PG Grade/Top Prospect List Chances?

My guess based on your sixty time & exit velo as a SS is you will be given a 7 but that might be bumped up to a 7.5 based on the 82 across the infield.   Would the 82 mph fastball and strong pitching performance bump you up to an 8?   Maybe, I'll be interested to find out

Here is the thing though: even if you get a 7 or 7.5, as a 2020 you have time to improve those measureables and get a higher score.  Keep working on getting faster & stronger.

What is your size?  (Height & Weight?)

I'm a primary pitcher, and I'm 6'0" 150 lbs. I was hoping that given I'm mostly a pitcher and nothing much else, they'd look past all that and focus on how I did pitching (I'm hoping that's an 8).

Dingerswag1223 posted:

I'm a primary pitcher, and I'm 6'0" 150 lbs. I was hoping that given I'm mostly a pitcher and nothing much else, they'd look past all that and focus on how I did pitching (I'm hoping that's an 8).

The feedback you received on your pitching is a very very good sign.  At 6'0" 150 they will look at you as having a "projectable body".   Are you done growing or will you likely get taller still?

Maybe you will get an 8.   I hope when you find out you'll let us know as I'm genuinely interested in how they grade you.   No matter what grade you get, just keep working and take care of that arm.   You are just beginning the Fall of your Sophomore year, plenty of time for further development ahead.  

I am still growing, yes. I think I'm projected for 6'1" or 6'2", I can't really recall. I'm more like 6'0" and 1/4 as of now but I'm still growing bit by bit. Thank you so much, I'll keep you posted.

I have a 2020, the advice he is receiving is to play to his strengths in order to get to the next level.  You are in 10th grade, do you truly see yourself as a 2 way player or are you a pitcher? 4 innings with 6 strikeouts, and having command of 3 pitches?  It sounds like you are pitcher to me. What made you go in as a two way player?

The answer I would give is that I'm still learning. Until last weekend I hadn't seen such a talented group of hitters and fielders compared to me, and as you say, it does look silly that I'd even go in as a 2-way player. I 100% agree with you. I now view this event as a reality check, and it does make sense that I should probably stick to pitching entirely. Thank you for your response and kind words!

Dingerswag1223 posted:

The answer I would give is that I'm still learning. Until last weekend I hadn't seen such a talented group of hitters and fielders compared to me, and as you say, it does look silly that I'd even go in as a 2-way player. I 100% agree with you. I now view this event as a reality check, and it does make sense that I should probably stick to pitching entirely. Thank you for your response and kind words!

I didn't mean to imply you looked silly, sorry if I made you feel that way.

 I have a son who swears he is an outfielder that can pitch.  Every coach that has seen him pitch seems to forget that outfield bit and proclaim him a pitcher.  We are all asking him to really examine what will get him to the next level.  He's a good outfielder and hitter but, like you, he's an outstanding pitcher.  That's what is going to get him up the ladder he wants to climb, so he needs to focus on that.  Sounds like you do too.

Oh no, I didn't mean that you made feel silly at all. I legitimately feel that I made a silly move myself going in as a 2-way player now seeing all the talent I would have to beat and I was not trying to imply that you meant just that.

If anything, your words were encouragement to go out there as a confident pitcher haha, so thank you for that! Good luck to your son as well.

Hi Dinger,

Sounds like you had a nice showing!

I wouldn't focus too much on the rating or awards at this stage.  But I really like the analysis as it gives you some sound feedback.

My oldest did a PG event and was named a Top Prospect and a top 100 at his position nationally.  It made him and us feel good and it was nice to share with college coaches nationwide.  My youngest never did a PG event.  Both my boys play in college.

What I love about PG is the experienced, detailed feedback.  They see so many kids and have such a great feel for where a player stacks up.  And if a player has a PG rating, college coaches will use PG's analysis as a trusted third party assessment. 

You may ultimately get a 7, 8.5, or 10 or are named a Top Prospect.  PG is a valued opinion.  And  yet (IMHO for the majority of players) college coaches will want to see you play live.  So the PG ranking is not the be all, end all, nor do they profess it to be.

