High school to the pros — a transition that isn't often discussed. Many young talented draft prospects face the decision between choosing the college route and signing a professional contract. Kansas City Royals pitching prospect Ben Kudrna faced that decision after being taken in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB Draft. I had the fortunate opportunity to sit down with Kudrna to talk about what it was like to go through the MLB Draft process and transition to the pros.
Questions arise on whether you are good enough to compete at the next level. Whether college or the pros is the route you should go. All these decisions are running through a player's head before signing. It came down to weighing all options with those close to him for Kudrna.
"Trusting yourself and trusting in the plan that you kind of made," Kudrna said. "I was fortunate enough my parents were very good and they helped lay a good foundation, a good plan with my agent so that we were prepared and we were ready."
Even with a good foundation, leading up to be called is full of excitement and an up-and-down roller coaster ride. You are wondering who will pick you or if you will end up going where you expected. It can always bring some anxiety along with excitement. But that foundation also helped Kudrna stay where his feet were.
"Day by day it was just understanding that we did have a plan," Kudrna said. "And we wanted to stick to that and I was comfortable with it…You can't look back and you can't have any regrets."
All of us, from time to time, go through the same thoughts when having to make decisions. It is easy to look back and think about "what if" or worry about the future, making us question our choices. Kudrna trusted his decision and realized it was time to go to work right after that.
The transition from high school to the pros can be a tough one. You go from taking classes with some of your closest friends and having to be away from home to competing on the field daily. It is an exciting time, but also one where you are stepping into many unknowns and new environments. Luckily for Kudrna, he has had some relationships that have helped him along the way.
Relationships with Fellow Draftees
Kudrna had the opportunity to go through the process with guys who were all taken in the 2021 draft. Frank Mozzicato, Carter Jensen, and Shane Panzini were all high schoolers taken by the Royals in the 2021 draft. All four of them spent time in the Arizona Complex League last year. And they are all playing together in Low-A for the Columbia Fireflies this year.
"I live with Shane and Frank and Carter is right next door," Kudrna said. "Having us four altogether has been big. We are all on the same boat. Us four are all going through the same things. We all got each other to come back to at the end of the day."
When we dive into a player's development, this is just another human element that can play a role in having success in developing these guys into major leaguers. They have the opportunity to feed off each other, learn from one another, and help each other when they need it.
First Full Season in the Pros
Heading into his first full season at an affiliate had Kudrna excited. "It's super special…It was awesome. I had a big smile on my face," Kudrna said. "I was nervous and wanted to play well, but I couldn't help but smile because you know, it is what we have been waiting for."
Through the excitement of his first time pitching in pro ball at an actual stadium with fans, Kudrna isn't letting that keep him from seeking opportunities to keep learning and growing. The Kansas City Royals also helped the younger guys with chances to learn.
"One of our big things is we did what's called morning coffee," Kudrna said. "With guys like Michael Massey, Vinnie Pasquantino, John Rave, Jacob Means…they were all there. A lot of those older guys we've reached out to this season just to check in with."
It gave Kudrna and the other younger guys from the 2021 draft the chance to learn from what the older guys have experienced. They had outlets to talk to people about what they were going through and find out how those guys handled different situations.
Kudrna hasn't only focused on developing himself on the field. He is also looking at ways he can develop himself off the field.
"Off the field the biggest thing for me is just finding things I love to do besides baseball because you play so many games and you're at the field every day," Kudrna said. "You do so much baseball in the time period of the season that you know when you get away from the field and you get time away I think it is important that you do spend it doing other things you like."
The process of the MLB draft can be daunting. Transitioning from high school to the pros isn't always easy, but Kudrna focuses on where his feet are. He is setting himself up to maximize the tools and resources he has to help him on and off the field.