What it's Like Being Released or Sent Down

Today we talk about what it is like being released or sent down. Antonelli Baseball is the #1 online resource for baseball instruction. We breakdown the mechanical aspects of hitting, fielding, throwing, and base running to make them easy to understand and actionable. We also cover the mental side of baseball and offer college baseball recruiting advice. We delve into the details that you will not find anywhere else.
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[@yellowflamegaulent3902]

We need more Baseball KZbinrs like you.

[@bcardamone]

No we don’t ... I’d never be able to keep up with the uploads. Lol

[@pdraggy]

I love Zigler's vids, he collects baseball cards and talks about em lol

[@ashurany]

Matt's really good at it. Good story-teller. Not trying to overdo things, makes him relatable.

[@tf8560]

I’m 58 now, 35 years ago A ball, end of season and got called into managers office right before batting practice, closed the door, got the talk “ this is the toughest thing a manager has to do blah blah blah...” Came out of office, said my good byes, I drank for 4 days and my whole life’s identity of who I was at that time changed in an instant. Everything I always dreamed of was gone... went back to grad school and became a physical therapist. Don’t remember the games just being with the guys and the clubhouse. Stretching in the outfield grass on a summer evening as the ballpark filled up... the smell of hot dogs, leather and pine tar, pretty girls, life was good at 23. Some of my fondest memories tucked back into the back part of my brain only to resurface when my son grew up and started playing. Thanks for the memories Mike.

[@icepick859]

This comment depressed me very much.

[@kendallevans4079]

His name is Matt.....Wow, no wonder you were released.

[@rslitman]

65-year-old female baseball fan since age 7 here. Never played any sports myself, partly because girls weren't encouraged so much and partly because I am not a competitive person. (I have done some individual stuff, such as ice skating, on a non-competitve basis to have fun and to keep in shape.) I enjoy learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of baseball from you. This year, I retired from my career as a computer professional. I was let go a few times, which is not unusual in my field. My line of work is ripe for outsourcing. As in your career, the number of people in the room breaking the news to me varied. Sometimes, my own immediate supervisor wasn't even in the meeting because the top person in the department or someone from HR was breaking the news to a bunch of people at once. I get the impression that when you got sent down during spring training, even if others got cut at the same time, each of you got told separately. (I remember getting an email in early March one year telling me to report to a meeting in the closest conference room to HR on the 29th, more than three weeks later. I knew this was it. And it would have been, except that after I emerged from that meeting and told my boss, he went to HR and told them I was still needed. That same week, as spring training ended, I read about a Phillies player who had been sent to AAA only to get a call while driving north that, due to an injury to another player, he had made rhe big league club after all. I compared his situation to mine at the time.)

[@JustMeELC]

Dan Chapowski Why the unecessary snark... abused as a child or something & still bitter smh. Seriously, what do you gain by hurting someones feelings ugh. Be better!

[@KuroShiiiro]

Moral of the story? Don't go to Pawtucket.

[@kevinb9407]

How did the AAA players treat you after being a major leaguer? Do they wonder what happened, and treat you differently?

[@chrispikoulas1291]

It's a very weird time when you are done with something that was such a huge part of your life and getting used to a life after it. Around August my internal clock gives me the feeling it's time to get back to school for fall workouts. Nice video, Matt.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks good luck!!

[@yunghanhuang8188]

Dude, you are honest and humble, even my wife started to be positive on u, she used to say those "boring baseball videos" "who is going to watch this?"

[@jakedillon8307]

These are So entertaining

[@22Clearwater]

I'm a 62 year old from UK and I have just recently become interested in baseball after playing The Show on PS4. I just wanted to say I think you are an admirable person, I think your honesty, modesty & integrity will inspire a lot of people. Well done.

[@RCfromtheNYC]

Thanks for sharing this story. I'm read some really sad stories of prospects in many sports just go rock-bottom after their career ends. The fact that you were at peace and found a new calling in the game says a lot about your love for baseball. And some coaches need to know the difference between being big and being diesel! 💪

[@georgeruiz5336]

You know, it really puts it in perspective how hard it is to make it to the MLB. Like look how good Matt is and he still got send down and released. Crazy!!

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@elifishman]

What was your Batting Practice/ pregame routine

[@mikezak8812]

I must say, I enjoy your videos... I mentioned in another video that I don't remember you in the MLB. I have since checked out a bit of your life in the show. 1 home run in MLB is something that 7 billion people cannot brag about. Like your channel. Love to hear the inside/ behind the scenes stories. Keep going ! Hate or respect- Rafi Belliard had 2 homers...

[@johnsned]

I only played a handful of years of baseball, I think the last year was 6th grade. I am not particularly a fan of baseball. Love your channel. Great videos I really appreciate your honesty and sharing your experiences.

