Showcasing after you have committed

So, I recall my son attended a PG Jupiter event after he committed.   The only reason he did it was to support his coach and teammates that had committed previously and paid for it as part of their Fall travel dues.  In addition, I can understand  recruits desire to improve his draft position if the player is in that fortunate position to be committed to a college and being considered for the draft.  It was an incredible event and my son is glad he went.

I have serious doubts about someone wanting to get a higher state/national rankings as it no longer matters....you are committed.  I think that recruit needs to get out of that mindset and begin thinking about what he needs to do to keep his scholarship and earn playing time to his committed school.   That is the only thing that matters.  As far as changing commitments,   that is a slippery slope.  People choose schools for many reasons, and I guess the same can be said for changing commitments.   My son understood that once he verballed there was no changing HIS mind.  Others may feel differently, and that is their prerogative.

Thanks Fenway!

My kid is off to a bunch of tournaments this summer with his team also.  I was asking (in a very bad way) more about the individual showcase events as opposed to team events.

I was just putting out all the various reasons I could think of for going to an individual event, agreed they are not very good reasons, but...

One reason I can come up with is, and I'm assuming we are talking about verbal commitments, is that nothing is in stone. If the school pulls out, where does that leave the player?

I know that my kid is very happy with his commitment and isn't shopping, but, knowing this is a business, the school side will continue to make me nervous until pen hits paper in November.

I've noticed kids continuing to showcase as well, which I don't understand.  Tournaments make sense, go with your team, compete against good competition-   I see value there, but the showcases after you've committed are a complete waste of time and money in my opinion.    If you are trying to improve your draft position, there's pro showcases- East Coast Pro, and Area Code as well as invited workouts-   If the scouts aren't inviting you to try out for these events, then you probably aren't going to improve anything by going to a showcase.   Although,  I'm sure there's exceptions. 

1. Verbal commitment - and its various issues

2. Hedging a coaching departure

3. Possible pro scouting

twokids posted:

I have noticed that there are a number of kids who are already committed to colleges attending showcases (PBR in this case).   Why?  Some of the reasons I can see

1) If they are looking ahead to the draft and trying to put up numbers to get attention

2) Thinking about changing commitments

3) Trying for a higher state/nation ranking

4) Supporting friends who are showcasing

No clue how valid the above reasons are.   Asking to make sure that I am not missing anything that I should be staying up late worrying about

I assume you might be talking about "the Super 60" event?  If so, I would think all but a couploe of those kids are already committed, but a lot of them are also draft prospects.   That is a top level event.... it's as much a "draft showcase" as anything else so of course they will attend.

Other than that, here are my thoughts on your questions above:

1.  If you've already been contacted by MLB scouts, they'll let you know where to go, just going to random showcases will do nothing.  There will be more scouts at the big FL fall events than you'll ever see at a showcase.

2. That's something only the player/family can answer....unless there was some very substantial reason, by son's commitment was his commitment....We (he, myself & his mom) had agreed that there would  be no change unless something major (coaching change, etc) happened before he signed. 

3.  Why??  Unless you just have $$$$ to blow (or we're back to #2)

4. Sure I guess....but again, just seems like a waste of good $$$

1. Signed up before making the commitment.

2. Senior who has credit balance with showcase company and this is the last opportunity to use it.

3. Senior D3 or juco commit who would decommit for a late D1 offer.

One guess I have, no factual evidence, nor anecdotal even, but simply a theory:

Many scouting services (BA, PG, etc) rank "Recruit Classes."  They do this by collecting and observing published/collected data (velos, 60-times, etc).  If you commit to a program as a 16yo with velo/60-time of 88/6.9, but by age 18 it's 92/6.7.  That data will boost a recruit's rankings and additionally the program he committed to ranking's in the "Recruit Class Rankings" column.

Not sure how important "Recruit Class Rankings" are, but I will assume they are noteworthy, at least, and I'd imagine a RC appreciates seeing his recruit class ranked at, or near the top.  

That's my guess why one might still attend showcases after committing.

An exception would be the PG National Showcase, where almost all of the players are already committed but have yet to sign. A chance to play against the best in the country. 

Goosegg posted:

1. Verbal commitment - and its various issues

2. Hedging a coaching departure

3. Possible pro scouting

 

If 50% of incoming freshman baseball players transfer within two years, yeah, get out there and showcase.

Go44dad posted:

Goosegg posted:

1. Verbal commitment - and its various issues

2. Hedging a coaching departure

3. Possible pro scouting

 

If 50% of incoming freshman baseball players transfer within two years, yeah, get out there and showcase.

Not sure a showcase as a HS junior would hold much weight for a kid who wanted to transfer after his freshman or sophomore year of college.   My son was 5'7, maybe 140 heading into his junior year......6'1, 185 now as a college sophomore.  If he decided to transfer, I'm thinking he would hope that college coaches DON'T remember him from his HS showcase days 

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Go44dad posted:

Goosegg posted:

1. Verbal commitment - and its various issues

2. Hedging a coaching departure

3. Possible pro scouting

 

If 50% of incoming freshman baseball players transfer within two years, yeah, get out there and showcase.

