Necessary evil?

Yup, similarly, my son had a hard time with the fact that scout ball didn't focus on winning but was more about rotating everyone in to "be seen".

 

Help him connect the dots.  What are his goals?  What steps need to be taken to reach them? (obviously, going to the RIGHT showcases are included).  Who is there watching and why?  How does that match up with his goals?  Help him identify each of the events as individual baseball competitions.  Can he beat his last best 60 time.  Can he up his MPH throwing, etc.  Most showcases include playing games so there is still ample opportunity for playing on a team and enjoying the comradery.  In fact, it should be more exciting playing with better players (and different players) than he usually does as teammates.  Help him change his perspective and perception.  And don't go to too many or unnecessary showcases. 

 

We have been enjoying watching D1 regionals this weekend, seeing several players that son played with or against at showcases and scout ball.  He knew then that he was playing with elite players and found plenty of challenge competing with them.

I would tell him that almost all the very best players/prospects have done this.  For many it has worked out very well.  

 

We have done enough research to know that pitchers throw about the same speed in showcases and Tryouts that they throw in games.  We have seen thousands of pitchers at both showcases and tournaments.  Almost always we see pretty much the same velocity at both.  In fact, sometimes we see their highest velocity in the tournament games.

 

Sure there are some that might try to throw harder at a showcase, but sometimes trying to throw harder just tightens them up and they actually throw slower.  Sure some are wild, but many are not.  So if a kid is throwing in the 90s and throwing strikes what you going to do.  

 

Throwing as hard as possible from a position is only part of the grade.  We have seen shortstops (Carlos Correa) throw 97 across the infield without fielding the ball or throwing different than a shortstop would in a game.  Then we have seen some throw mid 80s across the infield that required a crow hop and big hip turn.  Accuracy also counts!

 

Hitting BP should not be any different than hitting BP anywhere.  Surely everyone does a lot of that.

 

Running the 60 is important.  

 

So I would look at showcases as a glorified tryout.  People are looking at a lot of different things.  Those that look like they are having fun kind of standout in the crowd. So do those that look like they are bored.

 

Is it just acting?  Maybe, but how you act can be very important.

 

Best of luck

Your son needs to learn the concept of sacrifice to reach his goals. If he wants to play college ball he needs to get in front of the right people at the right places. I wonder if a kid who likes to do it his way has the makeup to play college baseball. College baseball is a job. It's very structured and time consuming.

...including TONS of required hours of early a.m. workouts, standing around, field maintenance, etc.  Relatively minute ratio of time spent actually playing games. 

He's fine with that - does all that now WITH HIS TEAM. Never complains about any of the work.  It is just the individual "LOOK AT ME" part of the showcases that he despises.  

 

Baseball is a team game.  Doesn't anyone else find the ME-FIRST aspect of showcases (with all the parents hovering around nervously at the periphery) a bit weird?

Last time I checked, colleges don't offer to entire teams.  They want to see how good your son is against other "stacked" showcase studs.....on an individual basis.  Yes they will also evaluate his interactions with other players in a team setting, but I doubt a lot of college offers are made primarily because they consider a kid a "glue guy".

 

If you feel he's getting enough exposure to his college(s) of choice by simply playing on a "very high level HS team" and playing summer ball with "good local teams" , then skip the showcases.  If not, go to them.  It's pretty simple really.

From poking around on this site it appears to me that 90+% of the players that are recruited are seen during their Travel Team summer games OR at showcases.  If your son has opted out of a traveling summer team for personal reasons then there doesn't seem to be much choice left about the showcasing/camp route. JMO

Understood.  That's why the heading said "Necessary evil" and not just "Evil." 

 

I was just hoping to get some confirmation that others found this to be a strange process.  

 

I appreciate CabbageDad's attempt to offer some constructive advice on how to handle it (and PG's note that "acting" may be necessary).

I get where you are coming from Twoson. For a sport that really values team work, knowing your role on the team, etc., it is a little weird to have events that focus solely on showing your own talents. Showcases seem to be a strange beast compared to the rest of the baseball world. It's just like the HS football combines. Come show us some flashes of who you are as a player and then we will quantify those results for everyone to see.

 

Hopefully, your son can show his talents this summer and be done with this process for a while. Good luck to him!

I'm relatively new to the goal of getting to the next level and have relied on this site a good bit.  The "best" route is to play on a really good travel team and participate in several showcases you beleive your target schools may attend (or you can entice them to attend by your presence).  What I haven't seen yet is the advice taht your son compile to list of target schools (hopefully he has done this) and figure out how to get exposure to these teams.  If he wants to play for a small local school, a big showcase may not be the route and he may want to see if they hold any type of camp.  You may get some more productive responses on how to avoid the need for showcases if you briefly outline your son's recruiting strategy to date.  There are folks on this board that will tell you to avoid showcases and concentrate on very speicific activities such as camps.  They will also likely remind you of some of the basis recruiting steps of contacting coaches and getting a realistic assessment of skills.  On that last point, you mentioned he has been "advised" that he can play at the next level - that comment alone should have ellicited several questions as to the source of the advice and whether that contact may have additional value.  That is the type of advice I have read her and do not want to take direct credit for this insight but would thanks other contributors for their knowledge and sharing.

