Major League Scouting Bureau

Coach Curt,
I don't know what level player your son is, but unless you are using it for one of the following uses it might not be the best use of your baseball budget.
1) Your son is a pro prospect who might be drafted out of high school.
2) This is his first time to appear in the showcase format and he wants to use this to get used to it and get the butterflies out of the way for future events.
3) He wants to see how he stacks up with the variety of talent levels that will occur at the tryout--from kids that are way over their head to guys who have REAL talent.

I speak as someone who has taken his sons to at least nine NEARBY Major League tryout camps over the last three years, including the first one which was a Major League Scouting Bureau venue. If you have read some of my posts before you have probably noticed I have been an advocate of going to Major League tryout camps because of the reasons I listed above and the fact that they are usually free of charge. Sometimes there will be a college coach or two at the tryouts and sometimes not. However, I'm not sure I would travel 20 hours with gas prices the way they are and the cost of lodging the night before for a Major league tryout camp as opposed to finding a showcase of some sort (multiple colleges present, Perfect Game, etc) that may cost more but the travel expenses and time factor are much less. As I've stated before, don't lose hope just because your son attends a small school with no exposure because we have had the same problem and our school didn't even make the playoffs while my older son was there. My unfamiliarity with how far you have to travel to get to showcases in NH and if there are nearby colleges may make 20 hours not seem such a long distance to travel. I am spoiled a little bit by the situation in TX. If you wish to discuss this a little bit more at length, fill free to PM me.
Perhaps one of the posters from your area of the country can lead you to some nearer venues that are more college oriented if that is what you are looking for. If your son is a true hidden diamond then don't let me discourage you from going to the Bureau tryout. Good Luck!

I think they had a couple in the Detroit area last year. I know for sure there was one in Windsor across the border in Canada. Might cut down some considerabe gas and travel time. I don't think there is much exposure to schools though. It's hard to belive they wouldn't runs something in the northeast in August. I would keep on checking the mlb site to verify.

Three Bagger's advice is excellent imho.

Look, imho Coach Curt, a 6-2, 190 lb switch hitting catcher is probably already a very high D1 prospect. Driving 20 hours would be a waste for somebody like that. All you need to do is get him to a showcase or two where you know scouts will be in attendance. Everything else ought to take care of itself.

CD

How can you say he is "probably a very high D1 Prospect"?

Have you seen the boy play?

Coach Curt,
One more thing I had forgotten about until you stirred my memory by bringing up the Scouting Bureau. I hope if you do go to the tryout you have a remembrance like mine. There were about 120 guys including three who had come all the way from Puerto Rico. There was a guy popping 94 on the gun. There were guys 21,22 24 and older in college and past that. My son was at his first tryout and was one of three 16 year olds there. He ran well as usual, hit pretty well without power, and his throwing probably showed a little need for more strength and size. So about three quarters of the way through I kind of nervously asked him how it was going and he kind of paused and took a look around at all the older talented guys and said," Gee dad, I haven't seen anything I can't handle". I knew then that he had the right mental frame to handle what we were embarking on and that he had the determination to play at least college ball. He just stated a fact without cockiness but just the confidence you need at these kind of showcases and tryouts.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
Coach Curt,
One more thing I had forgotten about until you stirred my memory by bringing up the Scouting Bureau. I hope if you do go to the tryout you have a remembrance like mine. There were about 120 guys including three who had come all the way from Puerto Rico. There was a guy popping 94 on the gun. There were guys 21,22 24 and older in college and past that. My son was at his first tryout and was one of three 16 year olds there. He ran well as usual, hit pretty well without power, and his throwing probably showed a little need for more strength and size. So about three quarters of the way through I kind of nervously asked him how it was going and he kind of paused and took a look around at all the older talented guys and said," Gee dad, I haven't seen anything I can't handle". I knew then that he had the right mental frame to handle what we were embarking on and that he had the determination to play at least college ball. He just stated a fact without cockiness but just the confidence you need at these kind of showcases and tryouts.

3 bagger,
I love this post. you hit the nail on the head about confidence without being cocky.
We have decided not to make the trip, nothing against the MLB scouting, but we are going to trust what the majority of posters say on this site and that is that if you are good they will find you.
looking into PG northeast prospect showcase in August.
I agree with TR Hit, high level D-1? without seeing him play, but Clevdad is probably right about D-1, I just need to get someone to him play.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach Curt:

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
Coach Curt,
One more thing I had forgotten about until you stirred my memory by bringing up the Scouting Bureau. I hope if you do go to the tryout you have a remembrance like mine. There were about 120 guys including three who had come all the way from Puerto Rico. There was a guy popping 94 on the gun. There were guys 21,22 24 and older in college and past that. My son was at his first tryout and was one of three 16 year olds there. He ran well as usual, hit pretty well without power, and his throwing probably showed a little need for more strength and size. So about three quarters of the way through I kind of nervously asked him how it was going and he kind of paused and took a look around at all the older talented guys and said," Gee dad, I haven't seen anything I can't handle". I knew then that he had the right mental frame to handle what we were embarking on and that he had the determination to play at least college ball. He just stated a fact without cockiness but just the confidence you need at these kind of showcases and tryouts.

