I was wondering, how early do Pro scouts start looking at players? Do/can they approach you if they are looking at you earlier than you Sr. year?
-Kevin Dorko
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I would suppose that someone will suggest that they know someone who has been scouted since they were in 3rd grade!
Realistically, I would suppose scouts would start to follow someone in the summer after their sophomore year if they are a pitcher, especially left handed; and, likely to start following someone in their junior year of high school and into their senior year in high school.
They have no restrictions, I believe, but bbscout is our resident expert and perhaps he'll chime in soon.
Realistically, I would suppose scouts would start to follow someone in the summer after their sophomore year if they are a pitcher, especially left handed; and, likely to start following someone in their junior year of high school and into their senior year in high school.
They have no restrictions, I believe, but bbscout is our resident expert and perhaps he'll chime in soon.
It was suggested, (about twenty-years ago),
to check height and weight beginning in the 7th grade. Gavin Floyd was one of those found early!
to check height and weight beginning in the 7th grade. Gavin Floyd was one of those found early!
I was approched a few days ago by a scout concerning my son. He ask if my son was a Junior or senior. I told him my son was a freshman. He then ask me his age, and what High School he went to and last but not least he wanted his name, Not sure what it all means...but it was kind of exciting.
Starr, Did you see the scout's eye's bulge out.
That's a sure sign. LOL
Good luck.
That's a sure sign. LOL
Good luck.
I was so shocked I couldn't tell you if his eyes were bulging out. I do know that I was one of two parents apporoached that evening. The catchers parents were also approached.
Congratulations. It sounds as if your son is turning some heads early in his career. Scouts are naturally attracted to talent (not age) but there is also a practical side to all this. Starr, I would savor the moment and use this as a motivational tool for my son to focus on his baseball. As you well know there will be a lot of hard work plus high and lows in between the freshman year of high school and the professional draft. I do see this as an indicator that good things CAN happen to your son IF he stays focused on his baseball. Not that this even applies to your situation but I have seen some part time bird dog scouts act as if they were area scouts with some of the younger players and their parents. Whatever the situation it is all GOOD.
Fungo
Fungo
Thank You Fungo....He is very focused on baseball. He is a pitcher and he has the natural talent and the skills but we are now working on the mental side of the game...He is young and has a few years to go.
Yeah Star, it sounds like you gota winner on your hands.
quote:Originally posted by theEH:
Starr, Did you see the scout's eye's bulge out.
That's a sure sign. LOL
Good luck.
***why bust chops or be a Pin is this guys balloon?
About 98% of what appears on this Forum is encouraging, then the other 2% is acidic?
Hey Starr, give me a PM. I am excited for you
Scouts or possible agents can be any where at any time. During the process in high school a scout who turned agent had film on my kid when he was 13, at a little tiny tournament in San Diego.
My dad always remind me every game, practice, etc, "You never know whos watching."
When I was a soph. (when I wasn't pitching) I backed up a senior at SS. His dad was a Yankee scout.
He told me throw EVERY ball in pre-game infield/outfield as hard as you could.
"Never know who's watching".
Good way to devp. arm strength!
He told me throw EVERY ball in pre-game infield/outfield as hard as you could.
"Never know who's watching".
Good way to devp. arm strength!
itrogas,
You received good advice..."You never know who is watching"
When I was a frosh, my fall team played against the Bayside Yankees. I made a great play and 4 scouts talked to me before the game was over.
The point is...they were at the game to watch several other guys but I was able to show them something. Luckily, I was taught to sprint on and off the fiel and do other little things that made a difference in their eye.
You received good advice..."You never know who is watching"
When I was a frosh, my fall team played against the Bayside Yankees. I made a great play and 4 scouts talked to me before the game was over.
The point is...they were at the game to watch several other guys but I was able to show them something. Luckily, I was taught to sprint on and off the fiel and do other little things that made a difference in their eye.
quote:Originally posted by Catcher41:
I was wondering, how early do Pro scouts start looking at players? Do/can they approach you if they are looking at you earlier than you Sr. year?
I currently have on my watch list a 15 YO freshman RHP who's playing Varsity.
I just happened to see him lose a PG after 6 1/3 innings, which caught my eye (his team played on the field before my son's 12U team). Last week I saw him pitch a no hitter through 4 innings. He throws in the low 80s with three pitches.
I'm not sure that he'll be able to keep it up, but I'm going to follow him.
quote:Originally posted by thepainguy:quote:Originally posted by Catcher41:
I was wondering, how early do Pro scouts start looking at players? Do/can they approach you if they are looking at you earlier than you Sr. year?
I currently have on my watch list a 15 YO freshman RHP who's playing Varsity.
I just happened to see him lose a PG after 6 1/3 innings, which caught my eye (his team played on the field before my son's 12U team). Last week I saw him pitch a no hitter through 4 innings. He throws in the low 80s with three pitches.
I'm not sure that he'll be able to keep it up, but I'm going to follow him.