Where do you want to go to college?  Are you being seen or have a gameplan to be seen by the coaches on your vetted (academically and athletically) list of schools?

Are you doing the things now (as a 2020) that put you in the best possible position as a rising Junior and rising Senior to get offers from the schools on your vetted lists?  Building strength.  Getting great grades.  Pitching instruction and development.  Successfully competing in games.  Preparing for standardized tests.  

These things are really important for a guy entering Sophomore year.  You have time to get so much better!  Good luck!!

I'm really looking into going Ivy, any other high academic D1, or high academic D3. My grades are exceptional and I do a good amount of volunteering as well. I will be playing on a showcase team this fall, and one of the events they go to is at Brown University. I believe the exposure I will get will continue and improve as I get older. I also think I'm doing mostly all I can to put myself in the right position to achieve these goals. Thank you very much for your thoughts!

Thank you to everyone who read and/or gave thought to this topic. I was just announced to the Mid Atlantic Underclass Top Prospect List!!!

Congrats Dingerswag.  I've enjoyed reading this thread and wish you the best of luck moving forward.  Keep us updated.

Awesome!!!

Please don't change your screen name!

Here is same advice I have given other's that have posted in a similar spot. Work hard to get as athletic as you can and play hard!  

Sounds silly when I write it, but college coaches look for athlete's.  An SEC coach told me he likes his pitchers to run a 7.0 or better 60.  He said 10 of his 16 pitchers can do that.

Good luck and thanks for posting. Keep us updated. 

Congrats on making the top prospect list. Keep up the good work in the classroom.

Some unsolicited advice:

If you're gonna pitch, there is no substitute for a good pitching coach. And if you're serious about college ball it's a must have. A great pitching coach will help you w/ mechanics, Core training , Exercises and most importantly arm care .

As you grow and your velocity increases , your velocity numbers are going to determine what level of college ball you play at . For NCAA recruiting of pitchers  , it's all about the 'gun'. The magic number for a RHP for top D1 ball is 90 mph . 88 mph at mid-level D1 . Once again , find a good pitching coach that can help direct you towards these numbers in a safe methodical way.

If you're not sure where to find one. Go to your local University or Community College and go to the baseball dept. and tell them you're looking for a good pitching coach.

They'll hook you up.

Congrats on your good showing and getting awarded Top Prospect!!

My son was named a Top Prospect at his PG showcase.  He is a primary pitcher....but did so well in OF and hitting...that put him over the top at that showcase.  Funny...because he also gets pigeon-holed as a pitcher only.  

If your velocity increases a lot...go to another PG showcase right before the summer after your junior year if you have not committed anywhere.  If your velocity has not increased, don't waste the money.   

We highly recommend Headfirst Camp.  My son has received about 10-12 inquiries just from that camp.  Best money we have spent so far.  He was nearly perfect in that showcase....so do your best and you will get responses from great academic schools.  We will go on our first college visit in a few weeks...and he has a few more visit invites he has yet to respond to.

I have to agree with Branson, don't worry about PG's number or the top prospect list. Here is why:

1) You received contact from colleges following your PG Showcase. You got this attention because coaches were in attendance and actually saw you. That is the value of Perfect Game. They get college coaches to the park because they attract players who want to play at the next level (and who can play - but many show up who cannot).

2) Nobody ever got offered a scholarship, or got drafted, based on a PG score. Not one.

3) PG scores are subjective, it's what that particular person writing your report saw and thought about you. Some are highly qualified and make great reports. Some are longer than others, more detailed.

4) The nature of the PG Showcase is to give you an evaluation that gives you and others an idea of how you stack up against other players who Perfect Game has seen. I've seen kids go to PG events as a position player and not get a single hit and still come out with scores as high as 8, 8.5. Ultimately, just go "ball out" and the chips will fall where they fall. Don't expend too much thought or worry on the number and lists. Get in front of those coaches and work hard. Your measurable look solid for your year group.

Thank you everyone!! Learning more and more every minute.

Some good points with the exception of #2.  While it might take more than a grade, ranking or report in most every case... The truth is that "many" colleges subscribe to crosschecker where they do sort players by grade.  They also pay very close attention to the rankings.  Every player that has ever appeared in a good spot in the rankings or received a high grade knows how much interest it creates.  Both with the colleges and the MLB scouts.

