If you are ever in North Carolina, you should check out Grainger Stadium in kinston. Yeah the neighborhood arouund it has seen better days but when you walk in the ballpark, it's like you are somewhere else altogether. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett was there last year to watch his son play who was with the visiting Frederick Keys, he said the ballpark was a hidden gem in the run down neighborhood it is in. I would suggest April 14th but I think that will be a sellout with ECU playing UNCW before the Wood Ducks-Woodpeckers rivalry game.
Thanks Matt! Great answers. It's going to be interesting to see how things change in MiLB with the planned closure of so many minor league clubs, leagues and closure of rookie level etc.
Rajai Davis just got signed by a mexican league team. Perfect example of an older player who still feels he has something left, but not in eyes of the majors.
The Pirates had Drew Maggi, he was in the minors for 13 years prior to being called up last year for one or two games. He did fine, saw his at bats, I remember him getting an rbi hit. They sent him back down right after this to AA, then released him a short time later. I see he just signed May 19, 2024 with the Staten Island Ferry Hawks, so I guess he's still at it. He must really love it.
Bro I love your vids. Living in Australia and I only started playing baseball at 26 so your videos have been super helpful. Tiny tip, you are wearing a white shirt on a white background and your captions are white. Just makes it a bit tough to see on a phone. Keep up the videos though
It's good to keep a few vets at AAA who at the very least provide replacement level talent if called up. Their ceilings might not be as high but you know what you're getting with them.
I was in the Show...I was in the Show for 21 days once. The greatest 21 days of my life! Someone else carries your bags for you, the ballparks are like Cathedrals, and all the women have long legs and brains...And the pitchers throw un-Godly breaking stuff in the Show-Exploding Sliders!
Nice vídeo man, have you ever played in a different country? You know there are some good winter leagues in Mexico (I am from Mexico), Dominican republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and there is a series called Caribbean series after all those leagues finish
Old guys are crucial in my opinion. Even if their stats aren't as good, their leadership capabilities can be priceless. The Nats just won the World Series with the oldest roster in the MLB this year. I am not a sports psychologist, but I think having all of those old guys combined with a bunch of young stars like Soto, Robles, Turner etc. was key to their team dynamic. The team overcame odds during the regular season that few teams have been able to pull off. Then they did the same in every part of the post season. Young guys either choke under that kind of pressure, get too discouraged when they fail and fall into a slump, or get too cocky and then slip up. The older leaders on the Nats were able to take the young guys under their wing. As a result, the coach didn't have to be a hardass because he wasn't coaching a team full of kids, he was coaching a team full of player-coaches that could father the kids. And as a result, they were the most relaxed and well bonded team in all of baseball, which is why they were always able to be so clutch.
I'm 23 and will be playing Juco baseball as a freshman, sometimes I think about my age but my love for baseball keeps me going. I'm hoping to get drafted and play in the majors, but even if that doesn't happen I will still be playing, I just love the game.
@@pohorex6834 I love the game and even if I don't make it to the bigs that's fine I have a plan B. But why would I stop pursuing my goal just because someone or some people say so? it's pointless
Sean Kazmar Jr dude had over a decade between his mlb debut and when he made it back with the Braves at 36 a lot of it boils down to if it’s your dream and if it’s worth it.
Erik Kratz is 38 yr old catcher who is currently w/ SWB Railriders. [ he spent several seasons in the Bigs. after the season he was on Team USA. Much Respect Coach
Are there a lot of players, or a few players, who stick around to learn how to get into other aspects of the organization? Like, if you are 28 and in Double-A, is it possible you are trying to show that you can work with younger players, etc? I would think that, for the players who know the Big Leagues isn't happening, that staying in it would be a great way to show the organization that you can contribute in other ways.
2008 Beavers included notable 30+ year olds: Michael Barrett, Bryan Myrow (I met him in Portland, ME a few years prior), Jody Gerut, Shawn Estes (MLB All-Star)... Great video, as a fan of MLB & MiLB there's definitely been a shift over the last few years when it comes to prospects coming up quickly. Xander Bogaerts wasn't even old enough to drink after winning the WS in 2013!
Ive seen alot of former mlb players go play in mexico after their time in the majors. Mexico has 2 leagues. One in the summer(LMB 16 teams) and one in the winter(LMP 10 teams). Solid level of compeition too.
