MAJOR RULE CHANGE REGARDING DRAFTED HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYERS



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Updated: January 29, 2016

For years, each drafted high school baseball player was faced with a daunting decision. Should he allow his advisor to negotiate directly with the baseball club that drafted him and risk losing his college eligibility if no deal is reached. Or should he and his family handle the negotiations directly and risk entering into a bad contract. On January 15, 2016, the Power Five Conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Pacific 12, and Southeastern) passed a proposal that allows drafted high school students to retain an agent without losing their college eligibility. They must, however, pay the agent the reasonable value of the agent’s services, and terminate the relationship before beginning class. It is likely that other conferences will adopt this rule. A drafted college player, however, is still subject to the NCAA rule prohibiting him from hiring an agent; he may only retain an advisor. While the advisor can provide the drafted college player with advice, the advisor cannot negotiate directly with the major league club drafting the player.



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