So, this is our first year really doing any showcase events/tournaments. My son is playing up tomorrow at the PG 16U WWBA tournament at East Cobb. His organization asked him to come pitch for one of their teams. Said they would be lots of RC and such there and it was a good opportunity for him to be seen. Given what I've seen about PG lately, do a lot of scouts/RCs really come to these events? Have these events become too watered down? I mean, 428 teams?!?!?
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There will be a lot but they are not just randomly watching games hoping to discover a kid. They have kids they want to see, clubs they know are loaded with dudes, etc… and those are the games they watch.
@22and25 posted:There will be a lot but they are not just randomly watching games hoping to discover a kid. They have kids they want to see, clubs they know are loaded with dudes, etc… and those are the games they watch.
Hopefully it's his game!! Lol! His organization had him come down to pitch a specific game and time. Our organization is pretty good and son's been getting some interest. But, I truly was just wondering with all those teams how the RCs/scouts kept up with it all! So crazy! I played volleyball and basketball in college and don't remember all this craziness...but that was a year or a hundred ago!! Thanks!
Depends on the organization. For example if a coach puts out word they need a left handed pitcher, more than likely they would let the coach know. This is just an example.
Wishing your son success, let us know how it goes down, good luck!
Have seen over a hundred and none. According to who is playing and how good they are.
You don’t want to go to a major PG event hoping to be discovered (aka throwing spaghetti off the wall to see what sticks). You want to go presold by your travel organization to the colleges on your list. If not, at the least you’ve exchanged emails with the coaching staff along with video and they’re interested. Coaches have a list of players they want to see. You want to be on it.
Otherwise, a player better look awesome while coaches are there to see someone else in that game. You won’t see coaches watching games of inferior teams. A friend complained they didn’t see a coach at any of their games all week. It was a team of all D3 prospects.
when they were at Lake Pointe, most of the scouts were there. Not sure now. If you are playing a good team with top prospects, chances are better. Most teams list pitchers, that helps too. Our first WWBA we got one game at LP and it started at 1am. There were still scouts there. It was 15u and my son got his first contact. The Duke coach was there to see a kid on the other team, so all luck. Another time, PG tweeted that he was pitching (one advantage of having been to a showcase) and there were probably 40-50 RCs. It was bad because he imploded but they definitely do show up to see guys they want to see.
4 games in and we had 2 games with tons of scouts when the other teams weren’t very good at all, and 2 games with a couple scouts against very good teams.
It also depends on how many are already committed. Many guys go to the 17U thinking they will get recruited but by then most of the guys are already committed to the schools that attend WWBA. It is not always about the level of teams playing but who is pitching or a certain player. Son's recruited really took off when he was facing a guy throwing upper 90's and hit a HR off him at LP and pitched a complete game 1 hitter off his team. Scouts were there to watch the other team and son was collateral. Some times it helps to be lucky.
@BaseballMOM05 posted:Hopefully it's his game!! Lol! His organization had him come down to pitch a specific game and time. Our organization is pretty good and son's been getting some interest. But, I truly was just wondering with all those teams how the RCs/scouts kept up with it all! So crazy! I played volleyball and basketball in college and don't remember all this craziness...but that was a year or a hundred ago!! Thanks!
I may be a little late, but going forward...
If your son has a target list of schools, have him let them know he is pitching X game at Y field. If he has any schools that have shown interest, he should let them know when he pitches. The travel coach(es) should help with these contacts. Even if your son says "I'll never go there!", still have him let them know, interest begets interest in a player.
Even if it is a "quiet period/he's too young for coaches to call" etc., he can text them when he is pitching. They can't reach out to him, but he can text or call them.
@TPM posted:Depends on the organization. For example if a coach puts out word they need a left handed pitcher, more than likely they would let the coach know. This is just an example.
Wishing your son success, let us know how it goes down, good luck!
Thanks for the well wishes! He did pretty good - I think anyways! He pitched 6 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 9 strikeouts and 4 walks.
