High School Pitching Evaluating

spectator - Yes, some good HS pitchers lose out to numbers...but if they're really good, its pretty rare.

I would guess that the "winners" will be the ones who get outs in the early scrimmages. But things can change over the course of the year, and if your son is on the short side, he should keep working because his chance will ultimately come.

And if he doesn't get a lot of innings? Well then his arm should be fresher for the summer. Get him on a good summer team that travels some and sit back and enjoy. The summer, in the end, is probably more important anyways.

Is this a typical situation at a HS? That is, to have this many who throw about 85?

SPECTATOR...you have a great situation there. Our HS team has a similar dilema and will be handled this way...probably...we have 3 returning seniors and 2 of them will get 8-9 starts, the other senior will get 5-6 starts. That leaves maybe 8 other starts for 2-3 Juniors and some closer innings.

It will be determined based on last year's performance and this year's performance in the first 15 games of non-conference. As we get to the conference(10 games) and Regionals(4-5 games) it will be based on who is hot and can get outs. Of course State will be 4 games and that will also be based on most recent performance and ability to lead.

It can be a good thing and a difficult thing...mostly the seniors will get the 1st opportunity to throw in most cases...

Good Luck!

spectator - Its not a "typical" situation. Average HS pitcher throws about 80 mph.

Spectator -
Welcome to the board.
Speed is important but to distinguish yourself from others with similar velocity a player needs: 1) pitch control; 2) confidence - know your stuff, what's working today and aggressively approach each batter every time; 3) great conditioning, 4) maturity (can you stay cool under pressure).

I know all the boys. For the one's that don't get to show there stuff during the HS season, will it hurt them when they try to get exposure in showcases and college camps in the summer? That is, many college coaches will ask about HS and how it's going. How should the odd guys out handle this situation? Is it possible they may not even be able to get into some of the better showcases due to lack of recognition? Just wondering....

The colleges will ask about the HS season, but it won't matter much if the pitchers impress them in the summer. It might be important to "handle" it well (in either case) because a coach may talk to the HS coach at some point.

Recommendations for invitational showcases can come from many sources...scouts, recognized summer coaches, college coaches (been to a camp lately?), etc... I would recommend contacting Perfect Game and/or TeamOne soon about getting to their events next summer. Now's the time. Maybe CollegeSelect too (TRHit's organization). Don't know how far south he extends.

Yes, my son went to 1 college pitching camp and 1 college showcase camp this past fall (both local but different colleges). They seemed slightly interested but haven't heard anything. They both seemed to be more interested in the senior HS pitchers who were there. Should we be proactive and email the 2 college coaches to see if they might nominate him for one of those showcases you mentioned? Is this done often?

Why not? You can call them too.

In any case...Perfect Game will probably direct him to something in your area if you email them...just be honest in describing your son's attributes. www.perfectgame.org.
You should also use the PrivateMessage function on this website to speak with Tom Rizzo (TRHit) with College Select. He should be able to help you too.

Thanks for the help. He's supposed to receive a written evaluation from the D1 showcase camp by November 30. After we receive it, I'll contact the coach and ask him how he would project my son as a college player and see if he would nominate him. Also, Impact Baseball is putting on a Pitcher's Camp Dec 11. I'm thinking of taking my son to that too. He wants to see how far he can go and would love to pitch in college....

You're on your way. But don't bet the farm or check out based on one evaluation. Get a 2nd/3rd/4th opinion.

Like I said...contact Perfect Game, TeamOne, College Select. They're good people and will be honest with you and help you as well.

Spectator

Take a batting "T" and lower the inside insert to its lowest level. That should represent the outside corner at the knees. Put a batter in the batters box with a bat. No catcher.

Set the "T" on the outside corner of the plate. Give each pitcher 10 balls.


The Drill

Tell them the object is to try to hit the "T" anywhere on the rubber stanchion. They will have three sets to accomplish it. 5 points for hitting the top, 2 points for the middle, and 1 point for the bottom of the stanchion. Whoever gets the most points gets to be the number one starter. Similarly the second point total gets to be the second starter and so forth.

This exercise will tell you who has the best mechanics. There is no way that they can pinpoint hitting the "T" at 85 mph without excellent mechanics.

Velocity without command is like being handsome without being suave...good enough to get trailer trash but not good enough to get the plume of the ball.

That's how I determined my pitchers. If none could hit the "T" then the pitchers worked on mechanics, not speed until their ability to hit the "T" improved.

What may set your son apart is, if he has a good changeup, and a breaking ball that can be thrown for a strike and at different speeds. Speaking from experience many High School batters can hit a 85 mph fastball with no movement, can foul off or sit on a decent curve but have trouble with a good changup. Just my opinion.

Spectator,
My opinion is that a junior pitcher should not be concerned with how much he gets to start during the HS season. In my son's case, although clearly the best pitcher, the honors went to the seniors. He split his time between starts and relief, thrown into every tough game as a starter and we usually lost (he had more L's than W's). No one cared about his stats.
So we focused heavily on the junior year as a year for working on his "stuff", a few showcases, woodbat tournies and a meaningful senior summer playing in the Connie Mack League. By Nov of senior year, he had his scholarship all wrapped up.
I agree with Boco 100%, so try to focus on the things that set your son apart from just the 85mph.

