We are assisting the Tampa Bay Rays for their Scout team tryout. If you have an interest, please open our web site and complete the player profile.

 

The majority of scout teams hold tryouts at no cost. The Fall games are scouted by professionals and college coaches.

 

Bob

<www.goodwillseries.org>

If your son has an opportunity to play scout ball, then I suggest that he plays.  I know for our son it was a very positive experience, and the best exposure from college and pro scouts.  On the average over a weekend we would routinely see 20 scouts.

2019Son received an invitation out of the blue to try out for one of the SoCal scout teams. First thing I did was research it on HSBBW and found this thread, which was helpful.

 

I do have a few questions:

 

1. What are the tryouts like? Is it a cast of thousands or more narrowly targeted?

2. Are there different teams per grade level? Or one team with a mix of grades on it?

3. Are certain of the scout teams "better" or more well regarded than others? (And I understand if you'd rather give that opinion in a PM).

 

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. As always, I appreciate the wealth of knowledge available on this forum.

2019 Dad;

We are only involved with the Rays Scout team from San Diego. Many college coaches appeared at the August tryouts.There is only team with players from 15-17 playing.

 

If you have interest in the Rays tryouts, please complete a "profile" on our web site <www.goodwillseries.org>

 

Bob

My son played for the SoCal Cardinals and knows kids who played for the Cubs. Coming from Santa Clarita would work for both of those teams. I also think the A's are in the SF Valley and would work also.

 

All of the tryouts are pretty competitive and only the top kids make the fall scout team. I am not sure about the Connie Mack teams. The new Connie Mack league was just starting when he played and he played for the D-Rays in that league.

 

Let me know what specific questions you have and I can probably answer them. 

Thanks Bob, much appreciated. We're in the LA area, so San Diego doesn't work geographically.

Anyone have experience with the LA area teams?

Try the Royals Scout Team. When my boys played (2012/13) many of the games were held at Riverside CC and surrounding areas.

Imo:

 

Bend over backwards to play scout ball; understand what scout ball is and what it isn't. 

 

Our experience delivered all the desired results of scout ball: exposure to college recruiters, exposure to pro scouts, low (absurdly low) cost, exposure to the future pro players (to gauge their level of play, their heart, their spirit,etc.), excellent on the spot instruction in areas that scouts care about, and more.

 

We live in San Diego and the majority of scout games were in Orange County, LA, and riverside. But scout "games" are not travel games, nor showcase games. Our games would go on for oftentimes over 20 innings - with no one keeping score. Pitchers would throw - if in shape - perhaps two - three innings (sometimes one inning). Guys would come, throw their innings, and leave - and the game would go on. 

 

Ss first game: drive two hours, throw eight pitches for one inning, hang out until there was a need for a pitcher to play a fielding spot, stay five hours, drive home. Next week, lots of recruiting. On that team (we had maybe 60 players; but many didn't come every week [football season for many]) perhaps half were drafted out of HS and I would bet over half ultimately are playing proball.

 

There were no tournament trophies, no practices; this was really high end but low keyed baseball played by some really fine ball players. The kids played baseball - they didn't have plays, didn't bunt, allowed the kids to run. The team was partially chosen at open tryouts and partially made up of a preselected number. The preselected number were primarily from local coaches who were trusted by the scouts. There was no favoritism - every kid basically plays until they don't want to play further.

 

You also get out of scout ball what you put in - kids who show up every week develop a repore with the coaches (ours were area scouts and above) which can prove to be very helpful when a kid is seeking advise about baseball, girls, colleges, etc. 

 

In hindsight, I have to say that scout ball was a very good investment of time and money.

       


Thanks Goosegg, that is very helpful. This is all new to me. We will definitely check it out. Just to clarify, your son did scout ball in addition to a travel team in high school? Or instead of a travel team?

Cabbage played in the league.  I'll echo most of what Goosegg and BOF said.  The format is quite different.  The quality of players is very good.  Most often, there is a D1 or likely draft pick pitcher on the hill.  The Cardinals seem to be the cream of the crop as far as organizations go but they run two squads - red and blue.  Red is mostly higher profile players.  They get a crazy amount of players show up for their tryouts and they have quite a bit of info on their website. Son played with the Wahoos and this may be another option based on were you live.  Most send teams to Arizona Fall Classic and there is also a big scout tourney.  Some run summer teams in a totally different manner than the fall teams.  Most have websites.  This league will definitely let your son know where he stacks up against good players. 

I'm a bit out of touch with it the last couple years.  I heard there may be a movement toward some younger teams but not sure.

Sorry for my newbie question, but are scout teams mainly a California thing or do they exist in other areas of the country?

Yes, many other areas of the country as well, but in pockets.