Do Scouts Prefer Pitching Speed or Accuracy?

I think the scouts in general look at both accuracy and speed, but then factor in other pitching qualities. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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1) Is throwing speed something that's hard to achieve if one starts late?

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Sometimes it's all mechanical, however, some bodies were not built for power.

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2) Have you seen many really wild youngsters become highly accurate eventually?

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Maybe this is just a personal assessment but it seems to me that many times those kids who could throw hard and wild as kids are no longer involved in the game. Those who threw with accuracy seemed more willing to work on their game, thus found more success. I would think that is associated with a kids mental make up. I think the numbers would tell you that those kids who physically mature at an earlier age tend to be under achievers later on when they rest of the age group catches up.

micdsguy,

Starting late has less to do with throwing speed than natural ability. I've seen many pitchers who started late and have great velocity. There are some in professional baseball.

Yes, there are many examples of young wild pitchers improving and ending up with good control. There’s also been a few examples of young pitchers with good control who have lost that good control.

I’m not positive which is easier to improve because both can be improved. But if you’re talking about enough improvement to become a professional prospect, then velocity has to be the answer.

Most everyone can improve control and while everyone can also improve velocity, velocity is more of a natural talent or gift. Some people were never meant to throw a baseball 90 mph and they never will, no matter how hard they work at it. Make that almost everyone that we all know!

Anyway, that’s my opinion. Might be wrong!

" Most everyone can improve control and while everyone can also improve velocity, velocity is more of a natural talent or gift. Some people were never meant to throw a baseball 90 mph and they never will, no matter how hard they work at it. Make that almost everyone that we all know!"

I don't quote people that often. Well put!

I know that virtually everyone feels that throwing 90 has much to do with genetics (and practice of course). But I know one pitcher who has become pretty fast just by working hard. He was probably the slowest (but most accurate) pitcher on his grade school teams. But very driven to play well.

It would be interesting to survey major league pitchers about how fast they were early on. Were they little marvels when they first threw in 3rd grade?

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The only real speed prodigy I recall was on a 6th grade team. He was maybe 6-8 mph faster than any other kid on the team. He coudn't handle pressure and never played baseball again.

micdsguy,

Throwing harder than the other 3rd graders is a different thing than someday throwing 90 mph or better.

Kids develop at different ages. Hard work is, of course, very important. My only point is that not everyone is physically capable of someday throwing that hard. Some have worked very hard and can't do it, others have worked very little and can do it.

One thing for sure, no one knows, for sure, who can or can't while there in grade school. Unless, they're already doing it at that age.

There are many cases of the not so good grade school players/pitchers becoming the best player/pitcher as young adults. Also, many cases of the very best grade school player/pitcher being out of the game when they become young adults.

Agree with what PG and Mrs Paw are saying - simply put - everyone has a natural limit as to how fast they can throw a baseball. Some reach this limit with very little effort - others must work very hard to maximize their velocity WITH RESPECT TO THERE LIMIT. Some kids throw 85 and no amount of work will get them past it, if that is there physical/genetic makeup; other kid can be throwing 92, but if he worked at it, could hit 97. The limit is nothing we have control over - how close we get to it is indeed under our control.

Back to the original post, however - what is more attractive? How does a kid get noticed who does nothing but get people out, even though he only might only top out at low-mid 80s?? How do you interest a scout/coach in a HS junior who is only hitting 80, but has superb control and change of speeds?

JMO,
Velocity is more attractive in general but I've got to believe that scouts can tell the difference between a kid who just throws as hard as he can and hits 92 with little or no control and a kid who can paint the corners at 86 all day long and pop one in at 89 or 90 when he needs to.

I think the second kid would get more interest from most scouts. Now if the second kid was painting the corners at 83 and throwing the high hard one at 86 or 87 he might be very effective in college but get very little interest from the pro scouts. Just speculation on my part.

windmill ...

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Back to the original post, however - what is more attractive? How does a kid get noticed who does nothing but get people out, even though he only might only top out at low-mid 80s?? How do you interest a scout/coach in a HS junior who is only hitting 80, but has superb control and change of speeds?

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IMHO, they generally are not noticed as high school juniors ... unless they are 6'6" LHP's

All kidding aside, from personal experience, I would suggest that these kids are the ones who (1) go on to college, (2) continue to throw with control, (3) increase their velocity a bit during the course of their college career, (4) take some personal steps to improve their chances at a pro career (e.g., working out and improving their physiques), (5) get noticed in their junior and senior seasons, and (6) prove themselves as they move thru the minor league system.

Again, JMHO

Both velocity and command draw interest. There are 50 rounds in the draft and if you start at the top, velocity, command, delivery, athletic ability, fielding ability, mound presence, temperment, competitive spirit, stamina and a few other things come in to play. Each round you go down the requirements lessen a little.

Good info - from our perspective, we're more concerned with college coaches. Unless something drastic happens [picks up 10-15mph] Windmill Jr is NOT a pro prospect. His goal is to play college baseball at the highest level possible - if that is D - great, D3 - so be it. It is good to note some of the characteristics you listed BBScout - I always felt that some of those thinsg should count for somehting, but not thinsg that are discussed a whole lot [mound presence, temperament, command, etc]. Maybe there is hope!!

Have to have velocity to generate a scout's interest in you.

No velocity equals no interest.

Doesn't matter what anyone says.

If you still have at least adequate speed, you can still get noticed if you are among the rare few that have a strike out pitch in your arsenal causing your strike out ratio to be exceptional.

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No velocity equals no interest.

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I would only qualify no velocity as not touching 90, unless you...

A) Have a projectable body type, tall lanky 6-4+ and are close to 90. If so you are possibly a DFE candidate.

or

B) Throw very well with the wrong hand, a lefty.

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Originally posted by bbscout:
Each round you go down the requirements lessen a little.

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When you get to the 2000th round, let me know, I'll be waiting by the phone.

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DFE candidate

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What does that stand for?

DFE = Draft, Follow, Evaluate

Basically the same thing as known as Draft and Follow which usually happens to kids drafted in the later rounds.

Hey thanks, FrankF

Looked up DFE in Google and found several mentions but none that defined it. Been pounding my brain for the past 2 hours. Figured it must mean something pretty obvious, but it doesn't. Learned something new this year!

Throwing 90+ is god given. However, I also believe that most good athletes have been given this ability. Most just didn't utilize and train themselves over the long years to develop into a 90+ throwing pitcher. They played football, basketball or whatever. (So, yeh, given the premise that you are a naturally good athlete, I believe you can teach that kid to throw 90+; been-there, done-that).

I believe that the first thing a scout looks for is velocity.The radar gun rules-the faster you throw,the more interest in you.My son in juco,was talking to a major league scout who told him the first thing the scout looks for is
velocity.The pitcher who does not throw as hard,but has good control and movement on many pitchers will always get drafted lower,but they
may be the ones that are successful.As time goes
on,the only thing that matters is getting batters out.The trick is,you have to have velocity to get your foot in the door to begin
with.