With so many other options out there such as show cases, travel teams, summer camps, etc. Do you feel good 'ol HS baseball is becoming less and less relevant in the grand scheme of progressing to the next level? Maybe starting to be looked at as summer/fall ball just to stay in shape for the aforementioned? Let's have a peaceful, insightful discussion on this topic. What is your opinion?
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Many will say "yes, less relevant" and 'warmup for summer ball.'
I say no! Its very relevant. It was for both of our sons. They were both evaluated and recruited from HS games and they also both have memories of a lifetime from those games...championships...accomplishments.
Interesting side note - just yesterday our younger son was interviewed live on TV from the dugout of his Pac12 game. Was he asked about his summer travel ball experience (and he played on a very good one) or his HS baseball experience? Yep, you got it - HS - along with being asked about his HS coach.
HS baseball = hometown + friends + neighbors + teachers + girlfriends + team-over-self. Its just too darned 'fabric of America' to not be relevant.
With so many other options out there such as show cases, travel teams, summer camps, etc. Do you feel good 'ol HS baseball is becoming less and less relevant in the grand scheme of progressing to the next level? Maybe starting to be looked at as summer/fall ball just to stay in shape for the aforementioned? Let's have a peaceful, insightful discussion on this topic. What is your opinion?
No. HS baseball is still about playing for your school and trying to win games as a team where showcase teams are just that. Playing in front of recruiters and scouts. Lost on HS baseball is that many think everyone playing HS ball is playing to get a college scholarship or get drafted but most are playing because they love baseball and are pretty good players in their own right and obviously good enough if they're fortunate to make and play on a varsity roster. Plus, in HS baseball, the newspapers care about it and one of the fun things is to read about the local team in the paper and if you have a kid who makes the paper, it's even more fun. Then there's the conference and state tournaments.What's better than that at the HS level of play? You don't get that same excitement with these showcase teams.
Showcases have their place but IMO, it's a mistake to replace HS baseball with showcases.The average HS BB fan could probably care less who's on a showcase team unless they're following a specific player or players.
IMHO - High school baseball is still very relevant to the process, and it has its place. Very few of us get to pick our high school coaches so I think players having to prove themselves to a program or a coach (where lessons and pay for play don't enter into the equation) is a very good thing. High school baseball is a huge part of our local community, and social fabric. High school baseball is a place where team is usually more important than a specific player....and team chemistry matters!. For that reason, I think it is very important.
The OP question was the relevance HS baseball to moving on to the next level. Not what are the pros of playing HS ball. All baseball has some relevance to the game. That being said some of the reasons people advocate playing HS ball doesn't mean much to me.Maybe it is a breakdown in the fabric of society. But it doesn't matter to me about who in the community is watching him My son just loves to play baseball . Showcases are a different than baseball teams . My son is friends with all his travel ball team mates. They're together all the time and they don't live in walking distance . And he has a million friends at school . I want him to play against the best talent every time he is of the field. Your not going to get that in HS. At this early point in his life he does have aspirations to make it to the show., So I'm sure that makes a difference in my point of view. Trust me I am not living vicariously through my son either.That being said I do like the fact of him playing under another coach . Everyone has something to teach you and you never know when the nugget of knowledge will come in handy and it's cheap. Sorry in advance to any HS purists if my opinion sounds a little crass.
Originally Posted by hueysdad:
…I want him to play against the best talent every time he is of the field…
If you are not living vicariously through the boy, why is it that YOU want him to play against the best talent. YOU aren’t the one playing the game, HE is. 
Absolutely part of the process! (for all the reasons above) Nearly every program that followed my son talked to his HS coach,and quite a few came to see one or more of his HS games. College baseball is about more than talent, it is about work ethic and dealing with adversity, which you don't get from travel ball.
If your position is "less relevant" due to recruitment where college coaches actually come to watch a player play then yes. In so many other ways, in my experience, HS baseball will always be relevant. Our communities in the Metro St. Louis area are fanatical baseball fans. For some of our games, you would not believe the attendance. When I took my position here I was told all of he expectations but was also told that I had to beat certain high schools. Community pride is on the line. We have a small little sports store that keeps in business simply by selling HS baseball hats etc. That is not special to our area but rather, happens in small communities throughout this country.