[@btwarner2124]

Love this guy. Very open and honest with the questions. Thanks for sharing.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thank you!!

[@btwarner2124]

@@AntonelliBaseball watch them all. And as a huge fan of the greatest game in the world...and once going 5 for 5 in Babe Ruth I myself am an expert like you😁. Keep it up. I have your autograph from Columbus. They have a heck of a hitting coach in Andy Tracy from my hometown.

[@robertsmith908]

You seem like a great guy, best of luck with your business.

[@tidepods3372]

Would you still want to play baseball now if you had the chance?

[@ObsessedCollector]

One of the cooler guys in Baseball. Thanks for all these great vids!

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!!

[@alanbelasco2931]

Thank you so, so much for sharing those experiences. It sounded emotional for you. It was for me listening to you. I didn’t play professionally - college 1973-76. I played in Alaska one summer with several guys that went to the big leagues. You say you coach college? Your college players are so lucky to have you. Best of luck always. Alan

[@justinaltman6065]

Great video! Not sure if you've touched on this already, but a cool topic would be your thoughts on playing different sports through HS. Do you think it's better to play different sports or to play baseball year round? Thanks!

[@EverydayAmerican]

The most insightful part of the vid is the comment regarding baseball being a business. Very interesting.

[@user-ed4fv9nd3b]

How do you continue to play after getting released? Do you have to attend try outs for a new team? Are there agents that help you?

[@jeffreyrossfree1913]

Late to these videos but they are awesome sir!

[@gomaryjay]

Love your videos

[@anndizzle13]

What are your thoughts on dipping?

[@sethsapp8659]

What was difference in intensity from College to Pro Ball?

[@markkodama6910]

Really enjoy your show. You are very honest.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks Mark!! Thanks for watching our videos and commenting!

[@markkodama6910]

@@AntonelliBaseball My family loves baseball. My father was a little league manager in Los Angeles. They named a baseball field after him.

[@kevingamblesonlife9999]

Matt you made it to the show . that alone is awesome.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!!! Thanks for watching!

[@bbarker5766]

Well... I experienced this exactly 10 days ago with where I worked. So now I have more time to watch videos like this to try and help my kids as well as work on somethings I've been wanting to do for a while now. Getting released sucks!!!! Lol

[@nickmaloney2824]

What is a off day like in the MLB?

[@theobartolomeo9329]

How did you break you hand and other injuries?

[@lilremylote]

Always told my friends in college that play baseballs back in PR: If your good you will stay on the field, if you are OK you will be around the Dg, if you are hurt or not playing well pretty much just go sit at home because baseball will turn into business. Sorry to heard all this and what happened to you. But now definitely you are doing something better! Helping other baseball players be better and more careful.

[@lukethompson2811]

Have you ever considered playing in an independent league like for the southern Illinois miners or the gateway Grizzles BTW tanner roark played for the miners

[@jackcoderre5789]

That's crazy that U got released in Pawtucket. I work for the PawSox on grounds crew and your not the only guy I've seen get released cuz Pawtucket is close to their homes

[@advert25]

Matt, At what age is it appropriate to start giving your kids pitching lessons? My son is 6 years old and showing a lot of interest in pitching and he's really good. I'm wondering if you think it's appropriate to start lessons? Thanks!

[@kendallevans4079]

Matt, what does it mean when a player is out of "options"? I'm assuming it has to do with the number of times a player can bounce between AAA and the bigs? Is that right? How many times would that be?

[@Uploading_This]

Hey, I'm a big Indians fan, jw did you play in Columbus with anyone on the current roster?

[@chucklestheclown1884]

Were you ever involved in any trade rumors?

[@Yankees2410]

MLB playoff predictions?

[@jenpeters5927]

Matt I your biggest fan!

[@diegoortiz7648]

SAME

[@andrewkalmans7927]

Can you do a video about getting payed. I.E. How often you get paid, who actually pays you, how much you get paid, etc.

[@tidepods3372]

Andrew Kalmans most people don't like to talk about their money

[@rivahkillah]

I think he answered that already, he said it was direct deposit weekly iirc. Most major league salaries are public info so you can look that up.

[@therrienmichael08]

Andrew Kalmans He did one. Paid every two weeks. If you don't get a signing bonus your playing for meal money $25 a day.

[@coltk6836]

I LOVE BASEBALL

[@swinnick7929]

Who were you with in the minors that is now in the majors?

[@AndrewAJT]

How did you end up on the major-league roster when you were on the DL? Did you get the major-league pay for the year? Don't be embarrassed to answer it's OK if you did I'm just curious lol

[@adampritchett316]

Moral of the story: don't play at Pawtucket

[@bkhighlights6855]

Fax

[@legalsomalian8237]

Could you explain what being on the Phantom DL is like

[@TheUltimateHobo]

I would imagine it would suck big time. The team is intentionally preventing you back from playing so they someone they think is better than you could take your spot. Can't be good for your psyche.

