First thought that pops into your mind: 15 year old with a full beard..

Yep, probably won't grow much more.  Youngest played with one + that was the case for him.

Yeah, probably won't grow much more.  Guessing he is/was dominant during early maturation years and he'll have to overcome that as others catch up. Oh, and also that he probably had to listen to way too many parents question his age.  Oops.  That's like three or four.

No projection.

Razor or electric?

Depends if he’s 5’7” or 6’3”.

RJM posted:

Depends if he’s 5’7” or 6’3”.

I agree. Early bloomer can be bad but only if you stop growing. Bryce Harper certainly was an early bloomer when he hit 500 foot homers at age 15 but nobody worried about him being maxed out (which he kinda was but who cares if you have almost mlb ready power).

Did he drop his kids off before the game?

SHAVE!

I asked an almost full bearded 6'2  Freshman player if he drove himself to the game or did his wife drop him off....... 

In all honesty, you have to really consider whether the kid is "playing down" or is a year (or more) older than your kids. I get it, some kids get that testosterone bump a little early. But some of the reason you see this is because people are holding their kids back in age to gain a competitive advantage for recruiting/scouting purposes. I was looking at a particular team's roster playing in Jupiter this week and I saw a name that jumped out at me. I don't personally know this kid, but I know he has been competing against my son's teams over the course of the last 8-9 years and I was surprised to see he was listed as a 2021 graduate. His PG profile shows that he will be 17 years old by the time he starts his sophomore spring season. That is just crazy...but it works because age is just a number and schools are looking at skills and physical maturity. He has a verbal commit listed for a P5 school...so it worked out for them. I always thought he was just ok, but admittedly had not seen him play in the past few years.

I have 2 sophomores that just turned 15 in June. They are both 6'3"  160 and 170 lbs. and still growing. They both could grow a beard but they know they need to keep clean shaven. They are the babies in their class as most everyone else is already 16 and driving. We have heard since they were 9 about they are to old and had to carry birth certificates everywhere we went even though they played up. They get a lot of attention when we go places because of their size.

GaryMe posted:

In all honesty, you have to really consider whether the kid is "playing down" or is a year (or more) older than your kids. I get it, some kids get that testosterone bump a little early. But some of the reason you see this is because people are holding their kids back in age to gain a competitive advantage for recruiting/scouting purposes. I was looking at a particular team's roster playing in Jupiter this week and I saw a name that jumped out at me. I don't personally know this kid, but I know he has been competing against my son's teams over the course of the last 8-9 years and I was surprised to see he was listed as a 2021 graduate. His PG profile shows that he will be 17 years old by the time he starts his sophomore spring season. That is just crazy...but it works because age is just a number and schools are looking at skills and physical maturity. He has a verbal commit listed for a P5 school...so it worked out for them. I always thought he was just ok, but admittedly had not seen him play in the past few years.

This may help him now but it will hurt him in the draft (assuming he has those aspirations).  As a HS player, you want to be 17 on draft day, not 19.

Semi-related ... It has been fun listening to my son who has been more heavily involved this year as a RC.   Recently, shoe size is something he has taken particular notice to as it relates to projected throwing velo for P's.  Of course, there has always been that perception in general that a young teen with big feet will grow into them but I just hadn't heard it much specific to baseball and projected throwing velo.  It's usually early height with thin build, parent size, throwing effort, mechanics or lack of, etc.

He does look for other indicators for projectability and I'm sure somewhat discounts a kid with a full beard and a filled out body in that respect.

Chalk one up for all the hormones in today's food!  Can't tell from OP if he is grade appropriate or if any athletic talent (can assume since on this site certain things though).

cabbagedad posted:

Semi-related ... It has been fun listening to my son who has been more heavily involved this year as a RC.   Recently, shoe size is something he has taken particular notice to as it relates to projected throwing velo for P's.  Of course, there has always been that perception in general that a young teen with big feet will grow into them but I just hadn't heard it much specific to baseball and projected throwing velo.  It's usually early height with thin build, parent size, throwing effort, mechanics or lack of, etc.

He does look for other indicators for projectability and I'm sure somewhat discounts a kid with a full beard and a filled out body in that respect.

Oddly, a pro scout told me for HS draft prospects they are looking for exactly those things...sooooo...what path is the kid gonna try to take?

I agree, shave!  My son said at one showcase they were all talking about it in the dugout because a kid kept telling all of them that he was throwing XXmph and he was only 15.  My son said they all were like, dude, you've got a beard, you're done. 

cabbagedad posted:

Semi-related ... It has been fun listening to my son who has been more heavily involved this year as a RC.   Recently, shoe size is something he has taken particular notice to as it relates to projected throwing velo for P's.  Of course, there has always been that perception in general that a young teen with big feet will grow into them but I just hadn't heard it much specific to baseball and projected throwing velo.  It's usually early height with thin build, parent size, throwing effort, mechanics or lack of, etc.

