Is there a big difference in scout teams? I know all of them go to Jupiter, but can some teams be watered down on talent? I know where I'm from that in Oct every senior is looking to get on a team just to play in Jupiter . I also have heard that's it a Honor to play on a scout team.
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Scout teams are usually fantastic bargains.
They are located throughout the US. No, all of them aren't going to Jupiter. My son's scout team played JCs and other scout teams and played once a season in Arizona (based in Southern Cal) - for the 80$ fee, all games and a cool t-shirt were furnished. Some games had umps, others didn't. They never kept score and played and played and played - some games went well over 20 innings.
i can't speak to teams outside our area, but these teams are collections of the best kids around. Over 300 tried out for his and roughly 50 made it - well over half his team was drafted out of HS and virtually all who weren't injured in college also got a pro chance.
His scout team (and most others) are avenues for exposure - some are part of a larger travel organization (those may have the funds to travel); his was a stand alone and was run by the local area scouts of the parent club augmented by a few specialized coaches (e.g., batting and pitching). It was his only "travel team" during recruiting and only played for 8 weeks in the fall. Best bang for the buck ever spent.
Scout teams are a great option. My son played for four scout teams that were sponsored on some level or another by a major league organization- over the last couple of years. As goose says above- the price is right. Kids get to know the scouts who are coaching the teams. For my son, they were invite- no tryouts- other than the whole area code and east coast pro tryout process. the talent on the teams was really good- but the focus was not as much on winning as it was getting the reps for each an every kid. There was no bunting, kids had the green light to steal, etc. Pitchers typically pitched two innings or so. The goal was not to win a tournament necessarily, and as such, his team that went to Jupiter didn't do all that well. So if your goal is to go to Jupiter and win, I wouldn't go to a scout team. If your goal is to go and play a lot, with other great talent, be exposed to pro scouts and learn from them in the dugout- it's a great option. And as a bonus, the price is right and you get a cool hat and tshirt or two from a pro team!
Like all of TB scout teams can be all over the place.
Last year my son was asked to play with a team being put together to go to Jupiter. At the last minute they asked him to PO. He told them no and ended up hooking up with a scout team that was also supposed to go to Jupiter. They ended up being not very good. In fact they pitched a kid one weekend (who was supposedly a DII commit) that was throwing 60-62 mph. Lost a lot of games, ended up disbanding before Jupiter.
On the other hand the underclass team of the same org won Ft Meyers.
There are definitely different types of scout teams. The one my son played for was run by the guy who heads up Latin America scouting for an MLB org.
It was kind of a weird team. Half of the players were from parts of Florida. The other half changed every few weeks. Mostly they were pro prospects up from academies in the caribbean and South America. The best of those players would end up signing pro contracts and be gone in a couple weeks. Others would be around for a while and then head back home.
Almost none of them spoke english, and my son speaks very limited spanish, so it was hard to really get all of the details on how they ended up with the team. I think there is an MLB limit on the amount of time they can be brought in for evaluation, which would explain the revolving door.
While the team did play in a couple of travel tourneys, there were also a bunch of games against other scout's teams. There were also a couple of small weekend get-together "tourneys" which were invitation only.
My son was recruited by one of the scouts coaching the team who he had known since 14U. It didn't cost anything to play. Hotels and meals would have been covered too if he stayed with the team - but usually he stayed with us if we were making the trip.
Overall it was a great experience. My son got to play with some really talented kids and meet a lot of guys who are, "in the business". To be completely honest, my son is planning to go into sports medicine and his only reason for joining the team was that he knew it would be a tremendous networking opportunity. So far - so good on that front.
Access to Scout teams is limited in northern Illinois... I know of a few, but access is tight, they've cherry picked players before you know there's a team, and the teams are not in our area. Access or opportunity seems to be in the warmer weather states. Sounds great though...if anyone knows different I'd appreciate knowing.
Thanks
Son had opp to play on Bluejays scout team his Sr year in Jupiter. At the time since his travel team wasn't going it was great. No fees, just show up and get to pitch. Well, his travel team ended up combining with another team here in GA late into the process and made a run in the tourney. For the few innings he pitched in cleanup for the Jays vs Evoshield and the option to have played on his primary team....i know he regrets not going with his travel team and helping them potentially making it to the ship. They lost in the semi's and he believes he would have made the difference in that game. He kept his commitment which was important at the time but if i had to do it all over again he would have played with his boys. Jays scout team were awesome to him and offered to have him throw in consolation game but we left for home in Atlanta. If you get the chance, i say do it if you aren't going with someone else or it helps you with exposure.
Rob T posted:There are definitely different types of scout teams. The one my son played for was run by the guy who heads up Latin America scouting for an MLB org.
It was kind of a weird team. Half of the players were from parts of Florida. The other half changed every few weeks. Mostly they were pro prospects up from academies in the caribbean and South America. The best of those players would end up signing pro contracts and be gone in a couple weeks. Others would be around for a while and then head back home.
Almost none of them spoke english, and my son speaks very limited spanish, so it was hard to really get all of the details on how they ended up with the team. I think there is an MLB limit on the amount of time they can be brought in for evaluation, which would explain the revolving door.
While the team did play in a couple of travel tourneys, there were also a bunch of games against other scout's teams. There were also a couple of small weekend get-together "tourneys" which were invitation only.
My son was recruited by one of the scouts coaching the team who he had known since 14U. It didn't cost anything to play. Hotels and meals would have been covered too if he stayed with the team - but usually he stayed with us if we were making the trip.
Overall it was a great experience. My son got to play with some really talented kids and meet a lot of guys who are, "in the business". To be completely honest, my son is planning to go into sports medicine and his only reason for joining the team was that he knew it would be a tremendous networking opportunity. So far - so good on that front.
Orioles?
2019Dad posted:Orioles?
Well, let's just say I'm not sure what parts of that summer were or were not legal so I won't confirm or deny that he played for a team run by Orioles scouts...
Gov posted:Access to Scout teams is limited in northern Illinois... I know of a few, but access is tight, they've cherry picked players before you know there's a team, and the teams are not in our area. Access or opportunity seems to be in the warmer weather states. Sounds great though...if anyone knows different I'd appreciate knowing.
Thanks
Gov , you are correct for the most part , we are in IL and they picked before the season starts for there core teams , then they add as they go along , even adding at the last min for Jupiter , 3 teams in Midwest il area , Chicago Scouts , Reds Midwest scouts team and Cangelosi . I think they try and grab recommendations from coaches or kids they have seen played ,I think the Reds team seams to be the more stacked.
c2019 posted:Gov posted:Access to Scout teams is limited in northern Illinois... I know of a few, but access is tight, they've cherry picked players before you know there's a team, and the teams are not in our area. Access or opportunity seems to be in the warmer weather states. Sounds great though...if anyone knows different I'd appreciate knowing.
Thanks
Gov , you are correct for the most part , we are in IL and they picked before the season starts for there core teams , then they add as they go along , even adding at the last min for Jupiter , 3 teams in Midwest il area , Chicago Scouts , Reds Midwest scouts team and Cangelosi . I think they try and grab recommendations from coaches or kids they have seen played ,I think the Reds team seams to be the more stacked.
Yep...same three I'm aware of... Two kids on my sons HS team have played on Reds Midwest the past few years, and they looked like an overloaded roster last year. Not the end all, but would be cool experience.
