Physical Attributes

I am not a scout, but projection is a large part of the process. Scouts recruiting HS players have the job of trying to imagine what the player will be like in 3-5 years.
In my own personal experience, I think the thing scouts liked most about son was that he was 18 and shaved once every 10 days, a sign that puberty wasn't over. He had NO muscles, 190 was lean tall lanky and about another 25-30 projected pounds to be put on between 19-23,24, which would be in the form of muscles, not just extra bulk. In other words, his body for 18 was pretty immature for a pitcher. For us this was a big part in why he would go to school first. Work under a trainer and have one of the best training facilities available to him for 3 years, whereas we didn't feel he might get that available to him in the minor leagues.

Another player on his HS team, also tall, 225 lbs., muscular, great player. No interest at all from scouts. I am assuming they saw him as pretty much physically developed.

JMO

So scouts would rather have the skinny, lenghthy kid who is good but not as good as the tall muscular player?

Seems to me the muscular kid shows a body type and work ethic that would be attractive? But I'm not a scout!

Scouts are interested as to where the player will end up physically-- a kid who is already 6-4 230 lbs may well be done growing --they can also tell a lot from the family tree as in what does Dad look like and the relatives on each side

A long lean kid is more apt to fill out and mature physically on down the road

There is really not much you can do about what will be so it is best to relax and let the boy do his thing--nature will take care of the rest.

Work ethic is another aspect but not what I would consider a physical attribute


Hopefully bbscout will chime in with his thoughts as he is the resident "scout"

I don't get it why does it matter, if a kid is going to get picked just cause he's still growing. If you got a big muscular kid done growing but already 6'4 230, whats it matter?

If he is done growing he does not project--he is what he is right now and may possibly have maxed out

rh,

Ability comes first, projection is just a plus. If the 6’4/230 guy is much better he will be the one most likely drafted higher. However, (depending on body type, not just maturity), If the two are equal in ability, the one who projects the best is most likely to be drafted first

There is more than just size, body type and maturity that go into projecting a player. Sometimes, not only is there no projection, but scouting departments might actually think a player will get worse in isolated cases. A good example of this is the lean athlete who projects to gain lots of size and strength could be considered a candidate to actually lose running speed as he gets older.

It’s not as simple as height and weight along with immaturity. The frame and certain features, bloodlines, athleticism, and other things are all important when trying to somewhat accurately project a player.

PG,

Over the years - I have heard the terms "high waisted" and "low-waisted" used to describe athletes' body types.

Have you heard these terms before - and if so - do you know what the significance of either are?

Thanks

Its,

Low or high as* is the most common term used.

Low waisted usually (not always) means shorter arms and legs. A less athletic type body is the general thought. These are the low as* types!

High waisted usually (not always) means longer arms and legs. Generally considered more athletic and quicker. These are the high a*s types.

I don't entirely agree 100% with the above, but understand it's reasoning. If you took the greatest athletes you can think of, you will notice most all have the proverbial high a*s.

So for the most part it's an athletic indicator, though I've seen some very good athletes with a low waist.

Thanks PG

High a*s, low as*.....you learn something new everyday on this site.

My husband and I are both 5'8". My baseball son is 6'4", and not shaving more than his chinny chin chin every 4-5 days. These generalizations are just that... generalizations. We actually have had recruiting coaches as us how this happened! Maybe they think we found him on the curb!

I had someone scout my son for one of the premier select organizations in Texas, a full year before he was old enough to be on the team. I asked the guy why he was so interested after one game, and one of the things he said was "Because he has very long arms for his body and that, plus the size of his hands, that tells me that he is going to be at least 6'3".
That was only one (unapparent to me) factor, but I thought it was interesting.

I've also heard scouts refer to sloping shoulders, rather than squared, and check out how long the fingers are. Lots of approaches and hot buttons.

The fully developed v. undeveloped, I was told, had to do with whether the fully developed athlete could compete right now in professional ball. If not, there would be no interest.

Much as hs and college pitchers are referred to as 100% guys: he's using 100% of what he's got right now, not much room for improvement. If that's not good enough to go on to college/pro, then there won't be any interest.

Krakatoa posted earlier today about the need to enjoy the moment. I think this need for projection is just another example of parents wanting to prepare for the unknown future.
I bought my son his own razor when he was twelve. Had noting to do with baseball, I was getting tired of him using mine. He started high school at about 5’11” 180 and graduated high school at 6’ 0” 185. At 21 he’s 6’0” 200lbs. If I had known about this baseball crystal ball method of projecting the future I would have told him to pursue another sport like NASCAR or Wrasslin’. His weight-height-beard/peach fuzz “projection indicators” would have surely eliminated him from the high school varsity baseball team.
Fungo

Fungo,

The 5 most important things in scouting

1 - Talent
2 - Talent
3 - Talent
4 - Talent
5 - Talent

Followed by everything else.