Originally Posted by hueysdad:
…I want him to play against the best talent every time he is of the field…
If you are not living vicariously through the boy, why is it that YOU want him to play against the best talent. YOU aren’t the one playing the game, HE is.
I said I because I have to listen to HIM on the car ride home.I guess I should have worded that different . It's not as fun when your not playing against comparable talent. Competitors want to be challenged . At this point if his development he is better than most. I am just here to help him with his dream . It's more like my science experiment .
Absolutely part of the process! (for all the reasons above) Nearly every program that followed my son talked to his HS coach,and quite a few came to see one or more of his HS games. College baseball is about more than talent, it is about work ethic and dealing with adversity, which you don't get from travel ball.
I didn't say HS ball wasn't part of the process. So you don't think you have to have a work ethic or deal with adversity in travel ball. I would have to question that remark when he is dragging me to the practice facility from October-March and the adversity his TEAM faces when their playing against travel teams from down south and the west coast. They are two different animals that both have things to be learned from. I'm not belittling HS ball . I'm just saying to bring in the community aspect doesn't make a big difference to me.
Originally Posted by hueysdad:
…I want him to play against the best talent every time he is of the field…
If you are not living vicariously through the boy, why is it that YOU want him to play against the best talent. YOU aren’t the one playing the game, HE is.
You don't want what's best for your son?
If your position is "less relevant" due to recruitment where college coaches actually come to watch a player play then yes. In so many other ways, in my experience, HS baseball will always be relevant. Our communities in the Metro St. Louis area are fanatical baseball fans. For some of our games, you would not believe the attendance. When I took my position here I was told all of he expectations but was also told that I had to beat certain high schools. Community pride is on the line. We have a small little sports store that keeps in business simply by selling HS baseball hats etc. That is not special to our area but rather, happens in small communities throughout this country.
As usual, I agree with CoachB25. It is usually pretty easy to identify true "baseball guys" and he is one of them.
Less relevant? i would say not. In 1980 I had college scouts at all my summer games, but I had pro scouts at both. I don't think that part has changed. Jr. Has had pro guys at every game this season but the colleges where summer and showcases. Seems like it's pretty much the same, summer is when the best play and the college coaches have more free time.
Coach3,
I understand you weren't looking for a debate. However this topic pops up often on here.
I can't understand this topic every time it shows up.
In this country HS baseball is what nearly every baseball player does. It would be hard to find a handful of MLB players from USA that did not play HS baseball.
It might be true that there are better options for exposure, but then again is there? There are the high profile travel and club teams, but where do they find players to recruit without HS baseball? There are Showcases, but the best Showcases are finding the best HS players to invite. So in many ways all the other exposure possibilities start with HS baseball. In many cases that is where the final exposure takes place, also. There are HS games being played every spring with 20-50 scouts following certain players. So for the top prospects it often Starts and Finishes with High School baseball. What happens in between might have created all the interest, but it might not have happened without HS baseball.
Right now we are scouring the country trying to find the best HS players. The scouting community is getting ready for the draft, so they are following HS players playing HS baseball.
There are a few other options out there in the spring, but they are for those that aren't able to play HS baseball for one reason or another.
Anytime a player is not playing for his HS baseball team, it creates a red flag of sorts. It begs for an answer as to why! Please don't tell a scout or college recruiter you just thought it wasn't that important. Most of the country plays HS baseball in the spring. The other stuff is in the summer and fall. If you are a baseball player, why wouldn't you play HS baseball?
One more thing... You cannot play a season of baseball without learning something. The friendships, the competition, the team! HS baseball players will experience life long memories.
Annnnd I agree with PG. It is amazing the amount of quality posts that comes from these guys.
Lots of red flags if you don't play. Our Summer coach wouldn't like it either. You would miss out on 75-100 live at bats. And right now there isn't a real organized alternative that I'm aware of.