Matt’s former teammate Sean Kazmar is 34 and still actively plays in AAA for the Braves. Fun fact, Matt and Sean were called up for the Padres in the same season (2008) and neither appeared in the majors after that season.
Were you ever recruited by Japanese or Korean teams while you were in the minors? How much does that happen? Or do players just get fed up with the minor league system and take off for Asia?
One-Eye I don’t know about the minor leagues tbh, except that they are _not_ unionized. I therefore suspect that Minor League players do _not_ receive any pension ever. For MLB, it’s 43 days in the majors to receive an annual pension of $34,000, and 1 day to receive lifetime medical coverage. 10 years in MLB brings even greater benefits. Or at least this is what it was last time I checked. Could have changed recently. But I know the MLB Union is extremely adamant on player benefits.
@@RolandDeschain1 If they quit baseball a lot of them probably can't get jobs making a 500k minimum. So if you're on the borderline and get 2-3 years in the majors that's several years of non baseball salaries that they can make.
What about foreign leagues? Did you ever consider Japan or Korea? What are your thoughts on those guys? Are they in it for money or the love of baseball? Or because they can be a star?
Thanks so much for your answer to a deeply individual question. No one can make a decision for another person. Sounds like you made the best decision for you. Some people are single and no kids and healthy ... so they may have a lot of good reasons to base their hopes of a call up and can live the life of a minor leaguer. By about 35 almost every athlete will have to find something else to do... hopefully they have a good support system to make the changes.
I made my MLB Debut... in RTTS at 18 lol crazy spent like a month in AA then got called right up to the Majors was moved to 3rd base not particularly happy with that because I was drafted as a 2nd basemen
@@barrybambmessagedeletedbyy7467 yeah but then that takes all the fun out of the mode RTTS is exactly that the ROAD TO THE SHOW if you start in the majors it defeats the purpose
Especially his daughter as well. Damn shame. Helicopters are treacherous things, unless the weather is perfect. I'd rather take a train. But I don't have helicopter money.
@@Christoph5782 depends on who rides the car. And I mean it like I said it!. I really start to hate helicopters. Never ever gonna step of foot on such a thing
Older Latino players play in Mexico after their mlb career. I just saw Gregor Blanco and Gorkys Hernandez will be playing in the 2020 mexican summer league. Alot of Americans are there too.
Have you ever considered playing in a local league? I played with dozens of former MLB players. The over 35/40 leagues are chill and surprisingly decent.
It sounds like any other dream you're chasing in life. When you've put so much time and effort into something, it's hard to let go of it. Even if chances are slim and it doesn't make any financial sense.
In my town there is an Atlantic League team, which is basically the lowest rung of unaffiliated A ball. When the team first came to town I was expecting a roster full of young kids, and was shocked to see that most of the players were in their late 20's - early 30's. It's kind of sad to think these guys are that old, have virtually zero chance of getting to the bigs (or even picked up by an affiliated team), and making absolutely nothing.
@@devon1375 Go back and read up on what he had to say about fellow asian players in the league. I know, I know, it doesnt fit the script but do a little research and you will see. Unless you just want to be wilfully ignorant.
@@pohorex6834 www.papercitymag.com/culture/comic-hasan-minhaj-defends-jeremy-lin-calls-out-kobe-bryant-racial-stereotypes/ Hard as hell finding articles from 2012 at the moment due to everything being about todays crash.
Antonelli Baseball This is going back a long time, but Rex Hudler, who now does color commentary for the Royals, did 10 years in the minors and then was able to get 10 years in the majors.
@@scottwidiculous according to Baseball Reference his professional career begin as a first round draft pick when he was 17 and he retired from the Cleveland Indians at 37. Hey, except for the ages, that sounds a little like another guy we know.
sometimes I think it's better to have 10 good years, than to have 20, with declining stats in the last 5-6 years before retirement? Someone crunched the numbers and said that the most productive years of a MLB career is 26-34. Maybe that age is getting younger in today's game?
Right now the average MLB team age is 28.1 so I can see why people thought that Matt was leaving the game at a young age. The average age might have been around 30 when he was leaving.