[@Rob-rs8rl]

Do you still follow Major League Baseball and root for the Red Sox? Is it different now that you are retired?

[@J-tu2pb]

9:00 it’s funny it’s like that with the guys I played in high school with. I went to a private school so everyone is kind of spread out in terms of where everyone lives. My senior year was 2021 and it was the best 3 months of baseball I ever had. The team was so close from getting up at 6 am to go hit in the gym before school to in the middle of winter before the season hitting and taking grounders at the field in 30 degree weather. Your around the same guys everyday especially since it was our senior year it was like that 3 other years. We lost in the semi final we stayed at least an hour after the game just reminiscing on the 4 years that just went by so quick. The next day was wired we already graduated a month prior so the only reason why we went back to the school was for baseball but waking up the next day realizing that we don’t have practice at 2 o’clock was a wired feeling. I still hang out with 3 or 4 of the guys from the team that year we all play at different colleges but on our breaks we all meet up and hit it’s great those guys I’ll talk to them the rest of my life.

[@ronaldbell4436]

Have you ever seen teammates fight in the clubhouse or on the field?

[@aidenbienish5924]

Did you ever meet Luis Severino

[@erichall7068]

How does the pay work? Average major league pay versus average Triple A pay going back-and-forth, and his Spring training pay different?

[@jorgecallico9177]

Question, Matt, When do you feel like you're a real member of an MLB team? Take for example a relief pitcher. He gets called up from Triple A and enters his first ever appearance in The Show when its the 8th inning and his team is down six runs. This pitcher just can't really feel included at that point. So when does he generally start rooting for his team? Does it happen right off the bat or does he need to earn his position among the rest of the guys too?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I guess it depends a bit. Feels strange when you first get called up, but after a week or so you feel part of the team I think. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@KuroShiiiro]

Wait is your jacket logo just the Astros 2000s logo but flipped 270 Degrees?

[@LuiBC3]

Basically but this way it looks like an A and its a nice logo

[@houstonandLacfan]

Antonyo337 it looks a lot like Vanderbilt University’s logo

[@tshandy1]

I have no idea what it means to be released from a sports team, but I have been fired from a job. Bad feeling. But you know the old saying, when life closes one door, it opens another.

[@Grimmes12]

How accurate is Moneyball, the whole Mike Magnate/Ricardo Rincon situation?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I think Moneyball is pretty accurate. I was drafted by some of the same guys that worked for the A's at that time. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@paulnuber4022]

After being released how do you try out the next season?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

My agent found me a team. Or go to Indy ball usually. Thanks for watching!!

[@robbiegarnz7732]

Coach wants to see you..bring your playbook! Lol!

[@coachfrankperez7176]

Coach do u play adult baseball I'm 37 I coach HS and travel and still play Sunday league and about 3 tournaments a year

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I don't, but get asked a lot lo. Thanks for watching and commenting! Good luck to you!

[@thomassullivan8612]

Do you have to go to a big baseball school to get drafted?

[@paulsonj72]

Players van be drafted right out of high school. If they don’t sign they can’t be drafted for three years(or if they go to a Junior College they can be drafted right away)

[@Geotubest]

I was released by the Braves organization and had a chance to sign with Detroit to another minor league situation. Kind of regret I didn't take that other opportunity because I think I had my best stuff in subsequent years. Ah well! Great vid Matt.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks so much and thanks for sharing!!!

[@davidrybkiewicz9484]

Matt, at what age did u decide u wanted to play professional baseball.

[@dramaalertnation5154]

David Rybkiewicz honestly you probably don't decide and just work hard enough to make it

[@danger170388]

Did you get a ring when you won a championship?

[@toddayers7524]

What exactly does DFA'd mean?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Taken off 40 man roster and can be claimed by another team. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@scottmcman7659]

Matt, forgive me if you've already addressed this question (watched lots of your videos and never saw this), but, I was wondering what your total income was from A ball, all the way up thru the show for the entirety of your 8 year pro career? I'm talking total gross income, although, what you netted would be interesting, as well. I'm sure you got killed with taxes in a couple of those years. Thanks!

[@chrisbaker2669]

What is it like to be called up to the mlb?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I have a few videos on it in our playlist. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@BD52Ravens]

It must really suck. I bet he was devastated to be called up

[@Waterflux]

Mr. Antonelli, thanks for this video. I guess this is one of the major downsides of careers in sports and entertainment: There are so many entrants relative to number of positions available, resulting in rather swift human resources management. Not to mention, each entrant has some talent, so it is not easy to make oneself into a standout.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thank you!! Thank you for watching our stuff and commenting!

[@kylerheise7661]

A video on how to have a very productive offseason

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I'll try to throw one up here! Thanks for watching our stuff and commenting!!

