Pre Draft Workouts

Pop Up Hitter dad,

I don't subscribe to the theory that you can get overexposed. If it is possible, it's way, way out there. Players expected to be drafted in the first three rounds might be overexposed.

With better exposure, an expected third rounder might raise his round to 1 or 2.

If your son is in this position, this is where a professional agent can be important.

Would you expect to get the job if you didn't show up for the interview?

Sure, someone might outperform you there, or, you might not be at your best, or you might reveal a weakness that you don't want to be known. But, all the information comes out sooner, or later.

The overexposure theory ignores the fact that there are hundreds, literally thousands, that are standing ready to take the job.

They are not going to select a player where there is not enough information.

If a scout is interested, they dig deep.

A scout that talked with me a day or two before my son was drafted, that I had never met or heard of, said, "I've been following your son since he was 13 years old. Do you remember this play, or that team?"

When a MLB team invites you to do something, do it.

If you want to play.

There are not many factors that you can control that affect your draft status, and, these things are not easily controlled.

For a high school player, the two most important factors are performance, and projectability.

For a college junior accelerating performance can improve the round, while, a decrease in performance can reduce the round. Projectability is still a factor, but not as much as, a high school senior.

I realize that I did not answer the question that you asked.

PUHD,
Some pre draft workouts are like college junior days. There may be as many as 40-50 in attendance. There is a difference between those and smaller private workouts.

My son turned down most, as we were advised that most do ask a large number to attend. I don't think it mattered, because one team came back with an offer to draft him anyway, but at that time it was pretty much determined he was heading to school first. That team also had a scout at almost every HS game, so what was the point, other to compare him to those they might be considering. Perhaps it may have made a difference between the 5-7th round to the 3rd-4th, not sure. He also felt that this team didn't have a strong farm system (now improved) and for some players that could be a consideration when going to play at a strong college program.

If your son is at his best, that's a good thing. If he wants to go pro after HS and he has been in contact with the team, you might consider. There may be a consideration by the team but IMO, large pre draft workouts may be for later draft consideration, to fill in the gaps between rounds.

Also some teams have workouts that can help prepare for the draft, sort of like instruction. once or twice a week. If one is close by, nothing wrong with taking advantage of that situation.

FO, you may not have answered my question but you and TPM provided plenty of information to deal with this situation IF it ever comes up. I thank you sincerely, your posts are always very helpful.

TPM, the magic word was some, so with that if any are close enough, we will certainly go. My son fits in the later round category and we'll see what happens. Thank you TPM for your son's experiences.
PUHD.

PUHD,

Son only attended 3 pre-draft workouts and the primary factor to attend for him aside from the fact the workouts were fairly close was the teams had shown interest in drafting him where he would consider signing. Something we discussed with his advisor in making a decision to go or not go was that the workouts he went to had the decision makers in attendance. (GM's, Scouting Directors, National Crosscheckers etc...)

While local, area and regional crosschecker scouts will know your player best, the ultimate decision makers sometimes don't get a chance to get out to see a player in person. The workouts let them see for themselves what their scouts had reported.

Regarding overexposure we weren’t too concerned about it, if your player doesn’t have his best day they probably already have a lot of positive info on him or he wouldn’t have been invited. If things don’t go perfectly, how he reacts to not being at his best can be very telling as well. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say, I wonder how he will react if things don’t go his way?

Good luck!

I imagine going to the predraft workout as a high schooler or JC player can only be a plus, unless its a total bust....You need to show that you have the potential....


Being seen by the other area scouts and crosscheckers is much better then only being seen by the local area scout, especially if you transfer or move out of the area scouts territory.

Boy, there are really good posts here from FO, TPM and JerseyDad.
In my view, if your son goes at these workouts with the view they could hurt his "draft status," they may do that.
I don't believe you can play baseball that way.
Perhaps it is different depending on your draft status.
Ours was out to prove he should be drafted and he didn't care where. Pick 1500 was fine.
Not only that, he got a chance to be on the field in AT&T for 5 hours, a field he loves and dreamed about since it opened in 2000.
One other thing, for our son, these workouts assured/convinced him he did belong. They reinforced he could compete and succeed.
Whether they helped his draft status for any teams, we don't know.
We do know they surely helped his draft status, in his mind.

quote:

Originally posted by infielddad:
Boy, there are really good posts here from FO, TPM and JerseyDad.
In my view, if your son goes at these workouts with the view they could hurt his "draft status," they may do that.
I don't believe you can play baseball that way.
Perhaps it is different depending on your draft status.
Ours was out to prove he should be drafted and he didn't care where. Pick 1500 was fine.
Not only that, he got a chance to be on the field in AT&T for 5 hours, a field he loves and dreamed about since it opened in 2000.
One other thing, for our son, these workouts assured/convinced him he did belong. They reinforced he could compete and succeed.
Whether they helped his draft status for any teams, we don't know.
We do know they surely helped his draft status, in his mind.

infielddad - what an outstanding post that was! You son's makeup is off the charts. I have actually seen that written in draft reports - makeup off the charts!

