Major League Baseball Amateur Draft Adviser Services

PSB provides advice and guidance to baseball players who are trying to enter the June Major League Amateur draft. Although an amateur athlete may not enter into an agreement with an agent until they sign a professional contract without losing their amateur status, it is highly recommended for a potential draft pick to hire an adviser to assist them through this process.

Professional organizations do not want to deal with coaches or parents when scouting potential draft choices.  It is for this reason that the NCAA permits its student-athletes and high school athletes (who are not yet student-athletes under the jurisdiction of the NCAA) to secure the services of an adviser and still maintain their current and/or future NCAA student-athlete eligibility.

PSB adheres to the guidelines set forth by the NCAA regarding adviser and agent relationships with athletes to ensure the athlete's eligibility is maintained.  Those guidelines are as follows:

Adviser Services

As termed by the NCAA, an adviser is someone who consults with a prospect and his family on their college options, the athlete's potential draft status and value, and helps the player define his place in baseball's amateur draft.

The NCAA allows a player to enter into an agreement with an individual to serve as his adviser so long as that person limits his activities to those that are permissible under NCAA legislation and so long as the terms of the agreement do not allow his adviser to act as an agent.¹

In accordance with NCAA regulations, adviser may:

a.  Review each team's history in signing different types of players at various slots.

b.  Provide an understanding of signing bonuses and salary increases at each slot over a period of time.

c.  Gather organizational depth charts to determine team needs.

d.  Educate the player (and their parents) on how to handle negotiations with the scouts who are in the position to sign him.

e.  Educate the player on his various options in the market and establishes parameters that will help the player determine if he will accept an offer from a Major League Baseball team, which include signing with the team or return to school.

In accordance with NCAA regulations, adviser may not:

a.  Provide free advice and counsel regarding the draft.  The NCAA requires that if a student-athlete has an adviser, the student-athlete actually pays that adviser.  In order to maintain your eligibility at an NCAA school, if you receive assistance from an adviser, you will be required to pay that adviser at his or her normal rate for such services. You may not receive such services at a free or reduced rate without jeopardizing your eligibility, regardless of whether the adviser does not typically charge clients for such services.

b.  Place a prospect with a particular professional organization.

c.  Negotiate or guarantee a professional contract.

d.  Market athlete to a professional organization.

¹As termed by the NCAA, an agent is any person who represents any individual in the marketing of his athletic ability. The adviser becomes an agent when the team gives the player an acceptable contract and he will sign with the club.

²May 27, 2011 NCAA Memorandum to Division I Baseball Student-Athletes with Remaining Eligibility.