We have had players recruited, even by highest level colleges, without that college ever seeing the player.  We have had players drafted just based on our word.  No NOT ONER, but many.  A couple years ago there was a situation where a MLB club was 15 minutes from their third round pick.  Most everyone on their board had already been selected.  So VP of scouting called me personally to talk about a player they knew very little about.  He was originally a junior that graduated early to be eligible for the draft. They saw we gave him a 10 and had him ranked fairly well so they called for additional information.  After discussing the player for a few minutes the VO of scouting said,  we are up in a minute or two, just tell me... would you draft him in the third round.  I said yes!  Then as I hung up I heard the announcement, they picked him.  BTW, he has done very well, think he is in AA, maybe even AAA right now.

I really do wish people understood that we have a very strong reputation for being credible and dependable.  Odd how some seem to know  more than the actual truth. However it is true there is no sense in worrying about anything except getting better.  Everyone needs to get better.

The other thing a great PG grade can get you, which I haven't seen mentioned in this thread I believe, is invites to play for some of the very best Travel Teams such as the Houston Banditos or Evoshield Canes in the top tournaments.   That is another avenue for the top flight players to get in front of not just scouts but the right scouts.  Getting a "10" grade from PG can get you on almost any travel team without even needing to tryout.   Even a "9" can open a ton of doors that were previously closed

3and2Fastball posted:

...Even a "9" can open a ton of doors that were previously closed

I will personally attest to this. Some years back, my son attended his first PG showcase the end of August between his Freshman and Sophomore year. Did well, received Top Prospect List and Top Prospect Team and got graded a 9. Within a week, he had very respected travel teams hitting his e-mail box and phone to play with them. He ended up going to Ft. Myers with one of them that October and Atlanta the next July.

Count me as a believer.

Just wondering how many people on this board would share if their player was offered a scholarship or drafted without ever meeting the coach or having him see your son play? Seems like something that is easy to say if you don't drop names, but nobody can confirm that. Anyone care to share if their kid was drafted or offered a scholarship sight unseen just based on PG or another coach's recommendation?

Would also love to know which MLB team has that much faith to put all of their eggs in the PG basket with a 3rd round pick. If true, those scouts must have absolutely slept during the off season, and the season before...

I don't think it is necessary to name names without their consent. I would hope reputation alone would be enough. There is nothing you will ever find that I have ever posted that is untrue.  I would never take a chance on that.

But just to prove a point, seeing you have indirectly accused me of stretching the truth... Roy Clark, at that time with the Washington Nationals, was the scouting exec that called. Usually these calls before the draft are more about what we might know about a certain players makeup.  Sometimes about what we might have seen.  After all, many of these players we have been following for years and have actually seen them more than most scouting departments.  This player, Drew Ward from Oklahoma was a junior that reclassified to a senior before the draft.  Being a junior he was not followed as closely as the top draft eligible players.  Everything else written about that incident is factual.  In fact, Roy called me a couple years later and said your draft pick is doing very well.  Kind of an inside joke. BTW, Washington didn't have a first round or second round pick that year. so their third round pick was their first pick. 

I will give one player example... He was a late add on recruit at Clemson when Sully (Now Florida head coach) was the recruiting guy at Clemson.  Sully asked if we knew of any pitcher capable of helping them because they needed to fill that roster spot at the last minute due to unforeseen reasons.  We suggested a kid not many had ever seen from an area rarely scouted in far northern Wisconsin.  They (Clemson) took a chance on that kid.  He was a 6 foot RHP named Jason Berken.  I believe he was an All American at Clemson and he ended up pitching in the Big leagues for a few years.

Trust is earned over many years. People would be shocked if they knew how many questions we get from Scouting Directors and College recruiters.

PGStaff posted:

I don't think it is necessary to name names without their consent. I would hope reputation alone would be enough. There is nothing you will ever find that I have ever posted that is untrue.  I would never take a chance on that.

