Anyone have any experience with this league? Not familiar with how HS ball works in WI as we are from Illinois. Is WI similar to Iowa where the HS season starts later and thus this is a somewhat competitive league?
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2019OF posted:Anyone have any experience with this league? Not familiar with how HS ball works in WI as we are from Illinois. Is WI similar to Iowa where the HS season starts later and thus this is a somewhat competitive league?
yes, i have! great league if your son doesn't play HS in IL or have HS baseball like Wisconsin and Iowa. also there is a tryout to see what teams kids will be out on, i know Perfect game spring leagued comes to Wisconsin 3-4 times this year.and they go to Iowa 3-4 times.
We're from Northern IL and know plenty of kids who've played for Hitters. One of the best programs around for development, competition... The owner and coaches have an incredible network to help kids get on the radar of colleges.
The spring league is a real mix. Some great players down to some awful players. The organization itself draws a ton of attention. The spring league not so much. Just a warm up for summer nothing more nothing less.
Gov posted:We're from Northern IL and know plenty of kids who've played for Hitters. One of the best programs around for development, competition... The owner and coaches have an incredible network to help kids get on the radar of colleges.
Agree with this 100%. In fact the better IL programs participative in a league with the Hitters. Many of them will work to get their kids playing in the Hitters spring league if they are not playing for their HS. If your kid plays for Sparks, Long Shots, 29ers, ABarn, ACE or Elite you will find that you play a lot of games up at the parks the Hitters use. Great program for the top players in the area.
joes87 posted:Gov posted:We're from Northern IL and know plenty of kids who've played for Hitters. One of the best programs around for development, competition... The owner and coaches have an incredible network to help kids get on the radar of colleges.
Agree with this 100%. In fact the better IL programs participative in a league with the Hitters. Many of them will work to get their kids playing in the Hitters spring league if they are not playing for their HS. If your kid plays for Sparks, Long Shots, 29ers, ABarn, ACE or Elite you will find that you play a lot of games up at the parks the Hitters use. Great program for the top players in the area.
Slammers should be thrown in that mix, they've come a long way since the split with Top Tier. Of which Top Tier should be included as well. RJ Fergus with Hitters is in a different "league" with the network he's created, and he literally, will pick up the phone on players behalf. He'll actually initiate contact with college coaches and MLB Scouts.
Gov posted:joes87 posted:Gov posted:We're from Northern IL and know plenty of kids who've played for Hitters. One of the best programs around for development, competition... The owner and coaches have an incredible network to help kids get on the radar of colleges.
Agree with this 100%. In fact the better IL programs participative in a league with the Hitters. Many of them will work to get their kids playing in the Hitters spring league if they are not playing for their HS. If your kid plays for Sparks, Long Shots, 29ers, ABarn, ACE or Elite you will find that you play a lot of games up at the parks the Hitters use. Great program for the top players in the area.
Slammers should be thrown in that mix, they've come a long way since the split with Top Tier. Of which Top Tier should be included as well. RJ Fergus with Hitters is in a different "league" with the network he's created, and he literally, will pick up the phone on players behalf. He'll actually initiate contact with college coaches and MLB Scouts.
Probably should have included them as well. I have an issue with Top Tier, but I don't want to air dirty laundry on here.
Gov posted:joes87 posted:Gov posted:We're from Northern IL and know plenty of kids who've played for Hitters. One of the best programs around for development, competition... The owner and coaches have an incredible network to help kids get on the radar of colleges.
Agree with this 100%. In fact the better IL programs participative in a league with the Hitters. Many of them will work to get their kids playing in the Hitters spring league if they are not playing for their HS. If your kid plays for Sparks, Long Shots, 29ers, ABarn, ACE or Elite you will find that you play a lot of games up at the parks the Hitters use. Great program for the top players in the area.
Slammers should be thrown in that mix, they've come a long way since the split with Top Tier. Of which Top Tier should be included as well. RJ Fergus with Hitters is in a different "league" with the network he's created, and he literally, will pick up the phone on players behalf. He'll actually initiate contact with college coaches and MLB Scouts.
Moreover scouts will listen to him on the marginal players in order to win favor for the better players. So there is definite advantage to playing for hitters. But... there are many who simply can not deal with RJ. We will leave it at that. My son never tried out at Hitters. Never considered trying out for Hitters. Never would tryout for Hitters.
2020dad posted:Gov posted:joes87 posted:Gov posted:We're from Northern IL and know plenty of kids who've played for Hitters. One of the best programs around for development, competition... The owner and coaches have an incredible network to help kids get on the radar of colleges.
Agree with this 100%. In fact the better IL programs participative in a league with the Hitters. Many of them will work to get their kids playing in the Hitters spring league if they are not playing for their HS. If your kid plays for Sparks, Long Shots, 29ers, ABarn, ACE or Elite you will find that you play a lot of games up at the parks the Hitters use. Great program for the top players in the area.
Slammers should be thrown in that mix, they've come a long way since the split with Top Tier. Of which Top Tier should be included as well. RJ Fergus with Hitters is in a different "league" with the network he's created, and he literally, will pick up the phone on players behalf. He'll actually initiate contact with college coaches and MLB Scouts.
Moreover scouts will listen to him on the marginal players in order to win favor for the better players. So there is definite advantage to playing for hitters. But... there are many who simply can not deal with RJ. We will leave it at that. My son never tried out at Hitters. Never considered trying out for Hitters. Never would tryout for Hitters.