Twoson,

 

I know exactly what you are talking about!  My son felt the exact same way during his brief stint on a showcase team.  There was very little camaraderie and everyone was jockeying for their "15 minutes".  He understood this is "how it's done", but he just didn't care for the atmosphere.  In the end, he decided to just go to camps and clinics hosted by schools he was interested in and where he thought he could play.  Another advantage to not dealing with all of the travel was that he was able to dedicate his time to off-season training; he knew he had to get bigger, faster, and stronger.  I just think every individual has to look to see where he is and what he needs to do to get to where he wants to go.  The route my son took may not be the right thing for another player, but it worked for him.

You dont have to attend showcases to get seen.  My son didnt like showcases at all, so we kept it to travel teams. 

Its all in what you want to get out of it, if your son doesn't want to go out of state, then don't invest the money. However, going into his senior year, he does have to make a plan at this time and it may include doing things he really doesn't see as necessary.

My guy hates showcases too.  He hates the fact that in showcase games you almost never get multiple AB's off the same pitcher. so can't make adjustments.  He also hates the fact that ab's are not really about working the count and getting on base anyway you can  (which is part of his game.)  He hates the fact that the games at showcases aren't real games, where you do anything to win.   Plus though he's a speedy guy, he hates running 60's.  Says he just can't get his adrenaline flowing for a non-race 60.  On the other hand, he says he automatically shifts into a hidden secret gear when it's a matter of beating out a bunt or tracking down a hard hit ball in the gap.  

 

But he is a social butterfly who makes friends easily and so does like it that at show cases you get to meet new people who are also really into baseball.   He's met a lot of guys that way and keeps in touch with a fair number of them.

I think of baseball as an individual sport played as a team game. Most of baseball is things you do FOR your team, but you have to do them BY yourself.

Your comment about facing pitchers just trying to max their velocity brought up a sore point for me. At a PG event last year my son faced a kid maxing at 88. After an at bat that included 12 balls, my son ended up striking out on what would have been three walks. I'm not complaining about this as I get why this is done. My beef is that the pitchers scouting report talked about his ability to throw strikes. I guess if you throw enough pitches some will be strikes

 

Sorry for the rant

Great post Slugger Dad! Wholeheartedly agree with comments; our sons seem similar. Twoson: One of the reasons my son didn't like indoor track in the end was its individuality. He was on relay teams that could win a meet, but some individuals opted out because "My race" (individual) is later on in the meet. Son couldn't see why teammates wouldn't run when they could win..and for the school.

 

Son got better at showcases as his years went on (got early exposure after freshman year). Showcase games are often tilted towards pitchers, though they can show if hitters have a two strike approach. (many start 1-1 count). My son went that route initially, followed by targeting specific college camps where there was mutual interest. These "Necessary evils" are what led to some coaches coming to see him play his Summer Legion team, which in this area is ultra-competitive. 

 

Learned a few things in the process:

1) You never know who is in the stands (or at the fence) and 2) You never know what they are looking for (camaraderie with teammates- as Slugger Dad mentioned was watched and part of one write-up), Son backed up an overthrow from third at first base at a showcase (he was playing RF) during a game which saved a run and was noted; he usually plays MI or CF. Catcher did not get down line.

 

So how can you do both ME and TEAM? How about I am going to get a base hit to help my "dugout team" score a run and win the game. Then when I score from another base hit from another teammate, I am going to cheer from the bench. Then I can't wait until I record an out in the field so that my team can hit again! Good luck!

If he doesn't want to do showcases, doesn't want to travel and only wants to play with his friends, I have some questions. Who does he think is going to see him play so he can play in college?  How is he going to deal with traveling during the college season?  How is he going to deal with having to play in a summer collegiate league when he is in college?  How is he going to deal with playing on a college team that has NO ONE he knows on it? 

Baseball is a team sport, but individuals have to perform individually. When you're at bat, it's you against the pitcher - no teammates can help you. When you are fielding a ground ball, it's you and you only that needs to make that play. There is a lot to be said about team comraderie. But it is individuals performing on the field with their team. College scouts are looking at individual skills to determine if they want a player on their team. They are not looking at a team of players to recruit all at once.

Two things your son needs to realize. One is he needs to have people see him play if he wants to play at the next level. You can do that individually at showcases and camps or you can do it on a team - playing in front of recruiters. Sounds like your son does not want to do either of these things. The other is he needs to realize that he can't always play with his friends, stay local and play only on his terms. Sacrifices have to be made and all players have to do things for their advancement that they may not necessarily like.

My son was not always enthusiastic that he didn't have "normal" summers. He didn't necessarily like missing half his Christmas vacation to go to a Ft. Myers showcase, but he realized that it was necessary if he wanted to keep playing baseball. Which is what he REALLY wanted to do. He was willing to make those sacrifices.

