It'd be helpful to do better, but DJ LeMahieu waves hello
https://www.perfectgame.org/Pl...rofile.aspx?ID=46288
Can't teach size though. And not every kid who is 6'3" hits like DJ (file that under "Duh")
The rules on measureables are not as strict as one might think though. You still gotta be able to be great at Baseball!!!!
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Glad you posted that. Too many people get caught up in thinking we just look at the numbers and don't care about the other stuff.
DJ had a MLB average arm, he just threw the ball in the drills exactly like he was making a play in the games. No question he could have recorded a better velocity reading if that is what he tried to do.
The measurables help but sometimes a player is just so good that it stands out like a sore thumb. In DJ's case what looked like on paper a below average arm and below average runner has become a Major League All Star.
As you can tell from the grade and report, we were not surprised that he made it to the Big Leagues.
One of the (many) things I love about the Perfect Game website is being able to look up measureables and reports. There is an aspect of both "mythbusters" and reality check to it.
Among Vanderbilt's current infielders (for instance)
Connor Kaiser SS 6'4" 190 7.03 60, upper 80's arm
Julian Infante 3B 6'3" 215 7.17 60
Ethan Paul SS/2B 5'10" 175 7.14 60, 82 mph arm
Alex Brewer 3B 6'0" 190 83 mph arm
Javier Baez 6.9 60, 84 mph across the infield https://www.perfectgame.org/Pl...ofile.aspx?ID=275154
Believe it or not, there are a few that played in the Big Leagues that we graded low, like 6.5. One was just a stupid mistake on our part. Another just improved his body and skill level tremendously in college.
Things like arm strength and running ability and power are very important. But other things like instincts/reaction, feel for the game, and actions can be even more important.
What is the average 60 time of a D1 infielder? What is the average throwing velocity across the infield of a D1 infielder? Are you above or below the line on both? If you're below the line what exception talent (hitting, power) do you bring to the position to overcome the negatives?
Kolten Wong 74 mph across the infield at 16 (but ran 6.8 60)
Brandon Drury (2B Diamondbacks) 7.48 60 and 82 mph across the infield
RJM posted:What is the average 60 time of a D1 infielder? What is the average throwing velocity across the infield of a D1 infielder? Are you above or below the line on both? If you're below the line what exception talent (hitting, power) do you bring to the position to overcome the negatives?
yep, exactly. Juliant Infante for instance of Vanderbilt. 7.17 60 but Florida's single season high school HR leader
One more for now: Taylor Motter, SS of the Mariners. 7.08 60 and 84 across the infield. Developed at Coastal Carolina. 17th Round Draft Pick. 5-6 years in MiLB. Now at age 27 getting a chance to start in MLB
How about the pitchers. I often hear you have to throw 90. here is a guy that has reached triple digits in a long MLB career. But far from it in HS.
PGStaff posted:How about the pitchers. I often hear you have to throw 90. here is a guy that has reached triple digits in a long MLB career. But far from it in HS.
Rosey is well documented around here. He wasn't a pitcher but did pitch occasionally, mostly ss in HS but most that seen him play knew he had a live arm, he was upper 80's low 90's heading to Cowley his senior year. Funny how maturation and adding about 40lbs will get you going!
Another thing is some numbers might not be updated, I believe the last pg showcase I attended was in 2015 and my numbers included like a 7.07 and 81 across the infield. Most recently in the fall of 2016 when I was last tested I was at a 6.6 and upper 80s across the diamond. I will say that the turning point for me on the recruiting side came as I increased my speed as I am not a 6 ft 3 220 lb masher.
The only numbers that really matter are your grades for hitting and hitting for power. The rest can be overlooked if you swing it.
Kyle Boddy posted:The only numbers that really matter are your grades for hitting and hitting for power. The rest can be overlooked if you swing it.
This. Especially at the MLB level. If you can show you can handle 90+ and do it with power you have your ticket punched.
SomeBaseballDad posted:Kyle Boddy posted:The only numbers that really matter are your grades for hitting and hitting for power. The rest can be overlooked if you swing it.
This. Especially at the MLB level. If you can show you can handle 90+ and do it with power you have your ticket punched.
Just to add a bit of specificity: 95+ as well as off speed from both righties and lefties...with great consistency. But without the arm, the player is limited to 1B.
How about 6.8 60 and 85 across the diamond for a very young junior (still 16)?
joemktg posted:SomeBaseballDad posted:Kyle Boddy posted:The only numbers that really matter are your grades for hitting and hitting for power. The rest can be overlooked if you swing it.
This. Especially at the MLB level. If you can show you can handle 90+ and do it with power you have your ticket punched.
Just to add a bit of specificity: 95+ as well as off speed from both righties and lefties...with great consistency. But without the arm, the player is limited to 1B.
Or LF. But if you are limited to 1B/LF you should really be able to flat out rake. Being limited to just those positions is a detriment for sure
Even Kyle Schwarber was a heckuva D1 Catcher. Ran 7.27 60 and threw 82 MPH in HS https://www.perfectgame.org/Pl...ofile.aspx?ID=211919
SomeBaseballDad posted:Kyle Boddy posted:The only numbers that really matter are your grades for hitting and hitting for power. The rest can be overlooked if you swing it.
This. Especially at the MLB level. If you can show you can handle 90+ and do it with power you have your ticket punched.
95+ ... Every young MLB starting pitcher is cruising at least 92-95. Most everyone coming out of the pen is 95+.
Do you think Pete Rose would be drafted today? Joe Morgan? They had the 6th Tool and knew how to compete and to "win"!
Bob
On the opposite side you have young players like this...
Or this guy...
One more first rounder...
Consultant posted:Do you think Pete Rose would be drafted today? Joe Morgan? They had the 6th Tool and knew how to compete and to "win"!
Bob
Pete Rose wasn't drafted then. There wasn't a draft. I have no idea what Rose's measurables were. The guy was also an all state running back in Ohio. It's not as if he was an athletic slouch. If his measurables weren't great he would have been selected somewhere in the 20's on effort and attitude alone.
For those not a kid in the 60's here's a trivia question ...
Who was the first player drafted in the first MLB draft in 1965?
Johnny Bench? ERROR HORN second round pick
Nolan Ryan? ERROR HORN twelfth round puck
Craig Nettles? ERROR HORN fourth round pick
The first pick in the first draft was Rick Monday. The A's also selected Sal Bando in the 6th round and Gene Teanace in the 20th round.
Its hard to believe "Dirty" Al Gallagher was the 14th pick in the first round.
PGStaff posted:On the opposite side you have young players like this...
When Perfect Game writes that "While Justin (Upton) shows high SS grades his tools might be graded higher than anyone in history as a center fielder" do they mean in the history of Perfect Game scouting, or were they comparing him to Willie Mays/Joe DiMaggio etc? Just wondering
Yes Justin Upton would grade out as high if not higher than anyone as a high school player. Tools are one thing, playing the game is another. Sometimes the best tools don't produce the best players.
Obviously we didn't see Willie Mays or Joe DiMaggio play in HS. But it is my personal opinion that Willie Mays is the greatest all around player I have ever seen. Not old enough to have seen Babe Ruth.
Justin Upton was also in the bigs at 19. That's not a failure of any scouting report. He got there earlier than most people start their second year of junior college.
PGStaff posted:Yes Justin Upton would grade out as high if not higher than anyone as a high school player. Tools are one thing, playing the game is another. Sometimes the best tools don't produce the best players.
Obviously we didn't see Willie Mays or Joe DiMaggio play in HS. But it is my personal opinion that Willie Mays is the greatest all around player I have ever seen. Not old enough to have seen Babe Ruth.
Willie Mays my all time favorite! If only he had those war years back he would have passed the babe first.
if would be fascinating to know what Willie Mays' 60 time was. I wonder if his home to first time could be measure via old film?
Willie was 3.9 home to 1b. one of former teammates Howie Bedell was 3.2.
Bob
Here is an example of someone, Keston Hiura, who was given an "8" Grade by Perfect Game and was a 1st Round pick in the MLB Draft. He ran a 7.24 sixty and threw 77 across the infield as a rising Senior in HS and played 2B in D1. But the kid can flat out hit
https://www.perfectgame.org/Pl...ofile.aspx?ID=353544
I post these not at all as a criticism of Perfect Game but as encouragement to those who might be late bloomers or who don't hit all the high water marks in terms of measureables
Did you know that Eddie Murray did not switch hit until his 1st year in Pro baseball. Edgar Martinez practiced left handed to develop "muscle memory". Henry Aaron batted "cross handed" for his 1st year in Pro baseball. Greg Jefferies, NY Mets had the same swing- left and righthanded. He develop his swing and bat speed in a swimming pool.
One year I selected 4 shortstops for our American team to Australia. Move one to 2b, one to 3b and one to CF. Made a switch hitter of the CF and his "on base" average was .500 for 12 games and he later played a Wake Forest U.
Bob
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