He does look for other indicators for projectability and I'm sure somewhat discounts a kid with a full beard and a filled out body in that respect.

Ha, the first PBR event my son went too a couple of years ago, they tweeted a video of him.  On the video, you can hear the scout ask, “what size shoe do you wear” where my son replied “13” with a grin.  

GaryMe posted:

In all honesty, you have to really consider whether the kid is "playing down" or is a year (or more) older than your kids. I get it, some kids get that testosterone bump a little early. But some of the reason you see this is because people are holding their kids back in age to gain a competitive advantage for recruiting/scouting purposes. I was looking at a particular team's roster playing in Jupiter this week and I saw a name that jumped out at me. I don't personally know this kid, but I know he has been competing against my son's teams over the course of the last 8-9 years and I was surprised to see he was listed as a 2021 graduate. His PG profile shows that he will be 17 years old by the time he starts his sophomore spring season. That is just crazy...but it works because age is just a number and schools are looking at skills and physical maturity. He has a verbal commit listed for a P5 school...so it worked out for them. I always thought he was just ok, but admittedly had not seen him play in the past few years.

That's nothing, there are 2019s who turned 19 over the summer. The summer birthdays can be "double holdbacks" and still be eligible to play HS sports.

This has turned into quite an informative and entertaining thread! 

CTbballDad posted:

cabbagedad posted:

Semi-related ... It has been fun listening to my son who has been more heavily involved this year as a RC.   Recently, shoe size is something he has taken particular notice to as it relates to projected throwing velo for P's.  Of course, there has always been that perception in general that a young teen with big feet will grow into them but I just hadn't heard it much specific to baseball and projected throwing velo.  It's usually early height with thin build, parent size, throwing effort, mechanics or lack of, etc.

He does look for other indicators for projectability and I'm sure somewhat discounts a kid with a full beard and a filled out body in that respect.

Ha, the first PBR event my son went too a couple of years ago, they tweeted a video of him.  On the video, you can hear the scout ask, “what size shoe do you wear” where my son replied “13” with a grin.  

Saw this on Fangraphs recently (https://www.fangraphs.com/blog...cdaniel-chat-9-5-18/) from a chat with prospect writer Kiley McDaniel (former crosschecker for Braves, among other things):

Dominican?

IndyBall posted:

This has turned into quite an informative and entertaining thread! 

OK, cool, so what was the scenario that prompted you to start the thread?

Enjoying the Ride posted:

GaryMe posted:

In all honesty, you have to really consider whether the kid is "playing down" or is a year (or more) older than your kids. I get it, some kids get that testosterone bump a little early. But some of the reason you see this is because people are holding their kids back in age to gain a competitive advantage for recruiting/scouting purposes. I was looking at a particular team's roster playing in Jupiter this week and I saw a name that jumped out at me. I don't personally know this kid, but I know he has been competing against my son's teams over the course of the last 8-9 years and I was surprised to see he was listed as a 2021 graduate. His PG profile shows that he will be 17 years old by the time he starts his sophomore spring season. That is just crazy...but it works because age is just a number and schools are looking at skills and physical maturity. He has a verbal commit listed for a P5 school...so it worked out for them. I always thought he was just ok, but admittedly had not seen him play in the past few years.

This may help him now but it will hurt him in the draft (assuming he has those aspirations).  As a HS player, you want to be 17 on draft day, not 19.

If a kid has to reclassify to get the right college offer chances are he’s not a top round pick coming out of high school. If he becomes draftable in college he can sign as a 21yo sophomore. This places him right back with every other prospect his age. 

Agree completely, very true.  But much better to go into MiLB after three years in college with (hopefully, if well-planned) only a few more courses to complete the college degree.  We have known several drafted players who were able to go back that first fall and finish their degrees.  Never going to happen for a drafted sophomore.  This may not matter to some, but it will to others - it's all about personal priorities I suppose.  I do wonder if players who re-classify in order to see an immediate benefit in HS have fully thought through the future tradeoffs.  Sometimes it's hard to look that far ahead.  

cabbagedad posted:

IndyBall posted:

This has turned into quite an informative and entertaining thread! 

OK, cool, so what was the scenario that prompted you to start the thread?

Ran into a player that I coached in travel from age 10-12. He was really good and really big for his age. Hadn’t seen him in about 18 months. Saw him this week and he’s the same size, with a full beard and just turned 15. Was figuring he might be about done. 

The real question is  Harry's or Dollar Shave Club?

