Question---

I have seen it happen as early as the sophomore year in HS

What about for the draft in June 2009?

Probably a dumb question... What's a card? Is this something the pro's would use to follow a kid?

Thanks
Brian

Yes, the card is something a scout will have a player complete.
Many players were completing cards from last Fall for the 2009 draft, especially for college players who got noticed at their school's scout day.

Dumb question here...what's the difference in significance between a card and a questionnaire?

I think that a card is filled out after the area cross checker has been there to view the player...The physical examination is notated on this card or at least asked for. I believe if you are asked to fill out a card you are just that much closer to actually going in the draft. Don't quote me on this :-)

My son has filled out several of the questionnaires, no scout that we have known has come by his HS games. Did see one scout, but scouting kid on opposing team. Son's summer team teammate, a higher ranking player has had home visits. I would say if they ask to visit home, they are serious. The questionnaires are no more important than the college ones. The bottom line is, if they don't come talk to you, you aren't going in the draft. I'm sure some folks out there may say otherwise, maybe their son's experience was different. We won't be sitting by the phone come draft day.

I was talking to a father of one the pitchers being looked at by scouts. With every pitch the guns went up and then pencils went to the notebooks sitting next to them on the bleachers. With this constant distraction I moved to a different view of the game...down the 1st base line.
There was a older man sitting all alone with a tattered highschool baseball cap on that had a "V" on it. No sign that he worked for any organization on his jacket, hat or toting a speed gun in sight. We struck up a conversation about the scouts sitting in the stands. He chuckled about the young guys with all their paperwork in tow...then after a long interesting conversation about the economy, weather, and hunting --I asked him if he had a kid on the team...he said no, then hesitantly he said--- that he was a scout for the Colorado Rockies. I was shocked by this comment. I asked why he didn't have a gun...he said to me...I know what 90 looks like and what 95 looks like. He told me that he never wears anything that you could pick him out of a crowd that he was a scout to make sure parents don't track him down to ask any questions about Jr.---that he wants the players to NOT know that he is there so he gets a true evaluation of what kind of player and teammate the young man he is looking at truly is. Humans have a tendency to over perform when being watched. He said that he doesn't hand out anything until he is sure...that his job depends on it. I was impressed by his professionalism, and years of experience. He then asked if I had a kid on the team...I nodded our son's direction...and he smiled and said "we love his bat, and he has a live arm and soft hands" and perfect body type...We would just like to see him to get a hair faster. I smiled back at the man and did what every supportive parent should do ---I shut up----...and then stopped at Scheel's and bought a stop watch on the way home from the game :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Sanders:
There was a older man sitting all alone with a tattered highschool baseball cap on that had a "V" on it. No sign that he worked for any organization on his jacket, hat or toting a speed gun in sight. We struck up a conversation about the scouts sitting in the stands. He chuckled about the young guys with all their paperwork in tow...then after a long interesting conversation about the economy, weather, and hunting --I asked him if he had a kid on the team...he said no, then hesitantly he said--- that he was a scout for the Colorado Rockies. I was shocked by this comment. I asked why he didn't have a gun...he said to me...I know what 90 looks like and what 95 looks like. He told me that he never wears anything that you could pick him out of a crowd that he was a scout to make sure parents don't track him down to ask any questions about Jr.---that he wants the players to NOT know that he is there so he gets a true evaluation of what kind of player and teammate the young man he is looking at truly is. Humans have a tendency to over perform when being watched. He said that he doesn't hand out anything until he is sure...that his job depends on it. I was impressed by his professionalism, and years of experience. He then asked if I had a kid on the team...I nodded our son's direction...and he smiled and said "we love his bat, and he has a live arm and soft hands" and perfect body type...We would just like to see him to get a hair faster. I smiled back at the man and did what every supportive parent should do ---I shut up----...and then stopped at Scheel's and bought a stop watch on the way home from the game :-)

Bob

In my experience, there is not much normal or predictable here....it clearly depends on the scout....

You do have the very identifiable scouts and many like the one you spoke with....

Over the years, Ive seen the gamut of scouting types and scouting patterns...I have seen scouts come very early...during pregame warmups and leave early.....I have seen scouts in the parking lot as I was getting dressed and only after the game starts do they come to the stands.....

I've seen scouts come and go without speaking to a soul. I've seen scouts that without a radar gun, would not be easily identifed as anymore than an average fan. No big league club hat or shirt.........

Glad you had a good interaction.....

piaa_ump, I heard scouts like to talk to umpires about the prospects, how they handle themselves. They get a lot of information on whos hot, etc. Has this happened to you?

quote:

Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:
piaa_ump, I heard scouts like to talk to umpires about the prospects, how they handle themselves. They get a lot of information on whos hot, etc. Has this happened to you?

Absolutely Yes.....and I just posted this on the recruiting thread the other day.....

For me and from my experience (20+ years)....the answer is yes....I am not a scout, but I have been approached by scouts and some college coaches many times, both before and after games, to discuss aspects of a players game.....

Now that my son is a College coach, I routinely pass on names of players whom I feel would help his program...

Piaa_ump, I found your post after I posted that question. Thank you.

we had a guy fill one out at 12 haha... #1 prospect in an organization