How many of todays professional baseball players

futurecatcher ...

Tho I don't even know where one would go to find those numbers (perhaps PGStaff has some info), my gut reaction is that more of the current (American born) minor leaguers went to premiere showcases and played on premiere teams [our son has met and competed against quite a few of his former ... current? ... nemeses (the plural of nemesis, I believe) since starting his minor league career] than the established major league players. Perhaps some of the younger players on the 25 man rosters competed and showcased, but I suspect many of them ... as well as most of the established major leaguers ... played in their local leagues, at the local high schools, and perhaps played at a JUCO or a 4 year school.

Just a gut reaction based on what I have witnessed in terms of the players we have watched over the years, some in their mid-30's now who played at our local high schools.

Futurecatcher27,
Very good question! Generally speaking the players make the events and the teams great --- the events do not make the players great. Talent is what carries baseball players to the next level. If a player reaches a high enough level of talent, the showcases and the premier summer teams are begging for him to join in. This pulls in the scouts and coaches. Scouts and coaches standing around evaluating talent also pulls in the average to good player hoping to be seen with the hopes of getting a good evaluation. These events and teams are as good as it gets for any player to be seen. The most important aspect of this is not to be seen but to have something for scouts and coaches TO see. I would venture to say the best players spend much less on exposure than the average to good players. In today's society with parents spending lots of money, most players (great, good, and average) are involved in showcasing and select or travel baseball. More than is necessary.
Fungo