Medical history request

It's a routine request. Who wants to buy a racehorse without checking its health?

A potential high draftee knows he's being looked at seriously. That time is when the scout sits down and begins talking bonus expectations. This occurs after the regional cross- checker has signed off, and if it's a potential single digit draftee, after the national cross-checker and other top organizational people have scouted the kid.

For all others, this is a time of simply gathering information to be weighed. 

The best advice I can give is the old adage of "control what you can control." Play the best you can and ignore the pressure. In a draft year pressure can be immense and many, many feel it.

Standard procedure, not necessarily that he will get drafted for sure. Follow all they ask for. Good luck!!!!

Do they request medical records on all players on the scout list? Or only on players they closely watching?

Amy team's draft board will contain far, far more names then the number actually drafted. Again, his position on the board is dictated by his play and potential. Reading tea leaves - like why is this being requested - simply distracts the player from controlling what he can control.

Any scout putting a player's name into his team's draft board, will do due diligence on the player. This extends beyond what the scout sees on the field and will include discussions with what we would refer to as references (think coach), health history (especially for pitchers and players who have had even minor health issues), criminal history, and whatever else is needed before a scout will put his name on the line.

The scout's reputation is based upon his recommendations. No negative surprises can arise which should have been discovered with due diligence. A scout who doesn't do his job isn't a scout for long.

Scouts are a plenty and they are fighting for "their guy" on the draft board, to keep him in the mix.

That's why they are looking for just as many reason's NOT to draft a player vs reasons to draft.......especially true after the single digit rounds. Character matters, probably more than medical history in some situations. 

Not to ignore your question (but I must since I have nothing to contribute) but was interested in your question along with your relatively low post count.  Went back and saw your 2016 post and was wondering if you could provide a thumbnail sketch (generic - no specifics) of your son's journey from that 2016 post to today.  Sounds like things worked out to some degree.

Thanks for your replies guys! Appreciate! Still doesn’t make sense. 

If it’s just a regular procedure to request med record why not all of the mlb teams obtain it  but just a few. 

Following logics-they may be more interested in a player than other players since  they  requestkng it?

Sounds like an area scout is doing his job. Collecting information on players that his team might but interested in .  Area Scouts collect information on any player in their area.  They write reports on just about everyone.   Some teams ask for medical as a standard some teams don't. 

 identify player , ask coaches, other scouts etc about player. decide if player is worth investing more time.  watch player, gather info, send into the office.  See if you can get crosschecker's time to come see player.  Once on the "perf" list , maybe Director of Scouting ( depending one what round and $$)   Area Scout sends more requests, Psychology , TAP, maybe some home visits... comes to see player play..... maybe talks to you about round, money,  depends on high school or college....  might get a Special Asst. to GM to verify what cross checker sees,  "it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll"  

Medical request checks out, maybe scout comes to talk to player , medical does not check out, move on to next player

what do they ask for with the medical history? my nephew  had a minor heart procedure when he was an infant. it's checked every other year and he should eventually not need the checkups but it will show as a heart condition that needed surgery. Will teams try to use this as a reason to select someone else (college or draft) or negotiate (draft)? Purely hypothetically speaking,  of course. 

She91434 posted:

Thanks for your replies guys! Appreciate! Still doesn’t make sense. 

If it’s just a regular procedure to request med record why not all of the mlb teams obtain it  but just a few. 

Following logics-they may be more interested in a player than other players since  they  requestkng it?

Medical records are pretty standard if a MLB team is somewhat interested,  IMO it is a step above filling out cards.  If your son is projected to be in the top 300 draft picks he may get a letter such as this:

Basically it gives any team the exact same medical info on a player, thus any and all info must be sent to this MLB clearing house.  This will prevent a player from possibly picking and choosing certain teams he may wish to play for and give them different medical info.  Yes I agree it is revealing personal health information to "strangers/public" but I have no idea what will happen if you don't comply (not elig for draft)? Expect many more exams to follow such as vision, psychiatric, etc). 

I can only speak from my own personal experiences and a few friends. 2018 has filled medical questionnaires  for all teams. they different somewhat. They want to know everything.... In fact one team was asking if he had ever had a goiter or a cavity .  Pretty much anything and parents history as well.

Trust In Him posted:

She91434 posted:

Thanks for your replies guys! Appreciate! Still doesn’t make sense. 

If it’s just a regular procedure to request med record why not all of the mlb teams obtain it  but just a few. 

Following logics-they may be more interested in a player than other players since  they  requestkng it?

Medical records are pretty standard if a MLB team is somewhat interested,  IMO it is a step above filling out cards.  If your son is projected to be in the top 300 draft picks he may get a letter such as this:

Basically it gives any team the exact same medical info on a player, thus any and all info must be sent to this MLB clearing house.  This will prevent a player from possibly picking and choosing certain teams he may wish to play for and give them different medical info.  Yes I agree it is revealing personal health information to "strangers/public" but I have no idea what will happen if you don't comply (not elig for draft)? Expect many more exams to follow such as vision, psychiatric, etc). 

2018 filled this out, however the teams will still ask you to fill theirs out as well.  If you get further down the road, physical, bloodwork and MRI will be asked. If you do not submit to the MRI and you get hurt that can affect your bonus.

I simply cannot help myself.  I have nothing to contribute, but wanted to thank posters for fielding this question and providing a pretty comprehensive overview of the process in general and how the OP's question fits into the equation.  I think it took all of one day to get things spelled out in detail.

Son had hip surgery on both hips the summer between Freshman and Sophomore years in college.  Teams were asking not only for the medical records but also to include the MRIs.  He had them on a disk.

Besides/included with the letter Trust In Him posted that was sent to the top 300 players, the player will also need eye exam records sent in.  

As time gets closer and the player is in the top ~200, someone will come and do a "whiz quiz" (collect a urine sample).  The player doesn't know when it will be collected.  Son's happened to be right before a game during his conference tournament.   I think the player can refuse to do the urine test, but that could also eliminate him from the draft.   

MRI's on arms could be requested before the draft.  Son isn't a pitcher and had an MRI done on his non-throwing arm (Shoulder separated during a play, but he rolled over to pop it back in.  Bad timing for that to happen, but it all worked out).

This place is awesome! Thank you all! 

keewart posted:

Son had hip surgery on both hips the summer between Freshman and Sophomore years in college.  Teams were asking not only for the medical records but also to include the MRIs.  He had them on a disk.

Besides/included with the letter Trust In Him posted that was sent to the top 300 players, the player will also need eye exam records sent in.  

As time gets closer and the player is in the top ~200, someone will come and do a "whiz quiz" (collect a urine sample).  The player doesn't know when it will be collected.  Son's happened to be right before a game during his conference tournament.   I think the player can refuse to do the urine test, but that could also eliminate him from the draft.   

MRI's on arms could be requested before the draft.  Son isn't a pitcher and had an MRI done on his non-throwing arm (Shoulder separated during a play, but he rolled over to pop it back in.  Bad timing for that to happen, but it all worked out).

Regarding the "whiz quiz".  Son was visiting during off-season.  He was always checking his phone and I made some comment about his fans will just have to wait.  He then told me he may get a text, email or phone call instructing him he has 24 hours to comply with a random urine test.  Depending on where he his they will find the closest lab, or send a lab tech to him.  It just reconfirms baseball is 24/7.