Pro school Age

[Codyw09]

I was introduced to a local assigner who's son is former mlb alt umpire and taught at one of the pro schools for quite some time. He informed me that his son was coming to evaluate me at a scrimmage the next weekend. So all weekend I am doing mirror work and sharpening up my mechanics worried about how bad this eval was going to be because I have only been to one umpire clinic. Luckily these CO guys have good training and the former pro instructor liked me. He said I had a great foundation, good body type, good judgment and awareness and best of all he liked my timing. (timing to me is one of the hardest things to get under control) He even said that speaking from experience I looked as if I had a good shot to graduate as an honor grad the only thing thats not to great is that im already 27. Has anyone youve known gone to pro school this late?

[mstaylor]

There are guys that go that old and get jobs but you will be at a disadvantage. If you go and don't get a job it will put you in a good place to work D1 quickly.

[moblue]

Most of the guys that went to Evans this year were younger than 27. However, if you are wanting to go to pro school and get into pro ball, my advice would be to go now. The younger you are, the more advantageous it is. In some ways, I think being 27 could be a plus. You should be more mature than most of the college age students, and would probably handle life on the road better. Even if you don't go on to pro ball, the skills that you learn at pro school are excellent help to use back at home in your local association.

[mmiller32]

I was introduced to a local assigner who's son is former mlb alt umpire and taught at one of the pro schools for quite some time. He informed me that his son was coming to evaluate me at a scrimmage the next weekend. So all weekend I am doing mirror work and sharpening up my mechanics worried about how bad this eval was going to be because I have only been to one umpire clinic. Luckily these CO guys have good training and the former pro instructor liked me. He said I had a great foundation, good body type, good judgment and awareness and best of all he liked my timing. (timing to me is one of the hardest things to get under control) He even said that speaking from experience I looked as if I had a good shot to graduate as an honor grad the only thing thats not to great is that im already 27. Has anyone youve known gone to pro school this late?

I'm glad you posteed this. I will turn 27 next month and have been told that is too 'old'.. I was laid off in December and right now umping is my only source of income. This is my 9th year as I have been an ump since my freshman year of college.. I've always had a whim to go. My hightest level of ball is the JC level but I am really considering attending a pro school or something similar. I don't want to look back 10 years from now and have regrets and figure now is the time if i do make a move

[bigblue89]

I turn 27 in August and i have been thinking hard and heavy about going to either Evans or Wendelstedt school. Ive been rethinking about it because of my age (who knew 27 was too old for school) but its like moblue and mstaylor said if nothing else it will put me, you, us, and them in a better spot to move up if not just in our association but also into higher college level games. I still want to go just to say if i get a job out of it AMAZING if i don't at least i cant say i didn't try! I say if you have the opportunity and the means to do it than GD do it! No one ever said it was bad to go to school!

[Umpire in Chief]

If you want to do it go for it. 27 is not out of the relm 2-3 years a go there was a 40 something who made it through PBUC.

Go for it and the worse that will happen is after 5 weeks you'll be a better umpire, have learned a ton and had a a life long memory. You'll know you went out there gave your best and that you won't live wondering I wonder....

Even at my age if I had the opportunity to go to pro-school I'd do it.

[mazzamouth]

I'm 35 and went to Pro school, and got an invite to PBUC....never too late...

[mstaylor]

I'm 35 and went to Pro school, and got an invite to PBUC....never too late...

Mike, you can work pro ball with a cane? :)

[mazzamouth]

I'm 35 and went to Pro school, and got an invite to PBUC....never too late...

Mike, you can work pro ball with a cane?

I believe you can...

[Codyw09]

Mazza thats freaking awesome man congrats.

Thanks everyone your input is appreciated

[Umpire in Chief]

Nothing against younger guys, but there is something to be said about guys with more "life experience" I think oftentimes it will show in handling situations.

[dumbdumb]

Sorry about being late to the game on this post but needed some research time.

Karl Best(32), Kelvin Bultron(33), and Dan Oliver(33) started in 2005, 2006, and 2005 respectively, just got called up to AAA this year. I will let you count backwards as to their age when they started.

John Conrad(34) started in 2005 and was called up to AAA in 2010. Once again count backwards for his starting age.

Millsap and Stureman were both 32 and 33 respectively when they were called up to AAA in 2009 and started in MiLB in 2003.

Art Thigpen(43) and Takeshi Hirabashi(43) started MiLB in 2004 and 2005 respectively so you can count backwards for their starting age.

Its not where you start it is where you finish.

I do not have time right now to figure out the starting ages of all those who have actually made it as a MLBU, taking into account the 99 strike situation.

However, apparently once you get to AAA it is in the hands of the MLB evaluators and if you are hell on wheels at working the dish and handling situations, that would probably be what they are looking for, no questions asked.

Now, just like any employer (whether they say anything or not). If there is just 1 opening and a 39-45 year old and a 32 year old are rated exactly the same, who would get the job????? I do not know, now that the 99 strike has been worked through. I will let people speculate on that question. If you are hell on wheels like Dan Bellino you will be in AAA starting in your 5th year and be in MLB Spring Training after your 1st or 2nd year in AAA and ready for call-up games. After that who knows.

[UmpJeff]

"Now, just like any employer (whether they say anything or not). If there is just 1 opening and a 39-45 year old and a 32 year old are rated exactly the same, who would get the job????? I do not know..."

I can tell you...

All things being equal, the 32 year old will get the job hands down. Call it what you want, but, that's the way it is. In business and in sports. Which, by the way, at the professional level (minor or major league) IS a business. Simply put, they'll get more mileage out of the young buck than the former young buck. That's life...

[yawetag]

All things being equal, the 32 year old will get the job hands down. Call it what you want, but, that's the way it is. In business and in sports. Which, by the way, at the professional level (minor or major league) IS a business. Simply put, they'll get more mileage out of the young buck than the former young buck. That's life...

In sports, yes. In business, not really. In today's business world, employees aren't as dedicated as they were even 20 years ago. I've been with the same company for 9 years, and I'm 20th on the seniority list. Because of this, the older person might be in a better position, although the difference between 32 and 40 isn't too much -- 25 and 45 is, though.

The issue is that it's difficult for all things to be equal with a 20-year gap. The 45-year-old has more work experience, and sometimes commands a higher wage -- especially if the job is in the field of their experience. However, he can give you stability, and may not jump at the next job opportunity, even if it means a few more bucks in his pocket.