Do you have to go to one of their showcases to be listed as a top prospect?
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Nope.
But I would recommend attending at least one of their events prior to your Jr/SR summer....
The answer is no but obviously it helps, but unlike some showcases, tournaments, and ranking sources, Perfect Games takes notes on their participants at their events and have access to that information for their ratings and rankings. I think it is easier for them to justify a ranking if they have seen them and can compare them to others that they have detail notes on.
We were in a high profile tournament in Oklahoma, not run by Perfect Game and Jerry and Betty Ford came by wanting to take a look at specific players. I am sure they also made notes on others that they may have seen that were making an impact.
We were in a high profile tournament in Oklahoma, not run by Perfect Game and Jerry and Betty Ford came by wanting to take a look at specific players. I am sure they also made notes on others that they may have seen that were making an impact.
My 2010 son has not attended a PG event.
He attended the Stanford Camp as a younger this summer, and he has e-mailed his top schools of interest this fall. He has received several requests to fill out questionaires from schools out of nowhere, along with camp invites, and travel team invites. He also played this fall on a SoCal Pro Scout team.
We were hoping this would be enough until after the HS baseball season. He is playing 3 HS varsity sports, so finding time (and money) is an issue. I would say his ability has been middle of the road both at the camp and on the fall team. He is a late bloomer physically, and has just recently been advised by a pro scout that pitching could be his future, so that muddles the picture even more.
I am wondering if we should try to attend a PG event, and at what time of year, and at what position (Hitter/MI or RHP). Our plan for next summer is to hit a camp or two at schools of interest and to play with the same socal scout team. He is hoping that his results from this HS season will determine his future position for summer camps.
He attended the Stanford Camp as a younger this summer, and he has e-mailed his top schools of interest this fall. He has received several requests to fill out questionaires from schools out of nowhere, along with camp invites, and travel team invites. He also played this fall on a SoCal Pro Scout team.
We were hoping this would be enough until after the HS baseball season. He is playing 3 HS varsity sports, so finding time (and money) is an issue. I would say his ability has been middle of the road both at the camp and on the fall team. He is a late bloomer physically, and has just recently been advised by a pro scout that pitching could be his future, so that muddles the picture even more.
I am wondering if we should try to attend a PG event, and at what time of year, and at what position (Hitter/MI or RHP). Our plan for next summer is to hit a camp or two at schools of interest and to play with the same socal scout team. He is hoping that his results from this HS season will determine his future position for summer camps.
Good question slultan. The answer is NO. That's like a girl asking if she has to have her picture made in order to be beautiful. Perfect Game Showcases are a great way to showcase your talent BUT that TALENT (whether showcased or not) is what makes you a top prospect.
Fungo
Fungo
quote:Originally posted by slultan:
Do you have to go to one of their showcases to be listed as a top prospect?
I guess I have to clarify where are you looking to be listed as a top prospect, are you looking for Perfect Game's rankings of players or other sources?
This is a misconception that several people have had over the years.
The truth is… We try very hard to get the top players to our events. However, the top players do not have to attend these events to be ranked. That said, when all is said and done, most of the top prospects end up attending our events. Then it looks like a player has to attend the events to be ranked. We have ranked several players high on the list who had not attended a PG event. However, most of the top players do eventually attend because those are the players we target.
Example – Our current Top 100 2010 player rankings had 32 players who NEVER attended a PG event before those rankings were released. Since that release we have seen 17 of those players at PG WWBA events. So two months ago the same list showed 32 players who had never been to a PG event. Today the same list shows only 15 who have never been to a PG event. Guess which 15 players we will be trying hard to get to our events? We won’t get them all, but if it stays like it has been most of those 15 will end up attending a PG event at some point. Then it will once again look like a player has to attend a PG event. Truth is, we had some of those players ranked long BEFORE they had ever attended a PG event.
People have to realize that over 77% of all the players drafted by MLB organizations last year had attended a PG event. That means that a lot of the very best players do attend PG events. That does make our job easier when it comes to scouting and ranking players, but we still miss some. When we scrutinize a player at our event we have a very good idea where he fits. But the same thing holds true if we see a player at some other event. We don’t rank a player higher because he has attended a PG event. We rank them as honestly as possible based on our opinion of their ability. What is important is that we actually see them somewhere. The record will show that we don’t see them all, but we do see most of them and rank them according to our opinion.