Hey I hear you.. have heard good things personally so I won't bash. We were comfortable with our program so Hitters were never an option, but for those that live in Wisconsin it's a viable option. There's another program which plays out of the "Rock", not sure of their name, but they've been putting together some good teams.
Well my son plays for RJ in the spring and summer - RJ is one of the best I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot ,is he for everybody ?no, does he expect the best out of you ? Yes ! Does he want your kid to go to college or Pro ? Yes ,look at his track record and History . For his 2018 team he has 3 possible draft picks including One in the top 5 of the draft , the other 2 possible top 5 rounds , and tons of college kids that will be drafted , say what you want about the man , he really doesn’t care lol . But he has a style some kids question at 1st. But when they succeed -He makes you a believer ,
his 2019 team is really stacked , with tons Commits and draft follows and will have tons more commits this summer.
Just my take Cause it’s hands on for me .
Gov posted:2020dad posted:Gov posted:joes87 posted:Gov posted:We're from Northern IL and know plenty of kids who've played for Hitters. One of the best programs around for development, competition... The owner and coaches have an incredible network to help kids get on the radar of colleges.
Agree with this 100%. In fact the better IL programs participative in a league with the Hitters. Many of them will work to get their kids playing in the Hitters spring league if they are not playing for their HS. If your kid plays for Sparks, Long Shots, 29ers, ABarn, ACE or Elite you will find that you play a lot of games up at the parks the Hitters use. Great program for the top players in the area.
Slammers should be thrown in that mix, they've come a long way since the split with Top Tier. Of which Top Tier should be included as well. RJ Fergus with Hitters is in a different "league" with the network he's created, and he literally, will pick up the phone on players behalf. He'll actually initiate contact with college coaches and MLB Scouts.
Moreover scouts will listen to him on the marginal players in order to win favor for the better players. So there is definite advantage to playing for hitters. But... there are many who simply can not deal with RJ. We will leave it at that. My son never tried out at Hitters. Never considered trying out for Hitters. Never would tryout for Hitters.
Hey I hear you.. have heard good things personally so I won't bash. We were comfortable with our program so Hitters were never an option, but for those that live in Wisconsin it's a viable option. There's another program which plays out of the "Rock", not sure of their name, but they've been putting together some good teams.
I believe you are talking about PTA (Prospects Training Academy). We just switched over there this year cause the majority of a really good independent team was moving over (7 kids) and we were asked to join them. We will be good not great. But we play all the big events which my sons previous program did not. PTA is really still in start up phase. We have about three good teams in the program the rest are marginal. But there will be a new facility bigger than any other in Wisconsin come Fall and that could help push them up the ladder. Plus it is nice having the Rock as a 'home' field. Same ownership. Currently its Hitters far away in front of all other Wisconsin programs, then GRB, then either PTA or Stiks depending on the age level.
With Wisconsin changing to 100% spring Baseball for High Schools, I'll be interested to see how much the Hitters Spring League changes.
Wisconsin's "springs" are relatively brutal for outdoor Baseball. Hitters' ability to get games played indoors during inclement weather is fantastic.
In speaking briefly with RJ, he said the Hitters Spring League will continue in 2019.
Interested if anyone else from the Midwest has any opinions on this Spring League moving forwards, now that all Wisconsin high schools will be playing Spring Ball.
You guys have played your HS ball during the summer, right? Seems odd to me given the past spring was the worst ever for HS spring ball.
How has the PTA program worked for your son this summer? (EDIT: apologies I think 2020 dad said they switched to PTA)
Gov posted:You guys have played your HS ball during the summer, right? Seems odd to me given the past spring was the worst ever for HS spring ball.
How has the PTA program worked for your son this summer? (EDIT: apologies I think 2020 dad said they switched to PTA)
Wisconsin has been divided, some High Schools played in the summer, some in the Spring... Yes, last spring was abysmal, weather wise, in Wisconsin. Weather is always an issue for Spring Baseball here, essentially the majority of the spring season gets played in one month, May, because of all the makeup games etc.
That is, in part, why I think the Hitters Spring League has such appeal.
Gov posted:How has the PTA program worked for your son this summer? (EDIT: apologies I think 2020 dad said they switched to PTA)
Meant to reply to that: yes, it is 2020Dad who switched to PTA for 2018.
My son actually played 4 tournaments with PTA in 2017 at 14U. Very good program. It is really cool that they have such a great outdoor facility (The Rock in Milwaukee) as their home field to practice on.
Hitters Spring League starts up tomorrow with Team Identification Day. My 2021 is signed up and looking forward to it. Games start next weekend...
Mine too. Really looking forward to it. We still have 2 feet of snow up here.
My 2019 can’t wait , it’s our 3rd year ... Love RJ
What do you think ?
It's awesome. The talent level is fantastic. Lots of talented college commits and draft prospects. Being able to play indoors in bad weather is fantastic. RJ & staff are great, you can tell RJ loves the game and sees everything. My only complaint is "why the heck did we wait till my kid was a Soph to get in this league?!"
Yes it good stuff , lots of talent - D1,Juco and draft prospects
My thoughts exactly, should've done this sooner. Was really impressed. Looking forward to Iowa this weekend. Son really had a good time.