The Backyard Batting Cage

Baseball players are not drafted from high school any longer to the major leagues.  They are drafted to the minor leagues if they are exceptional players.  Many baseball players find themselves in a quandary because they want to continue their education, realizing that baseball is not something that everyone will succeed at, but at the same time, wanting to pursue their dream.  Most boys start playing baseball when they are 4 years old or a little older.  By the time they are 5 or 6, they are signed up for T-ball and are following the sport. 

The minor leagues is a way to prepare younger players for the major leagues.  Unlike other sports that draft players from college, there is no following for college baseball.  By the time the baseball player is 22 years old, he is most likely to have a career in the majors.

However, preventing someone from pursuing an education is not considered ethical in the sports world.  Even basketball players are encouraged to finish their college sport before being drafted to the NBA.  The only sport that actively seeks high school students and drafts them for the major leagues is hockey.  But hockey players have a very short shelf life as this is one of the most brutal sports there is. 

Baseball players, on the other hand, can very likely play until their mid to late 40s.  You will also see this in football as well, although this is mostly the quarterback who will last out this long without being sidelined with injuries.  For the most part, the career in baseball is the longest of the sporting careers. 

So high school players who show promise as professional athletes are drafted to the minor leagues. You can watch minor league games and perhaps see an up and coming star.  Once a player proves himself in the minors, he can then be drafted to the major leagues and becomes a rookie player.  The minors are also the retiring field for players who still want to play the game but are not able to play in the major leagues any longer.  They are often retired to the minors.  Many retired ball players take on second careers as coaches and managers and even sports announcers.

A baseball player’s career begins and ends in the minor leagues for the most part. You can see minor league games if you visit the training camps of your favorite teams. They are usually located in warm states like Florida or Arizona.