Going to a PG event is nothing more than an opportunity. There are no guarantees a player will be ranked, recruited, drafted, etc. It’s all about the player, not the event! We see thousands at those events who never get into the rankings.
I hope that kind of explains it. Sorry, if it doesn't.
To be listed as a top prospect at any event, one does need to attend that event!
The truth is… We try very hard to get the top players to our events. However, the top players do not have to attend these events to be ranked. That said, when all is said and done, most of the top prospects end up attending our events. Then it looks like a player has to attend the events to be ranked. We have ranked several players high on the list who had not attended a PG event. However, most of the top players do eventually attend because those are the players we target.
Example – Our current Top 100 2010 player rankings had 32 players who NEVER attended a PG event before those rankings were released. Since that release we have seen 17 of those players at PG WWBA events. So two months ago the same list showed 32 players who had never been to a PG event. Today the same list shows only 15 who have never been to a PG event. Guess which 15 players we will be trying hard to get to our events? We won’t get them all, but if it stays like it has been most of those 15 will end up attending a PG event at some point. Then it will once again look like a player has to attend a PG event. Truth is, we had some of those players ranked long BEFORE they had ever attended a PG event.
People have to realize that over 77% of all the players drafted by MLB organizations last year had attended a PG event. That means that a lot of the very best players do attend PG events. That does make our job easier when it comes to scouting and ranking players, but we still miss some. When we scrutinize a player at our event we have a very good idea where he fits. But the same thing holds true if we see a player at some other event. We don’t rank a player higher because he has attended a PG event. We rank them as honestly as possible based on our opinion of their ability. What is important is that we actually see them somewhere. The record will show that we don’t see them all, but we do see most of them and rank them according to our opinion.
Going to a PG event is nothing more than an opportunity. There are no guarantees a player will be ranked, recruited, drafted, etc. It’s all about the player, not the event! We see thousands at those events who never get into the rankings.
I hope that kind of explains it. Sorry, if it doesn't.
To be listed as a top prospect at any event, one does need to attend that event!
I'm just a little confused. How can you rank players in numerical order based on how they project as prospects, if you rank according to your "opinion" after seeing guys at PG events and include players you have not seen?
quote:seeing guys at PG events and include players you have not seen?
They may have seen them at a showcase or event other then a PG event.
I'm sure PG talk to other baseball people ( Scout's/Recruitors) whom they trust with there opinion.
EH
quote by skiesthelimit
Perhaps you might have missed this or I did a bad job of explaining it. From the previous post...
We do not rank players we do NOT SEE! Our network is very large. If a scout, college coach or other person we know reports a top player who we haven't seen yet... We get out and see that player ASAP and then we form our own opinion. Obviously if he is a very good prospect in our opinion we try to get him to one of our events.
quote:I'm just a little confused. How can you rank players in numerical order based on how they project as prospects, if you rank according to your "opinion" after seeing guys at PG events and include players you have not seen?
Perhaps you might have missed this or I did a bad job of explaining it. From the previous post...
quote:People have to realize that over 77% of all the players drafted by MLB organizations last year had attended a PG event. That means that a lot of the very best players do attend PG events. That does make our job easier when it comes to scouting and ranking players, but we still miss some. When we scrutinize a player at our event we have a very good idea where he fits. But the same thing holds true if we see a player at some other event. We don’t rank a player higher because he has attended a PG event. We rank them as honestly as possible based on our opinion of their ability. What is important is that we actually see them somewhere. The record will show that we don’t see them all, but we do see most of them and rank them according to our opinion.
We do not rank players we do NOT SEE! Our network is very large. If a scout, college coach or other person we know reports a top player who we haven't seen yet... We get out and see that player ASAP and then we form our own opinion. Obviously if he is a very good prospect in our opinion we try to get him to one of our events.
Any 09 or 10's from Kentucky.
Ok thanks. Sorry I didn't read your post well enough.
How do you rank the college players and then have the big list for the draft?
How do you rank the college players and then have the big list for the draft?
I've never paid a penny to PG and my son just came out as one of their top pro prospects for the 2010 draft based on his collegiate summer league play.
That's great to hear. Congratulations and good luck to him in the draft.
I would recommend it above anything else you could possibly do for your son, IF he has talent. I didn't think it was that big a deal until it was too late. I really regret it.
