Is he ready to showcase?

This thead may be helpful.

http://community.hsbaseballweb...e-by-time-or-ability

Very helpful. Thanks!

IMO he is not ready to showcase.  Our experience is that at most showcases no one is interested in the Frosh or Soph's let alone a Jr. High School kid.  He does not have any measurables that would stand out against the older kids.  

Colleges are looking for kids that throw mid to upper 80s, or 90s for D1.   These are minimum requirements.  The starting point.

Showcasing at 14...

The recruiting timeline was a great starting point for us on this site.  It's just a suggested path by folks who have been down the road before.  MidAtlantic links a thread...there are many others that also discuss the hows and whens...

If your player is not a phenom, then "they" won't find him.  That means he'll ultimately need exposure to the schools on his vetted list when he has something to showcase (something are tools like power, running speed, throwing velocity, etc.) or when the timeline dictates he do so (for example, no later than the Summer before his Senior year of high school). 

For those who aren't pro prospects and planning to turn pro, the vetted list of colleges is key.  Vetted by third parties for academic fit.  Vetted by third parties for baseball fit.  The intersection is the vetted list.  You guys may not have a vetted list of high schools yet!  You are very early.

IMO, don't start now.  Save your time and money.  Enjoy a couple years of high school baseball.  Your player has a lot of time to develop baseball skills, strength, speed, etc.  Or maybe he won't be interested in college baseball and you'll all be focused on something else.  You have lots of time.

No upside to showing your hand yet.  Keep your son focused on having fun, developing a strong work ethic, and understanding the classroom is a great tell for coaches.  Keep developing as an athlete, play multiple sports.  One year from now with a kid your son's size and capability, it could be positioning time.

In the meantime: investigate top pitching instructors and top club programs that take care of arms and develop players in your geographic area.  Check out their summer and off season schedules and the costs to support that schedule.  If you find a program you're interested in, follow them on twitter, FB, and def go to their facility and meet the instructors and program owners.  Interview them.

Sounds like you have a talented kid there, power goes to those that gather intel now, with power to those being patient.  Search for a well respected pitching instructor that is part of a program that offers a strong off season throwing program. With his size he could be at 1B as well as have a chance to make Varsity early; also, find a good fielding guy to develop his glove.  Solid hitting and fielding will keep him on the field while his pitching is being developed.  

You are in a great position to assist your son.  Welcome to the site.

(Edited: few typos...)

Gator297, Welcome!

I think we all at one time, when we found this site and started reading about showcasing, felt behind the 8-ball and wanted to rush things along.  Wise people  on this site have said not to showcase until you have reached Varsity and have something to showcase.

Read everything you can on this site.   This is a relatively new format in the last several years, but there is actually a Pre High School forum that is sometimes hard to find:  http://community.hsbaseballweb...orum/pre-high-school

Enjoy this time ("the ride") with your son!  It will go very fast!

If there is a local one that costs under $100, then definitely go do it, but from what the numbers you posted he would most likely get lost in the crowd in a larger venue...

phillyinNJ posted:

If there is a local one that costs under $100, then definitely go do it, but from what the numbers you posted he would most likely get lost in the crowd in a larger venue...

I'm not all for jumping in at 14, but then again, I'm not a fan of waiting two more years in your son's case until summer of rising Jr. year either.  Must be a balance, even at that early age for a kid to get exposed to the showcase world with no desire for exposure from it.  Big difference. 

Showcasing has a way of showing kids EXACTLY where they stand, or don't stand, in relation to their peer competition.  It can be sobering.  I realize a stopwatch, is a stopwatch, is a stopwatch; as is a radar gun.  Both can be operated by dad at the local park for free.  But denial is a powerful drug, especially when it involves a dad and his aspiring baseball son.  The evaluations one gets after a showcase can be sobering.  Usually are.  They can help a kid improve so that when he does have something to showcase, he can take the venue up a notch. 

I like PhillyinNJ's idea.  If any small money, local showcases, why not?  Can't see how it hurts?  Bottom line is no one is going to sniff unless the numbers are there, in at least one category. 