But tbh if I was in my mid 30's and was having a tough time getting signed bc of younger players.. if I had already went through FA once and had a decent contract out of that.. I'd sign for less to compete for that coveted WS ring. But some players like Adam Jones or Hanley Ramirez get ego and pride in the way and REFUSE to sign for less than what they think they deserve and for that teams give em a big old middle finger and force em into early retirement unless they are willing to come down to their prices. I wouldn't give away 1 year of my career just because teams weren't offering me what I think they should.. and for some players like Adam Jones once again, it will be the difference between him making or not making the Hall of Fame. If he gets 3-4 more seasons he probably puts up good enough cumulative numbers where he'd have a good argument to get in but when you are done so early it's hard to come close.
Do you think health plays a part in it? I can imagine that playing in the minors into your 30s making 50 or 60k might be more attractive if you weren’t constantly battling injuries and playing in pain beyond the usual wear and tear.
I'm 38 and would cut off my pinky finger to play one game of minor league baseball. I regret being a dumb ass chasing girls in high school and not taking school and baseball serious.
Danny Chaney That’s the problem, when you start getting up near 30, you need to start making some money most of the time. You’ve probably met a woman you want to settle down with and you need some stability, rather than tearing up your body for little money and spending your summers on the road. I can understand why you’d give it up in your late 20’s if you didn’t see MLB in your future. Otherwise, you run the risk of being a 35 year old bachelor with no money and bad knees or whatever.
Pohorex Dude, that comment is definitely not worth the notification on my phone. The average is $10k and you could easily find that out by googling. They don’t make crap! That’s not enough money for a family man. Stop saying silly things and trying to sound smart.
I mean most coaches that give tips didn’t even play in the majors lmao. There isn’t always a correlation with good coaching and how good the player was.
Did you ever consider going and playing in Japan or Australia or some other country like that?
I liked your comment, and wrote a similar one but with a few more details.
Theres Winter leagues too. Like the mexican league(LMP). Alot of american minor league players go there in the offseason.
Guy has 135k subs on youtube and his own travel team organization. Why the hell would he go play overseas lol
@@johnjacob3160 did, not do.
John Jacob I mean like back towards the end of his playing career, not right now haha
A love of the game. I would play the game as long as I could afford to do so.
Danny Chaney I think I’d ride it till the wheels fell off
If you are ever in North Carolina, you should check out Grainger Stadium in kinston. Yeah the neighborhood arouund it has seen better days but when you walk in the ballpark, it's like you are somewhere else altogether. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett was there last year to watch his son play who was with the visiting Frederick Keys, he said the ballpark was a hidden gem in the run down neighborhood it is in. I would suggest April 14th but I think that will be a sellout with ECU playing UNCW before the Wood Ducks-Woodpeckers rivalry game.
Thanks Matt! Great answers. It's going to be interesting to see how things change in MiLB with the planned closure of so many minor league clubs, leagues and closure of rookie level etc.
Always loved watching Russell The Muscle Branyan in Cleveland and afterward.
Sometimes all it takes is a bang on a trash can.
Rajai Davis just got signed by a mexican league team. Perfect example of an older player who still feels he has something left, but not in eyes of the majors.
The Pirates had Drew Maggi, he was in the minors for 13 years prior to being called up last year for one or two games. He did fine, saw his at bats, I remember him getting an rbi hit. They sent him back down right after this to AA, then released him a short time later. I see he just signed May 19, 2024 with the Staten Island Ferry Hawks, so I guess he's still at it. He must really love it.
Bro I love your vids. Living in Australia and I only started playing baseball at 26 so your videos have been super helpful. Tiny tip, you are wearing a white shirt on a white background and your captions are white. Just makes it a bit tough to see on a phone. Keep up the videos though
The Tiger`s like to keep some veteran players at the AAA level in case of injury or a drop off in one of their players at the major league level.
It's good to keep a few vets at AAA who at the very least provide replacement level talent if called up. Their ceilings might not be as high but you know what you're getting with them.
@@joemckim1183 It makes perfect sense.
I remember seeing Timo Perez playing for the Mud Hens quite a bit when the Tigers had his contract.
Yes... tigers had Mike Hessman well into his 30s
Thanks Matt! Love hearing these answers from someone who has been there.
