Scout contact

Ask the college coach. They all know each other, and congratulations.

I would suspect your son received this call on his cell, so he probably has the number.
There is no reason that you should be afaid to call the scout yourself and check him out. Scouts are just people too, most are more than willing answer any questions you may have about the process. Once you are satisfied with his legitimacy, ask for his e-mail, and don't be afraid to communicate with him that way. It certainly doesn't hurt to give out his HS schedule, it is public information - the scout could get the schedule on his own from your high school website. He probably just wanted to make contact. I'd say it is pretty exciting. Congrats!

Probably someone on this board will PM you about this.

You read my mind heart. I too thought about calling him.

I may also have my son ask him when he calls back where he saw him play, what he thought, etc.

eric robinson scouted for the nationals in 2007

quote:

Originally posted by YoungGunDad:
You read my mind heart. I too thought about calling him.

I may also have my son ask him when he calls back where he saw him play, what he thought, etc.

Great news! I am not so sure I would ask the above questions. Obviously he heard about your son's abilities or he wouldn't be asking about his schedule to come see him play. When he comes to see your son he can ask for his business card.

JMO, but sometimes it's just better not to ask a whole lot of questions until you need to.

Call the scouting deptment of the Nationals and tell them you want to verify that he is infact their scout. If he is a bird dog they may not know who he is, but then he should have explained he works for a certain scout

First of all DONT CALL The Nationals scouting department, if they want to see you they will. The Nationals scout covers most of the southeast.They have about 20 MLB scouts to cover the whole USA He pretty much will only see top ten round picks, unless you are throwing 94-95 mph dont expect them to come see you play.

YoungGunDad...Don't call the National's Scouting Department. Just send the schedule. If he comes to see your son that would be good. If he doesn't don't worry about it. I could understand if your son had been asked to do something illegal or outrageous. Send the schedule and hope he comes. Good luck to your son.

I agree with not calling. Send the schedule.
If he comes and meets with your son, he should give his card.
Associate scout on the card means he is scouting for them but not a paid scout. He may be working with an area scout. He may be trying to identify his own prospects. his position gives you an idea of the situation.

JMO.

Don't get carried away with this, just enjoy the moment and whatever comes from it or doesn't.

TPM, we definitely are enjoying the moment of all this that baseball as brought our way. This morning I simply told son that if he sees scouts at the ball field this spring to do what he always does..and that is...give it your all.

After much thought about this and some of your opinions I too decided not to call. If it happens, it happens.

Thanks everyone.

I don't see the big deal in calling the scouting dept.If you are concerned that this guy might not be who he says he is.
If you call you will get the receptionist who can verify if the gentleman is a scout... you don't even have to leave your name.... wow ...They are a business why would they mind if your checking to see if the person saying he is representing the Nationals is truly employed by them.

If it makes things any easier, email or PM us with his name and we will tell you if he is employed by a Major League team as a scout. It is possible we wouldn't know if he were an associate (birddog), but if he is, he should be able to tell your son who he's working for, without thinking for a second.

I do understand your concern, there are thousands of people around the country claiming they work for Major League teams. In fact there are many we've found out about who claim they work for Perfect Game. I like it when someone calls to ask if "so and so" works for us.

First of all Eric Robinson is the MLB scout that covers Georgia you dont need to call the Nationals to confirm it, it is in Baseball America directory.



http://www.examiner.com/a-755969~Draft_week__Sleepless_...ed_with_anxiety.html Draft week: Sleepless nights filled with anxiety

I am sure any person who calls the front of office to confirm they work for the team can be certain that MLB scout will hear about it and very likley not come to see that player in question.

Not sure why anyone would claim they work for Perfect Game or a MLB team that does not. I am sure people do, but then again parents and players lie about their abilities all the time too.

quote:

I am sure any person who calls the front of office to confirm they work for the team can be certain that MLB scout will hear about it and very likley not come to see that player in question.

Why?