Last week when our site was down, I needed my daily baseball fix so I thought what the heck, I'll visit PG's site. Lo and behold, they have little video scouting clips where PG and other scouts describe various aspects of scouting. One aspect was makeup that PG elaborated upon. He said that the big seperator (other than talent) at the pro level was makeup and more specifically persistence. An absolute refusal to accept no for an answer. He said some guys you can tell them their limitations and they may accept that. Other guys will hear those things and will set out to prove the naysayers wrong. I guess they see that over and over in successful ballplayers.

Moreover, there is a trait that I call the silver spoon. Some guys are indeed born with it and it becomes a liability over time even if they are talented imho. Other guys who may not be dubbed as the next greatest thing merely go about their business and overcome any excuses that "may" be available to them. Fungo told of a player named Drew Sutton who fits this mold imho. A 15th round pick in college who is on the 40 man roster of the Astros and on the verge of the big leagues - all though sheer production and a refusal to give in.

quote:

Not only that, he got a chance to be on the field in AT&T for 5 hours, a field he loves and dreamed about since it opened in 2000.

An excellent point, infielddad.

A pre-draft workout should be distinguished from a cattle call MLB tryout.

Not the same thing at all.

A pre-draft workout is a collection of maybe 30-50 players that a team is considering for their draft picks in the upcoming draft.

It is an opportunity for all of the organization's managment to view the players.

I am not sure, but, I think for players that they want to see, they pay the travel expenses for the player.

So, that shouldn't be an issue regarding whether to attend.

I know it is permitted under the rules.

We were on the way home from a tryout for a MLB team that was probably a combo pre-draft workout and a cattle call. The MLB team was not local and was attended by their area scout and some of their management.

My son's phone rang and he had a brief conversation.

He said that was (someone from the Rangers) and they want me to come over to the Ballpark in Arlington in the morning to work out.

"WE need to be there at 10:00AM"

He told me to be there at 10:00, so WE would be there two hours early.

That was the entire debate about whether to go or not.

I was honored to be invited. He didn't need for me to go.

A pre-draft workout is part of your son finding out whether he can play at that level or not.

Stepping off a high school field onto the Ballpark in Arlington diamond with 30-50 other players that have the potential to become major league ballplayers is an enlightening experience.

I sat in the Pres's seat at 1B and watched the infielders move the ball around the horn. I could not believe how much velocity was on the ball and how quickly the ball got back to 1B.

I saw a RF throw a belt high strike to 3B from DEEP RF.

I saw some incredible pitchers, one that I recall, will very likely make a major league debut sometime this year. (Not Adam, CD. He was drafted the prior year)

I watched my son put one or two in the LF seats and one-hop bounce one over the 404 foot CF marker.......

He didn't get drafted that year.

I'd probably go do that again, even if I KNEW, it would hurt my son's chances.

When do these typically occur in the winter months?

We do a predraft event every year. I'm pretty sure its the biggest and maybe oldest "independent" predraft. Usually about 40 players, most recommended to us by MLB scouting departments. We do it at our home field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Typically well over 100 scouts attend. In some years there will be several scouting directors, even some GMs and other front office people.

We do ours in May, about three weeks before the draft. Its a one day event.

The type of players who have attended in the past that ended up being high draft picks or became Major Leaguers include...
Ryan Sweeney (IA)
Brian McCann (GA)
Carl Crawford (TX)
Jeff Clement (IA)
Thomas Diamond (LA)
Jonathan Arencibia (FL)
Tyler Clippard (FL)
Jason Berken (WI)
Lance Broadway (TX)
Trevor Crowe (OR)
Bobby Livingston (TX)
Brad Nelson (IA)
Joe Bisenius (IA)
Wade Townsend (TX)
Joel Hanrahan (IA)
Jason Jaramillo (WI)
Wes Obermueller (IA)
Brad Furnish (TX)
Trevor Reckling (NJ)
There's actually too many to mention them all.

At this event, they do the workout and we play one very long game. Everything is geared to the scouting departments. Lots of talent. Its kind of fun!

Thanks PG!

Just to give an idea. Here are some of the draft picks that were at the PG Predraft this past June.

Chad James (OK)
Kevin James (WI)
Ian Krol (IL)
Steve Turnbull (MN)
Shuhei Fujiya (CA)
Mike Giovenco (IL)
Charlie Markson (WI)
Mike Schurz (VA)
Jeremy Weih (IA)
Sam Wolff (SD)
Matt Kock (IA)
James Jones (KY)
Chris Handke (IA)
Yovan Gonzalez (PR)
Cole Frenzel (ND)
Matt Dermody (IA)
Ryan Bollinger (ND)

Jesse,

Obviously the players are by invite only, but anyone can attend. However, if I were you, I would attend the National Showcase. That event has had more first round picks than any other showcase event over the past 8 years. BTW, there is no fee to attend any of those showcases unless you purchase the scout packet and you have to be a MLB scout or college coach to purchase that. All others are welcome to attend and can buy a $5 program if they want.

PG staff:
It came from an individual( Area Scouting Supervisor). It took my son almost 2 hours to complete). Does he have a schol? where ? How much etc.