Pro vs College

Throw 93+

Play on the local scout team. He should be on it right now. He does not throw hard enough to be drafted but he can develop as a player and pitcher. has he got a PG rating? Better not put the cart before the horse. Get him to a trainer who works with pro players. Do some research. Who was the last player from your area who got drafted and signed? Who was the scout? How does your son compare? WhAtever you do, don't bug the scout. the only person who should contact him is your summer coach or high school coach. The truth is, if your son is good, they are already following him. If they are not, then your son has some work to do.

This may cause a bit of a riot here...but, if you child's goal is to go pro and he gets drafted then go...

The kid will get developed better in the pros.


Downside, very few make it. Plan on going to college older.

Upside, just getting drafted is a 1 in 50 chance 30x over.... You have to be in one team's top 50 just to get a chance..

To present a different view of the true reality of MLB and especially Milb.
The organization our son played in did not draft many HS players.
In 2006, they drafted a HS middle infielder in the 10th/11th round. Don't know his bonus but I am assuming it was considerably less than $100,000.
He struggled and never made it to full season low A, and was released in his 3rd year. By age 20, his baseball days were over.
His story is not presented as anything other than some of the reality of Milb.
Anyone who wants to pass on college or JC needs to be a talent, probably a well recognized and coveted top DI prospect, and accept that Milb is business, all business.
Yes, there may be better coaching and development in Milb, but if the player does not respond, that better coaching and development may not last long. The end can be sudden and and painful.

FYI if your kid gets offered minimal signing money out of HS he should be aware that the minor leagues pay about 1,100 per month.....before expenses.....in season. i.e. if you play short season for 3 months you make 3,300...less expenses... for the year. That kind of money doesn't help much in the "off season".

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Any suggestions on expanding his exposure opporunities to MLB scouts and teams?

Sure, do as many showcases as you can afford and play on as many high profile teams as possible. Scan the papers and internet for pro workouts. Get to the workouts at least 30 minutes early, wear bright colors and have son introduce himself to the scouts.

But for 99.9% of players, tons of exposure or lack of exposure isn't what spells success or failure. Has very little to do with exposure and everything to do with talent. I don't care how many radar guns are focused on an 80 mile an hour fastball --- the reading remains 80 miles and hour. You could hire 100 banner pulling planes and rent 10,000 billboards stating; 80mph pitcher seeks MLB roster spot and the phone wouldn't ring, unless it was from another billboard company wanting to sell you some more billboards.
Fungo

while most everyone has a pro dream, college baseball is more realistic. as the scout that signed my son said," this will be the first time in your life your playing for you, no rah rah for the school etc.. just you." once you sign you have to jump through many hoops to get college eligability back. feed the brain first,get bigger and stronger.if it is meant to be it will be.

Good responses.
I feel badly sometimes because most really do not have a clue about pro ball, I can tell you the farther you go up the ladder the harder it becomes, it isn't easy, even for guys with well over 90 FB, and other stuff.

If your son just hits 86 and a LHP and getting moderate interest from college, what interest do you think he will get from pro scouts? First things first, he needs to concentrate going onto play at the next level, college.

Use this very short time you have left (it goes quickly) working more on core conditioning, on mechanics, in the classroom than worrying about exposure for MLB.

TPM is exactly right. My son is a LHP and has had a long list of D-1s recruiting him for the past year and a half. The last showcase tournament he was invited to pitch in two pro scouts looked him up after the game (Mets / Boston) and after telling him how impressed they were with his performance and presence on the mound and they had been following his career for the past year or so they told him bluntly he wasn't a prospect at the time because his FB was mid 80's. Didn't matter that batters rarely got to first base and if they did were either picked off or left stranded there, he was a mid 80's guy and although the scouts loved him, they were not going to consider him. These guys are brutely honest and we appreciated what they had to say. They went on to say that they would continue to watch him in college and that should he keep the same approach to the game and get his speed up to at least 88-90 they would be back to talk. So that's what he's going to do. Finish strong in his senior year of HS, work hard with his college pitching coach and continue to do whatever he has to do to reach his goal of being drafted while staying strong and healthy.