Since he's been in college, the sacrifices continue. No spring breaks, no days off, early morning workouts, late practices and games, having to stay at school for the whole semester and not come home at all to see his friends because of baseball. The list goes on and on. Your son needs to accept the fact that sacrifices have to be made to continue doing something he loves. He either needs to get on a summer team that will play in front of recruiters or go to individual showcases and camps to be seen. If he's not willing to do that, he won't be playing at the next level. And if somehow, he makes it to the next level, I'm not sure he'll be ready for the sacrifices that need to be made once there. He needs to do some soul searching, IMO.

So, are showcases "Evil"?  I don't think so. Are they necessary?  Only if he's not willing to play on a team that gives him exposure to college recruiters. It's just the way it is and he needs to make a choice one way or the other.

Twoson, if you don't mind, what are you (your son) aiming at?  Showcases etc are fine and you play to whomever is in attendance.  However, how are you marketing him to the teams he really wants to play for?  Does he know the level and/or team(s) he would like to play for?  If so, he can attend their camps.  He can also attend their games, make contact with coaching staffs, ...  By the age of 16, my daughter had already started the emails, attended selected camps, and played in front of almost every coach/collegiate staff she wanted to be seen by.  Perhaps you have already done this but if not, you're kind of throwing stuff on the wall and hoping something sticks. 

 

Finally, what is the best local program around?  My daughter was known to every coaching staff of every local college.  In that way, we had something to fall back on if needed. 

I need tips on showcase ball for the poor. Can't afford this.

You must be present to win.

I don't think I would recruit a kid that was against making a full commitment to a travel team, or a showcase schedule. Its like going to a part time Dentist!

Your son has to learn the process and how to sell himself. Showcases are part of that process. My kids only did two showcases each. The rest was playing in showcase tournaments against quality opponents. 

 

In selling oneself it's a positive to display your assets. Do you think actors like screening calls? Both my kids had plus speed and plus arms to showcase. From the opinion of others one of them scooped and released faster than most outfielders. Showcases got them on the radar of the right colleges. From there they notified he coaches where they would be playing tournaments.

 

When my daughter was a college senior I asked her about her plans. She said she was going to come home (went to school 1000+ miles away), work a little and hang out at the beach. Then she would look for work in the fall. Her previous ten summers had been dedicated to travel softball (Yes, there is 22u). She made sacrifices for softball for years while her friends were hanging out at the beach. But it was her choice. Any player not willing to make the sacrifices is probably wasting time trying to get there.

Local college showcase/camps are around $150. Tap the high school coach for help. My son's coach had a lot of local D2 and D3 contacts. Talk to other area high school coaches who have good reputations. Talk to a travel team about your financial situationand what to do. Some teams will finance players in financial need. My son's coach helped players from other teams with contacts. If talented enough to potentially play D1 attend an MLB tryout. Scouts know the coaches. Always act like a ball player. Sometimes umpires and opposing coaches are associate scouts. if your son really wants it he will find a way. It may involved getting a job to pay for his baseball journey. 

IMO, showcasing is neither necessary or evil.

Twoson, in your son's case, the "evil" seems to be more philosophical. Maybe he knows more about it than you think. What are his goals, and how is showcasing going to help?

I'm sure that PGStaff is correct in that almost all of the very best players/prospects have done it, but with more than 40,000 kids playing college ball at some level, and I have to believe that the vast majority did not. We tend to discuss recruiting for the top level prospects here quite a bit, but by definition most guys are not at the top.

My son played with a regional travel team (not an "academy").
13 of the kids will play college ball, spread across DI/DII/DIII/JUCO.
4 kids attended showcases and 9 did not (I'm not including school camps).

I don't think showcasing is necessary for most kids because of the local nature of recruiting. From what I've observed, the majority of college baseball players will end up at a school that is relatively close to home. Where I live, that mean's within a two hour drive. In less populated areas, that might mean a longer drive, but still one of the closest options. Of the kids on my son's team, 7 will attend a school within an hour's drive of home, 5 within a two hour drive, and only 1 is going farther. Most of the scouting happened at local tournaments and even high school games. Many forces at play in the local nature of rosters, but the convenience factor for coaches to see players with their own eyes (multiple times) is a big part of that.

Like everything else in recruiting, one size does not fit all. If you're a high-academic recruit, a potential high draft pick, or looking to get far away from home, showcasing might lead to opportunities that you wouldn't have found otherwise. But if your situation and goals are more conventional, you might be better off focusing your efforts on being seen by your local target schools.

 

See that's all good advice. Of course the old MLB tryouts of years past have largely been phased out now. In favor of showcases.

 

Some players can get affordable deals based on needs or talents. But it is rare even for the best.

Your son is not seeing the big picture and understanding how expensive this college decision can be with or without baseball.

 

Showcasing is a two way street for the recruit and the school.  This is an opportunity for him to meet and rank coaches and programs and figure out where he wants to take his future.  Is he not excited about his future or opening new doors that he hasn't considered or experience.  Not to mention knowing if baseball is a fit at the school he is considering that will cost him and your family potentially an arm and leg  ($$).  

 

Does he feel the same way about dating?

 

How do you know what possibilities are out there if you don't participate?  Will he feel the same way about riding buses many hours away to play college games or weight lifting at 6am.  Although these are not playing baseball they are baseball related.

 

Good luck.