PG showcase vs PG WWBA tournament

IMO you would be better off playing on a team that gets you exposure.

One PG showcase event gets you a rating by PG and the event may have a few recruiters in attendance. A one day workout and a couple of at bats might not be the best form of evaluating talent.

Playing for a team that goes to PG tournaments, as well as other tourneys, will get your son in front of way more recruiters. It is always best to be seen in person, multiple times, to be evaluated fairly IMO. If a recruiter sees your son do the same thing, good or bad, on serveral occasions he will have a better idea of your son's talents.

Most kids my son has played with the past 4 years have been to all of the PG tournaments in Georgia, Florida and in the Northeast. Very few have done the individual showcases. Most of the kids are now being recruited and committing with major D1 programs up and down the east coast and beyond.

I'll explain why I wish I had sent my son to a PG showcase early in the season. In June he tore his PCL and MCL. He has missed the entire summer showcsase season following his junior year. He will miss the entire fall showcase season. Basically he's missing his entire ability to showcase. He'll have to hope some team has a roster spot when he showcases the summer after his senior season. He's mostly SOL.

If he had a PG rating, along with video and coach references he would be in a far better place. With the new roster limits walking on at a D1 is more unlikely now. Chances are he will have to walk on at a mid range D3 when he was a top D3 to mid major D1 prospect. He's not going to play baseball at a BS D3 just to say he played. His college baseball plans may be out the window. What is out the window are all the top academic colleges that would have taken him with a 3.5 as an athlete.

Yes, it's been very painful watching his teammates one by one commit to D1 programs while my son is on crutches wearing a knee brace hoping he finds out in October he doesn't need senior season ending surgery. There are days I can't even log on to this site after seeing my son's frustration.

Note: If anyone sees this please do not suggest a JuCo. JuCos are frowned on academically in the northeast. The schools on his list do not look at JuCo transfers for academic reasons.

Does it change things if my son is a LH Pitcher and not a fielder?

I agree with Philsfan, get on a team and play at one of the top exposure tournaments (ie. WWBA Championships, Jupiter). However do not sit in the stands waiting for things to happen. Contact the schools before hand that you think might be a good fit and let them know your son is interested in them and when he will be pitching.

quote:

Originally posted by redsox8191:
Does it change things if my son is a LH Pitcher and not a fielder?

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Quite frankly it makes it worlds easier. Now the questions are how hard does he throw, what kind of movement and command does he have? The answers to those questions helps to tell you where to go.

Redsox8191,

I would attend the events where the college coaches will be for the schools your son is interested in attending. Why fish in a lake when you don't know what your going to catch?

It is very difficult to stand out at one event if it is a PG Showcase or WWBA. I would think most coaches are looking at a body of work and a history of success on the field (and possibly in the classroom). Most coaches that were interested in my son over the last few years, saw him play a number of times at a bunch of different events. It is a difficult question. If I had to pick, I would play with a top level travel team because you would be establishing a body of work over a season, and get the benefits of coaching and possibl exposure.

RJM, I feel really bad for your son. I started to ask if any of these schools your son has targeted had January camps like some of the DI and DIII schools down here do but then I remembered we're talking about a totally different part of the country with totally different weather. That would have also depended on how soon he recovered. Don't get too down over something you can't control. I'm sure with determination and a little bit of overdue luck, he may still find a school that matches academics and baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by redsox8191:
There is a topic asking about college showcases vs PG showcase and I thought I'd put a twist on it..

Being a kid from the northeast with limited resources would my son be better off exposure wise (assuming he would be considered a possible D1 type recruit) going to a PG showcase to get his rating etc...or is he better off taking that money and joining with a team that plays at a WWBA event like the 17U one down in GA over the summer? Which one gives him the best shot at being discovered by a school with a scholarship to offer...taking personal fit/academics etc..out of the equation?

redsox8191,

We are not in the northeast, but my son is in the middle of this journey right now. I honestly think the above depends on what position your son plays, how good is he now, and where does he project in the future? If he's a "pitcher only", I'd have him playing in the high profile tournaments in your area, including the major PG tournaments (Georgia & Jupiter, FL). I'd have him attending college camps, choosing schools that he's interested in and feels he has a legit chance to play at.

Now...if he's a position player, or possible two-way kid, I'd make sure he attends a PG Showcase and gets the important unbiased opinion and grade from PG professionals! He'll have an opportunity to show off all of his tools, and later will have the ability to send his profile to potential colleges in the near future. A typical Sat/Sun PG Showcase will generally have the kids run the 60 on Saturday morning. Followed by defense skills (OF, INF, and Pop Times). Saturday afternoon and Sunday the kids play controlled games, usually 8-9 innings.

My son is an OF/RHP. As an outfielder, he may not have a chance to show his range and his arm in a tournament. He's had a few games where our pitchers dominated, and there were only a few balls hit to him and most the "Can of Corn" variety. In a showcase setting, you have the opportunity during the defensive skills portion to show what you can do! Lastly, before the games begin, the kids take BP. I've seen kids look bad during their 10 pitch BP, but then light it up in the games, and I've seen kids mash during BP and struggle in the games! Most of the time the scouts rating the kids at the PG events get it right, and the PG grade is close to where it should be. The reason I'm not as high on a "Pitcher Only" spending money on an expensive showcase, is due to the fact that most kids in this situation won't take BP, run the 60, or participate in defensive drills. In these situations, you might have the possibility of getting a discounted rate? Maybe PGStaff can chime in, or possibly someone else that's gone through this as a pitcher only?

Over the last year 247son has attended a few PG showcases, college camps, and played in a number of tournaments including Georgia last month. PG Nationals in Arizona is upcoming for next month, and probably Jupiter in October. I don't think there is a Magic Formula to get noticed, but I do think that you need to play the numbers game and choose what's best for your son within your family budget...I wish you and your son the best of luck!

According to a long time Pirate's scout in our area the big WWBA tournaments are far and away the best bang for the buck.

IMO, it is a good thing to go to at least one PG showcase but if it is an either/or situation then I'd recommend the WWBA tournament.

BTW, players who perform well at a showcase will often be invited to play on a PG team at a WWBA tournament.

Let me even clarify it a bit more. Son is a LHP and will be a sophomore next year. Funds will likely mean a PG Showcase or try and hook up with a team for a week at the WWBA in July in Georgia. Likely do not have the funds to do both next season but do hope to join a CDP (17U or 2013 team..however you want to classify it)for the full summer season the following year which could possibly include two weeks down in GA for the 18U and 17U tournaments.

Is the money better spent on the showcase or getting the exposure down in East Cobb in front of all the coaches in the game or two he'd get to pitch in for next year and then following it up playing down there the following year?

Of course this is assuming he was a possible D1 or high DII prospect and lives in NH.

My two cents:

If you're a pitcher, a showcase is not always all that helpful. Do a couple WWBA tourneys and PG will have all the data it could ever need on you. Exception: If you get invited to PG National, don't miss it.

For offensive players, a WWBA event can be a tough place to shine. A showcase is smart, so that someone can study your swing, see your fielding actions, RADAR gun your throws, time you in the 60 -- all things that don't happen so much in games. Still, they need to see how you are in game action, so you have to play in tough tourneys too.

I love the WWBA events for sure as a vehicle. You can't do that all summer or all fall, but you shouldn't miss them as part of your schedule. Offensive guys should add a showcase, but to me, pitchers don't really need to.

If you can at possibly do both that is the way to go---for me showcases are one element and tournaments are another---either by itself may not show the players best side


If you can only do one I would take the tournament wherethe scouts can see you in game mode