Coach3,
I understand you weren't looking for a debate. However this topic pops up often on here.
I can't understand this topic every time it shows up.
In this country HS baseball is what nearly every baseball player does. It would be hard to find a handful of MLB players from USA that did not play HS baseball.
It might be true that there are better options for exposure, but then again is there? There are the high profile travel and club teams, but where do they find players to recruit without HS baseball? There are Showcases, but the best Showcases are finding the best HS players to invite. So in many ways all the other exposure possibilities start with HS baseball. In many cases that is where the final exposure takes place, also. There are HS games being played every spring with 20-50 scouts following certain players. So for the top prospects it often Starts and Finishes with High School baseball. What happens in between might have created all the interest, but it might not have happened without HS baseball.
Right now we are scouring the country trying to find the best HS players. The scouting community is getting ready for the draft, so they are following HS players playing HS baseball.
There are a few other options out there in the spring, but they are for those that aren't able to play HS baseball for one reason or another.
Anytime a player is not playing for his HS baseball team, it creates a red flag of sorts. It begs for an answer as to why! Please don't tell a scout or college recruiter you just thought it wasn't that important. Most of the country plays HS baseball in the spring. The other stuff is in the summer and fall. If you are a baseball player, why wouldn't you play HS baseball?
One more thing... You cannot play a season of baseball without learning something. The friendships, the competition, the team! HS baseball players will experience life long memories.
Not that I wasn't looking for a debate, but to keep it peaceful. With that being said, I have yet expressed my opinion on the subject. I am enjoying reading everyone's opinions at this moment. Mine will come soon enough...
If your position is "less relevant" due to recruitment where college coaches actually come to watch a player play then yes. In so many other ways, in my experience, HS baseball will always be relevant. Our communities in the Metro St. Louis area are fanatical baseball fans. For some of our games, you would not believe the attendance. When I took my position here I was told all of he expectations but was also told that I had to beat certain high schools. Community pride is on the line. We have a small little sports store that keeps in business simply by selling HS baseball hats etc. That is not special to our area but rather, happens in small communities throughout this country.
As usual, I agree with CoachB25. It is usually pretty easy to identify true "baseball guys" and he is one of them.
May I ask exactly how one identifies "true 'baseball guys'"? Even more so, what is the definition of "baseball guy"?
Originally Posted by hueysdad:
…I want him to play against the best talent every time he is of the field…
If you are not living vicariously through the boy, why is it that YOU want him to play against the best talent. YOU aren’t the one playing the game, HE is.
I said I because I have to listen to HIM on the car ride home.I guess I should have worded that different . It's not as fun when your not playing against comparable talent. Competitors want to be challenged . At this point if his development he is better than most. I am just here to help him with his dream . It's more like my science experiment .
Absolutely part of the process! (for all the reasons above) Nearly every program that followed my son talked to his HS coach,and quite a few came to see one or more of his HS games. College baseball is about more than talent, it is about work ethic and dealing with adversity, which you don't get from travel ball.
I didn't say HS ball wasn't part of the process. So you don't think you have to have a work ethic or deal with adversity in travel ball. I would have to question that remark when he is dragging me to the practice facility from October-March and the adversity his TEAM faces when their playing against travel teams from down south and the west coast. They are two different animals that both have things to be learned from. I'm not belittling HS ball . I'm just saying to bring in the community aspect doesn't make a big difference to me.
So your son is too good for high school baseball. Now I understand. Sounds to me like you think it is beneath your all star son to waste his time in the spring playing with a bunch of bums who cant compare to him.
Gotcha
Side note: I would be pretty upset with my son if all he did was complain about how nobody is good enough to play with him.
Coach3, I can read posts by various members and form an opinion about who I think have really been in the trenches and who has not. It is sometimes in the things that they do or don't say. Redbird5 has been an outstanding contributor for many years here and has had to read through my ramblings for sometime. Therefore, he has a history to make such a complimentary post on. Likewise, I enjoy reading his stuff.