One thing that I took away is that he is an 8th grader who stands 6' and 170lbs.  Without ever seeing the kid, that sounds like a very projectable athletic frame!  Frankly, throwing in the low 70s as an 8th grader is very solid, not to mention that he's left handed.  I'm not going to comment on the "showcases" in the traditional sense.  However, if you have a solid mid-major D1 locally that offers winter pitching camps, or summer "showcase" camps where multiple college coaches attend to provide instruction...I think that would be a no brainer for the next couple of years.  (8th and 9th grade).

It allows for a number of coaches to see and get to know your son early, follow his development, not to mention the quality instruction.  We had a LHP in our high school program a few years back that was roughly the same size (a bit lighter actually) and threw low 70s when he was a freshman.  He eventually committed to UNC, and was drafted this past June.  He presently throws in the low-mid 90s.

Just a thought.

GoHeels posted:

One thing that I took away is that he is an 8th grader who stands 6' and 170lbs.  Without ever seeing the kid, that sounds like a very projectable athletic frame!  Frankly, throwing in the low 70s as an 8th grader is very solid, not to mention that he's left handed.  I'm not going to comment on the "showcases" in the traditional sense.  However, if you have a solid mid-major D1 locally that offers winter pitching camps, or summer "showcase" camps where multiple college coaches attend to provide instruction...I think that would be a no brainer for the next couple of years.  (8th and 9th grade).

It allows for a number of coaches to see and get to know your son early, follow his development, not to mention the quality instruction.  We had a LHP in our high school program a few years back that was roughly the same size (a bit lighter actually) and threw low 70s when he was a freshman.  He eventually committed to UNC, and was drafted this past June.  He presently throws in the low-mid 90s.

Just a thought.

 

Bingo.

Gator297 posted:

My son is an 8th grader (14yrs old), 6', 170lbs and still growing. He's left handed and has been pitching for 5 yrs. He also plays 1st and right field. GPA 4.0. He has good command and control on the mound. Last school season his ERA was 1.36/13.5 innings (not much time on the mound / team needed him on 1st).  His velocity is consistently between 69-72. Working on hitting 75 by start of this season. He plans on attending some camps / showcases this summer. With that said, I'm trying to get an idea if he would be competitive at these events or should he wait until his velocity is higher. I was told he should start now, but I'm not sure if the source was credible. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

I say yes , a lefty with that size already . Won't hurt , if the camp /Showcase is local I say do it , just for him to get a feel , FYI last week 2 kids -eight graders committed ,one to Louisville and the  other Mississippi State , I know the family of one of them , but both are over 6ft !  

At  that age they are looking for projectables, man I hate that word ! 

Hes need to keep working on his velo , so when the time comes , he's ready .

just my 1.5 cents ��

If parents waited until kids were ready, the Showcase Industry would go out of business.

Will it hurt for him to showcase now?  No.  Will he/you gain much from it?  Not really.  

You/he have plenty of time.  No need to put the pressure on him now.  

GoHeels posted:

One thing that I took away is that he is an 8th grader who stands 6' and 170lbs.  Without ever seeing the kid, that sounds like a very projectable athletic frame!  Frankly, throwing in the low 70s as an 8th grader is very solid, not to mention that he's left handed.  I'm not going to comment on the "showcases" in the traditional sense.  However, if you have a solid mid-major D1 locally that offers winter pitching camps, or summer "showcase" camps where multiple college coaches attend to provide instruction...I think that would be a no brainer for the next couple of years.  (8th and 9th grade).

It allows for a number of coaches to see and get to know your son early, follow his development, not to mention the quality instruction.  We had a LHP in our high school program a few years back that was roughly the same size (a bit lighter actually) and threw low 70s when he was a freshman.  He eventually committed to UNC, and was drafted this past June.  He presently throws in the low-mid 90s.

Just a thought.

 

I like this suggestion ^^^  One thought I have had on showcasing young, especially the PG type showcase where measurables are posted to a profile, you are committing to going back year after year to "improve" the numbers.  Say your son posts a 8.0 60yd dash and a 72 mph fastball.  Those stay on his profile until improved.

