Minor League Baseball/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Wes Hodges | 1/30/2012 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I've followed Wes Hodges's career from Ga.Tech to the Cleveland Indians minor league teams, Kinston ... A: bob, sorry for not responding sooner, your question did not get e-,mailed to me until yesterday. ... | ||
| What makes a Star a Star | 7/14/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am curious what your opinion is of what makes a prospect stand out. I know in your bio you said ... A: Aaron, The easy answer is too have stats that outshine every one else. Lead your league is SB's, ... | ||
| NAIA ball | 7/10/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Tom, I recently went to the California Winter League, and there was a young man out there from a ... A: Derek, I can't really answer your question but I can say this: there are 50 rounds i the MLB draft; ... | ||
| AA and AAA 2011 1st year Minimum Salaries. | 7/5/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Do you know what the minimum 1st year salaries are for AA and AAA Minor League Baseball Players for ... A: “Minor League Baseball player contracts are handled by the Major League Baseball office. Here are ... | ||
| I am 21 y/o | 6/20/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I use to be rally good playing baseball as a short-stop, and at batting too, I play in dominican rep ... A: Jorge, I can't answer your question because I don't know how good you are or how much potential ... | ||
| Do I Still Have a Shot? | 6/15/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am 27 years old, and I have a question regarding my relative chances of playing professional ... A: Patrick, First, glad to heat that you got your life in order. That's way more important than ... | ||
| Minor League Baseball | 5/13/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I have experience in baseball, i played baseball in a league in DR... i just turn 19 and im 5,8 and ... A: Ritchie, i can't tell you if you have a chance because i don't know how good you are. further ... | ||
| Update | 5/12/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Tom, I just wanted to update you from my last question with a new question. I went against your ... A: John, To answer your question, it begins very fast. You will need to sign lots of documents and get ... | ||
| Understanding "minor" league | 5/12/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Is there a source available that explains the minor league organization. What criteria ... A: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp Park, I'm not sure I understand you but it's goes by ... | ||
| 25 yr old catcher | 5/10/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Im a 25 year old catcher. Im 5'11 225lbs. I have good receiving skills and blocking. Pop time is ... A: Edwin, i don't know how you define instant failure but think about this. you're 80YO with your 7YO ... | ||
| what to expect | 3/13/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: my son was invited to attend training camp on waivers for three weeks. what should we expect if he ... A: Matt, First, I don't understand what you mean that your son was "invited to a training camp on ... | ||
| Prospect? | 2/21/2011 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I have been reading a lot of your Q&A on here and they are similar to mine. However I feel mine is a ... A: John, Since you read come past questions then yes, I can see how you may be different from the ... | ||
| 11 year old son in Majors Little League Baseball | 12/9/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am not sure if I am on the appropriate forum, but I am extremely appreciative if you are able to ... A: Dana, Unless your son throws with a a bad motion now, you don't need to worry about the 'stresses' ... | ||
| What to expect? | 11/3/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: i want to start out by saying that i kn ow every tom, dick and harry thinks they can make it to the ... A: Seth, I cant give you numbers. It doesn't work like that. The tryouts are just like any other in ... | ||
| getting into the minor league | 10/18/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I have been a fan and a player of baseball. I played 7 years for the city of Glendale, Az when I ... A: Craig, First, I don't understand what you mean by, you played for the City of Glendale, AZ. ... | ||
| What do I need to do | 8/21/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I quit playing baseball my freshman year in high school because my father was diagnosed with a ... A: Scott, I'm not really a photographer but here's an idea. take a look at the other youtube videos ... | ||
| Could I still make it? | 8/17/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I just turned 24 and 2 months ago I broke my back from being hit by a car on my bicycle...doc says I ... A: Tyler, Honestly, if you weren't in the minors before the crash then you probably don't have the ... | ||
| Minor league baseball | 7/15/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: My question is, will my height always be a factor in getting cut even if i am a great baseball ... A: Khach, if your stats are that good than your height should not be a deciding factor. i would ... | ||
| How Best to Get Seen? | 7/12/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: My son plays shortsop at a NAIA college. He will be a junior but unsure of a major. His dream is to ... A: barb you asked me 3 good questions so I'll try to answer them one at a time. i have no knowledge, ... | ||
| tryouts | 5/19/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Hi im 23 years old getting ready to turn 24 i have never played baseball in school but i played with ... A: mark, i don't think there is a set schedule where tryouts are held each year. it's really up to ... | ||
| 5 run rule | 5/6/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: my sons baseball team plays by the 5 run rule. At tonights game his team was up to bat last, the ... A: Nicole, i can not answer your question. every league in every town, city and state had their own ... | ||
| Am I to late to try? | 4/13/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: My question is the same as many others but i would like an answer tailored to myself. I think it ... A: Jason, i get a lot of letters like your but they usually end up with the guy thinking he can play ... | ||
| MEMPHIS REDBIRDS TRYOUTS | 3/10/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am trying to find out when tryouts are for the Memphis Redbirds for my son. He is very interested ... A: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/tryout_us.jsp breanda, tryouts are not held by ... | ||
