Should son request Individual invite to WWBA World Championships?

JMO, but if you can afford it and expect him to do well I can't imagine not doing it. It is great exposure. College coaches notice players at showcases. They sign people out of WWBA tournaments.

How does the individual invite work?

Contact PG and they can give you the details regarding that particular venue. My son was contacted by them last year and played for a PG team in the PG Nationals. He had a great time and met kids from all over the country. It was well coached and the cost was reasonable. He was seen by several programs there also.

BOF, any idea on what a good time line is for this? I don't want to contact PG before I know for sure son doesn't have a team, but I don't want to end up holding the bag if none of his other options come through.

Their website says it takes 2-3 weeks. There is no harm in calling them and asking them, they are a very down to earth organization. I don't remember exactly but I think they sent my son an email about a month before the event, it took us about a week to decide if we were going, so this all happended about 3 weeks prior to the tournament.

I saw the individual invite link on the PG website under the WWBA World championship schedule link.

I clicked on that link and got a form to request a team invite.

There was a little blue button that said request an individual invite. That is the one I used. Go to PG website then look under tournaments, then wwba tournaments. then go all the way to the bottom of the screen and you should see a blue button for individual invite.

Give PG a call. As someone said, they're really a down to earth bunch and they'll guide you.

FWIW, baseballson played played twice at Jupiter for PG teams and it was an experience that he won't soon forget.

PG folks couldn't have been better and, yes, you will meet players from all over the country. Give 'em a call.

I have sent PM's to a few of you with regard to Jupiter. I am in the process of putting together a PG Team

Coach Merc,

Please Pm me the details on your team. my son will be out this coming weekend at the Niagara Showcase if you want to see him. I can also send you some info on him if you PM me your e-mail address.

Dont wait too long if your fall team is not going and you are wanting to get on a PG sponsored team. Last year positions filled up fast....its expensive but well worth it.

This will be my second year of helping to run a PG squad of players who sign up individually. If your son signs up, perhaps he’ll play for my team! (Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, let’s have no chirping from the peanut gallery please!)

There is only one reason NOT to go to Jupiter, and that is the cost. For a player considering the PG squad option, by the time you tally up the player fee, air fare, rental car, hotel, restaurant tabs, and misc., if you can keep it under $1,200 you’ve done well. And that’s if the player goes alone (no parents).

For a player already committed, going to this event is a luxury, unless you’re one of the elite few who are looking towards the June draft with high hopes.

For those who are not yet committed, the reasons you WOULD go are numerous. First, it is the most astounding scouting event of them all, and I’ve seen pretty much all of them. When you return home, you will tell your friends how many scouts were at your games, and they will say, “Yeah, right.” No matter where you son hopes to play college ball, they will be there with probably 2, and maybe 3, coaches scouting games. If you send those guys your team schedule once you know it, you can expect them to see you play at least once over the weekend.

A few things to note. First, the way the event is structured favors pitchers. The guns are always out in abundance, and pitchers always get action that allows them to be evaluated. For a non-pitcher, you have to do something to stand out with the bat, or flash plus speed, to really help yourself. (Exception: catchers get a chance to show what they have defensively; others may or may not get that chance.) If you go 0-for-Jupiter, you might feel like you made a mistake going down there, and given that it’s wood bat and the pitching is consistently tough, be aware that this is a distinct possibility. Especially since it’s almost certain you’ll get only 4 games to play, since so few teams make the playoffs (and it’s highly unlikely a PG squad would make it).

That being said, if you are a college caliber guy, and if you prepare for the weekend, you can do well for yourself by playing the game right and by battling through at bats. I’d rather see a guy battle and hit hard outs than get a bunch of blooper and bleeder hits. Coaches will evaluate subjectively, not based on your luck with whether balls fall or not.

As a 1B, the weekend can be tough, as to make it at that position you need to show big time power. If that’s not you, then this may not be an event conducive to getting you recruited.

On the other hand, if you have schools where one of the assistants has been following you, this allows you to have additional coaches from those same schools see you a couple of times over a few days, and right before their final November offer decisions are made. The opportunities don’t get any better than that.

By the way, here is how things shook out for the 17 players on my PG Purple team from October 2009:

2 were underclassmen

Of the 15 seniors:

2 now play at Division I schools
2 now play at Division II schools
1 now plays at a Division III school
1 now plays at a JuCo
1 now plays at an NAIA school

The other 8, I can find no record indicating whether or not they are playing. Even if you assume they all came up short, consider this. First, some of them might not have been all that talented. Spending a lot to get exposure only helps if you are honest with yourself about whether you have collegiate level ability. Second, in my book, a 7/15 success rate for kids who were uncommitted as of late October, and unattached to a standing travel team at that time, is pretty darned good.

