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9 replies

Is a 15 YO Soph too young to attend a legit Showcase Combine ?

SP Sluggin' PitcherMember
Just finished my 1st season paying/playing "Showcase" and Travel ball with an Academy both in summer and fall.

Played 18U S/T tourney's that had roster's of both seasoned 18 YO and talented 16-17 YO on them.

It was fun, learned a lot - but would like to get away from "academy" ball and go solo.


I was the #1 pitcher for this acadamies #2 18U team filled with mostly Soph a coupla of Jrs and 1 Sr. with mostly Soph's like me playing up.

Throwing 84-85 consistently, popped 87 a couple times the past two tourney's.

Recorded an 84.6 at Ron Wolforths camps this past summer and will be attending more, next one over Christmas.

Hit .415 this fall in 36 AB after a low .300 summer BA playing both showcase/travel academy schedule playing 3B/SS/1B since I am 6' 217 lb.'s I play mostly IF - but can shag some flys and turn a few bingos into outs when playing OF.

I will be 16 YO at the very end of April 2011.

Now that this fall "showcase" - travel ball season is over - would it pay for me to attend a legit December Showcase event as a soph on my own or is it just a waste of time and money since my graduation date is 2013?

I know I can do as good as some 18 YO in these Showcase events.

I enjoy the competition at these events - but is it really worth the time and money since this will be my 1st year on varsity in 2011 and I haven't achieved any HS stats except for HS JV Baseball.

Next summer as a Jr. I'd like to just go to the more real Showcase events on my own and less "travel tourney's" that some academies mix in with their so called "Showcase Schedule".

I don't have any doubt about my ability to perform once I get there.

If I go on my own - will I just be put on a team of the tournament masters choice when it comes time for team play since I won't be playing for a team or do I have to join another academy or play with an academies team in order to play with a team at an actual true "Showcase Event" ?

Still learning the showcase "game".

Have Fastball.

Will Travel.
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D 2013 Dad100+ posts
Sluggin,

My son is 15 yr soph. He is attending the Perfect Game underclass showcase at the end of December. I have heard from everyone that this is an excellent showcase and is scouted by many schools from all over. This is probably your best bet if you have the means to attend. It is attended mainly by sophomores. So you are the perfect age. Good luck to you!
sgvbaseballsgvbaseball100+ posts
Slug..Age is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to colleges recruiting. If you are 12year old senior...all that matters is that your are a senior. I have never had a college ask me the age of a player. 3 of our top 2012 players were 15U/Sophomores and when the colleges they were committed to found out they were younger they were quite surprised.
Coach MercCoach Merc1,000+ posts
The PG winter events are a great opportunity to showcase (especially a first event). There are plenty of good players there. As with all the PG showcase events, they are well run and you'll see plenty of schools there. As with all events, do your homework, Check the NCAA recruiting calendar, email schools of interest to see where they will be.

I personally attended this event with both of my boys over the years. Ft Myers is great and it's just nice to get in the warm weather and watch some baseball
MB Mark B100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by sgvbaseball:
Slug..Age is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to colleges recruiting. If you are 12year old senior...all that matters is that your are a senior. I have never had a college ask me the age of a player. 3 of our top 2012 players were 15U/Sophomores and when the colleges they were committed to found out they were younger they were quite surprised.


you mean colleges were offering scholarships to your players and they were unaware of what year they were in school???
sgvbaseballsgvbaseball100+ posts
Mark B,

I was stated that colleges have never asked about age. When Lucas Giolito was starting to be recruited(committed to UCLA) this past year school were astonished he was only 15 but yes he is a sophomore. He was sitting in the 90-93 range. We have Rio Ruiz(USC) who in the same boat and he regarded as possible 1st rounder. All the colleges and scouts knew that these kids were 2012's and no idea they were 15 yeas old.

This past draft Dylan Covey was taken in the 1st round and Aaron Sanchez was a supplemental pick. Both 2010 grads but also 11 months a part on age. Sanchez started school at a younger age. A friend of mine who is HS head coach had a player graduate at the age of 16. The kids mom put him school real early. He could have been a D1 if had graduate at 18 and not 16.

Basically, just mention grade and not age. We firmly believe players should play be grade and not age.
Midlo DadMidlo Dad10,000+ posts
For a pitcher I'd really rather see you go through a few months of arm rest this time of year. Though it's not too early to do a showcase, something scheduled right at the end of your high school season, maybe in June, would be a better fit. It would allow you to be at your very best as you step further up in the process of trying to show yourself.

If someone with solid credentials knows you and would recommend you, a trip to PG's Junior National Showcase would be the best you could do at your age. If you can prepare yourself to gain some more heat as the weather warms through your spring season, that could well be in the cards for you.

Barring that, there are other PG events in June. Check their web site for a complete listing.
Midlo DadMidlo Dad10,000+ posts
quote:
you mean colleges were offering scholarships to your players and they were unaware of what year they were in school???


I read his comment to refer to birth date, not class year. His point was that class year governs, not birth date.

And I fully understand his point. I still get parents telling me "he's a sophomore but he's only 15u." Their point is that if he lags behind his classmates he has an excuse. And SGV's point is, no one cares about your excuses. Your classmates are who you have to compete against when it comes to college recruiting.

Moreover, since the aging date got moved from Aug. 1 back to May 1 five or so years ago, the fact that you are supposedly a year young may not really be so for those who've been around long enough to remember the way things used to be.

But I do think that if a player shows great talent and is also a tad on the young side, it's a plus in that he may be seen as someone who still has room to improve just from maturing physically. So I think being young is a plus if you're a standout AND young. But the way most people use it as an excuse for being only average in their class, is not going to hold sway with anybody.

I say this just to bolster sgv's comment, but in this case I don't think the original poster is using it as a crutch anyway. All I took from his birth date comment was he was right on age for his grade, not performing well because he was actually old for his grade or anything. All in all I'd say a kid throwing mid-80's before his sophomore season starts is on track to become a hot commodity.
Last edited by Midlo Dad
SD #22's dad10+ posts
Hey there,

I too am thinking of sending son to camps next year.. his sophmore year. He doesnt play football and stopped playing fall ball in late oct. When u mean taking 2-3 months off do most of you understand that to be no bullpen and light throwing or not even picking up a ball. I would like for #22 to not even pick up a ball till January when he sees his pitching coach. #22 wants to throw around here and there, I just worry about him getting burned out in baseball but the kid loves to play!

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