There are an estimated 10 million travel ball players in the United States alone. With such a large number of participants, it’s no surprise that many Major League Baseball (MLB) players got their start in travel ball. In fact, nearly 60 percent of MLB players have played travel ball at some point in their careers.
Travel ball provides young athletes with an opportunity to compete against top-level competition from all over the country. For many aspiring professional baseball players, travel ball is the first step on the road to the big leagues.
As the popularity of travel ball has increased in recent years, so has the number of MLB players who have played travel ball at some point in their career. According to a recent survey, nearly 40% of MLB players have played travel ball, with the majority playing at the AA or AAA level.
The benefits of playing travel ball are numerous, from improved competition to better coaching and facilities.
For many players, travel ball is the first step on the road to professional baseball. It’s no wonder that so many MLB players have come through the ranks of travel ball teams across the country.
Credit: www.littleleague.org
Did Mike Trout Play Travel Ball?
Yes, Mike Trout did play travel ball. He played for the Millville Meteorites, a travel ball team based in his hometown of Millville, New Jersey. The Meteorites were one of the top travel ball teams in the country and won several championships while Trout was on the team.
Trout was a highly touted prospect as a teenager and was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels with the 25th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft.
Is Travel Baseball Worth the Money?
Whether travel baseball is worth the money depends on a number of factors. For some families, the cost of travel baseball may not be feasible. However, for others, the benefits of travel baseball may outweigh the costs.
The biggest benefit of travel baseball is that it provides players with more exposure to college and professional scouts. Travel baseball teams often play in showcase tournaments where scouts from all levels are in attendance. This gives players the opportunity to be seen by a wider range of scouts and potentially increase their chances of being recruited or drafted.
Another benefit of travel baseball is that it allows players to compete against better competition. Travel teams often play in tournaments that attract teams from all over the country, or even internationally. This gives players the chance to test themselves against some of the best players in their age group and see how they stack up.
Of course, there are also some drawbacks to travel baseball. One downside is that it can be very time-consuming and disruptive to family life. Players on travel teams often have to miss school days or weekends in order to attend tournaments, which can make it difficult for them to keep up with their studies.
Additionally, because games are often played far away from home, families have to spend a lot of time and money travelling to and from events.
What Percent of Travel Baseball Players Play in College?
It’s difficult to say what percentage of travel baseball players go on to play in college, as there is no definitive data on the subject. However, based on anecdotal evidence and various reports, it’s safe to say that a significant portion of travel baseball players do indeed move on to play at the collegiate level.
One study found that nearly 30% of Division I baseball players had participated in travel ball at some point during their careers.
While this doesn’t necessarily mean that all of those players started out playing travel ball, it does suggest that a good number of collegiate athletes have come up through the ranks of travel ball.
There are many reasons why playing travel ball can increase one’s chances of playing college baseball. For starters, travel ball provides more opportunities to be seen by scouts and recruiters.
Playing against stiffer competition can also help prepare young athletes for the rigors of college-level play.
So while we can’t say for sure what percentage of travel baseball players go on to play in college, we know that it’s a sizable number. If you’re dream is to play collegiately, then participating in travel ball is certainly a step in the right direction.
What is Wrong With Travel Baseball?
There is a lot of debate surrounding travel baseball and whether or not it is good for kids. Some people argue that travel baseball takes away from the fun of playing the game. They say that kids who play on travel teams are often pressured to perform and win at all costs, which can take away from the enjoyment of playing the game.
Others argue that travel baseball gives kids an opportunity to compete at a higher level and learn new techniques that they might not be exposed to if they only played in their local leagues.
So what is wrong with travel baseball? There is no easy answer.
Some people believe that travel baseball can be beneficial for kids, while others believe that it puts too much pressure on them and takes away from the fun of playing the game. It really depends on each individual child and what their needs are. If you think your child would benefit from playing on a travel team, then go for it!
But if you’re not sure, maybe try letting them play in their local league first and see how they do before making a decision about whether or not to sign them up for a travel team.
FANS NEED TO STOP doing this to PRO BASEBALL PLAYERS!! 💀🥵
How Many Mlb Players Played Travel Ball As a Kid
As of 2019, about 40% of MLB players had played travel ball as kids. Travel ball is a type of organized baseball in which teams travel to tournaments around the country to compete against other teams. Many travel ball teams are affiliated with larger organizations, such as AAU or USSSA.
Travel ball can be expensive, and it often requires families to make significant sacrifices in order to support their child’s participation. For many families, though, the cost is worth it because travel ball provides an opportunity for kids to play against better competition and develop their skills more quickly.
Some critics argue that travel ball has gotten too commercialized and that the focus on winning has taken away from the fun of playing baseball.
Others argue that travel ball is a necessary step for aspiring young players who want to play at the highest levels.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, there’s no denying that travel ball has become a big part of youth baseball in America.
Conclusion
According to a recent study, about 20 percent of all Major League Baseball players have played travel ball at some point in their careers. Travel ball is a type of competitive baseball that is typically played by players who are looking to improve their skills and get exposure to college and professional scouts. While the percentage of MLB players who have played travel ball is relatively small, it’s still an important part of the development process for many young players.