Not sure a showcase as a HS junior would hold much weight for a kid who wanted to transfer after his freshman or sophomore year of college.   My son was 5'7, maybe 140 heading into his junior year......6'1, 185 now as a college sophomore.  If he decided to transfer, I'm thinking he would hope that college coaches DON'T remember him from his HS showcase days 

I'm sure there are exceptions.  Curious if he was committed at 5'7 140?

Go44dad posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Go44dad posted:

Goosegg posted:

1. Verbal commitment - and its various issues

2. Hedging a coaching departure

3. Possible pro scouting

 

If 50% of incoming freshman baseball players transfer within two years, yeah, get out there and showcase.

Not sure a showcase as a HS junior would hold much weight for a kid who wanted to transfer after his freshman or sophomore year of college.   My son was 5'7, maybe 140 heading into his junior year......6'1, 185 now as a college sophomore.  If he decided to transfer, I'm thinking he would hope that college coaches DON'T remember him from his HS showcase days 

I'm sure there are exceptions.  Curious if he was committed at 5'7 140?

The 5'7. 140 comment was during the winter of his junior year, the last time he attended a showcase.....he committed about 6 months later at 5'9, maybe 150.  Fortunately for him he grew after that, he's an April birthday so very young for his grade....finished HS at 6' 165 or so and is now 6'1, 185

Two answers: We all have seen on here stories of kids in baseball (and football) who commit, only to have the college pull the deal before signing. Then people bemoan the NCAA and the rules and the fact that while the kid quit shopping, the college didn't. So maybe the kid (and his parents) are hedging their bets. If you can afford it, why not? Second, I think my son sees showcases as a chance to measure his progress. How am I now compared to six months ago? Who else is there and how do I stack up to them? Showcases, particularly outside the season, can stoke those competitive juices. Just my thoughts.

Iowamom23 posted:

Two answers: We all have seen on here stories of kids in baseball (and football) who commit, only to have the college pull the deal before signing. Then people bemoan the NCAA and the rules and the fact that while the kid quit shopping, the college didn't. So maybe the kid (and his parents) are hedging their bets. If you can afford it, why not? Second, I think my son sees showcases as a chance to measure his progress. How am I now compared to six months ago? Who else is there and how do I stack up to them? Showcases, particularly outside the season, can stoke those competitive juices. Just my thoughts.

Ok, I know what I said earlier about a waste of time and money, but I can see the point after reading subsequent posts-   I have seen kids get offers pulled, and have posted about it before.  So I get it.  I'd just be careful- I know that some coaches get a little upset if a kid does keep showcasing- not so much the pro workouts, but for the college oriented workouts.  

Also be very careful on those out of season workouts unless your son is ready and in baseball shape- if he's not, he won't show well, and you run the risk of injury.  I have personal experience with the injury part- let my son run when he wasn't ready and he pulled a hammy.  It wasn't serious, but I could kick myself for letting him do it.

We met a few players this past weekend at a PG showcase that had already committed.  They said they were there to improve their performance numbers and standings within their respective classes.  In one case, a 2017 who had already signed was also there... that I found strange, but in his case he came to showcase with his 2020 brother. A comment was made about increasing their chances to play in the PG National Event.  Baseball resume's...

My son has signed his NLI and I've considered having him showcase. The reason being he's gotten draft questionnaires so there is interest. But as a position player (he's a two way) his 60 times are slow. Since his last recorded time he's filled out. In less than six months he's put almost 6" on his vertical leap and been recorded hitting 18.6 mph over a short distance (space limited) which comes out to like a 6.7 60 if I remember correctly. That would be a pretty good improvement over his 7+ recorded times.

Can't speak for all showcases, but as far as PG, we are constantly searching for the best players.  Most early DI commits, especially those committed to top programs are also the best prospects for the draft.  If someone were to ask players like Carlos Correa, Andrew McCutchen, Mike Trout, Francisco Lindor, and thousands of others why they showcased after being committed... They would tell you why.  There is a huge difference between the first round and the 5th round.  There's a huge difference from the first pick and late first round.

When we do the PG National Showcase each year we expect the majority of players to already have a commitment.  I think the best players arent interested in standing pat just because they have a commitment.  The best players seem to always have something to prove.  Most of them simply want the competition and are interested in improving their previous showings.  

At the PG WWBA in Jupiter each fall there are close to a thousand MLB scouts and college coaches.  Many college coaches actually want their recruits to play in that event.  It gives them another look at their committed  players against the best possible competition.  We know of one very well known college coach that gets mad if one of his commits is not there.  

I've probably said this a lot on this site... Satisfaction is a baseball players biggest enemy.

That said, no one should ever feel obligated to attend any showcase after they have committed.  It's OK if they don't.  It's just that if they are good enough they should want to show people.