With 99 so commonplace, why would he even be on your "watch list"?
quote:Originally posted by redbird5:
With 99 so commonplace, why would he even be on your "watch list"?
Because I think the kid may actually know how to pitch.
As a Freshman he's dominating Seniors, and doing so with 3 solid HS pitches (FB, CU, CV). That's different than always blowing guys away with just a 99 MPH fastball.
Guys who rely on just their FB's in HS very often top out, at least by the time they reach the ML level because they never actually have to learn how to pitch. It's guys who actually know how to pitch, who know about deception and throwing hitters off balance, who tend to succeed in the big leagues.
quote:Originally posted by thepainguy:
Guys who rely on just their FB's in HS very often top out, at least by the time they reach the ML level because they never actually have to learn how to pitch. It's guys who actually know how to pitch, who know about deception and throwing hitters off balance, who tend to succeed in the big leagues.
This shows me your aren't really affiliated with any MLB team.
1) A HS pitcher who relies on FBs only HAS to have a very good one in order to be drafted. If he didn't, no MLB team would even look regardless of how cunning he is.
2) If a P makes it to the Majors, he has obviously demonstrated an ability to pitch. He has deceived hitters in every level of pro ball below him. He has developed secondary pitches and 90% of the time has command of 3 pitches.
Please stop your ridiculous posts. You can fool some people who haven't been exposed to higher levels of baseball but to the rest of us, you just look silly.
quote:Originally posted by redbird5:
1) A HS pitcher who relies on FBs only HAS to have a very good one in order to be drafted. If he didn't, no MLB team would even look regardless of how cunning he is.
I agree that you have to have a good FB to be drafted, but you don't have to have a major league FB to be effective in HS. In many cases you just have to throw hard.
The movement of your fastball is one thing that will determine whether your fastball will cut it at the next level.
quote:Originally posted by redbird5:
2) If a P makes it to the Majors, he has obviously demonstrated an ability to pitch. He has deceived hitters in every level of pro ball below him. He has developed secondary pitches and 90% of the time has command of 3 pitches.
I agree.
I also don't know where I said anything to the contrary.
quote:Originally posted by redbird5:
Please stop your ridiculous posts. You can fool some people who haven't been exposed to higher levels of baseball but to the rest of us, you just look silly.
I think the reason you don't like me is that we come from two different schools of thought.
I'm not one of those velocity-obsessed guys. Instead, I want to find guys who have great mechanics and who really know how to pitch, regardless of whether they are the hardest throwers on the squad.
All I care about is whether a guy can get hitters out, which means I have a great deal of respect for "soft tossers" like...
- Maddux
- Glavine
- Suppan
- Moyer
- Wakefield
I'm fine letting the other guys drool over (and overpay for) the flamethrowers. What I am looking for are the guys who actually know how to pitch but who people like you would never give the time of day.
quote:Originally posted by thepainguy:
I think the reason you don't like me is that we come from two different schools of thought.
Once agin you are wrong. I don't like you because you obviously don't know what you are talking about and then come on the board claiming to scout for a MLB team. I don't deal with liars and stupidity very well.
quote:You said:
Guys who rely on just their FB's in HS very often top out, at least by the time they reach the ML level because they never actually have to learn how to pitch
You don't know where you said anything to the contrary? How does a kid with a plus FB in HS make it to the MLB without developing secondary pitches? Would success in the minors constitute learning to pitch?
Again, this shows a lot about what you don't know.
Continue your backpedalling. It is fun to watch.
Not trying to ruffle feathers here, just a question BUT...
Last I knew Moyer and Wakefield never had a good FB, aren't you contradicting yourself when you swing from one side of the pendulum to the other so quickly? You go from having a good FB to going to guys who can simply just get an out.
I do agree that many scouts won't look at guys without a solid FB, there are a few of them who do actually care about just getting outs, but they are few and far between.
Just trying to understand a few things
.quote:I agree that you have to have a good FB to be drafted, but you don't have to have a major league FB to be effective in HS. In many cases you just have to throw hard
quote:All I care about is whether a guy can get hitters out, which means I have a great deal of respect for "soft tossers" like...
- Maddux
- Glavine
- Suppan
- Moyer
- Wakefield
What I am looking for are the guys who actually know how to pitch
Last I knew Moyer and Wakefield never had a good FB, aren't you contradicting yourself when you swing from one side of the pendulum to the other so quickly? You go from having a good FB to going to guys who can simply just get an out.
I do agree that many scouts won't look at guys without a solid FB, there are a few of them who do actually care about just getting outs, but they are few and far between.
Just trying to understand a few things
quote:Originally posted by redbird5:
Once agin you are wrong. I don't like you because you obviously don't know what you are talking about and then come on the board claiming to scout for a MLB team. I don't deal with liars and stupidity very well.
Listen.
You can disagree with me all you want, but DO NOT call me a liar.
