Nationals Farm Authority

This week in Leesburg, VA, MLB and the Player’s Association are holding their annual Rookie Career Development Program.

The Players Association and Major League Baseball each January bring together several of the clubs’ top prospects to take part in the Rookie Career Development Program, a private, four-day gathering in which the players get to know each other and learn about life in the big leagues.

There typically are about 90 rookies invited to a seminar designed to “include sessions on working with the media, financial planning, financial responsibility, alcohol, tobacco and drugs and umpires. There’s also an extended program for Latino players, which introduces additional issues such as immigration law and adapting to a new culture.”

Attending this year’s seminar from the Nationals are Kory Casto, Matt Chico, and Beltran Perez (Jason Bergmann, Brandon Watson, and Ryan Zimmerman were 2006 attendees, and Michael Hinckley was among the 2005 attendees). Selection to attend this program is a sign the organization sees the player in the majors in the near term.

Todd Jacobson of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star provided coverage of last year’s program.

“It really gives guys an understanding of what to expect as a major-league athlete and as a professional athlete,” Nationals farm director Andy Dunn said.