The 2024 Philadelphia Phillies Draft Picks, UDFAs, and Signings

[julio]

I'm not real clear on how NIL money works, but Texas Tech just provided NiJaree Canady (college softball pitcher) about $1 million/year in NIL to transfer there from Stanford. That suggests that UT could get in the ballpark of a $200k minor league bonus offer without too much difficulty if they wanted to.

Out-of-state tuition at the University of Texas is $41,070. If Spencer isn't paying that (and he's not!), that's a quarter of the max the Phils could offer - before NIL is added. He's presumably also receiving room and board (estimated at about $15k/year). Add some NIL money. Add the long-term value of a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin (not insignificant), a shot at Omaha next spring, and a likely $25k MLB signing bonus next summer... If he were offered $1 million, yeah sure, but the difference between all that and $200k? Duh.

NIL changes things, probably more than we realize as yet. Of course, it also further clarifies just how dishonest it is to pretend that these people are amateurs, or really "student-athletes," at least in many (most?) cases. They're professional athletes, employed by universities as a side business (minor league athletics) to their stated educational and research missions.

[zambonir]

That is the biggest softball NIL deal by about 10X, with only a few ever reaching six figures, and for the best player in the sport (or something close to it). But for sure UT and UT NIL could come up with enough money.

He likely doesn't have a full scholarship as they are still limited to 11.7 scholarships (which is changing). I imagine the basic goal of NIL at UT is at least to make it so every guy on the roster is on the equivalent of a full scholarship and room/board. After that, some guys get an extra $50 or $100K.

My out-of-state tuition at Texas in 1990 was around $8,000.

[Docs]

Well, the table hadn’t been updated until about the time I responded to you

thanks - that must be it and I just didn't notice

[julio]

My out-of-state tuition at Texas in 1990 was around $8,000.

In-state tuition at Penn State was around $3k/year... in 1980. Room and board was about the same. Partial scholarship + GSL + summer job + working in the dining hall handled it. I graduated with $10k in student debt. Peanuts.

[julio]

[andyb]

from 2010 to 2019 43 of 300 players drafted in the 14th round made at least one appearance in an MLB game. 14.3% Since 2020.. 0 have as of yet.

That is interesting. Obviously part of the zero recent success is timing and giving those draft classes a few more years to make the majors, but older drafts had HS flyers all over the place and that probably contributed to a higher success rate in the middle rounds.

Today it seems all the good players get drafted in rounds 1-8 and then round 11 and maybe 12 are where you have talented flyers and that is about it. I would suspect the 14th round success rates (defined as one game in the majors) hovers between 5% and 10% in the future and is nowhere close to the 14% of the past.

[andyb]

NIL changes things, probably more than we realize as yet.

Given what you say about in and out of state tuition I imagine Texas will steer more NIL money to in state players and save the scholarships (which are very limited and sometimes partial) for out of state players. This is another way to get around the 11-scholorship limit for the big schools (or whatever the limit is these days).

Every tax bill has unintended consequences. Thinking of asking to be paid in tips next year if Trump wins.

[zambonir]

The scholarship limit is going to end in 2025 though I'm not clear exactly how.

Yeah, julio, in-state at Texas in '90 was less than $1000 I think.

[julio]

Yeah, julio, in-state at Texas in '90 was less than $1000 I think.

Penn State was never the least expensive State University... but worth every penny.

[andyb]

The scholarship limit is going to end in 2025 though I'm not clear exactly how.

It looks like it is changing in the past few weeks. Major college football going from 85 to 105. Baseball from 11.7 to 34.

Title IX is still the law so there will be increases in women's scholarships at all the schools that add men's (at least for now). This seems just a power conference thing as the small and medium sized schools won't have the money to compete.

So those Texas kids with NIL money and scholarships probably will be getting a good deal. Imagine special athlete dorms and meal plans and training facilities come with that. Might be better than Low A ball for an extra year or two.

[zambonir]

I thought the changes were passed but don't take effect for another year.

Texas already added a women's beach volleyball program, and likely will add another women's team. They were ready.

For sure UT already has insane athletic dorms and meals. It's called the TANC (Texas Athletics and Nutrition Center) and the lowest rower has access to everything the star QB does (at least there).

[andyb]

I was just seeing the articles about the scholarship limits dated in the past week. They take affect in the 2025-26 season I think.

34 scholarships in baseball is going to keep a whole bunch of Spencer types in college by itself. Maybe the value of the college senior in the draft will actually increase since more of the mid-level players will stay in school an extra year. Mind you the bonuses to the college senior will not increase, but the value of drafting them might.

[Austinfan]

Texas system gets 2/3 of the permanent endowment fund.
There are certain restrictions, but it allows other money to be shifted from building facilities.

University of Texas System’s Oil and Gas Participation Fuels Bid to be Biggest...

The Permanent University Fund (PUF)

Permanent University Fund

The original one million acres was "much less desirable land in arid western Texas...it had no timber, was too arid for small farming, and had no special mineral resources that anyone was aware of." In 1883, Texas and Pacific Railroad returned 1 million acres (4,000 km2), deemed too worthless to survey, to the State Government, which turned the land over to the PUF. Initially, the little revenue PUF earned from its lands were from grazing leases.

[allentown]

rom 2010 to 2019 43 of 300 players drafted in the 14th round made at least one appearance in an MLB game. 14.3% Since 2020.. 0 have as of yet.

One appearance not something to plan your life around.

[Austinfan]

Nor is minor league money good enough, unlike say the AHL in hockey, where veterans can get $400-750K.

[andyb]

Here is an Athletic article from yesterday on the new roster limits. I still do think title IX issues will rear their head and be subject to legal challenges and I would not put it past this Supreme Court to eliminate those restrictions. Money > opportunity.

Power conference commissioners plan to set roster limits for House settlement:...

[andyb]

I count 18. Not sure who is missing:

Our 2024 Draft Class is here! pic.twitter.com/RVU8FjBbxR

— Phillies Player Development ( @PhilsPlayerDev ) July 25, 2024

[zambonir]

18 or 19, that is kind of a big deal I'd say. In the past only a handful of picks seemed to come to Philly and the rest just went straight to the complex and signed there. A nicer group experience - presumably including tomorrow's game - and a higher-end introduction to the organization (even if crab fries are cheap).

[Matt_Winkelman]

Dante Nori had apparently stepped out of the room for an interview.

[Austinfan]

19 of 20. Not bad.
Not a great group, but should provide organizational depth.

If they land one starting player and a solid RP, that's more than good enough, especially since it seems they may have figured out LA after two decades of futility, Bergolla, Caba, Tait, even Brito looking pretty good and a bunch of young pitchers.