Good Showcases/Camps

We've heard great things about the Coastal Carolina camps

Josh Holliday camps at OK State are supposed to be great, too

Should be noted in case anyone new stumbles on this thread in the future that the UA Baseball Factory price is low because they try to upsell you on video packages and the next event they can get you to. You're not obligated to do them, but they supposedly will sell you on them.

Many people overdo the showcasing thing.  In my mind, if you do one Perfect Game event WHEN YOU ARE READY TO SHINE, then you're going to have a profile web page that you can e-mail a link to, and that will provide objective indication of your abilities.  PG costs more but it avoids the thought of having to do more than one, or at least, more than one per year.

Events at specific schools are great if you're trying to pursue that particular school.  Beyond that, you could probably make better use of your weekend if not your money.

It's important that you prepare for the showcase and not delude yourself as to your capabilities.  If you think you throw 85 but you really only throw 78, the PG event will make it plain to the universe that 78 is the real number.  If you want to be a middle infielder but you post a 7.5 time in the 60, again, you spent money needlessly, because you're going to end up publicizing shortcomings instead of strengths.  Also, if speed is a big tool for you but you're nursing a sore hamstring, you probably should arrange to postpone your showcasing to a later date when you're 100%. 

I would be curious as to who is pursuing a lefty catcher, because pretty much everyone I know would impress upon a lefty that he needs to cut it either as a pitcher, a first baseman or an OF if he wants to play in college.  I suppose there have been lefty catchers, but being lefty is a decided disadvantage at that position and there are no two ways about that.  That's why they are so rare that I can't recall ever seeing one at the D1 level.  If someone is asking you for money because you are so unique, I think someone is shining you on and you should probably avoid that outfit going forward.

I think the general question is "value," and that depends on the player's situation. A 13 yo is not going to go to the PG world showcase, nor is a projected first rounder going to go to the UA initial event.

But if you want the younger player to receive an evaluation so as to understand where he is positioned relative to his peers:

1. Attend a local college camp or camps
2. Tryout for elite travel programs
3. Identify and attend regional combines, e.g., http://community.hsbaseballweb...-hs-spots-going-fast
4. Or attend one of the regional/local PG showcases

Whatever route you choose, be sure to have the results documented so that you can use it in your communications with college coaches.

The LH catcher remark caught my eye too.  I have not seen a  LH catcher in college or even high school.  Perhaps the OP means lefty hitting catcher?  That is much more in demand.

Years ago in Little League, I was fortunate enough to coach an extremely talented lefty catcher who had a strong arm, great athleticism, and the quickest hands I had seen up to then on a youth player.  She's now a freshman starter on a D1 softball team and doing very well. Apparently softball coaches don't mind lefties behind the plate.  I guess the throw down to 2nd isn't as important and/or the ball doesn't travel far enough to tail toward SS. Maybe our SB coaches will say.

Initech,

They may try to sell it to you but you do not have to buy the package at all. They will try to suck you into it but you do not have to pay $500 at all. It still is one of the most affordable camps around I think.

Underdog, I did say you're not obligated to do them. I just didn't want anyone to think you pay that cheap amount without them trying to suck you into something. 

JCG -- Kid on my son's HS team is a LH catcher (throw and hit). He has torn labrum so not catching at moment, but coach seems open to him competing at the spot next season. He is a good catcher, and I think his dad wants him to pursue it as long as he can, but it's probably inevitable if he plays in college that he'll have to move to 1B/OF.

The sole purpose of this post is to list some good affordable showcases/camps for anyone who is wondering about them, not to rip on anyone. Having caught left handed my freshman year it is not as much as a disadvantage that people tend to say it is. If you have enough strengths to outweigh the disadvantages anything is possible.

I think I'll order a pizza, sit back and watch the left handed catcher debate unfold.

Trying to wrap my head around the reluctance at the higher levels to accept a lefty throwing catcher.  From a physiology perspective, the throw to 2nd is the same distance for a righty or a lefty.  I would think the lefty would have an easier time to snap throw to first.  The right has the advantage to third.  One point I see being an obstacle is that when a lefty sets up in a position to throw to 2nd, his rt foot is closer to the mound - possibly making his vision to see the runner break off 1st more difficult... but IMHO, that is a very minor draw back.  Another is that the lefty has to throw through a righty hitter... but then a righty has to throw through a lefty hitter.   I just don't see the logic in moving a lefty with skills from behind the plate - only because he is a lefty.

NewUmpire,

I completely agree with you. I had to move to fill in other positions though. Turns out I'm a way better center fielder than catcher.      

Here is a link that I think explains the lefty throwing catcher situation very well.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/t...fty-catcher-musings/

S was a LH travel ball catcher until HS. I did a bunch of research into the advantages/disadvantages. I concluded that it boiled down to this: (1) lefties with cannons (like a catcher should) were more valuable as pitchers and (2) tradition. Both had ossified into essentially unwritten rules.

(I believe the Davidson coach still catches bullpens with his left handed catchers mitt.)