KC,
I found the same to be in the case of our son. lots of scouts and coaches inquired why son was so tall, mom is 5'2" and dad is 5'10".

Thank goodness son got my family genes, six foot five footers!

The original post was about why there are not more positive comments about muscular players and additional physical attributes that scouts look for in drafting players.
If physical development beyond HS IS NOT as important as some may think, why was it mentioned over and over from scouts.
Interesting, you read pre draft scouting reports and ML reports and this is often mentioned.
Just curious.

Thanks for reminding me that talent (and skills) are more important than size. It helps me to help my son acheive his goals. I tell him he was blessed with great physical attributes, but they will do him no good if he doesn't work hard and take advantage of them. I think we can all agree on that.

One more thing, it is fascinating to me that scouts look for "the good face". I think I know what that means, but maybe someone can elaborate?

Orlando,

Is sloping shoulders viewed as good or bad vs Squared shoulders. My son has sloping shoulders and I am always telling him to square up (mainly because he will look taller and not so slumped) but maybe depending on your answer I might have to stop.....

Mentioned in the book "The Last Best League" I asked the same question and was told whatever the "good face" means, means nothing.

I'm going to have to have my son read this thread just so he can see that peach fuzz is not a bad thing...

Caught him "shaving" the bare sides of his face and inquired as to why he was using a razor on nothing. Reason: he heard if he shaved the bare spots long enough he'd be able to grow sideburns. Poor kid - had to break it to him that its just not going to happen. His dad is 42 and still only has to shave once a month (and no sideburns!)

oldbat - our son also has sloping shoulders and we've been told its because he has long ligaments in his shoulders that he hasn't fully grown into yet. Heard that from both his pitching coach ( a former college pitcher and current DIII pitching coach) and a local physical therapist who we learned used to be a trainer for the Dodgers. Both were excited about long, loose limbs, big hands, long fingers, and the sloping shoulders. PT in particular wants to see him in a couple of years to see how he's filled out those ligaments.

Sloping shoulders are preferred over square shoulders, especially in throwing and hitting. There are reasons that do include looseness and other things. However, it’s my opinion that all these high waist, sloping shoulders, long fingers, etc things are based mostly on the attributes most present in those who have been most successful. (nothing more, nothing less)

There have been great pitchers and great hitters who have had square shoulders. It’s just those with “sloping” shoulders out number them.

Truth is, most human beings have sloping shoulders rather than square shoulders, so it’s not surprising more of them have become better at pitching and hitting.

Of all the posts that I've read, this is one of the most facinating to me. I am totally amazed...

I saw a documentary on PBS called "A Scouts Life" and they talked about looking for "the good face".

The Good Face

It’s a fairly old term that means someone having that certain look about them.

Truth is there are your Jeter’s and your Randy Johnson’s. Your Carmello Anthony’s and your Sam Cassell’s. Maybe if it were acting or modeling, but not in baseball.

For those that think the “good face” has more to do with the appearance of a certain demeaner rather than looks… That also can fail miserably in the judgement department.

IMO “the good face” is very much a lot about nothing. That said, every once in awhile I do see that kid who I describe as having (blood in his eyes)!

None of these descriptions mean a plug nickel without the appropriate TALENT!

I have long arms, sloping shoulders, long fingers, high as*, and shave 2 times a month. Why can't I hit a curve?

Thanks for the clarification on this, my son has long arms, big hands/feet and I have been complaining about his posture for years, if I had said once I have said a thousand times shoulders back.........guess I didn't think of it as a ligment situation and I will lay off, lucky for him as I am a broken record............but is slopping the same as what I would consider turned in???????

And I guess I better check that high/low a**, the one thing I know is that he has NO A** and who can tell anything with those droopy pants they wear anyways............

.

PG...

quote:

The 5 most important things in scouting

1 - Talent
2 - Talent
3 - Talent
4 - Talent
5 - Talent

Followed by everything else.

Right you are..

Know a kid...who has virtually every attribute we have posted here...

6'6" 205, LHP/1B, sloped shoulders, long fingers, long loose limbs, High waisted, "high cheeks", size 15 shoes and corresponding hands, barely shaves, 17, Brother at DI, Mother and father college athletes, great basketball player, good track record, Throws 83, has been seen...

...and can't get a sniff

"not enough explosion"
"wrong body type"
"doesn't run right"
"doesn't have enough fast twitch"
"we're not interested unless he gets to 87"

44

The "Good Face" is the one you make when you get a college scholarship.

How do you know when physical maturity is reached?

I think that is a great question. Because I was completely grown at 14, I am thinking my son will be the same. But how do you know?