I have read a few threads on here about College Summer Leagues, and I was wondering if this was where many baseball players are scouted for pro ball? I assume that kids starting at major D1 schools get plenty of looks, but is this where pros look at younger players not yet starting, or those in non-major conferences? What leagues currently attract top talent, and how does one get into league?
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Speaking as a father of a D3 player, being seen in one of these leagues are essential. It shows that the kids stuff, whether it be pitching or hitting works against Prospects. So I suppose it would be the same for other divisions.
As far as top talent, the king is the Cape Cod league. it gets more of the pro prospects than anybody. There are several sites that rank the leagues, and leagues move up or down. Make sure you understand the sites ranking criteria.
Your sons Coach will probably get him set up with a league. I believe that most coaches will try and place a player in a league were he can get playing time. Many times the player does not get a choice, sometimes the coach may give him several options of leagues and then find him a team based on that info.
There are several leagues that get a small stipend form MLB. These teams are part of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball. My feeling though is that scouts do not just go to games hoping to see someone. I believe they will show up at games to look at a particular player. Of coarse I am not a scout and know very little about it so I am probably wrong.
TO get information the best way is to talk to players who have played in a league. Or you could start with a list of leagues and spend a lot of time reading, that's what I did. I started out with leagues I knew my sons coach sent kids to and started there. Then I started with the list form Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...mer_baseball_leagues
I spend my research time now actually trying to find smaller local leagues around the country. But that is because that is were a lot of D3 players start out, and that interests me.
Good Luck.
College players at all levels get scouted both during their regular season and while playing in a summer league. The summer leagues tend to play with wood bats; so, they're generally viewed as giving a somewhat truer picture of a hitter's potential.
A well developed network exists between summer league organizers and college coaches; so, it's not unusual for college coaches to have some influence in where their players go after the regular college season.
While many summer placements get made during the fall, it's not unusual for rosters to fluctuate all the way up until the beginning of the summer season. Factors such as health, grades, and professional draft plans invariably affect players' availability. As they do, roster spots open and are filled.
There are plenty of high quality summer leagues throughout the country. The Cape Cod Baseball League tends to have the highest percentage of its players drafted; but, a player's going to get scouted in virtually any summer league.
My advice to a player who's entering his freshman season of college ball would be to talk with his coaches now about where it might make sense for him to play next summer.
(Edit: Apologies to BishopLeftiesDad, as he and I seemed to be typing our responses simultaneously. I like his reply better than mine!)
Aleebaba,
Not sure if you read this post but it is very helpfull, A lot of good information and @Hokieone does a great service to everybody interested in Summer ball.
