MLB level player development question

[Maclowery]

Something I've been thinking about for a long time, that I don't really comprehend. Many of you have many more years of active baseball knowledge than I, especially when it comes to development of players between high school and the major leagues.

Basically, why does it take so long for a young man to develop into a major league-calibur player? Obviously, some phenoms rise up exceptionally fast - we see a Fernando Valenzuela or Ken Griffey Jr type here and there. But for the most part, exceptional prospects still spend a lot of time developing before the majors.

Is this development mostly physical? Or simply educating a 20-ish year old 'the game'? It seems like other professional sports - Tennis especially, but also basketball and to a lesser extent, football, see more superb-level players at a young age than baseball. I've no personal knowledge of competitive baseball other than being a big spectator.

I'm thinking specifically of prospects like Colby Rasmus and others in the 19-22 age range. I have no exposure to the minor leagues. What is holding him back from the professional level? Physicality (strength, burst speed, etc)? Skill (hitting a 96mph fastball instead of a 89, movement on a pitch)? Or experience (Pitcher command, intangibles)?

I'm not saying to bring him up now; universal concensus is that he's still not ready.

Hopefully without sounding like a petulant 6 year old, why not? Simply something I've never had explained.

Thanks for bearing with the wordiness.

[Bo Hart]

I think two things:

First of all, they need to get conditioned into enduring the long seasons... pitchers now-a-days really seemed to be babied. They are slowly and gradually build up their endurance to prevent injuries.

Also: a lot of the guys are getting by on pure physical ability and stuff in high school, so they have to actually learn how to play the game of baseball.

But I really don't know much so there is a good chance that everything I said is completely off-base.

[Hungary Jack]

Most statistical analyses shows that a MLB player's peak performance years are between 24 and 29. It seems pretty clear that most players 1) need to physically mature; 2) put in the time (repetition) to hone the skills required to play at a ML level.

Most guys aren't physicaly ready in their early 20's. They don't have the strength and stamina. Conversely, a lot of players remain productive well into their 30's, but it seems that the marginal guys tend to fade away pretty quickly.