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Recruiter Evaluations

L LovetheGame210+ posts
I have a son who graduates in 2011. He is 6'2", 170 lbs RHP has an 85 mph fastball and incredible off speed stuff. He plays on a great summer team with good exposure and has done several showcase events. We are not getting any D1 looks or activity and I am told it is because he cant throw 90. We are a little frustrated,does anyone have any comments or suggestions? Thanks.
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jemazjemaz1,000+ posts
The more I am around this, the more I believe that velocity is a key ingredient to get pitchers noticed. If he could get up to 87-88 it would make a big difference, I bet. Since I have I never seen your son play, I have no idea if this would be difficult, but it doesn't seem like much for a kid that size. At his age, it is likely to happen naturally.
BOFBOF10,000+ posts
Sound like he is right in there with his velocity - I would not worry. Mine is also a 2011 and is at 82-84. We just got back from the USA Nationals 16U and the USA guys I talked to said they were looking for "plus arms" usually about 88 maybe 87. So he is just a notch below the elite, literally the top 36 kids in the country. We saw lots of kids at 80-85 and a handful above this, so he is at the upper range.

Identify his top 15 keep updating them, get on a fall scout team and work up an active summer next year and he should be on his way.
Last edited by BOF
GP go pirates100+ posts
we have a 2010 on our team that was at 84-85 last summer. he has added a couple of mph and is at 86-88 this summer and is getting a lot of looks. i think if he can add a couple of mph and really work on hitting his spots over the next year you see a big difference in how many guns show up. the key is hitting his spots. even at 86-88 you aren't throwing it by guys anymore. good luck!
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
Lovethegame, I will say this before TR says it.

Your son is only a 2011 player. Why sweat it now? He hasn't finished growing and has plenty more time to fill out and mature. It's not important right now how fast he throws. You have to take any pressure he may be feeling about this away so he can begin to have fun and relax. If he was a 2009 grad, I'd say he still has a chance to play ball. Lot's of D3 schools would chomp at the chance to have a kid throwing 85 on the bump.

It's every parents dream for their kid to play D1. I hate to burst your bubble but the odds are against him. Unless he is that talented, then continue on. I'm just trying to say be realistic. I swallowed hard when I finally realized that younggunson was NOT D1 material. I then helped him focus on the other levels of college baseball and it made it much more exciting for him, and he tried even harder.

For a 2011 grad he has great size and potential. Help him focus on working to get stronger, not more velocity. I promise it will come.

Good luck.
B brod100+ posts
Lovethegame -

How do you know you're not getting D1 looks? No D1 coaches, no emails, no letters? They will notice your son, but it's all about projection and the recruiting schedule. NEXT year he will be under a microscope if he continues to develop. Spend the offseason in a conditioning program to build up his core, and lay off the Fall Ball. A great Junior year is the key to recruiting. RHP's don't have to throw 90 to get recruited, but above 85 with good grades and a reasonable SAT score and he will get noticed like you want.
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
FYI,

Pro Scouts are most interested in projection. DI schools are most interested in what you have NOW. They can't afford to wait 3 or 4 years for a player to develop. However, there are many programs that are better at developing talent than others. People should be more observant regarding the best schools for developing a player/pitcher.

While there might be some DI schools that show interest in mid 80s pitchers, this is the exception not the rule. There are thousands of high school pitchers who throw mid 80s. There are a couple hundred that throw 90. Typically the high 80s and 90+ guys create the very most recruiting interest. This holds true in every part of the country. Once most all of the high 80 to 90+ guys are gone, the mid 80s pitchers are considered, if there is still a need for pitching.

Not trying to burst any bubbles, just think the facts might help people understand a bit better and make better decisions. It doesn't mean mid 80s pitchers have no chance. It means they have to be extra special and show it consistently to the right people. That in itself can be very difficult.

Also, I'm referring to the upper tier of DI for the most part. And I'm not talking about what they throw on the TV radar gun. Many pitchers who have shown the ability to throw 90 or better, end up pitching 85 to 88. Not many, especially RHPs, are given a DI scholarship because they showed mid 80s velocity in high school.

All that said... Anything is possible! And kids throwing mid 80s as high school underclassmen will create some interest. Possibly, that is what brod means when referring to projection. You definitely have to project underclassmen. Most of them get better. The 2011 throwing mid 80s might be throwing 90+ by his senior year. It happens for some and not for many others!
Last edited by PGStaff
observer44observer441,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by PGStaff:

Pro Scouts are most interested in projection. DI schools are most interested in what you have NOW. They can't afford to wait 3 or 4 years for a player to develop. However, there are many programs that are better at developing talent than others. People should be more observant regarding the best schools for developing a player/pitcher.

While there might be some DI schools that show interest in mid 80s pitchers, this is the exception not the rule. There are thousands of high school pitchers who throw mid 80s. There are a couple hundred that throw 90. Typically the high 80s and 90+ guys create the very most recruiting interest. This holds true in every part of the country. Once most all of the high 80 to 90+ guys are gone, the mid 80s pitchers are considered, if there is still a need for pitching.

Not trying to burst any bubbles, just think the facts might help people understand a bit better and make better decisions. It doesn't mean mid 80s pitchers have no chance. It means they have to be extra special and show it consistently to the right people. That in itself can be very difficult.

Also, I'm referring to the upper tier of DI for the most part. And I'm not talking about what they throw on the TV radar gun. Many pitchers who have shown the ability to throw 90 or better, end up pitching 85 to 88. Not many, especially RHPs, are given a DI scholarship because they showed mid 80s velocity in high school.

All that said... Anything is possible! And kids throwing mid 80s as high school underclassmen will create some interest. Possibly, that is what brod means when referring to projection. You definitely have to project underclassmen. Most of them get better. The 2011 throwing mid 80s might be throwing 90+ by his senior year. It happens for some and not for many others!


This is by far the most honest, rational, reality based explaination I've seen. Gives the reality, the challenges, the opportunities and the hope.

Thanks PG, this is great stuff/information.

Cool 44
.
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
Jemaz and PG are right. The radar gun gets you noticed. There are exceptions to every rule, although the widely held Gred Maddux Exception is a myth...he was throwing 90 out of HS. A good example of exception is Josh Spence from ASU, taken in the third round. He works 77-83 and tops at 85. The exception gives hope to other soft tossers, but they are not the rule.

Although you hate to think of shoulder surgery as a good thing, the one positive that did come from it, was that my son learned he could be incredibly effective in college working 83-86, even though he can light it up over 90.

When my son was going into his junior year, he topped at 85, his senior year he touched 94, so there can be great strides in short amounts of time as these boys get their mans body.

Relax, play ball, have fun. If he works hard and dedicates himself, it'll seek it's own level.

Good luck to you and your son.
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