3 bagger,
I love this post. you hit the nail on the head about confidence without being cocky.
We have decided not to make the trip, nothing against the MLB scouting, but we are goping to trust what the majority of posters say on this site and that is that if you are good they will find you.
looking into PG northeast prospect showcase in August.
I agree with TR Hit, high level D-1? without seeing him play, but Clevdad is probably right about D-1, I just need to get someone to him play.

it's late, sorry about the typo, It's I just need to get someone to SEE him play

Coach Curt, thank you about the post. You are probably making the right decision about the tryout with it so far away. If there is a closer ML tryout and it is ONE of six or seven different venues you can attend and not the only one, then I would attend one. If I could attend only one thing I would go to the Perfect Game showcase as they are always well put on and attended. You will they have an unbiased grade and scouting report to look at since most ML tryouts don't share their grading or times with you. Coaches will be able to see your sons profile on the Perfect Game site, perhaps his numerical ranking in Crosscheckers, and you will have a number for his velocities, 60 running time, and pop time to measure future improvements against. The other option is to find that multi college showcase nearby or if there is a particular school he wants find out more about, often a tour is included with that schools showcase all at a reasonable cost. Just look on that particular school's website and usually there will be a heading about camps and showcases.

Coach Curt

Did you get my email?

Our local MLB team (60 miles) had open tryouts. Suggested to Pop up he go. No way. Guess he either thinks he doesn't stack up or isn't interested in pro ball yet????

quote:

Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:
Our local MLB team (60 miles) had open tryouts. Suggested to Pop up he go. No way. Guess he either thinks he doesn't stack up or isn't interested in pro ball yet????

I am not sure, someone correct me if wrong, but I am not sure that open tryouts should be used for future pro plans but more for an idea of how your skills are compared to others (your age), take away what you need to work on to better those skills and perhaps gain exposure. As someone suggested it may be more like a showcase but free of any costs.

Showcases, IMO are important for players to be able to see how they compare to those that they will be competing against locally and nationally for college or for pro aspirations. It can be a great learning process for some, as far as their perception of themselves and what they need to work on.

When son was in HS he made it pretty clear, no tryouts, he did 2 showcases and 1 camp, that was it, but he never turned down an opportunity to play in tournaments. He even passed up an opportunity as an All Star (where every scout in the state attends) for his prom, where others may not have missed that for anything. He was gonna do it his way not our way. And he figured it out.

I feel sometimes that parents really want more than their players do, without realizing it. And it's hard to come to a place where parents often talk about how much they do for their kids and how that turns into success for them. But there are many situations where parents do everything and their dreams and goals don't coincide with what the player really wants, so we take that as our players not caring or afraid. IMO, it's ok he didn't want to go. It's also ok if you think that he isn't as ambitious as others. FWIW, we only hear one side here, I am pretty sure there are many that do what they do because mom or dad said that is the only way they are going to make it.

You sound disappointed, perhaps at this time, your son and you should sit down and have a talk, find out what he really wants to do, and how he plans on achieiving that goal. Perhaps baseball for him is just a means to attend school, perhaps he has bigger goals and wants to figure it out for himself. Perhaps he has no desire to play professional ball. That's ok too. The ultimate responsibilty how far you go in this game falls on the player, not us.

I hope that every parent acknowledges their sons personally for who they are, not what they do or how they do it. Often times when we become critical they sense that and they just stop talking to us. My son's BF in HS, dad, was so disappointed when his son didn't perform to his liking, the player developed some real issues later on. Somewhere between the multiple teams each year, the changing of private to public HS for baseball only, getting him into a D1 school way above what he could handle in the classroom, finally took it's toll. I think he did it more for his dad than for himself. I am not saying this is the case, but this is just an example of how badly some parents look at their players as failures when they don't perform or reach the goal the parent has set for them.

It's important to enjoy the present moment, where ever they are, whatever they are doing and always look for the positive, not the negative. I know that I have a hard time myself with that sometimes, but learning too as I go.

TPM,

That was a great post.

