Scout Bureau

My son was invitied to attend a 2-day workout sponsored by the Texas Scout Association at Minute Maid Park last summer. He's also been exposed to scouts via PG showcases & select team coaches holding workouts the last couple years.
So, to answer your question, yes.

A player's name has to be registered with the MLB Commissioners office in order for that player to be drafted. Any team can submit his name. A player does not register himself

Another scouting bureau question (or two)...
1. I know the MLB scout is providing info to all MLB teams, but how is it determined which prospects to assemble files about? Does the MLB scouting bureau get feedback from the teams and decide who to follow based on which players are requested by teams?
2. Can the MLB scout provide any info back to us regarding the individual teams and their level of interest? We have a home visit coming up with a MLB scout and we're not sure what to expect.
We're growing more confused as time goes on. I know whatever happens will happen and we're trying to be patient. I guess we're just excited!
Any help about the above questions would be appreciated.

KCBaseball,

Not to speak for the Bureau, but they work closely with the scouting community as a whole. It’s similar to each clubs individual scouting department, but they do a lot of the work for all the clubs to share. They are a very valuable part of the entire process. They use any information they can get a hold of to help them determine where to go and who to see. They also do a lot of testing, questioning, and filming of top prospects.

Interesting note: Over 400 of www.pgcrosschecker.com recent top 1,000 and nearly all the top 200 have Scouting Bureau Grades. Nearly every player that attended last year’s PG National Showcase in Turner Field is listed by the Bureau, as well.

There is a good chance the MLB scout coming to visit will ask the following question.
“What round do you need to go in, in order for you to sign”. Maybe not those exact words, but in most cases, at this time of the year, that is information they need to know. I won’t tell you and can’t tell you, how to answer that question. Just remember this… Be honest either way. If your son won’t sign for less than first round money, tell them. If your son wants to sign no matter what the offer, tell them.

Sometimes people out smart themselves by thinking beyond the lines. For example, I know a case (not the only one) where a dad told a scout his son will go to college unless he gets first round money. Truth was the son wanted to play pro ball right away and his dad wanted that too. End result… Word got out about the first round money demand and teams thought he was more of a 3rd-5th round guy. He went in the 32nd round and signed for 10th round money. The truth could have gotten him selected earlier than the 5th round based on easy signability. The truth could have moved him up higher than what clubs thought originally. The fib moved him down and cost him quite a bit of money.

To answer your final question… The interest will come from the individual clubs. However, the more you see of your Bureau guy, the better chance that there's a lot of interest.

Best of luck

PG-
I am pretty familiar with the timelines and rules for college recruiting....but when do MLB scouts (and the bureau for that matter) really start looking at players?
SR in HS or is it earlier than that?

jb,

They are always looking for players, but normally they start grading some players their Junior Year. From the upcoming June Draft until the 07 draft they will be concentrating on the 07 draft class for the most part.

At our National showcase in Atlanta last June, right after the 05 draft, I believe their were at least 3 MLB Bureau scouts in attendance. They don't take a break just because the draft ended.

Remember, they are covering both high school and college players from coast to coast, Canada and Puerto Rico.

MLBSB also covers every professional Minor League by doing team reports which is in-depth and detailed and makes projections and grades out every player and then sends these reports to all clubs in Major League Baseball. Does a very fine job, may I add , very reliable and unbias reporting done by bureau scouts who all have considerable experience.peace,Shep knows

NO, you do not have to register with the scouting bureau to be drafted. As a mater of fact there are many many players who get drafted every year that the scouting bureau never see's or turns in.

The MLSB is an extension of ALL 30 teams and is PAID for by all 30 ML Teams. The area scout for each team is the person responsible for a player being drafted. The area scout turns in a prospect report on a player and the scouting department administrator then sends a request for a draft number for each player that is turned in by his 15-20 area scouts that cover the USA.

Also, all 30 teams has a pro scouting staff that reports on EVERY minor league player in baseball. The area scouts support that pro scouting staff after the draft by covering minor league games during June and July before the trade deadline on July 31 of each year.