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Dynasty Athlete Representation

Gary Amato Is Now With The Nationals Organization

Here’s a crazy story for all of you who want to know some of the more interesting parts about this business.

On Sunday, I reported that Dynasty added Gary Amato as a client to its growing baseball division.  Interestingly, we first started talking to Gary because one of his teammates on the West Virginia Power (Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate) was inquiring about what we offer in terms of representation.  We later found out that Amato is also friends with another on of our clients, Pete Parise.  They both played summer ball together and played against each other in college.  Anyway, we were elated with the signing of Amato.

A day later, Amato abruptly got cut by the Pirates.  They said that the decision had absolutely nothing to do with his ability, but was purely a business decision involving finances.  Bryan Swalley and I started to brainstorm.  Instead of panicking and getting angry at the fact that a client we had just signed a day before was now without a job, we called up people within a few organizations where we thought Amato might be a good fit.  At the top of our list was the Washington Nationals.

Already having a solid relationship with the organization (Leatherman is currently there and Gunderson was with the club before being traded to the Marlins), we set up a bullpen session for Amato to show his stuff in front of some of the Nats pitching coaches.  Lucky for us, Amato lives only a few minutes away from the Nationals Spring Training facility.  He showed up yesterday and has already received an offer to join with the Nationals in Extended Spring Training.  He will be with the club pending the completion of a physical.

This is just one example of how drive, persistence, opportunity, and a little bit of luck will get you far in this industry.  We are happy that Gary will be given another chance to prove he can make it and wish him the best as a National.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

5 replies on “Gary Amato Is Now With The Nationals Organization”

I have a brother that plays with west virginia and knew gary. We would appreciate it if you could tell us how we could get you to look at Kyle McPherson.

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