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:

I am not sure, someone correct me if wrong, but I am not sure that open tryouts should be used for future pro plans but more for an idea of how your skills are compared to others (your age), take away what you need to work on to better those skills and perhaps gain exposure.

The above IMO is very true. And I also agree with the rest of you post TPM. Good stuff.

Son learned at the recent National Pre-Draft where he was and what was needed to progress where he wants to go. Not pitching all spring due to his injury gave him/us I guess a false sense of security that his arm would be in great shape and would perform well. Though he worked out during his rehab time physically it didn't mean that he would be in "pitching shape" and there is a difference. Another HSBBW poster who saw him pitch the week before in our conference playoff's saw it after only 5 innings.

Moral of above story? Be sure that if your son is going to one of these MLB tryouts that he not only be 100% healthy, but be in pitching shape as well.

Being in pitching shape is vital as it ensures stamina, great mechanics, confidence, fluidity, etc.

Son is playing in a summer collegiate league and is now in pitching shape, and thankfully now having the spring he had hoped to have. 27IP...3runs...3-0...1 save. It DOES makes night and day difference!

The Pre-draft as you mentioned TPM in regards to seeing where you are, skills, etc. should be a huge chance to take away the pros/cons of where a player is currently and what is needed to advance.

If college ball is as far as son gets, then I know it might not be what he had hoped for but one day can look back and be thankful for the ride he did get to enjoy. And for us parents, a majority of the education that was paid for along the way!

Hey YGD - Great to hear YGS is having a good summer season! Hope you are getting to his games so you can fully enjoy the games!

"We have decided not to make the trip"


OBE

Thanks FF...it's good to be able to attend several of his games and know he is healthy finally.

Do you know what OBE stands for?

quote:

Originally posted by YoungGunDad:
Thanks FF...it's good to be able to attend several of his games and know he is healthy finally.

Do you know what OBE stands for?

OBE-Old but Everlasting!

Well thats what it said when I googled it!

Coach Curt,

I know that Granite State Baseball has their Showcase league going on this fall that he could tryout for. That will get him exposure within New England anyways for a reasonable cost ($400 I believe for the 9 week season). As a rising Sr he'd have an excellent chance of making a team. Just a thought to go along with attending that Perfect Game showcase. I know that a couple of Nashua kids have landed D1 scholarships through their participation in the Perfect Game showcase (UConn & BC) so it can help.

Good Luck!!!

That would be Overcome By Events!

coach

there are plenty of schools within an hour or two that may have summer camps. if its a school he wants to attend it may be worth while.

we made the mistake years ago, don't just go to a showcase for the sake of it. make sure there are colleges that attend. where is he playing now? i assume legion ball?

his hs coach should be somewhat proactive, helping with some phone calls. that can open some eyes as well. maybe have an impartial party do an assesment of his talent. you don't want to be knocking on the wrong doors.

here are some pretty good baseball schools.
st. joes in maine d3
southern maine d3
southern nh d2
keene d3
plymouth d3
umas boston, lowell, amherst d3 d2 d1
salem state d3

no shortage of schools around here.

Thanks to TRhit, we were able to attend the Connie Mack qualifier in Albany last weekend. It was awesome, lots of exporure. College Select is a great baseball program, with the focas on helping kids get exposure... they have some very good players there too.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
CD

How can you say he is "probably a very high D1 Prospect"?

Have you seen the boy play?

How do you find out the schedule of a lot of these MLB tryouts, because by the time they are posted to the web, a third of them are already past?
My kid just turned 17, and he is pushing me to go to one or two of these events. Although he is getting calls and emails from college coachs, and this has been baseball summer with multiple showcases/camps, and playing on multiple teams, I feel we are a little behind schedule(we should have done a lot of this last summer)...will be going to PG Top Prospect in 3 weeks.
He is currently rated as a D2 prospect, currently throwing mid to high 80's, and training with a former MLB pitcher.

I always start looking the MLB site in about April and then log into each ML teams individual site. Sometimes the tryout camps are listed under community relations, sometimes under News about the team the Minor League teams section or under various headings. You just have to look hard. We have attended nine or ten open tryout camps over the last four summers including three this summer.

Three Bagger,

What has the experience been like? What do you gain? Does your son receive more attention from pro scouts while playing on his team because of attending these events?

