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On To The Next One: Travis Schlichting

It may not be long until Los Angeles Dodgers right handed pitcher Travis Schlichting is an important part of the team’s Major League bullpen.  Schlichting has very limited Major League experience over the past two seasons, but 2011 may be the year that he solidifies his spot with the big league team.  If Schlichting ever has a chance to negotiate a contract well over Major League minimum salary, he will have Octagon Baseball to support his requested salary.  Schlichting recently switched to Octagon after being represented by Rob Martin of ICON Sports Management.

Travis Schlichting was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.  He was the 98th overall pick of that draft.  Martin helped Schlichting negotiate the largest signing bonus in the round he was selected.  Schlichting was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005, was released by the team in 2007, and then picked up by the Dodgers in the same year.

Schlichting was a third baseman when he first entered professional baseball.  He was converted to a pitcher when he played Independent Ball between being released by the Angels and picked up by the Dodgers.  Octagon hopes that his slick mullet helps Schlichting pick his game up to the next level this year.

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.