I was in the Show...I was in the Show for 21 days once. The greatest 21 days of my life! Someone else carries your bags for you, the ballparks are like Cathedrals, and all the women have long legs and brains...And the pitchers throw un-Godly breaking stuff in the Show-Exploding Sliders!
Can you make one last video about tryout prep? Getting into the right mindset, etc.
Nice vídeo man, have you ever played in a different country? You know there are some good winter leagues in Mexico (I am from Mexico), Dominican republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and there is a series called Caribbean series after all those leagues finish
Old guys are crucial in my opinion. Even if their stats aren't as good, their leadership capabilities can be priceless. The Nats just won the World Series with the oldest roster in the MLB this year. I am not a sports psychologist, but I think having all of those old guys combined with a bunch of young stars like Soto, Robles, Turner etc. was key to their team dynamic. The team overcame odds during the regular season that few teams have been able to pull off. Then they did the same in every part of the post season.
Young guys either choke under that kind of pressure, get too discouraged when they fail and fall into a slump, or get too cocky and then slip up. The older leaders on the Nats were able to take the young guys under their wing. As a result, the coach didn't have to be a hardass because he wasn't coaching a team full of kids, he was coaching a team full of player-coaches that could father the kids. And as a result, they were the most relaxed and well bonded team in all of baseball, which is why they were always able to be so clutch.
I'm 23 and will be playing Juco baseball as a freshman, sometimes I think about my age but my love for baseball keeps me going. I'm hoping to get drafted and play in the majors, but even if that doesn't happen I will still be playing, I just love the game.
Vault Of Entertainment
23 is considered a little old for some scouts.
@Dwight Cook
The bigger the obstacles the bigger is my motivation!
@@pohorex6834
I love the game and even if I don't make it to the bigs that's fine I have a plan B. But why would I stop pursuing my goal just because someone or some people say so? it's pointless
Sean Kazmar Jr dude had over a decade between his mlb debut and when he made it back with the Braves at 36 a lot of it boils down to if it’s your dream and if it’s worth it.
Erik Kratz is 38 yr old catcher who is currently w/ SWB Railriders. [ he spent several seasons in the Bigs.
after the season he was on Team USA. Much Respect Coach
Are there a lot of players, or a few players, who stick around to learn how to get into other aspects of the organization? Like, if you are 28 and in Double-A, is it possible you are trying to show that you can work with younger players, etc? I would think that, for the players who know the Big Leagues isn't happening, that staying in it would be a great way to show the organization that you can contribute in other ways.
Rest in Peace Kobe Bryant #8 #24
2008 Beavers included notable 30+ year olds: Michael Barrett, Bryan Myrow (I met him in Portland, ME a few years prior), Jody Gerut, Shawn Estes (MLB All-Star)...
Great video, as a fan of MLB & MiLB there's definitely been a shift over the last few years when it comes to prospects coming up quickly. Xander Bogaerts wasn't even old enough to drink after winning the WS in 2013!
(and Wooten of course)
Ive seen alot of former mlb players go play in mexico after their time in the majors. Mexico has 2 leagues. One in the summer(LMB 16 teams) and one in the winter(LMP 10 teams). Solid level of compeition too.
Matt’s former teammate Sean Kazmar is 34 and still actively plays in AAA for the Braves. Fun fact, Matt and Sean were called up for the Padres in the same season (2008) and neither appeared in the majors after that season.
Lol Kazmar was the first guy I thought of when I saw the title of this video. There's also a lot of dudes in independent leagues that are like him
Corky Miller played on the reds AAA team very very late in his career for several years.
And Russell Brayan or whatever played in Mexico, a power hitter, my brother loved him
Were you ever recruited by Japanese or Korean teams while you were in the minors? How much does that happen? Or do players just get fed up with the minor league system and take off for Asia?
Love of the game and for a chance at that sweet, sweet MLB pension. And more power to ‘em!
Do ten year minor league players qualify for a pension? How much a year is it?
One-Eye I don’t know about the minor leagues tbh, except that they are _not_ unionized. I therefore suspect that Minor League players do _not_ receive any pension ever. For MLB, it’s 43 days in the majors to receive an annual pension of $34,000, and 1 day to receive lifetime medical coverage. 10 years in MLB brings even greater benefits. Or at least this is what it was last time I checked. Could have changed recently. But I know the MLB Union is extremely adamant on player benefits.
