Past Guests Discuss Their First Year Of Pro Ball: ‘From Phenom To The Farm:’ Episode 54

Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. aren’t the only players making exciting debuts during the first few weeks of the 2022 season. With MiLB season kicking off, players in every organization are making either their professional debuts or kicking off their first season outside of a complex league.

 

For high school signees that debut is likely their first time away from home for an extended period, transitioning into adulthood while also adjusting to a greatly increased quality of competition. Foreign-born players sent out to full-season ball are also dealing with those same things, along with most being an entire ocean away from home, and some working through a language barrier while to navigating through their new cities.

College signees have the fortune of a few years away from home under their belt, but a common turn of phrase is that no matter your circumstances it’s impossible to be fully prepared for life in professional baseball. Whether it’s the different style of play, life on the road, or even life at home, that first step towards the big leagues provides challenges to players of any talent level.

Players who hit .500 in high school can find themselves hitting below .200 when facing pro arms for the first time, or college players used to traveling each weekend by plane find themselves crammed in a bus on a twelve hour trip. There’s something for everyone when it comes to the adjustment.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ past guests including Eric O’Flaherty, Billy Butler, and Richie Schaffer discuss their experiences and what was learned during their first year of professional baseball.