Another PG Showcase Question

IMO that number is about right. Wrong Handers get a discount of a couple of MPH.

One other "trick". Sometimes they will have a pitcher throw more innings up to 4-5. If they are short I would stay for the shorter outing and really work on keeping the velo up. Show hard breaking balls instead of loopy ones. Coaches tend to look for "stuff" over results.

If your left handed and throw 88 they will find you under a rock pg event or no pg event.

Coaches look for a lot more than just pure velocity as stated above. Size , mechanics , projectability , stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by 2013leftydad:
FOR A PITCHER - When should you attend a PG showcase from a velocity standpoint.

I've heard 88 is the magic number (does Lefty discounts apply)?

IMO that is not the best advice, in fact bad advice. Does the radar gun mean something? Yes, but not everything, even at a Perfect Game Showcase. Assuming your son is a 2013 from your screen name, now is the time if you want a quality, honest and respected evaluation as well as using that when sending in a “resume” to a coach. I have seen pitchers graded pretty well that have not thrown 88+ at PG events.

PG events are not just for top D1 prospects and draftable players. The showcases assist in placing D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO.

Instead of waiting until a fastball is 88 mph…I think a pitcher is ready to go to a PG showcase if he gets batters out, has command of his fastball, has movement on his fastball, has a couple of other quality pitches. If the pitcher has none of the above….yes, save your money

It is also valuable to show improvement over time. Unless you only plan to go to 1 showcase - showing 80 as a fresh, 83 as a soph and then 86 as a jr and also impresses some coaches and they will anticipate additional gains depending on body style - developmental age - etc.

I agree with YesReally. I increasingly see little value in other showcase organizations, and I recommend you husband your funds for PG events only. Do one each year when your son is in mid-season form (in June, between HS ball and summer ball, or in August when summer ball is on break).

If he does get to 88, he should be at one of the premier events. Even PG National is in reach for a lefty at that level, if the rest of the package is also there. But to get invited, you need a track record.

If he never gets to 88, you don't want to have gone your whole time without a PG event. Plenty of mid-80's LHP's get D-1 offers.

Midlo,

Can you explain how the process to 'get invited' for PG national and what the track record consists of? And, what is the value of PG national?

YesReally, I appreciate that advice too, as that is the plan in our house (my kid is a 2013 rhp)and I was starting to doubt whether the June showcase (his 2nd) was going to be worth the money. We felt it would be since so much has changed since his 1st one last summer at 15.

quote:

BaseballmomandCEP

I'm not Midlo but my 2013 son has done one PG showcase every year of high school and also pitched in several WWB tournies in Atlanta and Ft. Myers (Underclass). If your son wants to go to the PG National it is invite only. How do you get an invite? Well for a RHP throwing 90 is the "magic number" and you'll need to do that at a PG event. If your son signs up for one of the "Sunshine" events, throws 90 with decent command, off speed pitches, etc...he most likely (help here PG staff) would get an invite to PG National and at no additional charge. It is PG's prestige event and participating is a huge honor and would get your son an incredible amount of exposure to both college and MLB.

quote:

Originally posted by 2013leftydad:
FOR A PITCHER - When should you attend a PG showcase from a velocity standpoint.

I've heard 88 is the magic number (does Lefty discounts apply)?

Coaches have stated wait until your up in the 80's prior to making the trip. Also, is this topping out or averaging? what si the real number that will maximize your look?

Showcases carry price tags and repititve trips get expensive quickly.

Thanks

I'm going to try to read between the lines here. 2013 lefty must be getting into the low to mid 80's, based on your questions. If he has decent stuff and command and has college aspirations without a focused direction to a handful of specific schools, IMO, he should go some time this summer or fall. I think it's safe to say that PG events carry the most weight and have an audience that spans across all collegiate levels. So if there is a talented lefty pitcher looking for the most showcase bang for the buck, this would be the time and place. Waiting longer than fall after Junior year is getting late in the process.

Also, if he hasn't done a PG event, this will give him a very realistic view of where he stands compared to his peers.

That being said, I'm left wondering why coaches are telling a junior to wait longer to attend a PG event ("until you are up in the 80's"). If he's not touching 80, then I understand. If he is mid 80's, I don't. You may have to interpret that yourself.

Finding the best way to promote yourself directly to the school you want to be at is the most important part of recruiting process.

lambo,

There is nothing wrong with making a video and posting it on youtube and emailing college coaches. For sure that might be the best way for less talented players because it is unlikely we or anyone else can help them create recruiting interest and there are colleges out there that will take nearly anyone. But there has to be a good reason why so many college coaches and MLB scouts attend events or follow scouting reports or subscribe to services. Because it sure would be much cheaper and less work to just click the youtube button.

Once again if your not extremely talented, you will probably need to promote yourself.

I look at it this way... If I say I am the greatest... No one is going to pay attention. However, if someone that is well respected says I am the greatest... People are likely to listen.

quote:

Can you explain how the process to 'get invited' for PG national and what the track record consists of? And, what is the value of PG national?

Since Jerry didn't address this:

PG offers an array of opportunities to get evaluated. After that, it's a question of how highly you are evaluated. PG National is designed for the top 300+/- players in the U.S. If you are considered in that number, and if you aren't misbehaving off the field, typically you would have many options. I knew a player who, by the time he came home from PG National, had received over 20 new offers. Not contacts, mind you, offers. (Example of one e-mail: "We know you may never have considered us, but we are convinced that if you come to visit us you will want to come here for college. To show you we are serious, we want you to know that we are offering you XX%.")

PG National happens in June at the end of junior year, so to have a shot at it you need to get exposure prior to the winter of that year. Open PG showcases or the Jr. National (June of sophomore year) and/or BCS or WWBA events are great ways to get talent noticed, if you have it in abundance. Jr. National is also intended for topp players, and is invitation-only, but can be a bit easier to get into based on recommendations from coaches or scouts. One good way to get your best shot at PG National is to go to Jr. National as a sophomore and knock everyone's socks off, then keep it up in summer and fall play.

One thing I would be interested in Jerry's take on would be the impact of the ever-accelerating recruiting time line on high profile events like PG National. With more and more players making verbal commitments before June of their junior years, I see more and more high level players opting not to spend the money on, e.g., a trip to Minneapolis. On the other hand, the guys chasing the dream of being MLB draft bonus babies tend to show up even if committed to a college, so overall I would think the talent level would continue to stay very high.