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2003 season Original AFL player from
'92 season still on the scene in a different capacity Ken Felder is one of the few players to make their professional debut in the Arizona Fall League, beginning his career in 1992, the AFL's first season, with the Chandler Diamondbacks. Looking to add more power to the organization, Milwaukee Brewers first-year general manager Sal Bando had selected the former Florida State football star with his team's first pick in the '92 free agent draft.
The 12th overall selection made it as high as Class AAA, spending all six years of his minor league career in the Milwaukee organization. Felder can still seen at many of the Arizona Fall League games, but now as a representative of the Tanzer Sports Consultants agency. "We have six clients in the Fall League," explained the 32-year-old Felder, who makes his home in the Phoenix area. "I come out and say hello, and make sure they're doing okay." Felder is one of many player agents that frequent the Arizona Fall League stadiums. Most agents, like Felder, are former ballplayers. Having played the game helps an agent, but it's not everything. "A lot of former ballplayers are getting into the business," Felder remarked. "I tell some players when I recruit them, 'Yes, that helps, but you've got to know the business as well.' It's not just 'I played and I can tell you how to hit a slider.'" Felder is content to leave the baseball instruction up to the coaches and managers of the parent team, stating, "The organizations draft the guy, and they're there to develop him." "I try to help my guys mentally," Felder continued, "... with mindset and motivation." This approach keeps him from sending his clients a different message from that of their parent organizations. But he concurs that they've all got the same goal in mind when it comes to their young players. "Bottom line, you want to get the guy to the big leagues and play a long time." --- Bill Mitchell All photos on the Arizona Fall League Report are credited to Bill Mitchell, unless noted otherwise, and are not to be used for any other purpose without express permission.
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