Another NC with a HS in a very similar situation (even a bit more extreme). I sent you a PM (Private Message).

You have 6 kids throwing around 85? WOW! Here is how you evaluate them. Find the ones that can afford to move and then send them to my school!

Thank you everyone for all the input! Great forum for someone like my family. My son just received great news today when the mail came in! One of those D1 schools sent him a questionnaire with a typed letter. The letter to my son actually stated "We feel you are an outstanding prospect for Division I Baseball. It is our intention to interest you in (us) .....". What a coincidence that my son would receive that letter today after just starting this topic last night on the High School Baseball Web!! WOW! I feel very proud right now and I'm truly excited for my son. I know it's early, but this is the first written contact from a college coach he's ever received. Very exciting! OK, now I'll settle down and focus on the next steps. Tiger Paw Mom, thanks for the great advice! I'll take it. And for all you others, thank you for all the great input. My son is going to work out and stay in shape (but very little throwing) over the next month. I think he needs to rest his arm a bit because he had a very busy fall season as a pitcher. He was the starting pitcher in a game against the Diamond Devils 18U in Charleston, SC and performed great. Our team lost, but for 5 innings it was a close game. After seeing my 16 year old son pitch against that great talent, it was the first time I really began to believe he had enough stuff to hold his own against college type talent. The Diamond Devils are a fantastic team based in South Carolina. Anyway, I'm beginning to realize that if players are willing to take some chances and get noticed then there are a lot of nice people out there willing to help too. My son is a very happy young man today and I know he will continue to supply 100% effort towards obtaining his goals.

spectator

Give me a call and lets see what we can do for you

Tom Rizzi
Consulting Director
800-782-3672
www.collegeselect.org

TR ...

It looks like spectator may be local to me and itsinthegame .... if you hook up, you can use us as resources to help out about local options.

You have a staff like that - hopefully you have the right coach to handle them. Germantown Academy [outside of Philly, top 25 team last couple yrs] had 5 pitchers go D1 after last year [Wm +Mary (2), Maine, Lehigh, and Lafeyette - plus their catcher is going to Harvard - a 1560 SAT will do that for ya] - they had a couple juniors that pitched, too. Craig Conlin must have done something right - they all had about the same record [nobody had more than 5-7 decisions, 29 game season]. Kids that can pitch, can pitch [and NO I do NOT mean they all pitch the same !! HAH]. These kids all hit the showcase circuit, and coaches saw them there - having big time W-L record in HS can't hurt, but if the kid is good, people will know, and they will get signed. Other point was right on - arms stay fresh - college coaches have to worry about a HS kid that gets over-used, just as MLB teams are wary of college pitchers getting over-used. Case in point is GA's pitching coach [Tyler Green] - I think he had a bad arm for several yrs out of college [Wichita State], #1 pick by the Phils ,plagued with arm woes, lots of potential, never able to get it going, despite his vaunted knuckle-curve ball.

spec...Wow, 6 at 85+.

In the history of Illinois baseball, I don't think any teams had more than 2 or 3 pitchers on a team touch 85.

Some university should do a study how all of these players, some juniors, no less, are doing better with velocity than most schools in the country!

Without a doubt we can all work as a team to help the young man

That is what it is all about isnt it???

I don't know about Illinois, but down here in the Carolina's a high school pitcher throwing 85 is more common I guess. I originally came from Ohio and was a teacher for 2 years at a high school in the Cleveland area (many years ago) and that team only had 1 pitcher who could throw 85, and he also could bring it about 88-89 and was drafted and played in MLB. He was a student in my Pre-Calculus class that I taught. I still remember him - Billy Wertz. Sometimes we would play Chess together after school. By the way, the 6 players I'm talking about here in NC all throw about 85 (not 85+). I know that these particular NC kids all take their pitching very seriously and are trying to go to the next level and are taking lessons, doing pitcher work outs, etc.. I hope they all take some rest this winter and not over do it.... I'm looking forward to seeing them all get on the mound in the spring as it will be very competitive. Unfortunately, the team is not strong defensively and has very average HS hitting, anyway,
Way to go Buckeyes 37 -21!!!

First of all, Spectator, let me say this.....I HATE THAT COACH!!!! How the heck can he have that kind of wealth in one pitching staff...the lucky S.O.B.!
What will separate these young men is what ALWAYS separates pitchers:
1- mental toughness - who can handle themselves the best against the best opponents?
2- control - who forces the opponent to work for everything they get without the free passes?

**There are many more factors, but those 2 are key. Every coach prays for pitchers who are tough enough to lead and who aren't afraid to throw strikes. Good luck this season.

Spectator

I was reading your post with great interest until I realized you were an Ohio State fan.

-Go Blue-

Hey Savannah -

Can't help it. I was born and raised in Ohio for 35 years. At least I had the sense to move to NC. Forgive me, but I've still got to root for the Buckeyes....