Another point: If you sign up for a PG squad, you will play. Jason Gerst of PG works on this to assure that all pitchers get a 3-inning stint. 2-way guys get at least an opportunity to go 2 innings on the mound as well. Position players (including 2-way guys) are typically always in the batting order (11 guys usually, including DH and EH's).

Obviously I don't spend this weekend giving instruction. My job is primarily to assure that playing time in the field is evenly distributed. Also, if someone gets shorted an AB (maybe left on deck when the game ends), I'll bat them at the top of the order next time to catch them up.

Jason also makes sure the players are allocated to the squads by position. Two catchers split time there and DH/EH otherwise, or perhaps also play a secondary position. He and we work to assure that you play where you want to show yourself.

I'm told there are only 3 PG teams this year (compared to 4 last year). This does not include teams like Coach Merc's, which are team spots bought and then filled out by people in Coach Merc's position. The time is pretty much here when the 3 squads will be full, and in particular, availability may depend on whether your position is filled or still open.

So, if you're struggling to make up your mind, better make it up right now.

Midlo,

Thanks so much for your reply, it was very useful. You are right the cost you stated I have found to be right on. The cost is more than what we can afford. Fortunately my son is high on the radar of 4 D1 programs back here in the Northeast. Two of them said they would like my son to come for a visit and that they will be making him an offer. I do believe he will be verbally committed by the end of October.
Coach Merc, Thanks for the info on your team I am sure it would be the event of a lifetime if we could have afforded to go. As usual great information from those with experience. This is an invaluable resource, Thanks again!

Midlo, what is the individual cost per player for PG?

Coach Merc, you have a PM

I believe the player fee is $549.

Even if you're very economical, you would probably plan on at least $250 for round trip air fare, $200 for car rental, $150 for hotel (if you share with a friend). You'd be hard pressed to get it all done, when meals, airport parking back home, etc. are added, for less than $1,300. If you add a parent, over $1,600. If you can make the trip by car, you can knock a fair amount off that (air fare + rental car - gas = savings), but it'd probably still top $1,000 round trip.

Yes it's expensive for four games. But not going could be even more costly. All depends on whether you need to infuse some spark into your recruiting.

If you do go, don't waste the opportunity. Communicate with coaches before you get there, while you're there, after you get back. Tell them where you'll be playing, when you're going to pitch, whenever you have a rain-related rescheduling, etc. They are there already, all the fields are crammed in together, all they have to do is walk (or ride a golf cart) from one field to another. Make it easy for them. Then bust it every moment you're on that field. You never know who's watching. Most likely, a whole bunch of college coaches.

Midlo Dad,

Good Stuff. RR23Jr had the pleasure to play for a PG team last year in the PG NAtionals in Tucson and you are right that play time will be distributed.

Good Luck to your PG team.

RR23

Midlo Dad sums it up very very well. (BTW I got to see Daniel pitch up at Oneonta vs Glens Falls late this summer both my sons were with GF. One as a coach and the other as their SS)

PG has given us a great oppotunity to bring many of our programs players down to Jupiter. Combine them with others from around the country and it's a team. With that being said, here is how I try and put the team together, 2 catchers, 4 IF, 4 OF, 2 1B and 7 or 8 pitchers. Our pitchers throw 2 innings per outing and will all make 2 appearances. We hit 11 batters so there is little or no down time.

We have had some great success stories the past few years with players who we have met right here and at the end of those 4 days they became college baseball recruits. Youngstown State, Tenn, Villanova, High Point to name just a few. It's really a great time and the entrance fee is no more then many of us have paid for our sons to attend a showcase at some point where not many recruiters showed up. This event has hundreds and thats pretty much the history of it.

How much does it normally cost to go as an individual, and how many inning do pitchers get on the mound?

Son is an outfielder. Good speed about 7.0 60yd. Is a 2012 grad. Good hitter. More likely a d2 or good d3 player. Hits for average well. Is the Jupiter, however, really for 2011 grads and not 2012? It would seem to me this Oct would be late for a 2011 grad to look at schools to be recruited but is a 2012 grad an underclassman that should be going to FT Myers instead?

good question Alnaybbdad, so I will ask it again,

quote:

Is the Jupiter, however, really for 2011 grads and not 2012? ........ is a 2012 grad an underclassman that should be going to FT Myers instead?

What does the community think of a 2012 player going now? Will a 2012 be overmatched with this kind of event? (SS, C , OF)

Please advise.

thanks,