Coach3, I don't know how long you were a lurker here before joining, how much you have researched some of us to see who you tend to agree with more and/or share the same philosophy with. There are so many here that I do look forward to reading their stuff. I always learn from them. At the risk of sounding like a braggart, I have coached baseball for most of my life and I am 57. In that time I've been blessed with tremendous young men and blessed with the opportunities this great sport has given me. That would included coaching baseball at the rec, HS and international level. A couple of state championships, a state runner up, a perfect 40-0 season, a another streak years before at 64 wins in a row and ... and to be honest, I am the most blessed person on the face of the earth. So, I hope I know a little about this great game and do my best to share it. If you somehow come to the conclusion that I do and want to try to glean something from my ramblings, please feel free to do so. If, instead, you think I am an idiot, I've fit that bill many times as well.
Take care,
Darrell Butler
If there was a reasonable option during the spring, you would see good players that are trapped in bad HS programs make the jump. Some kids take baseball serious at the age of 15-16 and having a 1st baseman that can't scoop, or a team full of kids that don't know what a bunt is, or a hit-run is can be very stressful. But until a option is made available most will say stay on the dirt and get your swings in regardless of the competition.
Originally Posted by hueysdad:
…I want him to play against the best talent every time he is of the field…
If you are not living vicariously through the boy, why is it that YOU want him to play against the best talent. YOU aren’t the one playing the game, HE is.
I said I because I have to listen to HIM on the car ride home.I guess I should have worded that different . It's not as fun when your not playing against comparable talent. Competitors want to be challenged . At this point if his development he is better than most. I am just here to help him with his dream . It's more like my science experiment .
Absolutely part of the process! (for all the reasons above) Nearly every program that followed my son talked to his HS coach,and quite a few came to see one or more of his HS games. College baseball is about more than talent, it is about work ethic and dealing with adversity, which you don't get from travel ball.
I didn't say HS ball wasn't part of the process. So you don't think you have to have a work ethic or deal with adversity in travel ball. I would have to question that remark when he is dragging me to the practice facility from October-March and the adversity his TEAM faces when their playing against travel teams from down south and the west coast. They are two different animals that both have things to be learned from. I'm not belittling HS ball . I'm just saying to bring in the community aspect doesn't make a big difference to me.
So your son is too good for high school baseball. Now I understand. Sounds to me like you think it is beneath your all star son to waste his time in the spring playing with a bunch of bums who cant compare to him.
Gotcha
Side note: I would be pretty upset with my son if all he did was complain about how nobody is good enough to play with him.
Uh, I think you might be taking things a little too serious.He hasn't played HS baseball yet.This is travel baseball, this is what is available for him to play .I think it would be safe to say these travel kids will make up HS rosters at some point.I didn't say it was beneath my all-star son . I didn't say we talked about that the whole ride home either . We do talk about the good and the yet to be good teams he played . We also talk about what he did right and wrong . WARNING PARENT ABOUT TO TALK UP HIS KID! 18 at bats zero strike outs.I did make sure to mention the ball that went through the 5 hole when he was playing third. He is not too good to play HS ball like PG said everyone who wants to play at the next level plays HS..
Coach3, I can read posts by various members and form an opinion about who I think have really been in the trenches and who has not. It is sometimes in the things that they do or don't say. Redbird5 has been an outstanding contributor for many years here and has had to read through my ramblings for sometime. Therefore, he has a history to make such a complimentary post on. Likewise, I enjoy reading his stuff.
Coach3, I don't know how long you were a lurker here before joining, how much you have researched some of us to see who you tend to agree with more and/or share the same philosophy with. There are so many here that I do look forward to reading their stuff. I always learn from them. At the risk of sounding like a braggart, I have coached baseball for most of my life and I am 57. In that time I've been blessed with tremendous young men and blessed with the opportunities this great sport has given me. That would included coaching baseball at the rec, HS and international level. A couple of state championships, a state runner up, a perfect 40-0 season, a another streak years before at 64 wins in a row and ... and to be honest, I am the most blessed person on the face of the earth. So, I hope I know a little about this great game and do my best to share it. If you somehow come to the conclusion that I do and want to try to glean something from my ramblings, please feel free to do so. If, instead, you think I am an idiot, I've fit that bill many times as well.