@Go44dad posted:I may be a little late, but going forward...
If your son has a target list of schools, have him let them know he is pitching X game at Y field. If he has any schools that have shown interest, he should let them know when he pitches. The travel coach(es) should help with these contacts. Even if your son says "I'll never go there!", still have him let them know, interest begets interest in a player.
Even if it is a "quiet period/he's too young for coaches to call" etc., he can text them when he is pitching. They can't reach out to him, but he can text or call them.
Thanks! Good to know. He recently sent an introduction email to some schools he is interested in along with his summer schedule. I know his coach asked for his list and so did the head of our organization so I believe they are working behind the scenes to make some things happen!
So, when can coaches call, etc. to kids? How are kids already committed as 2024s and 2025s if they are too young for coaches to talk to them? I am still trying to figure out this whole thing! LOL!
Good Stuff! Don't worry about the ones that are already committed.
If you feel that he did well, he can update coaches that he has already contacted.
My suggestion would be to talk to the organization he is with. My sons success in finding the right fit, which should be the goal, was due to his travel organization.
@BaseballMOM05 posted:Thanks for the well wishes! He did pretty good - I think anyways! He pitched 6 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 9 strikeouts and 4 walks.
Stats are nice. But the coaches are looking at velocity first to go with the stats. They’re trying to project current physical size with future size and how velocity will improve and does the projected velocity fit in against the competition.
@RJM posted:Stats are nice. But the coaches are looking at velocity first to go with the stats. They’re trying to project current physical size with future size and how velocity will improve and does the projected velocity fit in against the competition.
I have to admit, I don't know much about baseball with regards to "projectability", "future size", peer stats, etc. I am trying to learn so I can be in the loop and offer assistance, if and when needed. I usually just offer moral support, cheer the team on and scrub the white pants clean. But, I did play sports in college and my son more recently has been asking me about my recruiting process and playing in college so I want to be knowledgeable about baseball. These boards have been a great tool and I have learned a lot!
I can offer you this and maybe you can help me with where he compares? 2024 is 15 (will be 16 in October) 6'5", 175lbs, FB sits 82-87, curveball 69-74 and he hit 91 at the USA Baseball NTIS tryouts recently. His legs were shot this Sunday, as, against our advice, he went and worked out Friday with some football buddy's and had to "show out" for them on squats. LOL! 15 year old boys. (I bet there were some girls at the gym too if I had to put $$ on it) PG had his FB in the 81-85 range Sunday. They did a nice little Twitter blur on him. Thought that was cool.
LHP or RHP?
Again, speak to the folks that know him best. If he tried out for USA his stats are in the books.
@TPM posted:LHP or RHP?
Again, speak to the folks that know him best. If he tried out for USA his stats are in the books.
He's a RHP. He did make the NTIS Southeast team. Are those stats public? My husband and 2024 are the ones that have the dialogue with our organization. I think I'll ask to be involved more! That will probably help me a lot to understand his personal journey and their thoughts/plans. Again ~ thanks so much!!
When son was in HS, he tried out, didn't make team, he was young, but it was a decent try out and we used stats and experience in his bio and he got lots of attention from most ACC and SEC schools. PG was much smaller then but his college pcoach found him at a game junior fall, using sophomore information.
I am pretty sure his stats were recorded somewhere.
Size is projectability. His size will get him about 3-5 mph in a coach's mind. So don't let him get frustrated with the velo in itself because his size will give him an advanatage. My son was never tall and didn't have the velo but had the pitches and pitchability. Everyone is given something and you have to use what you are given. At 15, he may be able to grow a couple of more inches.
As parents, we can only do so much but maybe next time talk to his ego and remind him that the leg workout takes away velo and the velo is what the coaches are looking at first and foremost. Son did a leg workout the other day that was required and he said he knew it affected his velo 2 days later as a 21 year old.
Just remember that your role is just as vital as anyone in the process. He always needs a cheerleader in his corner no matter what else you provide.
This is why, IMO young players need guidance in proper training.