When I was a kid, I thought Wilkinson Sword had the best ads. In case you wondered.

2019Dad posted:

CTbballDad posted:

cabbagedad posted:

Semi-related ... It has been fun listening to my son who has been more heavily involved this year as a RC.   Recently, shoe size is something he has taken particular notice to as it relates to projected throwing velo for P's.  Of course, there has always been that perception in general that a young teen with big feet will grow into them but I just hadn't heard it much specific to baseball and projected throwing velo.  It's usually early height with thin build, parent size, throwing effort, mechanics or lack of, etc.

He does look for other indicators for projectability and I'm sure somewhat discounts a kid with a full beard and a filled out body in that respect.

Ha, the first PBR event my son went too a couple of years ago, they tweeted a video of him.  On the video, you can hear the scout ask, “what size shoe do you wear” where my son replied “13” with a grin.  

Saw this on Fangraphs recently (https://www.fangraphs.com/blog...cdaniel-chat-9-5-18/) from a chat with prospect writer Kiley McDaniel (former crosschecker for Braves, among other things):

 

barves: Kiley, how do you project size?  Is there more to it than looking at a guy and thinking “Is he gunna grow more?”

12:28

Kiley McDaniel: Scouts typically look at…umm…well they’ll call it trunk in polite company, but it’s the butt. Typically, players grow to fill our proportionally to match the size of their butt. Calves and shoulders, too. Kinda like a puppy with their paws. Short of drastic weight loss (butt gets smaller), this is pretty accurate for non athletes, too.

Interesting. I was always informed that when you see a kid with a huge lower body, like filled-out huge, it’s a good sign they aren’t going to get much bigger, height-wise.  

Is he 22?

When I was in 5th grade there was a kid who could grow a full beard in a few days. He said he had to shave twice daily. Tons of chest hair. He was not a big guy, and didn't grow much more from 5th grade through high school.

I did enjoy watching the gamut of reactions and comments from the parents when seeing the arrival of the man-child...way more entertaining than the housewives reality series. 

Where can a 19 year old play high school?  Everywhere I have ever lived, southeast and Missouri, you were ineligible the day you turned 19 unless maybe private school.

We have a 19 year old on our public school team.  He will be drafted. 

PitchingFan posted:

Where can a 19 year old play high school?  Everywhere I have ever lived, southeast and Missouri, you were ineligible the day you turned 19 unless maybe private school.

Everywhere. In California, you can turn 19 on June 16 (or later, obviously) before your senior year and play your entire senior year.

I just googled Georgia and apparently the rule is: "To be eligible to participate in interscholastic activities, a student must not have reached his 19th birthday prior to May 1, preceding his year of participation." https://www.theclassroom.com/s...eorgia-10044042.html

So I guess in Georgia you can turn 20 on May 1st of senior year and still be playing. Other states are later -- say, you can't turn 19 prior to September 1st of senior year -- but I think 19 year olds can play everywhere.

GaryMe posted:

In all honesty, you have to really consider whether the kid is "playing down" or is a year (or more) older than your kids. I get it, some kids get that testosterone bump a little early. But some of the reason you see this is because people are holding their kids back in age to gain a competitive advantage for recruiting/scouting purposes. I was looking at a particular team's roster playing in Jupiter this week and I saw a name that jumped out at me. I don't personally know this kid, but I know he has been competing against my son's teams over the course of the last 8-9 years and I was surprised to see he was listed as a 2021 graduate. His PG profile shows that he will be 17 years old by the time he starts his sophomore spring season. That is just crazy...but it works because age is just a number and schools are looking at skills and physical maturity. He has a verbal commit listed for a P5 school...so it worked out for them. I always thought he was just ok, but admittedly had not seen him play in the past few years.

Same thing with 2022's.  Mine is a December birthday, so on PG he shows 14 years 10 months.  One of the top 2022's shows 16 years 1 month.  So he will be 17 when he starts his sophomore year also (some kids graduate at the same age).  

To me, looking at it realistically, colleges probably really don't care about the age, just want them ready to play, and an older kid will be able to play at a higher level earlier, correct? 

But for pro's I can see it both ways.  Yeah you get a kid that it ready to play earlier, but he also "finishes" earlier.

I've asked my 2022 (who has spent the last 3 years playing up 1 or 2 age groups), what would it be like if we held you back, his quote "it wouldn't be fun, it would be too easy". 

For colleges, older is better -- in general, a coach would rather have a player from ages 20-23 than 18-21 -- with the caveat that kids who will be "draft eligible sophomores" can bail after two years, not three.

For pros, younger is better. The holy grail is a top talent who is 17 on draft day, like Griffey, Trout, and Harper.