It's all about projection. If he was very projectable, he might be a prospect. Jonny Venters was a 86 topping out high school Jr. LHP...seven years before he got to Atlanta. He was a draft and follow, which they don't do anymore. He throws in the mid 90's now and was cruising at 90 when they signed him. You are getting good advice.

As a crafty lefty he'll need to build his resume at the next level and probably hope for a senior sign, working his way up from there, if he is all-conference and a weekend starter....unless the velocity fairy pays a special visit. Good luck.

Thanks for all the feedback. He is working with a instructor who played MLB and was invited to a HS invitional by the area scout for Texas Rangers, but he did not perfom his best. We plan on attending one of the MLB "open" tryouts this summer hosted by the MLS Scouting bureau. Any insights or experience with those?

My oldest son attended an ML Scouting Bureau open tryout when he was 16 in 2007 in Dallas TX. The strange thing about that tryout was that they didn't hit on the field, they only hit in a cage. They kept about 35 or 40 guys to play a game after the tryout. There were a lot of team scouts at the tryout also.

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Originally posted by Three Bagger:
The strange thing about that tryout was that they didn't hit on the field, they only hit in a cage.

This probably is because they are not necessarily looking for how far you hit but how you hit it and mechanics.

Not directed towards you, but I am not understanding why most don't understand that there are certain things that set apart a player from metal/wood, that includes pitchers and hitters.

That's why stats for scouting purposes, are not always important.

Also keep in mind, "former MLB player" does NOT mean you are receiving the best instruction.


JMO.

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Originally posted by brod:
Play on the local scout team. He should be on it right now.

I have seen these "mlb scout teams" at events and they seem to be comprised of just the normal talent that you would see at a PG/WWB type of event. Some even less than normal talent and their rosters appear to be of the "pick up" variety with kids comprised from all over. Who organizes these types of teams, the actual mlb clubs? How could one find out information about them? Thanks in advance...

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Originally posted by johnj314:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by brod:


I have seen these "mlb scout teams" at events and they seem to be comprised of just the normal talent that you would see at a PG/WWB type of event. Some even less than normal talent and their rosters appear to be of the "pick up" variety with kids comprised from all over. Who organizes these types of teams, the actual mlb clubs? How could one find out information about them? Thanks in advance...

Most are run by scouts from all different oranizations. I think their love for the game and teaching it properly (plus giving all players an opportunity) is more important to them than making money for themselves.

You can learn just as much from being on a scout team for practically nothing as you can from former ML players. JMO.

BOF's reply was tongue in cheek but the reality is that 86 for a LHP junior is not quite enough to draw pro interest unless there's some serious projectability. Most of the things one does to get college interest will get noticed by pro scouts. He needs to focus one step at a time and not worry too much about the pros at this point. The college guys will be looking at him this season and the pro guys will start paying attention when he's a senior if his velocity gets a few mph higher.

My son was drafted in the 5th round and is currently playing summer ball. Afterwards we will sit down & decide if he will go to college or go pro.The great thing about summer baseball away is it gives a high school kid the feel for being away from home,playing every day & playing against college players.If this is hard for him now then he may not be ready for the Minors.But he has told me that all the college guys that he plays with say he should go pro.They tell him that trying to improve your game & keep grades up is no piece of cake.They also say they don't have time for the typical fun college life that a lot of other kids enjoy.Definitely a hard choice.

MICSTER - Your son is a very good baseball player. He is scheduled to go to a very good school, with a great college atmosphere, a chance at a good education and under a coach with a track record of developing talent.

While I really have no way to know what the 'right' choice is in his case, I don't see any reason to put too much weight on the advice of 20-year old summer teammates who really have no idea of the rigors of pro baseball. They're expressing a dream that they perceive as easier than going to class and playing at the same time. They really have no idea whether that is true or not.

