Why is college baseball experience not considered as part of minor league experience?

I know decades ago, many Major League league rookies who never played college ball usually make their pro debut at age 21 to 23 years old after paying their full dues (3-4 years) in the minor league system.





I think at least in the last 12 years, I see the average MLB rookie age is between 26-28 years old... or even older because they played college in full AND had to go the full ride in the minor leagues to boot!





Shouldn't the MLB teams consider if the player had spent 4 years of college ball, that he should not "start from scratch" in the minor league beginning with Single A? Shouldn't graduated college players, at worst, start off at AAA level after they already played 4 years in school?





My thought is that 4 years of college ball following with 3 years or more of minor league ball is a long time and a long wait for a player who is talented.

Why is college baseball experience not considered as part of minor league experience?
Aluminum bats for one. If colleges would stop using them, maybe more credit would be given to those who go that route. Also, the competitive level at college is considered less AAA or even AA minor league ball. Add to the fact the teams haven't invested time or money into these players, so there is more incentive to move their own players along.
Reply:Not sure on your source for the info, but if a player is good enough he will make it right away after college. Players aren't obligated to start from scratch in the minor leagues. Look at Xavier Nady who went directly to the majors from UC Berkley. If a player is good enough at whatever age 18-26 he will play in the majors. If a player does play extensively in the minors after graduated that probably means he wasn't good enough in the first place.
Reply:Minor League baseball is professional, college is not.


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Reply:The College level is different because of the aluminum bat along with the facts that the players are not getting paid. After College, these players still have to adjust to the wooden bats and adjust to the new ways of life
Reply:Teams call up the player that is most likely to help out the team by filling a specific vacancy at that time.


It used to be rare for teams to draft any player outside of major US colleges but now teams are stocking up on foreign players from other professional leagues like Japan etc.which increases the competition for jobs at the major leagues. Players are also taking better care of themselves and can play longer, making for fewer openings and that also increases the wait times for players to move up.
Reply:If they're good enough, they'll get to the majors in a hurry. Look at Andrew Miller for the Tigers. He made his debut a month or two after finishing college.
Reply:Should be huh?
Reply:college is amature and the minors is still the pros they just dont get payed as much



sweating