Take care,
Darrell Butler
Coach- With all due respect, I did not question you or your background. I simply asked a direct question to another member. For the record, I don't "lurk". I'm not a troll. I truly hope your comment isn't coming from frustration from my Matt Adams post. Thank you for sharing some of your milestones, however. Congratulations and I truly hope there are still many more to come. 57 is still very young and I bet you have a lot more (baseball) life left in you.
Coach, "lurk" or "lurking" isn't an insult. It is what some people do before they decide to join or not join a website. For example, some members here read posts for months or years before actually signing up. I also don't think you are a troll. I am straight forward and so, if I thought that, I would have said it up front. Coach, I sign my name to stuff and so, if there were any questions, you can google me. Be careful, I am not the "Fat Darrell" sandwich. LOL
Again, Redbird has been on this site a very long time and so, he was being very complimentary toward me. I appreciate his kind gesture. He was the same toward PGStaff. Another member who has been such an outstanding member of this community.
Take care
Doctor,
There are plenty of reasonable options! One is to forego playing for the HS team and rather than waste time practicing and playing with a sub-par team, spend that time with top notch private coaches until the travel teams gear up. Prolly be so good they wouldn’t even have to try out.
Another option is to move him someplace like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, or some other country where baseball is more important than anything else.
In the end, isn’t getting mad because the 1st baseman can’t scoop a bad throw a bit silly? After all, if the throw wasn’t in the dirt the 1st baseman wouldn’t have to scoop it. I’ve been around a heck of along time and while I’ve seen lots of HS players who can’t execute bunts or hit-runs well, I’ve never seen a HS player who didn’t know what they were. Seems to me you should be blaming pre-HS ball, not HS ball.
Coach, "lurk" or "lurking" isn't an insult. It is what some people do before they decide to join or not join a website. For example, some members here read posts for months or years before actually signing up. I also don't think you are a troll. I am straight forward and so, if I thought that, I would have said it up front. Coach, I sign my name to stuff and so, if there were any questions, you can google me. Be careful, I am not the "Fat Darrell" sandwich. LOL
Take care
I understand what you are saying. I'm the type who signed up and made my first post within minutes of each other. As for the troll comment, on that other thread, there was a troll comment thrown out there. Not from you, and not necessarily directed at me (at least I hope not). That's why I mentioned it. I just want to get that out there.
Again, Redbird has been on this site a very long time and so, he was being very complimentary toward me. I appreciate his kind gesture. He was the same toward PGStaff. Another member who has been such an outstanding member of this community.
Wait, CoachB, you know a little bit about the game of baseball?!?! That's not what I heard from your parents over the years LOL At least you're a nice guy... unlike that dang Athletic Trainer...
Of course you know I'm kidding!
And you're spot on about the high school pride. You know as well as I do that for a long time your Knights beat up on us. We finally found a my sophomore year to overcome that and I think ended up winning 5 in a row at one point. Our football has had that same struggle with Triad, but now we've won that game two years in a row. It really is about the letters on the front of the jersey.
I'm hoping the picture attaches correctly. I know it's basketball instead of baseball, but let me tell you the excitement in this place that night was second to none. After 33 years, you party 
With so many other options out there such as show cases, travel teams, summer camps, etc. Do you feel good 'ol HS baseball is becoming less and less relevant in the grand scheme of progressing to the next level? Maybe starting to be looked at as summer/fall ball just to stay in shape for the aforementioned? Let's have a peaceful, insightful discussion on this topic. What is your opinion?
My son caught attention of schools by going to their camps. They r now attending HS games to see him in action. No, HS is not irrelevant. Players will need to be seen playing game, wether in Summer tourn or HS.
