Is there anything that is a bigger waste of time than serious baseball for high school or college students who are just good enough to make the travel teams but clearly not good enough to have an MLB future?

I guess the only thing that is a bigger waste of time is being just good enough to make the minor leagues.
Years and years of your life, gone.

Major backlash here.
I’m not talking about playing the sport to learn teamwork and discipline.
Im saying the 20th weekend on the road with family in hotels and the 134th game of the year means maybe the marginal benefits towards life aren’t there.
People take it way too far!

And then spending 5+ years in the minors earning basically nothing is when it gets insane.
Chasing your passion playing a game is nuts - go add some value to the world!

10 years ago you could go to college for baseball and still have a summer job and build friendships away from your team. Spend time hunting or fishing with dad.
Todays sports culture has ruined all of that.
You must be unbalanced in every way to make it w baseball.