Draft Underdogs

Here's the secret: have at least one potential MLB tool. That. Is. It. 

Doesn't matter if the kid is playing in Maine or Florida; doesn't matter what his stats are; doesn't matter if he starts at his school; doesn't matter if he has an advisor or not; doesn't matter what division he plays.

An entire division (amateur scouting) of the MLB industry exists for a singular purpose: find and draft every player with a potential MLB tool.

My son chose his school from a group of like schools which were agreed upon as a family. The list was based totally upon what we perceived to be the best post-graduation career prospects (which included things like networking, perception of the school in the job market, etc.) for whichever major he chose.  His grades and scores - combined with the effort - enabled that. (We understood and believed that every player with an MLB tool will be found and drafted.)

After three disastrous college seasons, lightning struck in his fourth year. 

Now three years post pro-ball, he has a profession, a great salary, employment during the plague, and a wife he met in college.

Looking back, the most important step was using baseball to get into an extremely selective college. The proball was gravy (though the hell which is minor league ball was a growth crucible).

I think the lower the level the harder it is to stand out just with performance. 

You need to perform eventually but if you hit 300+ with power in a top d1 conference the scouts will likely give you a good hit tool grade while hitting 300 with 10 homers in D3 or even just in a weak D1 conference doesn't necessarily mean you can hit in pro ball.

I think that is the advantage in a big program, you "only" need to perform and you will be seen.

If you play at a lower level you need to perform too but on top of that you need to show something to separate yourself from the untertooled "gamers" who perform by feasting on 83 mph fastballs but who couldn't hit 90 which that level didnt expose.

Easier to do that as a pitcher as 95 is 95 while there is a level for anyone to hit 300 (well not anyone of course but you get the point that it is relative to level of pitching). 

Maybe as a hitter really big power could have the same effect when you hit a lot of bombs and really big ones (really long bombs and not just wall scrapers can't really be faked either, albeit that says not so much about the hit tool).

Son was drafted 5th round out of a high academic public mid-major (one of the "public ivies").

It was the only school that made an offer.  We/he did not wait around for another.  Looking back, keewartson said he "wondered if" other offers may have come, but MIF rosters fill up.  (It's not like recruiting a pitcher:  there is always room for one more good pitcher.)   He had several unofficial visits, many letters, but when the two state ACC schools passed on him after many looks, he jumped at the offer.  You couldn't beat the education, especially on an athletic scholarship discount. 

He started his freshman year, which he would not have at the ACC schools.   He put up good numbers, and continued to do so for the next several years.  He played in the Northwoods League the summer before his junior year (this was probably very important for the draft looking back) and was co-player of the year that summer, put up great numbers, and calls from advisors started coming in. 

His college opened at Univ of Florida his junior year and scouts were all over the place.  He hit against some of the best pitchers in college ball.  Then the scouts started coming to his home games.  

"Go where you can play".  

 Edit:   Sweetest revenge when his team beat those ACC schools, one in the CWS Regionals to put them out of the tournament.  (Sorry if I sound like a broken record if you all have read that before!)  

That is simply not correct.

Scouts dont grade on a sliding scale; you got it or don't. Scouts who are wrong or lazy aren't scouts long. (Yes, it's true its harder to scout hitters, but any good scout knows when the hitter he's scouting is facing the pitcher he's scouting. It's part of the job. Once had a scout travel 100 miles to scout my then-junior son in the opening game - in a snow storm. He lasted 4 batters; walked them all.)

One primary reason power conferences have more draftees is shear number AND individual - not team - talent. Of 20ish commits, 5-9 are drafted, the rest believed they had the talent, but for whatever reason, didn't make their baseball goal. So, 20ish kids with pro aspirations. 

An Ivy class is 7, of which 3 have pro aspirations. All will get their pro chance; and graduate. Moreover, everyone who wants will play good summer ball (imo, a requirement for proball) and the rest will have internships which frequently lead to permanent job offers (my son played Northwoods, the Cape, and interned in the front office of MLB doing econ research [he was not unusual]).

There is no baseball advantage for a highly motivated, self-starting kid (because there isn't much pushing by teammates or coaches), to pass on an Ivy offer.

You all make great comments. during my 17 years of the Area Code games and 35 years of the Goodwill Series Korea, Japan, Australia and China, I have develop several conclusions.

My Social Psychology education provided me the opportunity to interview MLB scouts, college coaches, players and parents. We are currently in a "no mans" land. "Unpredictable"

"Who has the 6th Tool? The President, Senator, the Gov, the Scout, the College Coach, the Parent.

"Keep the faith"

Bob

RipkenFanSon was looking at the HA schools and apparently when he was in 8th grade told his Legion Coach that he wanted to go to an Ivy League school and play baseball. In HS he was probably a 143 lb middle infielder. He would receive 3 D1 offers and 2 or 3 D3s. He turned down the first university (too close to where he played HS). Also it was he same day when Big State U offered one afternoon, that his dream school would offer after a Night Legion DH.    He would fill out 2 MLB questionnaires during his HS year, nothing serious, they all knew he would go to college anyway. He played Legion, Local men's league,  and a little NECBL after freshman year, Hamptons League summer after sophomore , and back to NECBL after his junior year. 

In college he started from Game 1 as a freshman.  Who knows what would have happened at Big State U, when his college career started out 1 for 21? Actually I do know......    After his slow start, his HC called him to his office, saying  something to the effect, "Do you think I'm glad I recruited you? Go out there and keep playing!" Son responded with a 11-12 game stretch  where he hit .400+. 