But just to prove a point, seeing you have indirectly accused me of stretching the truth... Roy Clark, at that time with the Washington Nationals, was the scouting exec that called. Usually these calls before the draft are more about what we might know about a certain players makeup.  Sometimes about what we might have seen.  After all, many of these players we have been following for years and have actually seen them more than most scouting departments.  This player, Drew Ward from Oklahoma was a junior that reclassified to a senior before the draft.  Being a junior he was not followed as closely as the top draft eligible players.  Everything else written about that incident is factual.  In fact, Roy called me a couple years later and said your draft pick is doing very well.  Kind of an inside joke. BTW, Washington didn't have a first round or second round pick that year. so their third round pick was their first pick. 

I will give one player example... He was a late add on recruit at Clemson when Sully (Now Florida head coach) was the recruiting guy at Clemson.  Sully asked if we knew of any pitcher capable of helping them because they needed to fill that roster spot at the last minute due to unforeseen reasons.  We suggested a kid not many had ever seen from an area rarely scouted in far northern Wisconsin.  They (Clemson) took a chance on that kid.  He was a 6 foot RHP named Jason Berken.  I believe he was an All American at Clemson and he ended up pitching in the Big leagues for a few years.

Trust is earned over many years. People would be shocked if they knew how many questions we get from Scouting Directors and College recruiters.

I appreciate your willingness to name names, but you are saying these guys never laid eyes on these players before a draft of offering a scholarship? I just find that implausible that is the case. This is a kid that just a quick look at your website shows that he was on your national radar from June of 2011 at your junior nationals with a grade of ten. He was in two national games and two junior national showcases. What you are trying to get me to believe is that the Washington Nationals never had a scout lay eyes on him in those 4 showcases, but drafted him based on your recommendation with their first pick of the ? And nobody on their staff attended any of the 8 Perfect Game events that he participated before being drafted? None of his staff attended the 2011 Area Code Games in which he played for the Chicago White Sox team? None of his staff noticed the 6'4" 200 pound kid playing shortstop in the 2011 PG National Games in August 2011 and PG Junior Nationals 2011, same in both events in 2012? It's just a little hard to believe.

BTW, Washington had a 2nd rd pick by the name of Jake Johansen they took that year ahead of Ward in the 3rd round, just to refresh your memory.

So, out of SEC Hopefuls 5 posts on this board in her 3 1/2 months here, 4 are attacking Perfect Game.

All of the top college coaches I have spoken to along my sons recruitment recommend PG. Not all are fans of all of their events, but overall, they highly respect their scouting assessments, showcases, tournaments and website layout.

I think I'll take their recommendation, thanks SECH.

FFXfireman posted:

So, out of SEC Hopefuls 5 posts on this board in her 3 1/2 months here, 4 are attacking Perfect Game.

All of the top college coaches I have spoken to along my sons recruitment recommend PG. Not all are fans of all of their events, but overall, they highly respect their scouting assessments, showcases, tournaments and website layout.

I think I'll take their recommendation, thanks SECH.

 

and I think you are quite the defender of Perfect Game. Are you on the payroll? You sure seem to be willing to look past the revisionist history of that player that PG Staff seems to think was on nobody's radar before he got drafted just based on his recommendation because the National's scouting department was inept. That's essentially what he just called the entire Washington National's scouting department in 2011/2012. That slips right through.

I just replaced my microwave, popcorn is on me!

Hey SEC...perhaps you should just:

instead?

I thought I opened up HSBBWEB, but I must have opened up twitter instead.

I'm a PG supporter, if there is a payroll for us, can someone kindly send me the link?

DesertDuck posted:

Hey SEC...perhaps you should just:

instead?

"V8 ! A refreshing blend of 8 delicious vegetable juices" - Billy Chapel

Nice, so none of you question the claims of Perfect Game? I still haven't heard anyone come on here and say their kid got a scholarship on their PG score alone? Why is the CEO of Perfect Game even on a chat room forum? Does he own this website? It sure would benefit him to have a forum like this to sway public opinion and perception of the value of Perfect Game in the recruiting of baseball players. I question that this is truly an open forum. I think we are all being duped. I bet a glass of shutup juice that PG owns this website.

