Last week my 2020 played in the AC Underclass games in Compton, CA. This is a first class event all the way. First, they give each player a huge equipment bag full of equipment. At least 3 shirts, couple pairs of shorts, socks, uniform top, pants...a cup (of all things), NB pair of metal spikes, NB turf shoes and NB tennis shoes (all top notch, looked to be the latest style). There was other stuff in there, cant remember all of it..we went and had practice, then to Blair Field to get the gear, they fed us barbeque and we watched the older AC teams play..
Next day we had 2 games. (5 games total in the 3 days) The competition is as you'd expect..top notch pitchers (many in the 90's) and the hitters were using wood bats making the field look like a tball field. The field is in Compton, CA...beautiful MLB Youth development field...immaculate....not much shade, but no biggie there. Scouts and college coaches everywhere. One interesting story....we were playing late one night and we could hear gun shots way in the distance...then...sounded like a block away, 2 loud gun shots...a little unnerving but we've all seen the movies about Compton...maybe the only negative. That same night everyone was gone but one worker and us as we were waiting for our Uber. My uber driver got lost and then cancelled...my phone flashed on 5% and had no one on the way. Miraculously I was able to request another Uber driver picked us up a few minutes later...that coulda ended bad...:-)
My son struggled offensively but caught well (scout told him he had his in game POP at 1.9 )...here's a brief story I'll tell not to boast, but maybe can help one of your players. Before we got there I told him, when hes not catching make sure he warms up the pitcher between innings if needed, or go to the bullpen and catch pitchers warming up...sounds trivial right? So we're in the hotel on day #3 and our coach comes up to us (is also a mlb scout) and raves on my son for doing this...said in last 4 years at the underclass and the regular AC games he's seen such a feeling of entitlement nobody does that without being told. He told him he was going to give him a wood bat for doing so (he gave him 3 wood bats)...they raved about it even when we were saying goodbye....one of the coaches even said "see you next year" after raving for a few minutes about the good attitude and hustle...point is, something so small was such a big deal to them...
Anyways, even after struggling offensively so much, and only having some interest from local JUCOs, a P5 coach has been talking to son...no offers or promises just preliminary, basic talk...im keeping my fingers crossed...thx for listening...it was a great, eye opening experience...using it as a measuring stick as to where he is now and how far he needs to go...best of luck to all your boys out there, I hope they get an opportunity like this at some point in their career.