What would baseball players be doing during HS season if not playing? School is still going on and there r no real tourn to go play in. What happens if kid has idea to only be seen in Summer and gets hurt At start if that season? Bet they wish someone would have seen them in HS. Just my two cents.
Doctor,
There are plenty of reasonable options! One is to forego playing for the HS team and rather than waste time practicing and playing with a sub-par team, spend that time with top notch private coaches until the travel teams gear up. Prolly be so good they wouldn’t even have to try out.
Another option is to move him someplace like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, or some other country where baseball is more important than anything else.
In the end, isn’t getting mad because the 1st baseman can’t scoop a bad throw a bit silly? After all, if the throw wasn’t in the dirt the 1st baseman wouldn’t have to scoop it. I’ve been around a heck of along time and while I’ve seen lots of HS players who can’t execute bunts or hit-runs well, I’ve never seen a HS player who didn’t know what they were. Seems to me you should be blaming pre-HS ball, not HS ball.
If your telling people to move to Panama to find someone that can play catch, than its worse on here then I thought. I see grown boys throwing like 6 year old girls, I have seen 6 ft tall seniors pull their head so bad on a routine grounder that they needed a months worth of Chiropractic treatment to fix their neck. Most of the drills that our summer teams do, you could not attempt with HS kids because they don't catch and throw good enough.
Thank you for pointing out the weak 3b for the continuous bad throws to 1b.
Its not all the coaches fault for the weak players who lives in his district.
And he gets no credit for the kids on strong summer teams either.
And you say I should pick someone to blame?.....Hmmmm let's see.....how about the moms and dads that put these kids on some of the weakest teams (leagues) they could find, to collect a few trophies only to wake up one day and realize what the real baseball kids have been doing the last 7-8 years. OH!......and wait for this one.........My son has been playing baseball all his life and I can't understand why he can't make the team now!!! That's the one I love to hear!
If your position is "less relevant" due to recruitment where college coaches actually come to watch a player play then yes. In so many other ways, in my experience, HS baseball will always be relevant. Our communities in the Metro St. Louis area are fanatical baseball fans. For some of our games, you would not believe the attendance. When I took my position here I was told all of he expectations but was also told that I had to beat certain high schools. Community pride is on the line. We have a small little sports store that keeps in business simply by selling HS baseball hats etc. That is not special to our area but rather, happens in small communities throughout this country.
CoachB and I are in the same area just different sides of the river. I coach at my Alma Matter and I still want to beat the teams that were our rivals 15 years ago when I played. It is about the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. That is what high school baseball is about.
Bulldog 19, thanks for attaching that picture. It made me smile. You have lived in an outstanding baseball area and had such great coaching that you understand my posts. LOL Heck, you even overcame that one assistant coach -- Pop! Of course you personally know me as well, have played against teams I have coached and have seen my kid play. If I were a a BSer, you could always ring in. (OK so how much is the bribe?)
What we experienced as opponents is why HS baseball will never die. Intense games at your place with the fans on the hill surrounding the games. The track team coming over to watch. The small town atmosphere where everyone in town really does know all of the players and most of the opponents in some sense. Then, there is the battle within the conference that is a real knockdown and drag out. Looking every night to see who is beating who. There is the one time I got to your place and coach was looking for someone to throw the remaining BP. I told him I'd throw it. He told me to jump in. There are the times when your coach got off of the bus yelling at me and giving me "the business" about all the stuff we have. Good times and, again, what happens at HS all through this great land.
Coach3,
I see that you are a coach/AD at a Christian school? Is this at a HS or college?
So don't keep us in suspense, how relevant do YOU think that HS baseball is.
Ok, after reading multiple posts, I have come to the conclusion that some are not understanding the original question. This has nothing to do with the state of HS baseball, it is specifically about the state of HS baseball becoming less relevant in the grand scheme of being recruited. Yes, HS baseball is important for communities and kids playing for their school and what not. That is not my topic of conversation. Is the HS platform for being recruited weakening over the years due to so many other recruiting options?
Coach3,
I see that you are a coach/AD at a Christian school? Is this at a HS or college?