I've been told that eventually when I do a PG to do it on a PG team, not a travel team or something that is attending the event. I heard if I do it that way the scouts will know when I'm supposed to pitch. Is that true, and what other benefits come from playing on a PG team?
quote:Originally posted by pfbear13:
I've never paid a penny to PG and my son just came out as one of their top pro prospects for the 2010 draft based on his collegiate summer league play.
Being ranked as a college player on PG is complied by information gathered by pro scouts.
quote:Originally posted by MarlinsMS_35:
I've been told that eventually when I do a PG to do it on a PG team, not a travel team or something that is attending the event. I heard if I do it that way the scouts will know when I'm supposed to pitch. Is that true, and what other benefits come from playing on a PG team?
Probable starters are listed for every team in the tourney. PG is very good about instructing their PG team coaches that each player must have exposure and they do supply the line up as well for many of their teams.
They also do a good job of making sure their teams play against many of the better teams, so that scouts will be in attendance.
quote:Originally posted by baseballregie:
I would recommend it above anything else you could possibly do for your son, IF he has talent. I didn't think it was that big a deal until it was too late. I really regret it.
I definately agree with Baseballregie - especially if you are in an area that does not have a lot of scouts. We look back and regret that our son didn't attend a PG event - it may have made the difference in the time it took to get him the exposure he needed. While he eventually did get drafted it took a longer time for him to get recognized. No guarantees, but we think it would have made a difference.
My son was invited to a PG event, choose not to go. Can you believe that! Was afraid of low SPARQ scores.
PUHD,
It's OK that your son chose not to attend, and I think he has a good reason, but just to be clear...
We quit doing Sparq Testing two or three years ago. We had a couple top players get hurt doing the test at our National Showcase in Arkansas (2006) and they then couldn't play at 100% in front of hundreds of scouts and college recruiters at that event.
We also think the testing doesn't really show enough to be very valuable. If some adjustments were made to the testing we might some day consider doing it again. Under its present method, it just doesn't relate to a lot of success on the baseball field. Often the top scores do not belong to the top prospects. In fact, many of the highest draft picks have not scored anywhere near as well as others who do not create much scouting interest.
I do think the Sparq testing is valuable for football.
Also, those who practice the Sparq Test have a big advantage. They are often the ones who score the highest. We are more interested in those who have practiced their baseball skills. It does show athleticism, but so do the things that every one does at every workout in baseball.
We are not against others who use Sparq Testing. It is a Nike thing and Nike is a great company. I do think those in baseball who endorse it, would not be endorsing it if it weren't for Nike.
We believe that the top baseball "athletes" and the "strongest" baseball players stick out like a sore thumb during the normal baseball activities. All anyone needs to do is look at the list of highest Sparq scores and compare them to the player rankings... Then check out the results regarding which group is more successful in the draft and college baseball. As soon as the Sparq results become the best or even a good barometer, we will be using it again. But until then we find the results from Sparq Testing can be some what misleading.
It's OK that your son chose not to attend, and I think he has a good reason, but just to be clear...
We quit doing Sparq Testing two or three years ago. We had a couple top players get hurt doing the test at our National Showcase in Arkansas (2006) and they then couldn't play at 100% in front of hundreds of scouts and college recruiters at that event.
We also think the testing doesn't really show enough to be very valuable. If some adjustments were made to the testing we might some day consider doing it again. Under its present method, it just doesn't relate to a lot of success on the baseball field. Often the top scores do not belong to the top prospects. In fact, many of the highest draft picks have not scored anywhere near as well as others who do not create much scouting interest.
I do think the Sparq testing is valuable for football.
Also, those who practice the Sparq Test have a big advantage. They are often the ones who score the highest. We are more interested in those who have practiced their baseball skills. It does show athleticism, but so do the things that every one does at every workout in baseball.
We are not against others who use Sparq Testing. It is a Nike thing and Nike is a great company. I do think those in baseball who endorse it, would not be endorsing it if it weren't for Nike.
We believe that the top baseball "athletes" and the "strongest" baseball players stick out like a sore thumb during the normal baseball activities. All anyone needs to do is look at the list of highest Sparq scores and compare them to the player rankings... Then check out the results regarding which group is more successful in the draft and college baseball. As soon as the Sparq results become the best or even a good barometer, we will be using it again. But until then we find the results from Sparq Testing can be some what misleading.
Popup,
You don't have to be invited to go. There are open showcases. Pay your fee, show up and do your best!