| chances of making it | 3/9/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Tom, I am a 19yo from new zealand and am a very keen baseballer. i'm a pitcher who is 6 ft 6" left ... A: Alastair i dont know what your chances are becasue i don't know how good you are. and i don't know ... | ||
| MInor Leagues | 3/1/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Tom, I am trying out for the minors in June. I am a catcher I know that they look at how good you ... A: mike, if you have an OK day, you will be out regardless of how well you know the game. remember, ... | ||
| baseball dreams | 2/27/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am a 19 yr old dat wants 2 play major league baseball..my best asset is my speed....I am a young ... A: Ryan, i really don't understand your question. i think you said you are a sophomore in college. ... | ||
| Chances of minors/pros | 2/24/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am in 8th grade, a LHP/OF but mainly a pitcher. I can throw in the mid sixties with tons of ... A: Zach, it is way, way to early to know. your body will do a lot of physical growing in the next 4-6 ... | ||
| College Baseball | 2/11/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I've read many forums that say if your talented enough and play collegiate ball, you will get ... A: Clayton, you need to focus on the first part of what you said. "if you're talented enough..." that ... | ||
| Worried | 1/30/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I plan on playing minor or major baseball.It doesn't matter. I just want to play. I plan on going to ... A: Jaylan, at 15YO stop worrying about college. you should be concentrating on school. if you desire ... | ||
| minor league/indy ball | 1/20/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: my son used all college eligibilty with 4th year last spring (2009), he went to about 6 minor league ... A: Terry, very few players get signed from the tryouts. from what i understand, ... | ||
| Minor league tryouts | 1/19/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: Tom, A quick background: The beginning of my senior year, (this past spring), of college ball I ... A: Jacob, a 19YO has a huge advantage over a 23YO assuming they have the same talent. the younger you ... | ||
| players contract/getting paid | 1/5/2010 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: when a mlb player gets sent to the minors,does he get paid as a minor? A: Thomas if you have a major league contract, it doesn't matter where you play. if you are a minor ... | ||
| MLB Tryouts | 12/30/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am wondering how many teams have pre-spring training tryouts. My son played minor league baseball ... A: mike, I'm sorry i didn't get back to you sooner; i went away for a few days. most teams have ... | ||
| Baseball & College- | 12/29/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: My nephew is 19 and here in Chicago from Venezuela. Down there, he has tried out for major league ... A: Naptali I'm sorry but that is outside my area of expertise so i won't answer that. I've had ... | ||
| Determined baseball player | 12/23/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: First off, I want to say that after reading your answers I have developed a trust to you due to the ... A: Alberto, my first thought was no. i don't know how much you follow MLB but every year the ... | ||
| Need guidance | 12/6/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am 22 and a green card holder and will be getting my citizenship in a years time. I play good ... A: Ali, due to your lack of actual baseball experience, i would suggest you try out for a local ... | ||
| How to continue on my pursuit of baseball? | 12/5/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am 21 years old soon to be 22 late this month, I was hoping you might be able to give me some ... A: Albert, if you want to play pro ball, which means getting paid then google independent baseball ... | ||
| re-draft | 12/3/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: My son was drafted last June (late round) and opted for JUCO although having passed on a D1 ... A: Jerry, sorry i dodnt get back to you aster. i went away for a few days. he may try playing in a ... | ||
| baseball | 12/2/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am a seventeen year old ball player who lives in the middle of no where.I know in that in the town ... A: Eli, i always tell guys your age to go to college while following your dream. it's the most ... | ||
| Baseball Tryouts | 11/30/2009 | Tom O`Leary |
| Q: I am wondering how you would go about looking for tryouts in the triple A or double A leagues? My ... A: Renee below is the link to mlb tryouts. it gets updated after the winter. i would suggest your son ... | ||
Tom O`Leary
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am am best suited to answer questions regarding minor league baseball prospects.
Experience
Originally, i started doing this because I became engrossed researching prospects for a fantasy league. Back then all I really wanted to do was answer questions about baseball prospects.
Funny how time flies but eleven years later I have been asked questions regarding the negro leagues, what minor leaguers get paid, why players don't rub their injury when they get hurt, and how players can tryout for the minor leagues to name only a few. I was recently in correspondence with a father of a marine who lost several fingers while in Iraq; he was later drafted by the Padres and is playing in their minor league system. Additionally, i get a lot of questions from guys asking me if i think they can be successful at these tryouts or if they should tryout at all.
I do my best to answer every one's question without overstepping my bounds of knowledge. *sometimes i have to tell people that I just can't answer their question.* And sometimes I have to tell people that they just aren't good enough to be a professional ball player.*
Most recently i have received two negative feedbacks from people who didn't like my response. one 30 year old guy who hadn't played since he was a teenager asked me if he really had a shot at making the tryouts. realistically, i said no. i guess he didn't appreciate my bluntness but what would you have wanted me to say?
I am not really an 'expert' in anything. I just answer people's inquires, give some conservative advise or tell them 'I don't know.' After eleven years I have realized that i do fulfill most most questioners satisfactorily which keeps me doing this.
Education/Credentials
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