Not sure how to interpret evaluation

Welcome to the HSBBW, 3boysmom.

It's sounds to me from what you wrote, That he was graded very good.
Which isn't bad at all.
You wrote he just did his 1st evaluation camp.
I think this is normal for your first camp or showcase.

It means he can play some ball.
Your right on with what your thinking with your 2 year plan.

Baseball is baseball no matter were you play??
I look forward to hear your progress in the next couple of years.

EH

3boysmom,

Welcome to the HS Baseball Web! It sounds like your son just had a very good baseball experience, and I hope he will focus on the positives and not worry about any area in which he doesn't think he did his best. He is only a sophomore, and has plenty of time for exposure AND improvement.

About the scores in the eval:

It depends partly on whether they were comparing him to other players his age, or other college-hopeful players of all ages, including juniors and seniors. If those scores are compared to other sophomores, then he had a "very good" showing...congrats! And if they were comparing him to older players, then he potentially had a "very, very good" performance...congrats again!

If you are truly concerned about getting a "read" on how he compares with other college-prospect players, you might want to get him to a regional or even national showcase by this summer. For example, Perfect Game is the largest and most well known scouting organization, and their evaluations are highly respected by college coaches as well as pro baseball.

Either way, it sounds like your son had an excellent first evaluation, and he should focus on the positives and continue to work on improving any areas he wasn't happy with. Keep us updated!

Julie

3boysmom, you've gotten some very good advice so far! I think it would be a good idea to show your son's evaluation to his coaches and let them see where this college thinks he needs some work. Apart from that, I wouldn't let the numbers affect me.

My son, who will be playing D1 ball next year, went to a few college showcases this past year and, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the highest), he received a 3 on hitting from one school and a 4.5 on hitting from another. Sometimes, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

It sounds as if your son is going to do just fine!! Keep writing in and we will all do our best to guide and encourage you. Best wishes!

3boysmom,

The summer after my sons junior year he attended a showcase of mostly JUCO schools. Their scale was a 1-5 scale, 5 being best. My son was a pitcher only and they rated him by pitches, curve 1-5, fastball 1-5 etc....
His overall average was a 3.5 which at the time I was a little disappointed in since it was not a major showcase and was pretty much just a Texas local JUCO showcase (not to bash these JUCO's).
The school that held the event ended up contacting my son and expressing a strong interest in him. After it was all said and done, my son ended up getting a scholly from a D1 as a LHP pitcher.
In the showcase and recruiting process, do not be surprised at anything and do not get too high or too low. My feeling is if it is meant to be, then it will be.

I wouldnt worry about an evaluation because you have no way of knowing how they were actually evaluating the kids. Some camps give high marks because they want the kids to feel good about the camp and come back the next time. Some give random numbers because they are being evaluated by several different people. I might think your son is a 7 and the coach right next to me might think he is a 5.

Believe it or not alot of coaches see different things in players. "I like that catcher he is big and strong and provides a nice target for our pitchers". "I dont like that catcher he is not athletic enough to play in our program". "I like that kids swing , short compact and flat." I dont like that kids swing he is short to the zone but short in it and I dont think he can hit quality pitching."

Just tell him to continue to work hard. It only takes one coach to like you. It sounds like he got good marks anyway.

Thanks to all for your replies. I am not really worried about it so much at this point. Our thinking is that the improvements he shows between this year and next are as important as how he performs this year. My biggest concern is just trying to get an idea where to start with making decisions on colleges. Would you all agree that maybe we should pick an area of the country he is interested in and maybe pick out a camp this summer to attend?
Would it do us any good to camp in our area if he doesn't want to stay local for college?
The PG showcases that you have spoken about, should he attend a midwest showcase, or one in an area he would like to consider for college?
He really does not have his heart set on any particular college and is willing to look at all levels, just wants someplace warm.
Any other advice is appreciated.

quote:

Would you all agree that maybe we should pick an area of the country he is interested in and maybe pick out a camp this summer to attend?
Would it do us any good to camp in our area if he doesn't want to stay local for college?
The PG showcases that you have spoken about, should he attend a midwest showcase, or one in an area he would like to consider for college?

3boysmom, regarding a PG showcase, it most likely doesn't matter which showcase your son participates in. The main thing is for your son to get seen by experienced baseball scouts who have a trained eye for evaluating talent. Your son can accomplish several things by attending: he will get a rating, which will help y'all get an idea of the college level he is suited for; he will get a write-up of his abilities, which he can include on a baseball resume that he sends to all colleges he's interested in; and, if he's talented, he will become a known entity and get his name out there and possibly even secure an invite to the National PG Showcase. That said, there may be particular PG showcases that are best suited for him. I would recommend that you call Jim Arp, PG's National Director, to discuss your options. He is very helpful and willing to offer advice, and his number is 319-298-2923.

Regarding schools to consider, keep your options open at this point and do not close the door to local opportunities. It is best to cast a wide net, because you never know who will end up being interested in you. There is a lot of competition in the warmer states, and your son's best opportunities may prove to be close to home.

If your son is interested in a particular area of the country, he probably should attend several camps at colleges to maximize his chances. But please make sure you don't choose these schools indiscriminately. Research them -- and their camps -- thoroughly before you send in any money. If he is interested in Texas schools, send me a PM (private message) and I will give you some information. If he is interested in schools in a different region, ask about those schools on the state or regional forums of this message board. Two recommendations: (1) There is no need for him to pick a camp lasting several days. Two days should be ample time for the school to evaluate his pitching; (2) If you can swing it, I think it would be beneficial to attend 2, or even 3, short camps over Christmas break during his junior year. Many programs in warmer states offer them at this time. (Look at the top thread in the Texas forum to get an idea of what's out there.) Attending midway through his junior year could pique the interest of some schools early enough for them to plan to see your son that coming summer.

It would also help to play for a summer team that competes in the state or region that your son is interested in, so he will get seen by the right people.

Best wishes as you establish your game plan!