I think some of these comments are really strange.
MLB scouts are not some kind mysterious beings that are never to be approached or talked to. Like I said before, they are just people in the end.
I asked an Area Scout about this very question. He had no problem with a parent or player calling him with an initial question, or he wouldn't give out his cell number. If he calls you, he said he will always return the call.
Of course there will always be people to cross the line and want to promote when they should just listen, but that is human nature.
Of course if you don't need to make the call, don't.
But, if you need to make the call to legitimitize the guy- do it.

Frank is definitely on point with this one ... this appears to be a bit of drama ... excitement is understood but it is best to pick up the phone, call the scout and hear what he has to say.

YoungGunDad, you should order the new Baseball America directory. However, even if an associate scout called so what .. he could be doing some background work for the Area Scout he works for.

Good Luck!!

Welcome to HSBBW, BMG!!

quote:

When it comes to all this recruiting and scouting I will admit that we are very vulnerable and naive to a fault. We are still on cloud 9 from early signing this fall so this call has took us by surprise.

YGD,
Send the schedule. Let it happen and don't get too caught up in the process. If you do get too caught up trying to figure it out will drive you nuts!! Like your son, my son had already signed with a D-1 and we were waiting for his senior year of high school season and were anticipating some scout activity during the season. I remember his first day of high school baseball PRACTICE in 2002. I attended most of the practices with another parent and this opening day was no exception. We noticed a group of people meeting in a corner of the school parking lot with what appeared to be briefcases and such. I assumed there was some type of business meeting in the school. I saw the high school coach (a teacher) and asked what the big meeting in the school was about. He said "Those are scouts". It still hadn't sunk in. I asked: "What are they doing here?" --- Now I'm thinking there must be some kind of athletic meeting. The coach told me they were here to see my son. My son had no calls or "solid" contact from scouts up to that point. Sure we had talked to numerous bird dog scouts that showed up at all baseball games around Memphis but they were what I would call bird dog/baseball fans that had local ties. It's hard to describe how overwhelmed I felt when 12 "real" MLB scouts came up and commandeered the back of the back stop. Whether you know the ins and outs of scouting or whether you have the ability to identify every person looking or talking to your son makes no difference. The process is controlled by the scouting profession and your son's ability on the field. You become more or less just an observer asking yourself (and other members of the HSBBW) ---- "What's going on?"
Fungo

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Martin:

Not sure why anyone would claim they work for Perfect Game or a MLB team that does not. I am sure people do, but then again parents and players lie about their abilities all the time too.

Who are these people telling lies to?

Wouldn't the correct statement be "parents and players lie to other parents and players about their abilities" ??

Parents and coaches lie and exaggerate about their kid all the time to other parents, players and coaches. You cant lie on the field.How does these stories benefit the player, is another parent gonna offer your kid a scholarship, HMMM no.

Good example a person who runs a baseball school and former pro player calls and says i have a player who runs 6.5 60 yard, great arm and great hitter. So is worked out, 7.1 runner, 78 mph arm and slow bat. You think anyone will listen to the guy that runs the baseball school again. Well no, he has no credibility now.

A few years back, a HS coach contacted a bunch of MLB scouts and said I have a player throwing 93mph, 8 MLB scouts show up, the pitcher was throwing 83-85 mph, every MLB scout left before the 1st inning was over and upset they had wasted their time.

This discussion is getting silly.

First, to avoid all of this, we never gave out son's cell phone number, on every form he filled out or showcase, tournie form our number went on, not his. If a scout called asking for his schedule or to speak with him, I would never think to ask "where did you get our number, what level scout are you, why do you like my son", unless he offered that information. I would imagine the answers would include but not limited to, "I got your number from your son's HS coach, I got your number from the phone book or I got your number from a showcase bio, I know the coach you signed with", a no brainer really. If he showed up, he showed up, if he came to our house he came to our house. That was it. No big mystery, obviously he had interest and this time of year, until HS ball begins, that's just what it is.

This is sort of like the recruiting process, a scout can show up at every game and you may never see or hear from it again.

That's why it's important to just take in the moment for what it is and not question every call or visit (what does it mean).

If you can get past this, it makes it a whole lot more enjoyable.

If you want to call, go ahead and make the call, it's not going to stop a scout from coming.