So don't keep us in suspense, how relevant do YOU think that HS baseball is.
Yes. And read my other post...
Bulldog 19, thanks for attaching that picture. It made me smile. You have lived in an outstanding baseball area and had such great coaching that you understand my posts. LOL Heck, you even overcame that one assistant coach -- Pop! Of course you personally know me as well, have played against teams I have coached and have seen my kid play. If I were a a BSer, you could always ring in. (OK so how much is the bribe?)
What we experienced as opponents is why HS baseball will never die. Intense games at your place with the fans on the hill surrounding the games. The track team coming over to watch. The small town atmosphere where everyone in town really does know all of the players and most of the opponents in some sense. Then, there is the battle within the conference that is a real knockdown and drag out. Looking every night to see who is beating who. There is the one time I got to your place and coach was looking for someone to throw the remaining BP. I told him I'd throw it. He told me to jump in. There are the times when your coach got off of the bus yelling at me and giving me "the business" about all the stuff we have. Good times and, again, what happens at HS all through this great land.
I had to put up with a bunch of them, didn't I? I don't normally admit it, but Fulte is my godfather. and I'll tell you what.. He still has an arm! That's about all he does now is throw batting practice for 2 hours everyday. When I was a senior, when his arm got tired, then it was my turn in the cage. They normally wouldn't let any other player throw BP, but I did. Dad would have loved if I could have played for you or Coach Hawkins... Have some really good coaches in the conference and in the area!
I spent end more time on that field growing up than I did anywhere else. Well heck, it was right across the street from my house! There were times where I'd go find dad's keys growing up and go hit in the cage on our own
I think that many answered your question, but FWIW, this has been a frequent discussion here regarding the relevance of HS ball in recruiting.
Son is 10 years out of HS, a few coaches close to our area would occasionally show up to watch a prospect, not to find a prospect.
I don't think things have changed, there are plenty of tournaments, venues, showcases where all level coaches can scout and find players but more convenient for them than going to watch HS ball.
As a college coach recruiting a player, I would be very concerned if any player didn't play for his HS team. I would refer to what BOF posted.
And what does yes mean, HS or college?
Club sports in general are making high school sports less relevant to the recruiting process. Even football now has high school combines college coaches attend.
But just because the recruiting process has changed over the years doesn't make playing high school sports less relevant. It's an honor to play for the community. Why play high school ball? What play for a program that hasn't been successful? I'll spare everyone the video. How about dogpiling when winning the first league title in over twenty years in a walk off win? How about little kids asking for your autograph? How about people you don't know treating you at Dairy Queen?
But just because the recruiting process has changed over the years doesn't make playing high school sports less relevant. It's an honor to play for the community. Why play high school ball? What play for a program that hasn't been successful? I'll spare everyone the video. How about dogpiling when winning the first league title in over twenty years in a walk off win? How about little kids asking for your autograph? How about people you don't know treating you at Dairy Queen?
Absolutely! I posted the picture above of our basketball team winning the conference this year. First time in 33 years! Yes, they cut down the net, the whole nine yards! There was just so much excitement and so much school spirit. As a former player myself and coming close when I was in high school, it was a great feeling to be a part of that.
I know the OP's question is asked from time-to-time and usually generates a lot of comments, but I still found myself looking forward to what people had to say. I'm not sure any really addressed the original question head on:
"Do you feel good 'ol HS baseball is becoming less and less relevant in the grand scheme of progressing to the next level?"
This is not a question of whether HS baseball is important, or has value, which most of the answers seemed to tend towards. I believe HS baseball is great and has tremendous value, but I still wonder about the OP's question. The reason is that where I live (Southern California) we have choices of multiple public high schools, a few of which have tremendous baseball programs, while others are mediocre. We also have the option of some private schools that have strong national reputations and others that have weaker programs. Given this set of choices, if HS baseball has become less relevant in progressing to the next level I wouldn't sweat the issue and I'd pick a school for my son without regards to the quality of the baseball program. But I am sweating! Is this angst warranted?
