When college recruiters need an outfielder what skills are they looking for?
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Can he hit and can he run to begin with---after that how is arm
outfielders might be the most simple of all the evaulations. you have to hit, and they look closely at your swing. speed is right there also. either a really weak or really strong arm will get noticed.
Size is still big in the evaluation.
I think I can answer this question. My son is a centerfielder and the two things that were ALWAYS mentioned by the scouts were his arm strength and his speed. That being said he had ACL surgery his senior year of H.S. While he still got drafted, he would have went alot higher had he not hurt the knee. Will be released to playing status in Sept.
by the way he is 5'8" and 185 lbs. So size wasn't what they were looking for. The scouts kept comparing him to Ron Gant.
5'8 and 185? He must be a strong kid...
Speed, bat, and arm. Son was a HS and Legion infielder. B/C of speed, was recruited to play outfield. 445 to CF, 400 to RCF, 335 down the lines.
There is no general rule here
Some coaches want speed at all three positions--others wnat speed in center and thunder in LF and RF
My guy was 6.5/6.6 guy coming out of HS and he got to 6.4 in college and still was not the fleetest OF on his college team--they liked speed in the OF
On our travel team we like speed --we already have a two 6.7 guys ready to go--we like it because it allows the pitchers to make mistakes and still get outs because the speed can track it down
Check the colleges on your list and see what they currently have on their roster---it may well be that you do not fit into their style of play
Some coaches want speed at all three positions--others wnat speed in center and thunder in LF and RF
My guy was 6.5/6.6 guy coming out of HS and he got to 6.4 in college and still was not the fleetest OF on his college team--they liked speed in the OF
On our travel team we like speed --we already have a two 6.7 guys ready to go--we like it because it allows the pitchers to make mistakes and still get outs because the speed can track it down
Check the colleges on your list and see what they currently have on their roster---it may well be that you do not fit into their style of play
What i wanted to mention is that speed and arm are simple to evaluate compared to the other positions. The watch tells the time, and you either throw on a line from the outfield corner or you don't.
I think you have to HIT or you won't get many looks from any coach. Speed is only good if you have a starting point --- like first base.
Fungo
Fungo
FUNGO
An outfielder better HIT A TON if he has no speed and no arm.
An outfielder better HIT A TON if he has no speed and no arm.
TRHit,
Wouldn't you say the hitting ability is what gets the looks from the college coaches in the first place or would speed and an strong arm alone be enough to get an outfielder looked at?
Fungo
Wouldn't you say the hitting ability is what gets the looks from the college coaches in the first place or would speed and an strong arm alone be enough to get an outfielder looked at?
Fungo
FUNGO
Hitting will always get you noticed regardless of the position you play
But outfielders need to have an arm and speed to truly be considered as a college outfielder-
Hitting will always get you noticed regardless of the position you play
But outfielders need to have an arm and speed to truly be considered as a college outfielder-
Sorry to go off topic, but I was wondering if you could tell me what scouts look for in Catchers? Bat first?
Jmk721,
Since my son is a catcher maybe I can address this question better than the outfielder question. Hitting is always important at every defensive position but in my opinion is less of a factor with the catcher. Shutting down the running game and handling the pitchers are very important at the college level. But there is more to shutting down the running game than JUST a strong arm. Receiving the ball, blocking the balls in the dirt and footwork all contribute to shutting down the running game. Handling pitchers is almost an art in itself. It’s not just calling the pitches (some do some don’t) but making a pitcher feel comfortable and confident is a catcher’s role too. Don’t get too hung up on calling the pitches. Some college catchers never “call” pitches and are very successful at handling their pitchers.
Of the five tools I would rate the importance as follows:
Ability to play his position which includes his arm strength.
Hit for power
Hit for average
Speed is a non factor in rating catchers.
I rate power over average because most catchers lack footspeed.
Since my son is a catcher maybe I can address this question better than the outfielder question. Hitting is always important at every defensive position but in my opinion is less of a factor with the catcher. Shutting down the running game and handling the pitchers are very important at the college level. But there is more to shutting down the running game than JUST a strong arm. Receiving the ball, blocking the balls in the dirt and footwork all contribute to shutting down the running game. Handling pitchers is almost an art in itself. It’s not just calling the pitches (some do some don’t) but making a pitcher feel comfortable and confident is a catcher’s role too. Don’t get too hung up on calling the pitches. Some college catchers never “call” pitches and are very successful at handling their pitchers.
Of the five tools I would rate the importance as follows:
Ability to play his position which includes his arm strength.
Hit for power
Hit for average
Speed is a non factor in rating catchers.
I rate power over average because most catchers lack footspeed.