[@o5s0x]

Were you ever “pressured” or did you ever, on your own,try to learn how to switch hit?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I messed around with it at 14, but that was it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@bobneyland5772]

Why do players wear necklaces while on the field? I would think that would be a distraction when running or sliding. Also managers and coaches wear wrist watches during the game. Why? I know to find out what time it is. Why don’t some managers and coaches wear the same uniforms as the players wear?

[@minorleagueroadtrip6224]

So when they release you on the road, they don't even send you back home to get your stuff? That's kind of crappy.

[@moronmonkey1]

So they don’t pay for your travel back?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I was released twice in my life. Both times I was an hour from my house, so not sure how it works if you are far away. I'm assuming they fly you home. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@hatzzmcgeetheobsessedastro3010]

THERES RUMORS GOING AROUND THAT ITS SCRIPTED can you touch on that

[@ajdougherty1472]

Well, I know it wasn't Buck bc Schoop is about 215- 220

[@nationalsnation6365]

How do you pick your walkup music?

[@grantstephanz9453]

Nationals Nation he did that already

[@petercollin5670]

Strange hearing a Massachusetts guy saying PAW-tuck-et. I went to HS in Attleboro. We all said P'TUCK-it. How do you pronounce Peabody? Worcester?

[@rayzr1120]

Peter Collin I say it like P-body and War-chester

[@signofzeta]

Here is the situation. Bottom 9th, away team up 3-2 in game 4 of championship game in which they are up 2 games to 1 in a best of 5. Runner on 2nd, and batter has 2 strikes. Batter grounds ball to third and is out by putout. Away team celebrates championship, but called off because umpire calls a balk on away team's pitcher. Here is some extra things from that scenario. Umpire did call balk just as the pitcher was throwing the ball, because he apparently did not pause in the set position, although it is debatable whether the pause was there or not. Only the away team's catcher and the home team's batter heard it at a time, and the home team's batter said he got a free swing because of it. What would your feelings be if you were part of the away team, home team, away team's fans, home team's fans, and baseball fan in general? The result of that situation was that the home team won 4-3 in the bottom of the 17th, and forced a game 5. The home team then won 18-2 in game 5 and won the championship.

[@AbbieHoffmansGhost]

I don't think that a lot of people realize the difference in level of play to make it and stay in major league baseball. In most cases the best player that you know couldn't even get drafted. The skill is unbelievable with pros.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Yes very good point!

[@cagedtigersteve]

What's it like to face some of the greatest pitchers in baseball?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

It is a lot of fun, yet very challenging and frustrating lol. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@RichardKoenigsberg]

Seems like AVOIDING INJURIES is the essence of making the bigs.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

It is definitely part of it! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@BillyRamirez]

9:10 No need to imagine. I’ve been fired lots of times.

[@huntleyillinois5767]

What about your major league contract? What happens to your big fat contract?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

You still get it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davidalder2677]

that reminds me to get laid off or fired from a job. You never ever see the people you work with and you can spend like 40 hours a week with them. It is an odd feeling.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Absolutely!! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Ireland831]

I like picking on you a little, but I love the fact that you share it all...warts and all. Anyone that has played at a high level knows how good players are they never "make it". So many levels of play and so difficult to stay in the show. 223 at second...LOL...yikes

[@tiransims501]

Didn't know baseball was like that men they need to pay minor a lil more not saying millions but damn bro at least 3 to 4 gs a month

[@stevenpham1961]

I bet some guys might cry when they get cut.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

For sure!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@MrFlippin24]

That's why most coach don't really make friends with players, they know many of them will be cut in the next months

[@JustMeELC]

The great game can be a cruel b***h sometimes.

[@michaelj5463]

Matt, you absolutely have to stay out of Pawtucket. :)

[@proshit01]

My cousin got dfa’d by the giants earlier this year for pudge’s son

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Wow crazy! Thanks for watching!

[@edwest8804]

Now if you were 225 and hitting 20 to 30 bombs you'd be exactly what every team wants.

[@lotitoslifestyle6952]

Lotito's Lifestyle - Instagram: lotitoathlete21 hours ago Can you please do a video on what it is like being named an all star. At any level and what does the weekend consist of from a players perspective and if you receive any perks (like bonuses etc.) Join the lifestyle SUB to check out my awesome training videos and OFFICIAL COLLEGE VISIT. Btw great video very informative

[@dentatusdentatus1592]

Did you cry the first time?

[@chevy4x466]

Depressing

[@christianscacchetti9178]

RIP Nelson Mandela 🙏

[@Mike1614b]

sounds like divorce

[@hlynnkeith9334]

So basically it sucks.

[@pitchingrebel3352]

Stay away from Pawtucket people.

[@cmayy8317]

Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour