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Many of the showcase forms ask for reccomendations from pro scouts.
If the prospect form requires a check to be sent along also, the pro scout reccomendation may be moot (provided the check clears of course).
If the prospect form requires a check to be sent along also, the pro scout reccomendation may be moot (provided the check clears of course).
A pro scout's recommendation is his name - his organization - and telephone number if you have it. I asked for their business card at games. Not that it's necessary but I asked their permission to use their name if my son needed a recommendation. All said they would be happy to.
Fungo
Fungo
Fungo said it all really. When my son was being recruited many of the questionaires had a section where they wanted to know of any pro scouts that had seen you play with a telepone number and name. I just asked them for their number (card) and if they minded me putting them down on the form. All of them were more than happy to do so. Sometimes its as simple as walking up introducing yourself and telling them what you need. Most of them are more than happy to help a kid out.
This is not directly about finding a pro scout but it is a good story about baseball networking at the next level.
When my son was in HS there was a local HS coach who my son had a "competitive" relationship with. He was a part time bird-dog scout, played a little pro ball, demanding to a point where most parents would try to find a rock to hide the boy under. There were times that many thought this guy was out of line and IMHO he was not a typical HS coach. Little did I know that he and Ryan talked often off the field 1x1 about dedication, passion, direction and I found out why/how pro scouts were at his HS games where very few college coaches ventured. He then coached a Northwoods Summer team when my son played for Madison Mallards and there was enough respect for their friendship that he never approached, or put Ryan on the spot to play for him. This last year he was the head coach in the NY-Penn where my son played on a different team. During the off season he runs a traveling baseball camp where my kid works along side him.
I don't mean to hijack pitcher18's thread but I think that part of the recruiting process is developing baseball relationships, and HS players with a desire to take it to that next level need to step outside that HS box and make an effort to find those connections. Whether it be a pro scout, an ex-college player, an outside coach, or whatever. You need not only perform on the field but take every advantage with off the field experiences and relationships. Separating yourself with other players on the field is step 1, off the field takes more work. Granted, easier said than done. But always keep your eye for those "learning" relationships. You would be surprised that they do exist more often than one thinks, and they don't have to be a pro scout, others you find may have those contacts you are missing. I'll bet that pg, tr, fungo, coachb, and other coaches on this site have had those special friendships with players they did not directly work with but felt a bond with and went the extra mile to help a player through the process. You never know who's watching, and who may be that special fan. IMHO
When my son was in HS there was a local HS coach who my son had a "competitive" relationship with. He was a part time bird-dog scout, played a little pro ball, demanding to a point where most parents would try to find a rock to hide the boy under. There were times that many thought this guy was out of line and IMHO he was not a typical HS coach. Little did I know that he and Ryan talked often off the field 1x1 about dedication, passion, direction and I found out why/how pro scouts were at his HS games where very few college coaches ventured. He then coached a Northwoods Summer team when my son played for Madison Mallards and there was enough respect for their friendship that he never approached, or put Ryan on the spot to play for him. This last year he was the head coach in the NY-Penn where my son played on a different team. During the off season he runs a traveling baseball camp where my kid works along side him.
I don't mean to hijack pitcher18's thread but I think that part of the recruiting process is developing baseball relationships, and HS players with a desire to take it to that next level need to step outside that HS box and make an effort to find those connections. Whether it be a pro scout, an ex-college player, an outside coach, or whatever. You need not only perform on the field but take every advantage with off the field experiences and relationships. Separating yourself with other players on the field is step 1, off the field takes more work. Granted, easier said than done. But always keep your eye for those "learning" relationships. You would be surprised that they do exist more often than one thinks, and they don't have to be a pro scout, others you find may have those contacts you are missing. I'll bet that pg, tr, fungo, coachb, and other coaches on this site have had those special friendships with players they did not directly work with but felt a bond with and went the extra mile to help a player through the process. You never know who's watching, and who may be that special fan. IMHO
Most of the time you don't even know who knows about you.
There's a scout who posts on the HSBBW and has seen a lot of your college kids play.
There's a scout who posts on the HSBBW and has seen a lot of your college kids play.
Just to echo rz1's comments. During my son's recruiting process, the coach of an opposing team (the "other" high school in a 60 year cross town rivalry) approached my son and offered to help him in whatever way possible to get him to the next level. He had proscout contacts, although we didn't avail ourselves of those contacts. Instead, he wrote a letter of recommendation and made a phone call to a college on behalf of my son.
My son eventually linked with a hitting instructor who was a pro scout and that was how he got recommended. I think if you look around for pitching/hitting instructors inside and outside your area, you might find someone who can link you with the contacts you need. I think rz1 raises a good point about stretching your horizons to get what you need. I think you'll find someone on this website who is in your area that can point you in the right direction, too. Good luck
My son eventually linked with a hitting instructor who was a pro scout and that was how he got recommended. I think if you look around for pitching/hitting instructors inside and outside your area, you might find someone who can link you with the contacts you need. I think rz1 raises a good point about stretching your horizons to get what you need. I think you'll find someone on this website who is in your area that can point you in the right direction, too. Good luck
One thing he can do is try out for a scout team if there's one nearby. If it is really a scout team then it is being run/coached by a scout.
We sent my son to an instructor who is a scout for just that reason. However, as it turned out he's helped my son improve quite a deal so the scout part of it ended up being the least important part.
We sent my son to an instructor who is a scout for just that reason. However, as it turned out he's helped my son improve quite a deal so the scout part of it ended up being the least important part.
You have to look at the big picture here. "Scout recommendation" is nothing more than a talent "validation" request and the request itself would filter out the weakest players. It's not as big a deal as some would lead you to believe. CPLZ suggest the check is much more important than the scout recommendation and I tend to agree with him. Of course EVERY showcase wants the highest caliber players as possible to attend their events because this “validates” them as legitimate with the coaches, scouts and the parents of all players. Common sense will tell you the legitimate showcases make much more money because they can charge more and have a much higher number of participants. Showcases don’t want to be embarrassed by having a group of duds participating in their events ---- but the “average” players (and there are a lot of them) do pay the bills. Most weak players don’t participate in showcases simply because they don’t pursue showcases. In the past showcases seemed to be more selective in their participants but the showcase business has gotten more competitive and they have loosened their restrictions. For the most part I would say there are very few players (if any) that want to spend the money on showcases that are tuned away --- scout recommendation or not.
Fungo
Fungo
A few years ago a dad of a HS player gave me a call and emailed me, Sounded good on paper and i did some research on the player ( everything checked out).
I talked to a number of MLB scouts and what sold them on seeing the player a number of MLB scouts recommendations , one being a cross Checker.
I made the point that cross checkers do not give out their phone numbers to players that dont think can play. One MLB scout said good point and later help get him invited to East Coast Pro Showcase.
I talked to a number of MLB scouts and what sold them on seeing the player a number of MLB scouts recommendations , one being a cross Checker.
I made the point that cross checkers do not give out their phone numbers to players that dont think can play. One MLB scout said good point and later help get him invited to East Coast Pro Showcase.