I know of an 8th Grader who received an SEC verbal commit just based on his showing at a PBR indoor Showcase (that and his travel team organization head speaking highly of him).   

Understand that a verbal commit is a huge accomplishment but means little until the NLI is signed.  

SEC HOPEFUL, this place is a tremendous resource with a ton of useful info.  PG STAFF has been posting here for over a decade.   There would be no reason for him to damage his reputation by posting lies or half truths.   It is a big world out there, there are hundreds of college opportunities

SEC HOPEFUL,

You wanted names, against my better judgment I gave you names.  I gave you the truth, sorry I forgot that Washington had a pick in the second round.  If you look at the last report (below) we did on Drew Ward you will see he was listed as a 2014 grad.  Not until very late did he reclassify for the 2014 draft and most scouts just didn't bear down on him as much as the actual draft class.  The reason they called was because they knew we knew a lot about him.  The phone call went exactly as I posted.  It has nothing to do with calling the Nationals scouting department inept.  They had at that time one of the top scouting departments in MLB.  Why wouldn't they want to know as much as possible, that is what good scouting departments do. Furthermore, some of my best friends in baseball are in charge of MLB scouting departments.  They know that we see many of these kids more than they do over a much longer period of time.  We have had over a thousand MLB players attend PG events, that means we have seen over a thousand as young undrafted players.  I think anyone that has seen that many would have a good opinion as to what they look like.

Drew Ward

SS   6-4 210  L/R

SEC Hopeful,

You don't sound like any mom I have ever run across.  Are you being truthful? A few years ago we had someone similar attacking us on here.  The person that does own this site was able to track that person.  He was an employee of a competitor.  He had an agenda and after reading your past posts, it is very obvious that you do to.

SEC Hopeful posted:

Nice, so none of you question the claims of Perfect Game? I still haven't heard anyone come on here and say their kid got a scholarship on their PG score alone? Why is the CEO of Perfect Game even on a chat room forum? Does he own this website? It sure would benefit him to have a forum like this to sway public opinion and perception of the value of Perfect Game in the recruiting of baseball players. I question that this is truly an open forum. I think we are all being duped. I bet a glass of shutup juice that PG owns this website.

No, I don't.  Sounds like you have followed the board for a long time.

I'd like to remind everyone that this post was by a 15 year old who is just starting out and excited by the PG event he attended.  Can we all dial it back a bit?

I am pretty sure that the 10 my son received from his first PG showcase got him a  90% scholarship because after that he was seen by Sully at Jupiter his junior fall and heavily pursued until he said " yes to the offer".

One thing about a PG showcase grade, it is not about that particular performance, but future potential.

I don't want to get into another revived discussion going on in another topic, but anyone can improve their grade. I think it can become a great motivator if the player is really motivated. Although son received the highest grade, he still worked on becoming the best player that HE could be.

As far as the story with Jason Berken, it's true, because he was sons teammate and close friend (still is).  It was his location that hurt him.  Not his lack of  ability.

Dingerswag1223 posted:

I'm really looking into going Ivy, any other high academic D1, or high academic D3. My grades are exceptional and I do a good amount of volunteering as well. I will be playing on a showcase team this fall, and one of the events they go to is at Brown University. I believe the exposure I will get will continue and improve as I get older. I also think I'm doing mostly all I can to put myself in the right position to achieve these goals. Thank you very much for your thoughts!

High academic programs probably value 2 way players, not sure.

My opinion is keep doing what you are doing until someone tells you otherwise. You will eventually settle in on your strength by Coach inquiries. Keep working on being the best player you can, on and off of the field.

I have been here for a couple of years and I have gone back and read many many old posts (probably to the detriment of my job!) and I will have to say that PGSTAFF has always been honest, forthcoming,  and very kind  in response to peoples questions on this site.    I always stop to read his replys because I know he knows what he is talking about.  Furthermore,  without  PG tournaments to play in, my son would  not even be on anyones radar.   I will even go so far as to say that no where else in America on a Thursday afternoon in July,  at a hot highschool field, for a PG consolation game, would you find 5 + D1 RC watching a bunch of 16 year olds playing baseball.   The exposure alone is worth every penny spent.