@@mitchelvalentino1569 Yes, the MLB has the best players union in pro sports.
@@RolandDeschain1 If they quit baseball a lot of them probably can't get jobs making a 500k minimum. So if you're on the borderline and get 2-3 years in the majors that's several years of non baseball salaries that they can make.
What about foreign leagues? Did you ever consider Japan or Korea? What are your thoughts on those guys? Are they in it for money or the love of baseball? Or because they can be a star?
Thanks so much for your answer to a deeply individual question. No one can make a decision for another person. Sounds like you made the best decision for you. Some people are single and no kids and healthy ... so they may have a lot of good reasons to base their hopes of a call up and can live the life of a minor leaguer. By about 35 almost every athlete will have to find something else to do... hopefully they have a good support system to make the changes.
Could you do a vid of your draft day experience? If you haven’t done so already
I made my MLB Debut... in RTTS at 18 lol crazy spent like a month in AA then got called right up to the Majors was moved to 3rd base not particularly happy with that because I was drafted as a 2nd basemen
Or before you begin, release all players with your position on your favorite team. Then begin your career at MLB.
@@barrybambmessagedeletedbyy7467 yeah but then that takes all the fun out of the mode RTTS is exactly that the ROAD TO THE SHOW if you start in the majors it defeats the purpose
Rip Kobe
Yea, a racist
J Mill what were his racist comments just curios
Especially his daughter as well. Damn shame. Helicopters are treacherous things, unless the weather is perfect.
I'd rather take a train. But I don't have helicopter money.
One-Eye Honestly any form of transportation is safer than a car so....
@@Christoph5782 depends on who rides the car. And I mean it like I said it!. I really start to hate helicopters. Never ever gonna step of foot on such a thing
I'm 40 years old and pay to play...lol Just love it too much to give it up! I will be 70 and still playing!😎😎😎
Dope, play as long as you can
Older Latino players play in Mexico after their mlb career. I just saw Gregor Blanco and Gorkys Hernandez will be playing in the 2020 mexican summer league. Alot of Americans are there too.
Have you ever considered playing in a local league? I played with dozens of former MLB players. The over 35/40 leagues are chill and surprisingly decent.
It sounds like any other dream you're chasing in life. When you've put so much time and effort into something, it's hard to let go of it. Even if chances are slim and it doesn't make any financial sense.
Don't players also play for more service time towards their pension?
In my town there is an Atlantic League team, which is basically the lowest rung of unaffiliated A ball. When the team first came to town I was expecting a roster full of young kids, and was shocked to see that most of the players were in their late 20's - early 30's. It's kind of sad to think these guys are that old, have virtually zero chance of getting to the bigs (or even picked up by an affiliated team), and making absolutely nothing.
kchall5 Atlantic League is considered AA-AAA Level. Hence the older age of players
Rip kobe
Yea, a racist
J Mill what?
@@devon1375 Go back and read up on what he had to say about fellow asian players in the league. I know, I know, it doesnt fit the script but do a little research and you will see. Unless you just want to be wilfully ignorant.
J Mill another bot account spewing out fake news , ugh fuck off ok?
@@pohorex6834 www.papercitymag.com/culture/comic-hasan-minhaj-defends-jeremy-lin-calls-out-kobe-bryant-racial-stereotypes/
Hard as hell finding articles from 2012 at the moment due to everything being about todays crash.
What currew rules do u have
R IP. John was killed on Kobe's hell copter and wife and family! Sad😪
Joe Go this wasn't him, his name is Matt
Oh ,man I was wrong, don't Kno if John is related, condolences!😞
Joe Go maybe
What about Aristides Aquino? Spent seven years grinding in the minors, got called up and hit three homers in one game.
One-Eye he started at 17 so it was probably a bit different. Most were playing high school ball at that time
Antonelli Baseball This is going back a long time, but Rex Hudler, who now does color commentary for the Royals, did 10 years in the minors and then was able to get 10 years in the majors.
@@scottwidiculous according to Baseball Reference his professional career begin as a first round draft pick when he was 17 and he retired from the Cleveland Indians at 37. Hey, except for the ages, that sounds a little like another guy we know.
18-23 minor league years
23-25 yoyo player
25-32 career prime
32-36 veteran
36 and up oldtimer.
