[washingtonismoney]

Apparently Ryder Jones (yes, great name) has decided to sign with the Giants out of high school instead of going to Stanford for college. Perhaps others know the exact details, but wasn't Stanford in possession of a long streak of retaining such players? If so, is this a negative vote on the state of the program, or one of those streaks that was bound to be broken eventually?

[washingtonismoney]

Apparently Ryder Jones (yes, great name) has decided to sign with the Giants out of high school instead of going to Stanford for college. Perhaps others know the exact details, but wasn't Stanford in possession of a long streak of retaining such players? If so, is this a negative vote on the state of the program, or one of those streaks that was bound to be broken eventually?

[fullmetal]

David Lombardi mentioned how the state of the baseball program was such that recruits might think about going pro right away to better develop their skills rather than play ball at Stanford (for now anyway)...it certainly reflects on the program since apparently Jones had mentioned Stanford as his first option some time ago (iirc).

[fullmetal]

David Lombardi mentioned how the state of the baseball program was such that recruits might think about going pro right away to better develop their skills rather than play ball at Stanford (for now anyway)...it certainly reflects on the program since apparently Jones had mentioned Stanford as his first option some time ago (iirc).

[FarmBoy]

Well, it seems to me that Stanford players still do reasonably well in the MLB draft, so it doesn't seem to be hurting their career prospects too badly to come to The Farm. But there's always a tradeoff between playing for free and playing for money that's going to factor in for some kids. And you never know, maybe Ryder will end up as a reserve WR on the football team in 2020...

[FarmBoy]

Well, it seems to me that Stanford players still do reasonably well in the MLB draft, so it doesn't seem to be hurting their career prospects too badly to come to The Farm. But there's always a tradeoff between playing for free and playing for money that's going to factor in for some kids. And you never know, maybe Ryder will end up as a reserve WR on the football team in 2020...

[Kathy]

For some kids, that signing bonus is just too tempting to turn down.

[Kathy]

For some kids, that signing bonus is just too tempting to turn down.

[Bruce Wang]

These kids need to talk to Billy Beane before turning down Stanford for the pros.

[Bruce Wang]

These kids need to talk to Billy Beane before turning down Stanford for the pros.

[slide]

I had hoped that 9 would keep his streak going on not losing a signed HS player to the MLB draft.  I believe Jack McGreary was the last one.  may be Ryder opts for the same path McGreary traveled.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-...ord-degree

[slide]

I had hoped that 9 would keep his streak going on not losing a signed HS player to the MLB draft.  I believe Jack McGreary was the last one.  may be Ryder opts for the same path McGreary traveled.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-...ord-degree

[BobK]

McGeary isn't playing this year.  I don't know if hurt or retired.  I had forgotten his agent is a former Stanford baseball player.    And solitary maybe but he roomed quite a bit with Drew Storen and another player while at Stanford. 

Before losing McGeary the last was BJ Grabe in 1999.  BJ was named the other day as one of the draft's biggest flops.  Never made the Bigs.

Hate to lose Jones despite being a big Giant fan.  It's a long way from Salem Oregon to SF.

[BobK]

McGeary isn't playing this year.  I don't know if hurt or retired.  I had forgotten his agent is a former Stanford baseball player.    And solitary maybe but he roomed quite a bit with Drew Storen and another player while at Stanford. 

Before losing McGeary the last was BJ Grabe in 1999.  BJ was named the other day as one of the draft's biggest flops.  Never made the Bigs.

Hate to lose Jones despite being a big Giant fan.  It's a long way from Salem Oregon to SF.

[97fan]

I doubt if this has anything to do with the state of the program. It happens to everybody, and if it hadn't happened to us recently (which I'm not sure about), it's mostly luck. Miami's coaching staff has been talking openly about shifting its focus because so many of its baseball recruits were signing pro contracts before ever setting foot on campus.

Agreed. Didn't this used to happen at Stanford more often?

As an aside, I credit one of my best friendships in life to the decision of a baseball player to skip Stanford and turn pro.

Brad Fullmer was scheduled to be part of Stanford's class of 1997. His decision to sign with the Expos came so late that his picture appears in the 1993 frosh book, where he's listed as a Branner resident. Shortly before the school year started, my friend-to-be, disappointed that he'd been placed in a four-class dorm, called ResEd and asked if any spots had opened in all-frosh dorms. Actually, there was now a spot in Branner, he was told.

The rest is history - Fullmer went on to a pretty decent career with the Expos and Blue Jays, while my fellow Brannerite and I went on to become roommates for the next three years.

[97fan]

I doubt if this has anything to do with the state of the program. It happens to everybody, and if it hadn't happened to us recently (which I'm not sure about), it's mostly luck. Miami's coaching staff has been talking openly about shifting its focus because so many of its baseball recruits were signing pro contracts before ever setting foot on campus.

Agreed. Didn't this used to happen at Stanford more often?

As an aside, I credit one of my best friendships in life to the decision of a baseball player to skip Stanford and turn pro.

Brad Fullmer was scheduled to be part of Stanford's class of 1997. His decision to sign with the Expos came so late that his picture appears in the 1993 frosh book, where he's listed as a Branner resident. Shortly before the school year started, my friend-to-be, disappointed that he'd been placed in a four-class dorm, called ResEd and asked if any spots had opened in all-frosh dorms. Actually, there was now a spot in Branner, he was told.

The rest is history - Fullmer went on to a pretty decent career with the Expos and Blue Jays, while my fellow Brannerite and I went on to become roommates for the next three years.