Like it or not, I AM working with a team cross-checking pitchers for potential mechanical problems. The reason I can't say who it is is because I am obviously controversial and I haven't yet completely proven myself to them.
quote:Originally posted by redbird5:
You don't know where you said anything to the contrary? How does a kid with a plus FB in HS make it to the MLB without developing secondary pitches? Would success in the minors constitute learning to pitch?
He probably won't, and I never said anything to the contrary. What I said is that there's more to pitching than just blowing people away with a hard fastball. The problem with guys who have overwhelming fastballs in HS is that they often never actually learn to pitch, and never have to develop those secondary pitches, and then have problems in college, the minors, or the big leagues when they face better hitters.
If you studied the history of baseball, you will find that it is littered with the stories of guys like Todd Van Poppel and Steve Dalkowski who had great fastballs but who couldn't survive in the show because they couldn't adapt.
quote:Originally posted by Doc_K:
Last I knew Moyer and Wakefield never had a good FB, aren't you contradicting yourself when you swing from one side of the pendulum to the other so quickly? You go from having a good FB to going to guys who can simply just get an out.
I don't know Moyer's history, but I know that Wakefield is a converted third baseman.
What I am trying to figure out is how to identify the guys like Moyer and Wakefield (and John Tudor) who may not have overwhelming stuff but who actually know how to pitch, who know how to get guys out, and who could make it in the show.
Right now those guys are pretty much ignored by the scouting establishment and have to make it to the big leagues by first pitching in an independent league. Only then do they start to catch the attention of scouts.
Jamie Moyer Drafted 6th round Cubs 1984 out of St Joseph’s University
Made it to the Big Leagues in two years.
1st nine years MLB 59-76
After age 33… Next 10 years MLB 146-76
Obviously he learned quite a bit in his first 9 years.
Tim Wakefield drafted 8th round Pirates 1988 out of Florida Institute of Technology
He was a position player
He really is hard to study because he is a knuckle ball pitcher. Without the knuckle ball we wouldn’t know who he is. Knuckle ball pitchers are very rare and can’t be considered good case studies IMO
Tom Glavine drafted 2nd round Braves 1984 out of high school in MA.
Made the Big Leagues at age 21. He is a finesse pitcher with an outstanding changeup. He is a great example of a pitcher without mind boggling velocity being very successful. Like Moyer he is left handed as many of the top finesse pitchers are. He was/is an outstanding athlete as well.
Jeff Suppan drafted 2nd round 1993 out of high school in OK.
Made it to the Big Leagues at age 20.
He has an average fast ball, but he is far from the greatest case study. However like Moyer it will all depend on how he does in his later years. He is 111-104 with a lifetime ERA of 4.56. In 1919 innings he has given up 2086 hits, 622 walks and had 1076 strike outs. Not exactly mind boggling numbers.
Greg Maddux drafted 2nd round Cubs 1984 out of high school in NV.
Made it to the Big Leagues at age 20
Maddux might be a good example of being a finesse pitcher now days, but he was a high velocity guy coming out of high school and that is why he was drafted so high.
Everyone uses him as an example of a finesse (soft tosser) type, but he had a “great” arm. In fact, he threw as “hard” as anyone in his high school years. So if we want to find the next Greg Maddux, we should start by finding a young kid with great velocity! The let him develop as a pitcher.
Made it to the Big Leagues in two years.
1st nine years MLB 59-76
After age 33… Next 10 years MLB 146-76
Obviously he learned quite a bit in his first 9 years.
Tim Wakefield drafted 8th round Pirates 1988 out of Florida Institute of Technology
He was a position player
He really is hard to study because he is a knuckle ball pitcher. Without the knuckle ball we wouldn’t know who he is. Knuckle ball pitchers are very rare and can’t be considered good case studies IMO
Tom Glavine drafted 2nd round Braves 1984 out of high school in MA.
Made the Big Leagues at age 21. He is a finesse pitcher with an outstanding changeup. He is a great example of a pitcher without mind boggling velocity being very successful. Like Moyer he is left handed as many of the top finesse pitchers are. He was/is an outstanding athlete as well.
Jeff Suppan drafted 2nd round 1993 out of high school in OK.
Made it to the Big Leagues at age 20.
He has an average fast ball, but he is far from the greatest case study. However like Moyer it will all depend on how he does in his later years. He is 111-104 with a lifetime ERA of 4.56. In 1919 innings he has given up 2086 hits, 622 walks and had 1076 strike outs. Not exactly mind boggling numbers.
Greg Maddux drafted 2nd round Cubs 1984 out of high school in NV.
Made it to the Big Leagues at age 20
Maddux might be a good example of being a finesse pitcher now days, but he was a high velocity guy coming out of high school and that is why he was drafted so high.
Everyone uses him as an example of a finesse (soft tosser) type, but he had a “great” arm. In fact, he threw as “hard” as anyone in his high school years. So if we want to find the next Greg Maddux, we should start by finding a young kid with great velocity! The let him develop as a pitcher.
Where do the MLB scouts fit into this? Have had specific team scouts visit - but now a MLB scout wants to visit.