Does this sound about right matt?
@@scottwidiculous i do believe he was a marine for a year too.
sometimes I think it's better to have 10 good years, than to have 20, with declining stats in the last 5-6 years before retirement? Someone crunched the numbers and said that the most productive years of a MLB career is 26-34. Maybe that age is getting younger in today's game?
Were you ever Awe Struck when meeting/playing against famous players? Whats the Best and the Worst Pranks you saw in baseball?
Ghostdog4 They are baseball players...
Right now the average MLB team age is 28.1 so I can see why people thought that Matt was leaving the game at a young age. The average age might have been around 30 when he was leaving.
It's the dream. What kept Andy Tracy going so long?
Like the bkg dude!
But tbh if I was in my mid 30's and was having a tough time getting signed bc of younger players.. if I had already went through FA once and had a decent contract out of that.. I'd sign for less to compete for that coveted WS ring. But some players like Adam Jones or Hanley Ramirez get ego and pride in the way and REFUSE to sign for less than what they think they deserve and for that teams give em a big old middle finger and force em into early retirement unless they are willing to come down to their prices. I wouldn't give away 1 year of my career just because teams weren't offering me what I think they should.. and for some players like Adam Jones once again, it will be the difference between him making or not making the Hall of Fame. If he gets 3-4 more seasons he probably puts up good enough cumulative numbers where he'd have a good argument to get in but when you are done so early it's hard to come close.
some guys don't have anything else to fall back on after baseball. leaving the game is like a death sentence to some.
Put me in coach. I'm getting old.
I heard Julio Franco is still playing somewhere.
dodgervision1 probably playing with your mom
Because it is fun and a easy job
Do you think health plays a part in it? I can imagine that playing in the minors into your 30s making 50 or 60k might be more attractive if you weren’t constantly battling injuries and playing in pain beyond the usual wear and tear.
The Union!!!!
If you’re a player at any level and you’re hoping another player gets injured so you can get an opportunity that makes you a pos.
R.I.P Kobe
_ F I am on discord with the name Motion but multiple people can have the same name on discord
_ F I have My profile picture on their is Ketel Marte on a light blue background
_ F which server do you know me from?
What was it like trying to communicate through a language barrier?
Paraphrased from a soccer player who was also asked that question - They all speak baseball regardless of nationality.
Noah Scott He actually made a great video on this topic: th-cam.com/video/AfovJxofvrE/w-d-xo.html
Vlad's 18
No more fake players in the minors. Richie Givens and Kyle Saul's Jerseys should be retired.
I'm 38 and would cut off my pinky finger to play one game of minor league baseball. I regret being a dumb ass chasing girls in high school and not taking school and baseball serious.
money and fear that they won't be able to make a living otherwise
Example A: Tim Dillard
🙏🐍🤴🏿
Mamba Mentality
Prolly the money keeps them playing
There's probably more money in coaching if you have a good 5+ years in the minors.
dontsayaword but Minor Leaguers don’t make much money.
Incorrect. The ones that stick around love the game. If I could afford to I would play till my body wouldn’t allow it.
Danny Chaney That’s the problem, when you start getting up near 30, you need to start making some money most of the time. You’ve probably met a woman you want to settle down with and you need some stability, rather than tearing up your body for little money and spending your summers on the road. I can understand why you’d give it up in your late 20’s if you didn’t see MLB in your future. Otherwise, you run the risk of being a 35 year old bachelor with no money and bad knees or whatever.
Pohorex Dude, that comment is definitely not worth the notification on my phone. The average is $10k and you could easily find that out by googling. They don’t make crap! That’s not enough money for a family man. Stop saying silly things and trying to sound smart.
If u give kids hitting tips how come u batted 0.89
I mean most coaches that give tips didn’t even play in the majors lmao. There isn’t always a correlation with good coaching and how good the player was.
.89 is really good idiot
U are wrong man he’s really good to even make it to the MLB. And honestly he gives good tips
Gavin Zeiman lmao he’s stupid
That would actually put me in the Hall of Fame 🥇
Are veterans ever allowed to refuse minor league assignments?
HGH and Viagra
first
Crash Davis
What keeps older players playing? 💉💉💉💉💉💉💉💉
They do it for the pussy
If you are wearing the hat you need a fill light for your face.