Try and have your son talk to someone who has had a successful college and pro career. You are his parent and as our older son's coach once told our son..."Listen to your parents, whatever their advice, weigh THAT heaviest...there is no one in the world who cares more about you and will look after you as they will."

Pro ball can be a lonely isolated time for a 18 yr old playing complex ball...no family, no friends,no fans and for most no transportation. Your at the motel or at the field ... not very glamorous.

I would agree with the college first thinking in most cases, but not all cases.

I've actually been asked the "pro or college" question many times. The answer has always been the same. "I don't give advice regarding that" If you want information I will answer those questions the best I can.

WHY no advice?

No matter what advice I might give, it could turn out to be the worst advice you ever received. No one knows what the future holds. Players have gone to college and get serious injuries and some end up much better off. Players go pro and get released after a couple years and some make it to the top.

I do think money should help you make the pro decision. The more they have invested in you the better your odds. There's only two ways to make a lot of money as a baseball player. When you sign and when you make the Big Leagues.

Son went pro out of HS for little money it was his dream and it was rough at first. But what an education he has received from the experience!! From the places he's lived and visited, to the people he has met!
He also took on line courses and should have a degree this winter. It took awhile but can be done. So I say get all the information you can,follow your heart and hope you get the choice !

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
My oldest son attended an ML Scouting Bureau open tryout when he was 16 in 2007 in Dallas TX. The strange thing about that tryout was that they didn't hit on the field, they only hit in a cage. They kept about 35 or 40 guys to play a game after the tryout. There were a lot of team scouts at the tryout also.

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I'll update that....2011 MLB Scouting Bureau Open Try Out...

Three acts to the event...the cattle call, the cut and the game.

Cattle Call: 350 players...two scouts. First qualifying question: "Have you ever been drafted? Have you ever signed? How far have you gotten?"

Hitters: Run a 60….field two ground balls…and then a cut. (No swings).

Pitchers: Three pitches. Cut line for RHP 90, Cut Line for LHP 88.

Game…for those who are “fast” (pitchers and hitters No hitting)….and those who have been drafted/signed previously.

44
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My son was going to go to the open tryout last week in Hampton, but he has a arm issue at the moment. Thanks for the information on how the process worked this year.

quote:

Originally posted by MICSTER:
My son was drafted in the 5th round and is currently playing summer ball. Afterwards we will sit down & decide if he will go to college or go pro.The great thing about summer baseball away is it gives a high school kid the feel for being away from home,playing every day & playing against college players.If this is hard for him now then he may not be ready for the Minors.But he has told me that all the college guys that he plays with say he should go pro.They tell him that trying to improve your game & keep grades up is no piece of cake.They also say they don't have time for the typical fun college life that a lot of other kids enjoy.Definitely a hard choice.

If your son definetly wanted to go play pro ball, he would have signed and been playing already, the season is half over, that already puts him behind. Playing college summer league ball IS NOT THE SAME as playing minor league ball.

Either choice is going to be difficult, but someone told me once, if you have to look back and wonder if you made the right decision, then you are in the wrong place.

I don't know what league your son is in, but most likely if he were playing with players from top programs in the country, I don't think telling him to go pro would be what advice they would be giving and definetly not true that you can't enjoy other aspects of college life.

If your son really wants to go play pro ball, then he should, if the signing bonus is important, go to college.

I would say unless you are in the first couple of rounds in the draft as a high school player.... GO TO COLLEGE. The instruction is definetly not better and the structure and accountability in college will help. Your on your own in pro ball and its up to you to get your work in high school kids rarely get that its your job and you either get it or your out oh yeah and if your good enough they will find you chances are they all ready know who you are

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Game…for those who are “fast” (pitchers and hitters No hitting)….and those who have been drafted/signed previously.

That seems to be the BIG two to get you on the list.