PGStaff posted:

Can't speak for all showcases, but as far as PG, we are constantly searching for the best players.  Most early DI commits, especially those committed to top programs are also the best prospects for the draft.  If someone were to ask players like Carlos Correa, Andrew McCutchen, Mike Trout, Francisco Lindor, and thousands of others why they showcased after being committed... They would tell you why.  There is a huge difference between the first round and the 5th round.  There's a huge difference from the first pick and late first round.

When we do the PG National Showcase each year we expect the majority of players to already have a commitment.  I think the best players arent interested in standing pat just because they have a commitment.  The best players seem to always have something to prove.  Most of them simply want the competition and are interested in improving their previous showings.  

At the PG WWBA in Jupiter each fall there are close to a thousand MLB scouts and college coaches.  Many college coaches actually want their recruits to play in that event.  It gives them another look at their committed  players against the best possible competition.  We know of one very well known college coach that gets mad if one of his commits is not there.  

I've probably said this a lot on this site... Satisfaction is a baseball players biggest enemy.

That said, no one should ever feel obligated to attend any showcase after they have committed.  It's OK if they don't.  It's just that if they are good enough they should want to show people.

PG Staff,

I completely understand this.  But after having gone through this process with my 2017 last year- for the high level d1 commits/draft prospects that summer before senior year can be brutal, and I don't think that it's necessary to do everything that you are invited to.   some of these kids are doing Tournament of Stars, East Coast Pro, Area Code, PG national, PG all American, South Atlantic border battle,  WWBA in Jupiter, various other pro workouts in between.    We did some, not all, but even then it was tough and by the end I could see my son was tired.  I think you need to pick and choose, and that's it's not necessary to go to all of these.     

I'm wondering how the new MLB prospect development pipeline events will fit into this picture as well?    is it eventually going to replace ECP and Area Code?  or is it yet another event that the same players will participate in? 

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Go44dad posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Go44dad posted:

Goosegg posted:

1. Verbal commitment - and its various issues

2. Hedging a coaching departure

3. Possible pro scouting

 

If 50% of incoming freshman baseball players transfer within two years, yeah, get out there and showcase.

Not sure a showcase as a HS junior would hold much weight for a kid who wanted to transfer after his freshman or sophomore year of college.   My son was 5'7, maybe 140 heading into his junior year......6'1, 185 now as a college sophomore.  If he decided to transfer, I'm thinking he would hope that college coaches DON'T remember him from his HS showcase days 

I'm sure there are exceptions.  Curious if he was committed at 5'7 140?

The 5'7. 140 comment was during the winter of his junior year, the last time he attended a showcase.....he committed about 6 months later at 5'9, maybe 150.  Fortunately for him he grew after that, he's an April birthday so very young for his grade....finished HS at 6' 165 or so and is now 6'1, 185

Are you 6 foot plus?  Were you visible so the coaches could see how much son might grow? In reverse, a 5'9" friend didn't want to be visible at events. He didn't want anyone to assume his 5'11" son was done growing (he was).

Most every player invited attends the PG National.  It is in June every year and players that attend represent more than half of the first round each year.  It's also the main event for selecting players for the nationally televised PG All American game each August.  Very few players turn down that opportunity. 

The MLB Pipeline events simply replace the many former Scouting Bureau workouts.  They are not geared to replace or compete with any other events.   We actively promote USA Baseball, ECP and Area Codes.  Our major goal is to identify the best players every year.  Typically many of the same players will attend as many of those as possible.  Many of them are discovered by the scouting community at the PG National, because it is the very first event each year for the top prospects.  We also hold several showcases before the National, called Sunshine Classics.  Those are open to players and we take the best prospects from those events to the National.

The list of first round picks and MLB players from the PG National is unparalleled among individual player events.  The former attendees are a Whose Who in the Big Leagues. Check it out for yourself with a few clicks...

https://www.perfectgame.org/Ev...ault.aspx?event=5056

One thing for sure, anyone that shows well at the PG National is going to get every opportunity possible, including ECP if they live in the east and Area Code.  Some will be selected for All American Games and some will end up representing USA on National teams.  Many will even attend the Jupiter PG WWBA in October.  All of this to be high on everyone's list their senior year.  It is a lot of very high level baseball, no doubt about it.  People might be amazed by how many of the most successful players have done it.

Everything is always left up to the players.  No one forces players to do anything.  However people will try to convince players to attend.  It's always  a decision for players and parents.  We don't ever hold it against a player if they decide to miss certain events.  But obviously the more we see a player the more we know about him and the more accurate we can evaluate him. Once a player shows he has college or pro level ability there is still much more to find out.  Talent alone is enough to create interest, but sometimes it is the other things that separate that talent when it comes to being successful.  

Lastly, after saying all of this, the truth is there is no one event that is mandatory in order to be highly successful.  There is a big list of players that made it to the top without attending the big events.  So if you miss a big event, don't feel like you screwed up your chances.  I can see why players get tired doing all these things.  Then again I admire those that do it.  It shows a lot about them in addition to the talent you can see at just one event.  After all, reaching the top is very difficult.  And all this put together will not even come close to going through one professional season?