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Any experience with securing invites to Area Code Underclass Tryouts?  We're in Northern Illinois...  My 2018 is a talented player with measurables in line with attendees from the 2015 AC tryout results.  He can play. He's wanting a chance.

Does anyone have experience with this? 

Thank you,

David

 

 

Last edited by Gov
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roothog66 posted:

http://www.studentsports.com/b...ll-underclass-games/

 

There is a link to the profile page (application) under the Q&A section.

Saw that Root.  Looking for personal experiences; I've learned there is a Chicago Scouts Association that manages a lot of this, however, they seem to only extend invites to kids that have played on 3-4 teams within their Fall program that started with them as Freshman.   I've seen these kids play, my son played against them, and there were hardly any standouts.

So, I'm trying to learn more about the process.  At a minimum we'll fill out the application and include video, but normally someone needs to nudge the application along for any of these invite events.  Gathering info to help the kid.

Thanks

SoCalBaseball13 posted:

A lot of this is like business. It's who you know. Try aligning yourself with the people that will get you to where you want to go. Make sure you are also realistic is his abilities and where he will fit.

Concur SoCal...  Constant honest assessment required with this entire recruiting process, especially if you'll be reaching out to an MLB Scout.... thanks

 

We're in the footprint of the ChiSox AC team and tried to get an invite to a tryout for my 2017 last summer.   We reached out to people who had contacts with CSA, and even tried contacting CSA directly, to no avail. 

In the end it was fine: my son was invited to tryouts in another region (and was selected for one of the Underclass Teams).   I had been warned by various people that there was a lot of noise in the process; this kind of confirmed that. 

According to my son, there were a number of kids at his initial tryout who were solid but unspectacular, while quality players from the same region whom he knew well and had played with/against were not invited.   As with anything else designed by humans, randomness and luck played their usual roles.

SouthPa posted:

 

We're in the footprint of the ChiSox AC team and tried to get an invite to a tryout for my 2017 last summer.   We reached out to people who had contacts with CSA, and even tried contacting CSA directly, to no avail. 

In the end it was fine: my son was invited to tryouts in another region (and was selected for one of the Underclass Teams).   I had been warned by various people that there was a lot of noise in the process; this kind of confirmed that. 

According to my son, there were a number of kids at his initial tryout who were solid but unspectacular, while quality players from the same region whom he knew well and had played with/against were not invited.   As with anything else designed by humans, randomness and luck played their usual roles.

Congrats to your son. I've seen it's definitely noisy like you described. My son is affiliated with a team that's part of the CSA, and for whatever reason even internal to his team, it's very selective and on the QT as to who is going. 

 

"Noise" is a technical term (as in "signal-to-noise ratio") that is now used in everyday speech to indicate the presence of incomplete or inaccurate information.  In this context, I meant that some very good players are overlooked when the tryout invites are sent, while some less-than-stellar players make the cut (at least according to my son.  But he added that everyone who was invited back for the second tryout was obviously very good). 

For the Underclass tryouts it's pretty understandable:  in general, kids in this age group have not been as thoroughly scouted as the rising seniors, so it would make sense to cast a wide net -- but there will still be some misses. 

wsoxfanatic posted:
SouthPa posted:

 

We're in the footprint of the ChiSox AC team and tried to get an invite to a tryout for my 2017 last summer.   We reached out to people who had contacts with CSA, and even tried contacting CSA directly, to no avail. 

In the end it was fine: my son was invited to tryouts in another region (and was selected for one of the Underclass Teams).   I had been warned by various people that there was a lot of noise in the process; this kind of confirmed that. 

According to my son, there were a number of kids at his initial tryout who were solid but unspectacular, while quality players from the same region whom he knew well and had played with/against were not invited.   As with anything else designed by humans, randomness and luck played their usual roles.

Congrats to your son. I've seen it's definitely noisy like you described. My son is affiliated with a team that's part of the CSA, and for whatever reason even internal to his team, it's very selective and on the QT as to who is going. 

Same here.  Our program has an affiliation with the CSA.  We have one of the kids on the underclassman AC team and we didn't even know it.  In fact we are good friends with the family and they didn't even say much.  Not sure why, they talked about it when I asked them, but no one was trumpeting the fact that the kid was on the team.

I believe CSA is one of the bigger managers of these invites as far as I know. Most of these kids were seen at their Silver and Black series showcase. This is an invite only showcase, that they will take recommendations from various programs they consider to be of the elite. There are only so many kids they will take, so pending how many they target directly, they will then ask these programs for an additional player or two, or possibly none at all. 

 

Everyday Dad posted:

I believe CSA is one of the bigger managers of these invites as far as I know. Most of these kids were seen at their Silver and Black series showcase. This is an invite only showcase, that they will take recommendations from various programs they consider to be of the elite. There are only so many kids they will take, so pending how many they target directly, they will then ask these programs for an additional player or two, or possibly none at all. 

 

Pretty much what we've heard... CSA extends invites to a number of players per team, from teams that played in their CSA Fall Showcases as incoming freshman.  Our program was a year late to be involved.  

 

3and2Fastball posted:

GOV or anyone else: any updates on this topic?

I am fairly certain that from Wisconsin the only players invited came from Hitters, STiKS, PTA or GRB (i.e. the top travel programs).   Seems like a very tough invite to get, which is understandable as there are only so many spots available.

RJ Fergus heavily involved - access thru Hitters and Chicago Scouts Assoc, find a way to get your son in his program.  His fall program just started... and sign up for every showcase he runs if your son stands out from his peers.

I never did figure out how this works. My 2018 was invited to tryouts for underclass last year. They were only taking five from his tryout, so he didn't make the team, but did very well and received a lot of interest and a couple of offers from the tryout. Fast forward a year and despite being well regarded and fairly high ranked, especially in regards to our region (Four corners team) didn't even get an invite to tryouts although he had been sent several questionnaires from teams. More than a couple of dozen other players from our state received invites. We never figured it out.

Tough invite to get.  I know a kid who made the underclass team, but never got invited to the tryouts his Sr year.  If your in Chicagoland/Southeast WI your best bet is to align yourself with a team in the Chicago Scouts Association League.  Justin Stones Elite, Sparks, Hitters, Longshots, 29ers, Athletic Barn, Pro-Player, etc.  They seem to have the contacts, but even then it can be tough.  I know many of them are conscience of their reputation and wont work those contacts for all their players.  

As Gov said, I think the Hitters are the hot program right now.  I would try to get on their team, or at least get in front of them.  Other then that Sparks, followed by Elite and then Longshots seem to have the most pull.

Gov posted:
roothog66 posted:

http://www.studentsports.com/b...ll-underclass-games/

 

There is a link to the profile page (application) under the Q&A section.

Saw that Root.  Looking for personal experiences; I've learned there is a Chicago Scouts Association that manages a lot of this, however, they seem to only extend invites to kids that have played on 3-4 teams within their Fall program that started with them as Freshman.   I've seen these kids play, my son played against them, and there were hardly any standouts.

So, I'm trying to learn more about the process.  At a minimum we'll fill out the application and include video, but normally someone needs to nudge the application along for any of these invite events.  Gathering info to help the kid.

Thanks

My son went through recruiting process as a 2016. He is now playing at a D1 in the south.He was invited by the Milwaukee Brewers to area code try-outs both as a rising Jr and rising Sr.

I understand how you feel about the sort of ambiguity that goes with how kids are selected. My understanding is that the main thing is being referred by a MLB scout. It's listed in the questionnaire at the website .

My son played on a national travel team that was ran by a MLB scout and had done individual instruction w/ another. That's how he got the invite.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

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