MLBPAA's Career Development Summit assists former players in post-career landscape

There*s that point in every Major League Baseball player*s career. The last pitch, the last swing, the last out. And then, retirement at a young age.

Add to that the inevitable ※what next?§ questions.

And before figuring out that next career step is first navigating the emotional toll of the career ※stop.§

※The transition from playing the game to the end of your career happens quick,§ said 37-year-old former big leaguer Chad Huffman, snapping his fingers for extra emphasis. ※All of a sudden you*re trying to find a new place and figure out what your new passion is going to be.§

The transition can be unsettling.

※They*ve been focused on one thing 每 a career in baseball. Because they love it, and they invested totally in that,§ Hall of Famer Dave Winfield said. ※And when you finish, you haven*t really prepared for option B, the second chapter of life. And then you*re in the work world in your late 20s, 30s and you don*t have experience.§

Huffman made his big league debut in 2010 with the New York Yankees. After two years playing in Japan, he made it back to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017. His career drew to a close after 21 game appearances in the Major Leagues.

Guys like Huffman were among the 70-some mix of recently retired MLB players who attended the two-day Career Development Summit in early December in Phoenix. About half of the players also brought their wives or girlfriends for the post-career planning.

Guys like Winfield were on hand to provide guidance. The event is jointly sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and the Players Association to provide resources for the players from networking to developing skills to health and wellness to financial planning.

Panelists included 35 former Major Leaguers and even two former NFL players, all of whom donated their time to give back to the ※fraternity§ of ballplayers, using a word expressed a lot throughout discussions and workshops devoted to various topics over the weekend.

Among the very first discussions 每 ※The Mental Aspect of Transition§ 每 was the one facing some young players in the room.

Former pitcher Dan Haren figured he was ※completely content§ when he retired at age 35 in 2015 after playing for eight teams over a 13-year Major League career, he explained. He spent the next year in full retirement mode, and admitted it was a hard time for him mentally.

※It was a difficult transition for me,§ Haren said from the discussion panel. ※I had only known one thing, and that was baseball.§

Haren found new life after his playing days. He*s now in his seventh year in the Arizona Diamondbacks* run prevention department, which sees him charting analytics and game planning with pitchers and catchers.

In revealing discussions, panelists shared words like therapy, anxiety, feeling vulnerable, struggling, and having dark times. And for some, like J.P. Arencibia, who played for Toronto, Texas and Tampa Bay over six years and 380 Major League games, the mental grind took a toll even before retirement.

※I would love to go to the ballpark, and then I went from being that to the guy who was driving to the ballpark with a pit in my stomach,§ Arencibia said. ※From sitting on deck excited to drive in a run to sitting on deck with a &please God let the guy in front of me get it done.*§

Among the messages shared was to urge Major League players to open up and talk to one another about their struggles, particularly when it comes to finding a personal and professional purpose when retirement inevitably arrives.

※If we actually allow ourselves to think about it it*s like we*re somehow checking out or we*re not totally all-in, which is wrong,§ said presenter Chris Capuano, who retired from pro baseball in 2018 after pitching for six different Major League teams over a 12-year career. He says the culture looks upon talking about retirement during playing days as ※a dirty word.§ ※We try to reframe that every chance we get.§

Once players come to terms with the end of their playing career, there is 每 as was also emphasized throughout the weekend 每 opportunity, and plenty of it.

Those who wish to stay around the game have a number of options, from coaching to scouting to front office work to broadcasting. After taking a year off following his retirement Arencibia has found a new home in the game as a studio analyst for Bally Sports Florida while also calling games on Florida Marlins* radio broadcasts.

The Career Development Summit also hosted panel discussions for those looking to find their way professionally away from baseball. Some ex-players gravitate toward real estate, entrepreneurship or financial services. There was a breakout session open to ex-players interested in a law enforcement career in a panel that included Dan Giese who, after three MLB seasons, found new life as an officer for the San Diego Harbor Police Department. He would later return to baseball as a scout with the Yankees, eventually rising to director of pro scouting.

The weekend showed that coaching opportunities are also within reach, even if it means starting at the bottom in the low minors all over again.

Yankees senior vice president and assistant GM Jean Afterman, another presenter, calls the 30 Major League teams ※a very small village.§

※Every team wants to hire somebody who*s worked for another team,§ Afterman, on the Yankees* front office staff since 2001, told the room of young ex-players. ※Once you*re in that village and you*re doing a job, you rarely find yourself outside the village. Because there*s always a job for you once you*re in.§

The young retired players spent much of the two days networking and scribbling down notes during the lively sessions. There was no shortage of guiding advice in any of the various hotel meeting rooms that hosted the summit.

※It*s more than just generalities 每 they*re given some specifics. Try this, invest in this, talk to this person, here*s a number,§ Winfield said. ※This is a good thing for the players. There*s a lot to be learned. I think that every guy that attends this will say it*s valuable.§

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
mfhoudan.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
jerusalemdispatch.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
worldhealthstory.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
techguroh.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com