sure is amazing. But the big story from the draft is Gerrit Cole who was signed by the Pirates as the first overall pick. Cole had been previously drafted by the Yankees out of high school in 2008, but did not sign so he could go play college ball at UCLA. Now, Cole pitched at UCLA, dominated, and is now being drafted by the Pirates. There's no doubt he's going to make a nice signing bonus, and he will be financially set for the future. But I just find that decision to be amazingly risky. If I were a high school pitcher getting drafted in the first round, there is no way I would go to college. The reason is simple: with my million plus dollar signing bonus I could set aside enough to go to college, and see how my professional career pans out. If I succeed and reach the majors then great. If not, I have enough money set aside to go back to college and find a new career. My mind is less likely to fall apart than my arm. There is a risk in playing college ball and getting injured. With an injury you'll be getting drafted in a lower round and getting a lower signing bonus or worse, you won't be able to play at all.

7 comments:

Rich Mahogany said...

If he had signed immediately, he would have missed out on Rocks for Jocks.

Fernando Alejandro said...

The most succesful crack program for athletes!

Uncle Mike said...

"Theeee pitch, swung on, and there it goes! Deep to left field! That ball is high! It is far! It is gone! A home run for Dante Bichette Jr.! Oh-ho, Dante's an inferno! And the Yankees take a 1-0 lead!"

Just saving John Sterling some future work.

Fernando Alejandro said...

Every time Sterling invents a new homerun call, a unicorn dies of mad cow disease.

Tigs said...

The Yankees didn't start negotiations until after he had already enrolled--so the family just told them not to bother making an offer.
My guess is that he was emotionally not ready for the big leagues and his family wanted to protect him--- and were just going on faith that his arm wouldn't fall off in the meantime.

Rich Mahogany said...

Also, Scott Boras told him that he would make several millions of dollars more by waiting.

Fernando Alejandro said...

Yeah but I told him he would make several million more by signing right then and there. Now he's going to be a Pirate.

Tigs, that's true, but even still I'd at least hear the offer. I'd be fine paying a withdrawal fee if there were a few million sitting on the table.