As far as making the call, some parents take it as an open invitation to ask questions that really aren't necessary at this time.

JMO.

quote:

quote:
I am sure any person who calls the front of office to confirm they work for the team can be certain that MLB scout will hear about it and very likley not come to see that player in question.

Why? Either the player is scouted or he isn't. It's about ability and value, not whether someone wants to check scouting credentials in the interest of their son.

Any scout who would not come see a player because that player's parents called to check credentials... shouldn't be employed as a scout.

What if the player is a potential first rounder? 29 clubs scout him, but one scout doesn't because his parents checked credentials? Why would it bother a legitimate scout for someone to check and find out he is legitimate?

If your a legitmate scout employed by a MLB club and you decide yo NOT go see a legitimate prospect in your area because of any reason... You won't be working for very long!

What's the big deal?

Talk to the guy. Meet with him if he wants. What have you got to lose?

I haven't experienced any counterfeit scouts. I guess if they come to your house, you can make sure they don't go near the fine silver or whatever.

Worst case scenario, you have a phone call or a meeting that doesn't amount to anything. You can still learn from even that experience.

I think it's safe to assume he's legit and have the discussion. I would think problems would arise so rarely that it's not really worth considering.

As long as you're not passing out SSN's or other identity-theft-enabling info, I think we're getting a bit paranoid. It sounds like we're dealing with a talented player (D-1 early sign at least), so why shouldn't he expect scouts to be contacting him during his senior year?

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Martin:
The big question is the player mention really a pro prospect?

Isn't that why scouts come out to see a player, to determine that, no matter which round the player may get drafted?

The big question is the player mention really a pro prospect?
He threw Fastball 74 mph Curve 62 mph

60 YD:7.89 seconds ARM: 76 MPH
at the Georgia Dugout Club Showcase in 2007

It is amazing how much people give advice on player without knowing anything about the player in question.

The player in question was at PG Tournaments this past summer, I am sure PG can tell you how he did.

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Martin:
The big question is the player mention really a pro prospect?
He threw Fastball 74 mph Curve 62 mph

60 YD:7.89 seconds ARM: 76 MPH
at the Georgia Dugout Club Showcase in 2007

It is amazing how much people give advice on player without knowing anything about the player in question.

The player in question was at PG Tournaments this past summer, I am sure PG can tell you how he did.

So are you refering to YGD's son and if so, who are you to decide who gets to watch who and why?

A bunch of Frat Guys called Orel Hershiser and told him he was picked in the 1st round on draft day. Orel totally fell for it, actually drafted 17 th round.

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Martin:
A bunch of Frat Guys called Orel Hershiser and told him he was picked in the 1st round on draft day. Orel totally fell for it, actually drafted 17 th round.

I am thinking that you avoided my question.

What has this got to do with the original post?

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Martin:
The big question is the player mention really a pro prospect?
He threw Fastball 74 mph Curve 62 mph

60 YD:7.89 seconds ARM: 76 MPH
at the Georgia Dugout Club Showcase in 2007

It is amazing how much people give advice on player without knowing anything about the player in question.

The player in question was at PG Tournaments this past summer, I am sure PG can tell you how he did.

OK, first of all I don't know who you're talking about, but if it were someone getting contacted by a person claiming he worked for a MLB club, I think there is reason to be skeptical.

Most of the very best draft prospects don't have to worry about these things. By this time in their life they and their family pretty much know all the scouts in their area. I could give a lot of "war stories" that could give many different examples of why someone would falsly claim they represent a MLB club or even Perfect Game. I know because it is done all over the country year around. Without going into specifics, these false representations are business related and motivated by profit. Some involving sports agencies, some involving other services, and a few just to feel or act like a big shot. It has even happened right here on the HSBBW that people have represented thenselves as something they are not.

Why would they do this? That's the big question that needs to be answered. Usually it is harmless, but sometimes it can be a problem.

One real quick erxample of how even high level prospects can be affected at times...

