Fastball Velo at practice vs Showcase

His actual velocity and radar gun readings can vary from day to day due to many factors.

82 as a 14u probably would put him in the top 300 in the nation, so that's elite level velocity.

PG is showing the 2025 Class average fastball in 2021 as 67 mph, so even 75 is a very respectable number.

It's easy to adjust the cosine factor on a stalker to show elevated velo - not that anybody would ever do that on purpose... :-)

Thx T_Thomas!

Great information. I'll pass it along to my son. I know it will make him feel a bit better.

Thx!

I "think" my son was tossing the ole heater about 81 at 14U. I kept that somewhere and cannot find it...anyway, don't be too concerned with the delta in what you have seen.

If the PG average for 14u is 67 a lot of people are wasting money on PG showcases. The better 12u pitchers hit 70.

Was it the first day or second day of the showcase? My son just finished a showcase a couple weeks ago. Day 1, topped out at 86 and sat 83. He threw 30 pitches or so. He's also a catcher and did all the catcher showcase stuff. Day 2 they ran out of pitchers and he threw an inning. Topped out at 78. His body (and probably mentally too) was tired from the day before.

Where were the readings being done?  Behind the plate or at an angle? And as Adams Baseball said, you can adjust a Stalker reading to show higher. I've seen a couple pitching coaches do this to make it seem like the kids he teaches throw harder.... until they get in front of someone with a tuned gun that is reading accurate.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Was it the first day or second day of the showcase? My son just finished a showcase a couple weeks ago. Day 1, topped out at 86 and sat 83. He threw 30 pitches or so. He's also a catcher and did all the catcher showcase stuff. Day 2 they ran out of pitchers and he threw an inning. Topped out at 78. His body (and probably mentally too) was tired from the day before.

Where were the readings being done?  Behind the plate or at an angle? And as Adams Baseball said, you can adjust a Stalker reading to show higher. I've seen a couple pitching coaches do this to make it seem like the kids he teaches throw harder.... until they get in front of someone with a tuned gun that is reading accurate.

More importantly, has your son received new looks since HF?  I know it's much tougher on 2022's, as expected.... A guy I played with in HS was just saying that his 2022 son hasn't gotten any looks off a recent showcase and he's a legit D3 player.

Pro scouts in California when they are "pull over" by the CHP, will compare their radar gun readings with the CHP officer. "Stay loose"!

Bob

@Gunner Mack Jr. posted:

More importantly, has your son received new looks since HF?  I know it's much tougher on 2022's, as expected.... A guy I played with in HS was just saying that his 2022 son hasn't gotten any looks off a recent showcase and he's a legit D3 player.

Few conversations  between HC's and his travel and HS coaches. One asked his travel coach if he could make it to their camp this weekend. A few of the coaches at HF told him they were going to wrap up 2022 (especially D3) recruiting and would be in touch. The schools he is looking at are still very thin on their 2022 commit lists and I believe I only saw one 2023 committed.

2022 kids do have it bad. I know several quality players who haven't heard a peep since going to HF or SB. I'm hoping it picks up for them soon. With all of the 2021 PG kids I imagine the 2022's will have to re-class or PG. The HF event was 65% 2022 kids. I imagine very few will end up with offers.

@Consultant posted:

Pro scouts in California when they are "pull over" by the CHP, will compare their radar gun readings with the CHP officer. "Stay loose"!

Bob

A few dads ask me to bring my Stalker Pro 2 to the high school games. I keep a tuning fork in the case in case any dads say it is off.

@RJM posted:

If the PG average for 14u is 67 a lot of people are wasting money on PG showcases. The better 12u pitchers hit 70.

Not only are people wasting a lot of money on PG showcases, they are wasting money on ALL types of showcases. I attended a huge HS showcase for uncommitted 21s & 22s last weekend. Over 150 kids threw a bullpen and I only liked 3 of them as being recruitable and 5 others that were walk on projects IMO. Velo was low across the board (81-83), there was little feel for secondary pitches, and only a few commanded the baseball. The catchers didn’t show well either. 80% of the kids I saw would not be varsity starters in a competitive Texas HS program. They had no business being there and were completely wasting their time and their parents money. I have been to countless events like this - but this one was different. The level of skill was the lowest I have seen and the expectations were the most unrealistic I have ever seen. SMH  

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Few conversations  between HC's and his travel and HS coaches. One asked his travel coach if he could make it to their camp this weekend. A few of the coaches at HF told him they were going to wrap up 2022 (especially D3) recruiting and would be in touch. The schools he is looking at are still very thin on their 2022 commit lists and I believe I only saw one 2023 committed.

2022 kids do have it bad. I know several quality players who haven't heard a peep since going to HF or SB. I'm hoping it picks up for them soon. With all of the 2021 PG kids I imagine the 2022's will have to re-class or PG. The HF event was 65% 2022 kids. I imagine very few will end up with offers.

Ahhh my bad. Your son is a 2023.   Good, he has some activity already.  2022's are in a tough spot! 

For OP’s original question, I’ve always found it to be higher at showcase stuff because of adrenaline.  Normally guys throw faster in showcases and games than practice. Will agree with coaches juicing numbers at practice or workouts, especially if they are doing lessons.  

Not sure if 14 year old is in high school yet, but numbers sound pretty good either way. Our school (and all the schools in our league) charted pitchers and everyone knew everyone else’s velocity. Travel team has a pocket radar and streams the game with velocity. Bottom line—if he isn’t aware of game speed, he soon will be and it sounds like he is off to a great start. If he hits 90 mph (we have seen several) all eyes will be on him, but mid to high 80s would also be terrific. Good luck!

Thx to all! He's just started 9th grade and is on swim team as well as baseball team( well, baseball class, as tryouts are officially in feb. ). Its already been a hectic week. Its going to be a crazy ride!

I really want to thank all those who are on this web site-I've read alot of real good advice!!! Without anyone trying to sell me anything!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CS7-6L1n_af

That was outstanding. There are a few kids I know who crush showcases and get a lot of calls from P5 coaches. Then watching them in a game reminds me of the scene from Major League when they start to throw Serrano curve balls.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

That was outstanding. There are a few kids I know who crush showcases and get a lot of calls from P5 coaches. Then watching them in a game reminds me of the scene from Major League when they start to throw Serrano curve balls.

I know a kid whose father left no dollars unspent training him to shine in showcases. When the kid took the field he had the “now that’s a ball player” build and look. In high school he put up enormous number against the Little Sisters of Mercy making his overall stats look great.

The kid looked so good in showcases and tournaments he reclassified to graduate a year early. Big Name Coach at Highly Ranked U said the kid might be his best recruit ever.

For three years Big Name Coach handed the kid a starting position on Opening Day. All three years the kid lost the position by the start of conference play.

My son played travel ball with the kid. My son didn’t care for him and his arrogance. He referred to him as LOB behind his back.