Many previous contributors to the thread talk about "tools". For son, his prominent tools are speed and defense (range); he's a contact hitter. His "moment" which had teams calling in numbers came in March his senior year when he went 7/11, 5 SBs , 2-3 highlight reel plays at SS against the #5 team in country. The #5 team coach mentioned son's name in postgame interview, which hit internet and print. Son would finish his season with the highest SB's in country without being caught (34). At one of his last college games (low key midweek game) 4 MLB teams were in attendance. Two teams were stunned by his HTF time (got same number and asked 1B coach what he had which was .01 from the same number.) 

His HC predicted accurately, that RipkenFanSon would be drafted in first 10 rounds, which he was. He's "living the dream" as long as he can. He often says that at some point, someone will take the uniform off his back. He's says he's not yet ready for that.

I second keewart--Go where you can play (and get a great education that gives you Plan B)

PABASEBALL: "For those that have been down the road not involving power baseball programs and been drafted/had kids drafted - how did it work? How did your kid end up at the school - was he underdeveloped coming out of HS? Did he have one tool that stood out? Did he tear up his college competition? Did he not hit the right events in HS to get noticed? Wanted to stay closer to home, cheaper, grades, juco, etc? A good amount of pros went to random schools and have had solid careers. You think - how did nobody notice this kid. When we think MLB we think teams in the SEC, but 40 rounds was a lot, they had to come from somewhere. "

I think I can put a check mark near each of the above.  Son was not looked at in hs aside from filling out a couple of cards. Had very very few scholarship offers from D1 (son wanted to only play D1), finally got a couple of offers before his Sr. year high school.  One was from HA with a decent baseball program, which he accepted.  Did a few showcases and camps, played on a few club teams but nothing serious came of it.  Part of the problem was that I/we were very naive to the entire recruiting process, had the misconception that if he's good enough they will find him....and since there was no interest he must not be good enough.  Nobody in my family history played any sports beyond high school, you go to college for an education and degree.

Fortunately, one D1 school took a chance on him.  Very few people thought he would  have a chance to play consistently.  From day 1 as a freshman  he started and played in every game (aside from a few when sick or slight injury) during his 3 years there.  Numerous accolades, got better every year.  2 events put him on the map for the draft.  One was playing on National Collegiate Team USA and the other was his entire Jr. year.  Now we are treading in unfamiliar territory, so many wanted a piece of him.

I used to wonder what would have happened if he went to a P5 instead of where he ended up.  Several coaches from opposition teams have mentioned they just flat out missed recruiting him in high school.  Would he have had the same collegiate career there?  Would he have played, been a top player all 3 years?  Came to the conclusion that he achieved what he did because of where he was at.  Trust In The Process, Trust In Him.  There was a plan already laid out for him, do things with what you are given.  The only things he didn't achieve was experiencing the Collegiate World Series elimination or being champions.  Could he have moved up in the draft picks?  Possibly but it wouldn't have mattered, he was a 1st round pick (and not many positions to move up).    As many have said above, go to where you can play and be loved.  Even a no name long shot can do wonders if the right things fall into place, you are in the right place at the right time, and there is a bit of luck and trust.  Oh yes, it definitely helps if you can play the game too! 

Here is my son’s story. First, a few notes that we believe contributed to his story. He is on the smaller side, with good defensive skills and a good baseball IQ. HS travel baseball team is an important choice. Showcases were NOT beneficial to demonstrate the above skills. College summer team chosen does matter. We, as parents, were there to support him, but were hands off and allowed him to manage his dream. And finally, his coachability was the most consistent feedback he received as he grew in the game.

At an early age my son, a middle infielder, set goals to play varsity HS baseball, play at a D1 college, get drafted into the MLB, and make it to the show. He faced many naysayers (and even some daddy-ball sabotage), but was able to keep his head down and focus. He always said he was going to control what he could control, and not worry about the rest. He did play varsity baseball in high school, where the coaches urged him to seek out D2/D3 colleges. He was respectful, but kept pursuing his D1 dream. One mid-level D1 college recruiter followed him his junior and senior year in high school. There was some interest from big and small schools but nothing tangible. The mid major D1 offered him a spot at the same time another mid major D1 gave him a call. We thought he had his heart set on the first D1 team, but at the 11th hour he committed to the second school because he felt he had a better chance of playing, even as a freshman. I’ll never forget driving to his first collegiate game while following the twitter lineup...tears of joy when our son got the start! He played all four years, had a wonderful college experience (graduated with a finance degree in four years), and maximized his summer baseball experiences. After his sophomore season, he played in Rhode Island and was called up to play in the Cape Cod League playoffs after the RI season was over. This paved the way for him to return to the Cape after his junior year, which he did. This kid, who was on the smaller side and was told “no” repeatedly, had a terrific showing in the Cape and made the allstar team. His senior baseball campaign went well. Early in the season, he told us that he would definitely be playing ball after graduation. When we inquired, he said, “Either I’m going to be drafted by the MLB, or I’ll play Indy ball, or I’ll find a team outside the US. I am not ready to hang up my cleats!” Through hard work and determination, he was drafted in the top 10 rounds, and has been moving up the minor league ranks. He even played in several MLB spring training games this season before the shutdown. His moral of the story....”Don’t let ANYONE tell you NO, always prepare and work hard (which gives you great confidence), and enjoy every moment you are preparing for and playing the game.” And go where you have the best opportunity to play.

As a side note, this forum has been a godsend and lifesaver through all these experiences, as things have not always played out as expected. So THANK YOU ALL for your wonderful advice and support!