There was an outstanding talent in SC that nearly everyopne who follows amateur baseball knows about. His dad helped coach the high profile summer team this kid played for. His dad had lots of baseball experience, but was a bit confused about the draft process for some reason. They talked to lots of people giving out information. We ranked the kid at the very top of our rankings and he went undrafted out of high school. People started telling us we were stupid... What's new! After the draft during the summer this player was throwing 96 off the mound, hitting bombs, and I personally said he was the best catching prospect since Joe Mauer. Mauer was the first pick of the draft a few years earlier. I heard from a scouting director that the kid was pretty much unsignable due to a certain person representing him. That was the word traveling around baseball. You would think more homework was done, but for some reason it wasn't. Come to find out the reasons he was considered unsignable were not true at all. He was the best player on the summer circuit that year and at least one club offered him 6 figures to sign as a FA. He went to GA Tech instead and ended up being drafted and signed for the second largest bonus in draft history... $6,000,000!

You could say all worked out for the best, but what had he blown his arm or something? No matter how it worked out it goes to show it is important knowing who your talking to and what is being said. It can happen with legitimate people sometimes, so one can only imagine what the people who are misrepresenting themselves might be willing to do.

Not trying to alarm people, but there's nothing wrong with checking credentials. Especially if that part of the process is something new. There really are some bad apples running around out there.

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Martin:
The big question is the player mention really a pro prospect?
He threw Fastball 74 mph Curve 62 mph

60 YD:7.89 seconds ARM: 76 MPH
at the Georgia Dugout Club Showcase in 2007

It is amazing how much people give advice on player without knowing anything about the player in question.

The player in question was at PG Tournaments this past summer, I am sure PG can tell you how he did.

Frank, I'm not really sure how to respond to this. This isn't the question that was initially asked by me in the beginning. What does this have to do with the price of eggs in China? Yes, son had a very bad outing at the showcase last summer due to a bad elbow and sore back. Hindsight afterwards, he realized he shouldn't have went. It happens. The more important thing about all this is that he was seen by a college and signed early. Isn't that what its all about? This particular person who called my son supposively saw him pitch last summer as a 17yr old in the WWBA 18U championships last summer against a very, very talented (18U)Knoxville Yard team. We faced a pitcher that we heard had already signed throwing 93-94 all game long! Not many, if one, of our boys had ever seen that speed all summer. My son was the starting pitcher and threw on avg. 85mph with a nasty hook that day. The final score: 1-1. That tie essentially knocked the Yard out of the running. There were a ton of college & mlb scouts there that day to I'm sure watch many of these 18U Yard boys perform. In 5 innings, they only got 1 hit off of him.

Personally, I don't think my son is a MLB prospect at all. But I'm a parent and have no clue as to what they look for. That's their job, not mine. He has gotten a little faster with some very good weightlifting and training this fall but in my opinion, still not a MLB prospect. But that's ok. We're just excited that he gets to play at the next level.

All I was trying to accomplish with this post was to establish some legitimacy about this person who called my son. That's it. I really don't care at this conjecture if my son is MLB material or not. That's for the scouts, if any come, to evaluate.

YGD,
You asked a legit question and got some good responses.

Ignore it.

Last spring, my son got a phone call from an 18u team in the midwest asking him to come play for them. The coach said that a scout for the Braves had seen our son and highly recommended him. The coach said based on this scout's report, he'd like to invite our son to play for him sight unseen. And vice versa: we would not be able to meet the coach either before the summer league started. I was a bit curious and concerned. So, I called the Atlanta Braves front office and asked them if this scout was in fact working for them. He was and the woman on the phone enthusiastically supported him. It all worked out. Son had a great summer, etc. Never found out nor did I ask where the scout saw my son. But, frankly, I wouldn't hesitate at all to verify anyone who is asking or recommending my son for anything..(he's still my child, after all).up to and including major league baseball scouts!

Congratulations on your sons success


Take all the drama out of it and just call ask for his SS# and do a background check and talk some baseball


Respectfully yours,

drill

for PG The SC player you mentioned

Matt Wieters
http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wieters_matt00.html

Everyone knew about him, he was not drafted not because he lacked talent he just told eveyone he wanted to go to college no matter what and expected to get more money in the future. This is not unsual for Scott Boras clients.And yes MLB scouts called him and offered to draft him, but his asking price was too high, so teams passed.

