What's it mean when a pro scout asks a player to fill out a bio card?
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I notice this is your first post...Welcome to the HSBBW. When a scout asks a player to fill out a card this means that he wants to know something about that player. That is good. This doesn’t necessarily mean he will be at his next game but it does provide this scout with some basic information like date of birth, his school, R or L handed, his address and so forth. Scouts are continually compiling information on the better players. If the player was your son...congratulations. 
Fungo
Fungo
Any interest is a positive--better to be asked than not
Thanks. Yes he's my son. A scout for the Phillies and the White Sox have done this in the past several weeks.
How do you find out what information is being kept about a player in the scout's notebooks?
Is it rude to ask or do they look negative on the request?
How do you find out what information is being kept about a player in the scout's notebooks?
Is it rude to ask or do they look negative on the request?
baseballtoday -
In our experience, you'll never really know what info is kept on your son by MLB teams. During the draft, brief comments by the scouting bureau will be available online for most players. Some scouts during recruiting may let you see their write-ups, but most do not. For now, receiving a card is great recognition for son
and a first step to a long, pro recruiting process. I suggest, like college contact profiles, you keep a dated photocopy of the card & envelope so that you have a record of the team and scout who contacted you. (If nothing else, it makes for a nice scrapbook item! )
Enjoy the ride!
In our experience, you'll never really know what info is kept on your son by MLB teams. During the draft, brief comments by the scouting bureau will be available online for most players. Some scouts during recruiting may let you see their write-ups, but most do not. For now, receiving a card is great recognition for son
and a first step to a long, pro recruiting process. I suggest, like college contact profiles, you keep a dated photocopy of the card & envelope so that you have a record of the team and scout who contacted you. (If nothing else, it makes for a nice scrapbook item! ) Enjoy the ride!
Baseballtoday,
I am a parent like you. I’ve been through the draft (twice) and college recruiting so I know how you feel....I think.... Scouts and coaches don’t like parents meddling in their business and I can appreciate that. Parents are the most opinionated, biased, self-centered, prying group of people when it comes to their son and his baseball. Scouts are some of the most secretive and focused group of individuals you will ever meet when they are working. Like RHP05parents states some will reveal things to you but this usually happens during the recruiting (courting) process. Scouts and coaches must make decisions based on information they have gathered first hand and from reliable sources and they don’t want a parent trying to influence their decisions. JUST ASKING can be an influence.
So, what is a parent to do? You have all these questions that are nagging at you...how good is my son? I know he hits really well but do the scouts and coaches see it? I wonder if the scout/coach knows he hit a home run off the best pitcher in the state? What does this scout think about my son? I wonder if he knows he wants to play college ball or pro ball. Does he think my son has a chance of playing professional baseball?
We have a huge responsibility and can make a big impact on our son’s future but we have to do OUR job and allow the scouts and coached to do their job for this to happen. We parents have to stay in our sand box. We should get caught up in parenting, supporting, and seek out the best instructions and the best opportunities for our sons. If we focus on those aspects of our son's “game” then we have done all we can do. Today you are looking forward to the unknown future. There are few report cards passed out along the way to help you understand....it's exciting but it can be confusing. The day will come when you can look back and see things as they really were. Stay involved and things will work out as they should. Enjoy your son, enjoy the game, and enjoy the ride.
Fungo
I am a parent like you. I’ve been through the draft (twice) and college recruiting so I know how you feel....I think.... Scouts and coaches don’t like parents meddling in their business and I can appreciate that. Parents are the most opinionated, biased, self-centered, prying group of people when it comes to their son and his baseball. Scouts are some of the most secretive and focused group of individuals you will ever meet when they are working. Like RHP05parents states some will reveal things to you but this usually happens during the recruiting (courting) process. Scouts and coaches must make decisions based on information they have gathered first hand and from reliable sources and they don’t want a parent trying to influence their decisions. JUST ASKING can be an influence.
So, what is a parent to do? You have all these questions that are nagging at you...how good is my son? I know he hits really well but do the scouts and coaches see it? I wonder if the scout/coach knows he hit a home run off the best pitcher in the state? What does this scout think about my son? I wonder if he knows he wants to play college ball or pro ball. Does he think my son has a chance of playing professional baseball?
We have a huge responsibility and can make a big impact on our son’s future but we have to do OUR job and allow the scouts and coached to do their job for this to happen. We parents have to stay in our sand box. We should get caught up in parenting, supporting, and seek out the best instructions and the best opportunities for our sons. If we focus on those aspects of our son's “game” then we have done all we can do. Today you are looking forward to the unknown future. There are few report cards passed out along the way to help you understand....it's exciting but it can be confusing. The day will come when you can look back and see things as they really were. Stay involved and things will work out as they should. Enjoy your son, enjoy the game, and enjoy the ride.
Fungo
quote:We have a huge responsibility and can make a big impact on our son’s future but we have to do OUR job and allow the scouts and coached to do their job for this to happen. We parents have to stay in our sand box. We should get caught up in parenting, supporting, and seek out the best instructions and the best opportunities for our sons.
You've said it all, Fungo.
Fungo...you are the man!
another fungo moment....great great advice...
as usual
as usual
HotCorner - I like that - a "Fungo moment"!!!!
Fungo, You are without a doubt, one of the wisest men on this site! We all appreciate you buddy!!
Fungo, You are without a doubt, one of the wisest men on this site! We all appreciate you buddy!!
I was at a college scrimmage this year and was sitting a few rows up from a scout. He had a radar gun and was writing the results down.
After a kid pitched a Dad came up in the stands and asked the scout what his son's speed was. The scout very politely asked for his name and looked it up and told the Dad.
The Dad proceeded to tell the scout it must have been a bad day because Jr usually pitches 90 plus. Scout very politely listened.
After Dad went back to his bleacher the scout just sort of shook his head and continued "Scouting".. I thought to myself, That's why I try to keep the topic weather related(
) when I talk to scouts or coaches. Fungo says it well when he advises parents to play in their own sandbox. 
If I really needed to talk to them, I think I'd call and make an appt.
After a kid pitched a Dad came up in the stands and asked the scout what his son's speed was. The scout very politely asked for his name and looked it up and told the Dad.
The Dad proceeded to tell the scout it must have been a bad day because Jr usually pitches 90 plus. Scout very politely listened.
After Dad went back to his bleacher the scout just sort of shook his head and continued "Scouting".. I thought to myself, That's why I try to keep the topic weather related(
) when I talk to scouts or coaches. Fungo says it well when he advises parents to play in their own sandbox. If I really needed to talk to them, I think I'd call and make an appt.
thanks for all the advice.