Is it true you have to a certain height to get serious looks?
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Not if your throw upper 80's / low 90's
Or if you throw with the wrong hand 
Mtownfan...My son is approaching 6'0(ha) 
, but he got attention when he was 5'9, 5'10 etc. He throws high 80's, but as a So and Jr he was mid 80's. Fotunately, he has a good command of the zone and can throw 3 pitches for srtikes...most of the time.
Don't give up because people talk about height, use it as my son did as a motivator. Throw strikes, get outs and someone will need you. If you a RHP, you should try to be mid 80's in your senior year...that will help.
TR always say's, and I agree, "there is a place for everyone to play if they work hard and put themselves in the right places in front of the right people."
PLay hard and make it happen! Good Luck!
, but he got attention when he was 5'9, 5'10 etc. He throws high 80's, but as a So and Jr he was mid 80's. Fotunately, he has a good command of the zone and can throw 3 pitches for srtikes...most of the time. Don't give up because people talk about height, use it as my son did as a motivator. Throw strikes, get outs and someone will need you. If you a RHP, you should try to be mid 80's in your senior year...that will help.
TR always say's, and I agree, "there is a place for everyone to play if they work hard and put themselves in the right places in front of the right people."
PLay hard and make it happen! Good Luck!
I think most would agree that height, if you're a right handed pitcher, matters much more to professional scouts than it does to college coaches. TR is right though, that if you can throw well with upper 80's - low 90's velocity you'll get some attention. I think the difference if you're say 5'10" or less, especially as a RHP, is that you have to prove you can get people out consistently, where the guy who's 6'2" or more has to prove that he can't get hitters out. I've certainly seen that mindset displayed toward my summer players, especially the pitchers. Same goes for most position players.
Alright thanks. I'm 5'7'', but I think I might grow to 6'.
Check out Tim Lincecum from Univ of Washington. He was the freshman strikeout leader last year and I think is generously listed at 6' now. A recent Baseball America article about him talked about his lack of hight as he was 5-10 last year and was 4-11 as a HS freshman. A great story for every undersized pitcher.
The Lincecum article should be a great motivator for those pitchers that are sub 6'. I have heard too many times how height is the key to pitching success. Being a new member of this message board it is great to hear your points contrary to this mindset.
I have been coaching a Connie Mack team for going on 3 years and my ace each year has been a kid 5'10" as a sophomore to 5'11" now. In talking with college recruiters, with the exception of a few of the top 10 programs, getting people out with 3 pitches is the key. The pro scouts definitely care about height, it's called projectability. I guess they have more time and money to see if they can develop these 6'2"+ kids.
I will take my sub 6' guy with great mechanics any day over the 6'3" specimen that is constantly battling mechanics and arm problems. TRhit hit it on the head, upper 80's / low 90's will get you looks no matter what size you are.
I have been coaching a Connie Mack team for going on 3 years and my ace each year has been a kid 5'10" as a sophomore to 5'11" now. In talking with college recruiters, with the exception of a few of the top 10 programs, getting people out with 3 pitches is the key. The pro scouts definitely care about height, it's called projectability. I guess they have more time and money to see if they can develop these 6'2"+ kids.
I will take my sub 6' guy with great mechanics any day over the 6'3" specimen that is constantly battling mechanics and arm problems. TRhit hit it on the head, upper 80's / low 90's will get you looks no matter what size you are.
HSBB hit it right on the head when he says he will take great mechanics over arm problems. If we judged people by height alone, people like Napolean would never have made such huge gains in this world. Spud Web back in the 80s and 90s was only 5'8" and played basketball in the NBA.
On some of the video tapes I watch of players, the first thing that enters my mind is not "I wonder how tall he is". I solely look at his mechanics. THEN, when he is seen upclose in person, do I look at his speed, which is equally important. Someone can say that they throw in the upper 80s, low 90s, but only a gun can prove that to me. Personally, I don't care if the guy is 5'2", if he's got the mechanics, control, and speed, he's good to me.
On some of the video tapes I watch of players, the first thing that enters my mind is not "I wonder how tall he is". I solely look at his mechanics. THEN, when he is seen upclose in person, do I look at his speed, which is equally important. Someone can say that they throw in the upper 80s, low 90s, but only a gun can prove that to me. Personally, I don't care if the guy is 5'2", if he's got the mechanics, control, and speed, he's good to me.