One thing I definitely recommend is NOT DOING a PG showcase until you absolutely have "something to show."  Fire away at that if you want beginning summer of Jr. year.  Undeveloped or Bad numbers on a PG profile at an early age will not prohibit you from ever being recruited, but it sure will not help your cause.  You will be wasting your money.  Been there done that with my son at 14.  That's the one thing I would not do, if I could do it all over again.

Small, local, maybe regional college camps which should take measurables and provide evals.  I believe is a good place to start exposing him TO showcasing. 

GoHeels posted:

One thing that I took away is that he is an 8th grader who stands 6' and 170lbs.  Without ever seeing the kid, that sounds like a very projectable athletic frame!  Frankly, throwing in the low 70s as an 8th grader is very solid, not to mention that he's left handed.  I'm not going to comment on the "showcases" in the traditional sense.  However, if you have a solid mid-major D1 locally that offers winter pitching camps, or summer "showcase" camps where multiple college coaches attend to provide instruction...I think that would be a no brainer for the next couple of years.  (8th and 9th grade).

It allows for a number of coaches to see and get to know your son early, follow his development, not to mention the quality instruction.  We had a LHP in our high school program a few years back that was roughly the same size (a bit lighter actually) and threw low 70s when he was a freshman.  He eventually committed to UNC, and was drafted this past June.  He presently throws in the low-mid 90s.

Just a thought.

 

I think this is a decent idea... concur with how projectable he is... just not a fan of the national get on the public radar showcase with a few measurables that don't stand out.  What stands out is his projectability...  

Attending an easy to get to D1 camp that could be of interest to the player could provide the experience and good feedback.  BUT, given his projectability, be prepared for them to like him, talk to him, and get into his head about their program.  

Committing early is an advantage to the school.   This player is in the driver seat, develop, develop, develop... 

I am the parent of a 14 year old 9th grader.  I have read and asked multiple questions on this site and from what I have gathered my personal plan is to take my son to a local INSTRUCTIONAL showcase NOT a PG showcase, this year.  There is a difference.

At an instructional showcase they actually do have instructors.  If a kid approaches the ball in a manner that the instructor thinks is unsuitable they stop and correct the kid.  Conversely, if and when your kid goes to a PG showcase they are evaluating and judging your kid and that information goes onto his PG account FOREVER!  (**EDIT: Unless you ask PG to remove it)

If my son wants to play baseball in college I know he will go to a PG showcase, from what I hear they really do a top notch job at evaluating kids current ability and projecting future ability.  However, my son will not attend a PG showcase until he has $650 worth of something to show!  Whereas, the local instructional showcase is around $100-$150 and I think of it more as a very long paid lesson with the added bonus of my son doing his baseball thing in front of people who actually know if he is doing it correctly, and if he isn't they will let him know.

I'm a believer in wait until you have something to show/sell before spending money on showcasing. However, your son has some early projectables based on his size. Have him attend a local D1 showcase next summer if it's under $200. You and he will find out what it's all about. You will see kids that will be where your son should aim to be in the future. If nothing else go watch a local showcase. The price is right. If you get up close you will see how big, strong and fast quality potential college athletes are compared to how ordinary it looks on tv.

I am in concurrence with the majority. Not a matter of too young just a matter of numbers not ready. Mine is a freshman now. One year older than yours but really in the same position. Solid numbers but nothing that will make coaches pick up the phone and call the head of our organization. Til I can honestly believe he will get calls I will wait. It is hard cause the recruiting process has sped up of course. One 2020 he has played with and against just committed. One of his best friends from school still has t showcased but will get offers the minute he does (should be pushing 90 as frosh). For my son I have to face the fact he is not one of those. It may happen it may not happen. There are a couple years left so time will tell. But sending him to a showcase with less than recruitable numbers would be a waste of time and money. Set some goals to reach before showcasing. For me it has to be low 80's at least. Preferably thinking there is at least a chance of touching 85. Exit velocity of 90+ though as he is just about there now I am somewhat amending that and thinking maybe 95?  For sure if he could throw 85 and exit velocity of 95 we would go. Until then college camps.