I knew this one players mom all excited heard from his teammates her kid was throwing high 80's, travel coach said he was throwing 72-74mph. The player and mom totally bought he was throwing upper 80's.

His teammates got a good laugh at his expense, when they told him how fast he was realy throwing.

quote:

Everyone knew about him, he was not drafted not because he lacked talent he just told eveyone he wanted to go to college no matter what and expected to get more money in the future.

Being very close to this situation, the only true part of that is "not because he lacked talent".

Andrew Miller had a high price tag coming out of high school and was even more committed to college, yet he was picked in the 3rd rd that year. (people do change their mind some times)

Wieters went undrafted! Yet at least one club made a token offer in the late summer. Truth is he wasn't anywhere near as well known before the draft as he became after the draft that year.

We sat with a scouting director in Marietta that year. He knew who Wieters was, but was shocked by the ability he was seeing. At that point the Yankees were probably the only team that would have paid what it took and they didn't do it. They must not have seen what we did.

Georgia Tech knew what they were getting and I'm sure they sweated it out through all of this.

BTW, his dad not only helped coach him, he also was a former outstanding baseball player who was drafted early. Later his dad came to understand there were a lot of false rumors that were flying around.

Matt wasn't a "highest profile" guy for a long time before the draft, so those rumors weren't checked out as thoroughly as had he been a higher profile type. He went undrafted as perhaps the top high school talent in the country. That doesn't happen very often to someone "well known" as one of the very top guys. Even if they are strongly committed to college, some club usually uses a later pick on those types.

Sometimes what people read is not the actual story.

FRANK?ANDY


Are you saying Weiters was a Boras client before he entered Georgia Tech ?

High School: A four-year letterwinner for coach John Chalus at Stratford High School as a catcher, pitcher and first baseman ... Rated as the No. 1 prospect in South Carolina and No. 60 in the nation ... An all-America, all-state and all-region selection in 2004 ... Hit .407 with seven home runs and 34 RBI as a senior ... Ranks in Stratford's career top 10 in RBI, walks, hits and total bases ... On the mound, went 5-2 with a 2.76 ERA, recording 72 strikeouts in 51 innings.

Summer 2004: Participated in the All-American Baseball Game on June 7 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M. as well as the SC/NC Challenge game on June 12 at Conway, S.C....Played for Carolina Diamond Devils claiming co-MVP honors at the 18-and-under Perfect Game/Wood World Bat Association Summer Championship during mid-July in Marietta after hitting .400 (10-for-25) while also recording two saves and showing a 94-mph fastball.


Matt Wieters, a 6-4, 205-pound switch hitting catcher, is rated the No. 1 prospect in South Carolina and the No. 60 prospect in the nation. A four-year letterwinner at Stratford High School, he helped lead his team to the region championship in each of the last three seasons. Wieters hit .380 as a junior and .387 as a sophomore, and he ranks in his school's all-time top 10 in career RBI.


ATLANTA (Nov. 17, 2003) - Eleven high school seniors, including nine of the top 115 prospects in the nation according to Perfect Game USA, have signed National Letters of Intent to play baseball at Georgia Tech next year, head coach Danny Hall announced.
"We were looking long and hard for a catcher, and Matt Wieters is a guy that we really locked on to," said Hall. "He is great behind the plate, and he is a switch hitter who can swing the bat. Lately he has been going 90-plus on the mound. I know that he is ranked highly as a catcher, but a lot of people have great interest in him as a pitcher. But again, he is a great student and we feel very strong that he is committed to coming to school."



Bailey heads 2004 All-USA high school baseball team
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/baseball/2004-06-29-all-usa_x.htm
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER'S" PRE-SEASON H.S. ALL-AMERICAN BASEBALL TEAMS(Friday, Jan. 23, 2004
http://www.baseballnews.com/allamericans/archives/2004/...anspreseason2004.htm

ANDY

Answer the question Imposed to you---you made a statement

Sorry TR busy watching Die Hard 3.