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Help me Interpret a write-up

J joes8710,000+ posts

My 2017 recently attended his first showcase.  Below is the “write-up” they did.  I am hoping someone can help interpret it. 

 

"6-foot-3, 175-pound two-way player, long lanky frame, body projects. Left handed hitter, slight open stance, arm bar load. Pull side approach, path works around the baseball, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 74 mph across the diamond. 7.49 runner in the 60. On the mound arm played from a long over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 76-78 mph, touched 80 mph. Breaking ball has 11/5 action, gradual bend, 65-68 mph. Changeup has arm side action, 67-69 mph.”

 

I understand what they mean by arm bar load, its something my kid is working on.  Not sure what they mean by “path works around the ball”

 

Also, is an over the top arm slot an issue?

 

 

BTW after attending this showcase (which I now realize is more of a money grab then anything) we changed travel teams.  Moved off of a parent-coached team to one that is coached by an all-volunteer staff.  They have a very successful track record of placing kids into college and the draft.  I would say the place 85+% of their kids in college.  They held a showcase for 2016’s and uncommitted 2015’s from their program.  Had about 35 to 40 schools show up.  They invited about 12(out of 40 or so) 2017’s of which my son is one, so I am guessing they see potential in him. 

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CaCO3GirlCaCO3Girl10,000+ posts
Okay, I'm no expert, but I have read a few of these buzz words before....so I will try.

 

Left handed hitter, slight open stance, arm bar load. Pull side approach, path works around the baseball, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.

 

You said you understood about arm bar load....he hits to the opposite field than he would naturally hit to (pull side approach), he takes his hands away from his body too early (path works around the baseball), his contact with the baseball makes the ball fly 87 mph.

 

 

J joes8710,000+ posts
Originally Posted by BBALLFAN2012:

Good move on moving to another team.  Travel teams are a dime a dozen - and not all get college coach exposure or go play in events that put them in front of the right people/coaches.  (Although they think they do...)

Its something we have been contemplating for a year now.  His old team was a good team but the organization does not seem to have a lot of support for recruiting.  So far I'm happy with the new organization, but will reserve final judgement until after the summer season.  No parents coaching.  All volunteer coaches most have played through the organization and come back to work with the kids after college or pro. careers.  On staff recruiting experts (resumes to back it up) and lots of specialized training.  They have a good off season program.  They will sacrifice winning games if it means placing kids at the college level.  

bballmanbballman10,000+ posts
Originally Posted by joes87:

Left handed hitter, slight open stance, arm bar load. Pull side approach, path works around the baseball, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

 

Pull side approach - although I'm sure you know this, if he's a right handed batter, pulls the ball to left side.

Path works around the ball - head of the bat winds up being ahead of the hands.  The bat will hit the ball on the outside of the ball.  Leads to almost everything going to the pull side.

 
 
Originally Posted by joes87:

Defensively arm played at 74 mph across the diamond. 7.49 runner in the 60. 

 
These are two things he can work on.  He will need some more arm strength across the infield and should work with a speed and agility guy to get that 60 time down.
 
Originally Posted by joes87:

On the mound arm played from a long over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 76-78 mph, touched 80 mph. Breaking ball has 11/5 action, gradual bend, 65-68 mph. Changeup has arm side action, 67-69 mph.”

Over the top isn't necessarily bad, although it may lead to the "mostly straight" fastball.  You want movement.  Some guys get that by a slightly lower arm slot, although I wouldn't recommend any pitcher changing his natural arm slot.  Some guys will get that by their grip on the baseball.  If he's throwing a 4 seam fastball, have him experiment with a 2 seam.  Or move his fingers slightly on the laces to generate a little spin to get some movement.  11/5 movement on the breaking ball has to do with the face of a clock.  It moves from the 11:00 position to a 5:00 position.  That's good because it has both lateral movement and depth.  He should work on the "gradual bend" part though.  Try to get it a later, sharper break.  A pitching coach can work with him on this.  The arm side action on his changeup is also good.  Arm side means the ball moves to the pitchers arm side.  In other words if he is a right handed pitcher, throwing to a right handed batter, the ball would break into the batter.  The velocity differential looks pretty good between his fastball and his change up.
 
Overall a pretty good review, but there are a few things he can build on.  He's just a 2017, so he has time and a pretty good blueprint for where he can improve.
 
Good luck!!
 
J joes8710,000+ posts
Originally Posted by playball2011:

Just curious, what were your expectations before going to showcase, and after going why do you feel it was just a money grab? 

Were you expecting a better write up, or expect son to be singled out by coaches? 

Was it an issue with number attending or how it was run? Also, was it a PG event, or college showcase(if so what division)

It was not a PG event. It was run at an NAIA school put on by an independent organization that runs multiple showcase events. Maybe money grab is too strong a word. My son asked to do this as he just wanted to do a showcase to get one under his belt. My main goal out of this was getting his "measurables".  things such as ball exit speed, velocity, etc. Which I did. The write up is pretty much right on. He has good size and potential but needs to work on a few areas. 

 

The event was well run and those putting it on did a good job of working with and encouraging the kids. There were about 100 kids there of which I would say about 70% of them should not have been. It was an open event so I guess I should have expected that. 

 

My main issue with the event was the lack of college coaches there. I was able to identify 2. If there were many more then that the sure did a good job of hiding themselves. In addition there are some stats and video they took that is not available to you unless you fork up an extra fee. I would assume for the couple of hundred they charged you would at least get a chance to see that stuff without having to fork over a subscription fee as well. 

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