And it's not too late, as there are even events that go on over the winter break. (Though you need to be sure you're in shape to do your best if you go to one of those. If you've been playing football for 3 months and you haven't picked up a bat in that time, now may not be the best time to shell out $600 for a showcase.)
Now, there are events that are open by invitation only. Establishing yourself at one of the open showcases is one way (but definitely not the only way) to get asked to one of the invitation-only events. If you get invited to PG National, do not make excuses, just GO!
My own son missed PG National due to an injury. We had a teammate whose pre-PG National ranking might not have generated an invitation, but several folks recommended to PG that they invite him, and they did. After his performance there, he moved up PG's rankings about 250 slots. My son had actually already committed by that time, but our friend got over 20 scholarship offers within 2 weeks of his return home from Cincinnati. Many were from teams he'd never even talked to -- they just said things like, "We'd really like you to visit us and see what we have to offer; to show you we're serious, we're making you this X% offer right now!"
Of course, the display he put on in BP and the monster HR he hit in a game, and his pitching and fielding had something to do with that! Exposure is a great thing, but you still have to perform.
On the other hand, if you can perform, then the only remaining thing is to get exposure!
Even outside of the premier events, the exposure can be valuable. PG National is open to what, maybe 250 guys? But if you check, guys ranked lower than 1,000 often still have D-1 commitments. It helps to be listed where scouts can learn about you from an objective source. It also helps to go to where the scouts are, because if you wait for them to find you, maybe they will, maybe they won't.
You don't have to be invited to go. There are open showcases. Pay your fee, show up and do your best!
And it's not too late, as there are even events that go on over the winter break. (Though you need to be sure you're in shape to do your best if you go to one of those. If you've been playing football for 3 months and you haven't picked up a bat in that time, now may not be the best time to shell out $600 for a showcase.)
Now, there are events that are open by invitation only. Establishing yourself at one of the open showcases is one way (but definitely not the only way) to get asked to one of the invitation-only events. If you get invited to PG National, do not make excuses, just GO!
My own son missed PG National due to an injury. We had a teammate whose pre-PG National ranking might not have generated an invitation, but several folks recommended to PG that they invite him, and they did. After his performance there, he moved up PG's rankings about 250 slots. My son had actually already committed by that time, but our friend got over 20 scholarship offers within 2 weeks of his return home from Cincinnati. Many were from teams he'd never even talked to -- they just said things like, "We'd really like you to visit us and see what we have to offer; to show you we're serious, we're making you this X% offer right now!"
Of course, the display he put on in BP and the monster HR he hit in a game, and his pitching and fielding had something to do with that! Exposure is a great thing, but you still have to perform.
On the other hand, if you can perform, then the only remaining thing is to get exposure!
Even outside of the premier events, the exposure can be valuable. PG National is open to what, maybe 250 guys? But if you check, guys ranked lower than 1,000 often still have D-1 commitments. It helps to be listed where scouts can learn about you from an objective source. It also helps to go to where the scouts are, because if you wait for them to find you, maybe they will, maybe they won't.
Marlins,
When you talk about a PG team, you're talking about Jupiter, which is a WWBA tournament.
If you're on a PG team and you're a pitcher, you're definitely going to get your shot, and you can tell scouts the when and where. But most travel teams will do the same for you. Most travel teams come with rosters that they've had all fall, and so you know in advance where you fit into the team's plans. For the "cameo appearance" as we call it (when you join a team just for that weekend to add pitching depth), you need to be very very sure you can trust the coaches to pitch you when they say they will. We were fortunate in this regard, but we've heard horror stories, too. I guess going the PG team route is safer if you do not have a commitment to a standing team that is going.
On the other hand, don't confuse WWBA and BCS tourneys with PG showcases. Two different animals, two different approaches in order.
When you talk about a PG team, you're talking about Jupiter, which is a WWBA tournament.
If you're on a PG team and you're a pitcher, you're definitely going to get your shot, and you can tell scouts the when and where. But most travel teams will do the same for you. Most travel teams come with rosters that they've had all fall, and so you know in advance where you fit into the team's plans. For the "cameo appearance" as we call it (when you join a team just for that weekend to add pitching depth), you need to be very very sure you can trust the coaches to pitch you when they say they will. We were fortunate in this regard, but we've heard horror stories, too. I guess going the PG team route is safer if you do not have a commitment to a standing team that is going.
On the other hand, don't confuse WWBA and BCS tourneys with PG showcases. Two different animals, two different approaches in order.