The experience has been fun because he has tested himself against numerous different kids and young men from all over TX as well as some guys we've met who were from Puerto Rico or just released by ML organizations from all over. We've gone to Dallas, we've competed in San Antonio, Houston, and deep in the Valley near Mexico. He has held his own with guys from every region of our state. He actually got recruited by some colleges that were present as well as the pro scouts. This last one he went to, a college coach came up to him although he had to tell him he's already at college playing BB. I think when you are in that second or third echelon of talent it doesn't hurt to keep your name out there in front of ML scouts, especially if your son is the type guy that may really come on in college. Maybe after Junior year one of the scouts may push for you or at least give you a shot as a free agent signee after senior year. The tryout camps are free also and generally the scouts will give you some feedback if you ask them. The San Diego scout told guys that if they needed a call to a college coach he would be glad to help them out. At least the player is in the teams or Scouting Bureau's data base for future reference. Its a long shot but why not tap this source, especially when its fun and challenging.

Has this led to phone calls from scouts--truthfully no--although a scout did invite him to the Area Code tryouts due to hearing about what he did in a showcase and then seeing him in a select tournament. One Scout that saw him at a Perfect Game event has called multiple times and kind of set up his recruitment by the college he ended up at.

Of course the top echelon talent doesn't have to waste time going to these events though. But you still see some guys who are great talents especially the college age guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
I always start looking the MLB site in about April and then log into each ML teams individual site. Sometimes the tryout camps are listed under community relations, sometimes under News about the team the Minor League teams section or under various headings. You just have to look hard. We have attended nine or ten open tryout camps over the last four summers including three this summer.

Thought I would pop this post to the top now that we are practically in April. Re: major League Tryouts

Here is a link as well: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/officia...ut_mlb/tryout_us.jsp
Major League Scouting Bureau

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
--although a scout did invite him to the Area Code tryouts

quote:

Originally posted by FormerObserver:

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
--although a scout did invite him to the Area Code tryouts

?????

Three bagger;
during my 18 years with the Area Code, we had a great
relationship with the MLSB.

Many players were referred by the Bureau scouts and I placed each w/o question. They employed the 1st woman scout in 1994.

If your son has ability, please attend the camp [no cost]. This is a wonderful opportunity for the parents to ask the question WHY? and the player to ask the questions to the scouts.
1. what was my running time?
2. what can do to improve?
3. may I have your card?
4. how did you grade my bat?

If you do not improve on your own and teach yourself, you will not improve and adjust to the "speed" of the game.

Bob

When and where is the next camp? I did not see anything on the Mlb site. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaxx:
When and where is the next camp? I did not see anything on the Mlb site. Thanks.

I gave a link to the ML Scouting Bureau above. Beyond that, try Google and each teams site. They ar more popular apparently in some parts of the country than others.

The 2011 MLB Scouting Bureau Tryouts have been posted. Here you all go and good luck.

MLB Scouting Bureau

So what is the benefit of attending one of these camps for a high schooler?

The benefit is for the player to recognize the system
as developed by pro scouts to evaluate young players and for the parent to ask questions of the scouts.
There can be over 200 years of experience with the pro scouts in attendance. Last year in Australia, our coaches [8 pro scouts one minor league manager and one former ML player] totaled over 200 years of pro baseball experience.

You learn when you ask questions. Players should always obtain the running times.

The best question: "what can I do to improve"?

Bob

My kid is only 15. What age is best to go to camps, 17?

I know most of the ML camps including the Scouting Bureau one we went to, had an age minimum of 16. That's probably the youngest you would want to go as there are often a lot of 21-23 year old guys. Really most of the guys are 17 and up it seems.

Three bagger is correct. does your son play against 19 and under during the summer?
what is his speed in the 60 yard?
Is he a pitcher or position player?
For 6 years I was involved with the MLSB tryouts in California
Bob

A tryout camp was in my town 3 years ago so another parent and I took our sons, that all played Little League and travel ball at the time, just to go see what it was all about (not to participate). The camp was not held in a stadium, as most camps this year seem to be, but at a field in a section of town that I wouldn't normally travel after dark. We "overheard" some talk that the MLB has only "found" about two players from these camps, so I wondered if college scouts were there, too. You could tell the real players from the wannabies. College players wore their team hats and jerseys, some others just wore shorts and tennis shoes. Many guns were going behind the plate for the pitchers. At the same time, in aother section of the field, other players were running in pairs to be timed in the 60. I am not sure how they judged position players since we only stayed for about an hour. I did talk to one mom whose son was a sr. pitcher in high school. We were also surprised to see one of my son's little league teammates out there. He was probably 14 at the time, so I guess he got special permission to just go through the tryout motions. If you were not a pitcher, or didn't run the 60 in a qualified time, you were ready to go home. I took special note of cars parked in the area from out of state (as far away as 700 miles) and some very, ahem, expensive vehicles. Lessons: if you go, dress the part and be able to run FAST or throw HARD!