Stanford/Rice full ride? That makes it tougher. Still, college will probably be there later in life, the money may very well not be. The opportunity to start off a career earlier is also a benefit.

i’m hiding those college brochures. you can take that money, invest it wisely, and you’re set.

besides, i’m not sure how much these jocks get of out of college. the probably take a bunch of easy classes and just drift through. i will admit, however, that i bet it’s a fun 3 years

I would trust the development better in minors and since he’s under 21 probably set up an investment plan and financial management plan in case it doesn’t work out and college is plan b. If I didn’t think my son was socially prepared for minor leagues I would be willing to look at colleges but what type of coach and program be be carefully evaluated.

Gotta go with the pros if the money is there at the top of the draft. As has been said, a degree is no guarantee of success (although a useful degree carries legitimate weight in the biz world).
As long as the money doesn’t get squandered on the Porsche 911 with the Blaupunkt Quadraphonic stereo, a la Nuke Laloosh, you can go back later in life. Watching 20 year old college starters get abused is ridiculous; get them in a quality college program that isn’t brutalizing their future and I might consider it, but my first choice would be to send him to the minors as a high pick. My wife completely disagrees with me.

Whats making it? Going to college and taking a job for 30 grand to start out? Then by the time your 35 yrs old your making 50 grand? Thats what the REAL world thinks MAKING IT is.

I wouldn’t lean. I’d sprint towards pro baseball!! I’d advise him and I’d support him in signing that pro contract 100%. People always look at pro baseball and say risk. They say that because most all have never done it. They don’t think its a risk if you do what EVERYBODY else does. Go to college and settle in to blue collar life. Pro baseball has many great things to offer and one of those is a 1st pay check that NO college degree can offer or even guarantee.

Take the money! Work hard and see if you can become a multi millionaire by making it to the major leagues!

Harrington WALKED AWAY from 4 million dollars from the Colorado Rockies. He and his family listed to some poor advise. That family was low income and walked away from 4 million dollars 10 years ago!!!

Also, if the kid is good “college material” (some are, some aren’t), you should be able to “leverage” the MLB team that drafts you to throw in a “college tuition” reimbursement plan that would be available for say 10 years.

The money won’t last that long but someone with a decent work ethic and some common sense should be able to still set themselves up for a contingency plan if pro ball doesn’t work out, even if its not more than becoming a “Gym teacher and baseball coach” as a fallback plan.

But I wouldn’t push a player in either direction if I had influence over a draftee. It should be entirely his decision.

As far as preparing for a potential long-term career in baseball, it’s inevitably better to go the pro route as teams tend to think in the long-term for realizing their investment whereas college programs want to maximize their return for as long as they have you.

give it a shot and go pro. There’s such an emphasis on development and maintenance that the risk isn’t as ridiculous as before. He’ll get some real life experience, figure out a little about himself, make a little money, and all that good stuff.

There’s no formula to a good life anyway, and it’s not like schools will take him as long as he’s athletically talented.