Team Showcases or Individual Showcases

Jeff,

I would imagine that some people would think any reply I would give would be driven by business concerns. The truth is that (business) has never been a big enough concern of mine to get in the way of honesty.

The simple answer is that we like, if not need, to see a player do both. Individual event so we can grade his tools and get a feeling for what his make up is like. Most individual events include games, so we also get to see a player perform in that setting.

Then there is nothing better than seeing that same player compete within the framework of his team against top competition. You learn even more about the player in that environment.

Truth is… The more we see a player/pitcher the more we know about him. The easier to project or not, the more history, the more knowledge, the easier to honestly evaluate in the end. We all know that players have good and bad days. On any given day we know it’s highly unlikely that we will see a player on his very best day or his very worst day. Over time a player tends to answer a lot of questions about his ability and make up.

Now, if you can only do one, I would lean towards playing on a team that competes at the highest level possible. After all, it is a team game. However if you excel on a team, sooner or later someone involved in the scouting or recruiting community is going to want to see you workout as an individual.

It should be noted that the answer I would give to any individual could change based on the talent level and potential of that individual. Point being, attending an event doesn’t impress the scouts, and college recruiters… Talent does!!! I do understand that some don’t really know where the player’s talent fits and go to individual events to find out. I keep thinking there should be a less expensive way to find out.

Your question was about “top” players, so I would strongly recommend doing both if possible. If not possible, play at a high level with a strong team that has other “prospects” on the roster.

It’s my opinion that the more talented a player is, the earlier he should get involved. I could give many true life examples as to why that is. Injuries being one of the most important reasons. The talented freshman who was injured his soph year, even more often the talented soph who is injured and doesn’t play his junior year and of course the talented junior who misses his senior year due to injury… or other reasons.

Anyway, there is no… only one way to do things. All ways have proven to work and all have proven to fail. I do think waiting for them to find you is not a good way to go about things and is by far the least likely to give many opportunities.

PGStaff --- Great post!
Fungo

Thanks for your honesty.

Coach May, you may think I am picking a fight with you every time I get on here but would love to know your opinion. I do respect it and you have proven your credibility. I know you and your program.

Would love to know other guys opinions. The cost issue is becoming a great deal for many of us. We want to put our kids out there and get the best bang for the buck.

For me personally. Many of you know that I have a LHP, 6'3" 210 pound sophomore. Has thrown 89 and consistently 85-86. Played 3 weeks this year at WWBA for 18U,17U and 15U. Had a great week at the 15U and got to pitch on the main EC field for first round of championship bracket and hit 2 off the wall. Have never been to a PG individual showcase. Been to several invite only showcases for colleges and one TBCA showcase. Just wondering when and where do I put out the money for him to go to an individual showcase. I really am not trying to brag just giving as much info as I can. He has the tools I just don't have the money to send him to many showcases. Give me your advice.

I also know there are several parents on here and others that read this that are wondering the same things. My advice is different for many of them because every kid is different. It is even different for players being recruited as pitchers versus fielders.

Jeff I think PG gave you some great advice. I think it is very important to get on a very good team with other top level players. This will give your son an opportunity to compete with and against other top level players. I also think its important to do a couple of individual showcase events where he can show his individual tools and be evaluated.

It sounds like your son is a very talented player. He should have numerous opportunities to play with some outstanding players and teams.

By playing with a team that is going to be seen by college coaches on a routine basis in the summer and fall he can just play the game "lose himself in the game" and not worry about being evaluated. He can get used to having all those eyes on him and all those radar guns in the stands. Before long he is just playing baseball and its no big deal anymore. I would do both if I could afford to do it. A couple of PG individual showcase events and def play in the WWBA events.

Good luck to your son he sounds like he is a heck of a player.

Jeff if your son is available Nov 1 , 2 Impact baseball is going to have a showcase event at the USA Olympic Complex in Cary NC. There will be a ton of college coaches present with the ACC and many SEC Big South Conf USA etc coaches in attendance. This showcase will begin with an idividual showcase for all players and then games. PM me if you are interested in your son attending I can work something out for you if cost is an issue.

Players must be nominated to attend so PM me and we can talk.

Jeff, it sounds like your son and mine were about at the same place when they were 15 years old. Right or wrong we decided to go for it with the WWBA events but he ended up only doing one PG showcases (National Underclass) when he had justed turned 16. I do think that showcase helped him tremendously.

I hope I don't sound caviler about money because trust me we are not, however if your son is at that level and continues to develop you may be one of the few that could look at this as an investment and might possibly get it back over the long term via a college scholarship or draft.

One thing I think we sometimes overlook is the value above and beyond the cost. What these boys learn at a "showcase" tournament or individual event is how to compete against some of the best talent out there. When a kid proves to himself that he can hang with the big boys sometime that alone takes them to a whole new level. If he doesn't tear it up he still leaves with a better understanding of what it will take to make it to the next level. Either way, it will be a lesson learned.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

quote:

Have never been to a PG individual showcase.

quote:

Just wondering when and where do I put out the money for him to go to an individual showcase.

quote:

Give me your advice.

My advice is " go to a PG showcase " & take Coach May up on his offer.

PGStaff and I will probably disagree on this point but as interest from scouts and colleges increases the less you "need" to purchase exposure. If I owned a showcase I'd be very excited over having a sophomore LHP 6'3" 210 lbs touching 89 mph. (Matter of fact if you'll send me $500 I will guarantee him a college scholarship in writing -- money back if he doesn't) .

Seriously, talk to some college coaches that have seen your son. I know they can't approach you but you can call them today. Explain your situation and ask for their advice as to what route to take. Or if your son has interest in a particular school go to that school's camp. Even though your son is just a sophomore you should be getting a very good feel for where your son will fit and who is interested in him. My son never went to a WWBA or a PG showcase and he received literally boxes and boxes of letters from colleges. (big boxes). He did go to one TBCA at MTSU but it was rained out. He played for a great summer team, attended a couple of small showcases, 2 college camps, couple of free pro tryouts, a free pro draft workout in Bush Stadium, a free combine at East Coast Pro in Wilmington, NC. These events provided him with much more exposure than he "needed" but we enjoyed the process, the press and the attention ---- and it didn't break the bank. Keep us posted.
Fungo

Another part of the recruiting equation is the level or quality of the individual showcase or team showcase. If the showcase that you attend does not have any coaches or scouts in attendance nor does it have a data base which coaches or scouts have access to and the confidence in trusting the information, it maybe a waste of time and money other than the experience.

What route top players may take is they may attend a lower level showcase to get the experience and then get invited to higher level or invitation only showcases. At these top showcases, coaches can compare them against other top players and see how they do in a showcase environment. But I have seen some players who have the ability to perform well in showcase situations but not do well in an actual competitive situation, but I also know of players who don’t do well in showcases but excel in actual competitive situations.

The same goes true for the team tournament showcases, it does not do much good from a recruiting aspect if the event does not have the trust and the interest of coaches and scouts to attend. They are good to compete at a higher level than HS, but if no one is there to see it, it does not help the recruiting aspects unless they have some type of documentation or recording of the event for scouts and coaches to see after the fact.

For top players, playing with and against top level competition is very important to be evaluated for top schools and clubs, if your player is over matched, it could demonstrate to him what he needs to do to excel but also demonstrate to the schools what level of player he is able to play at as well. I get a kick when teams say they go to all these high power events but when you look at their record, they do not fair very well. Now some individual players will still get visibility, but often time, coaches and scouts will migrate toward the top teams looking for specific or a group of players, in that case, it is high recommended if you are playing in a tournament that is being scouted by coaches, you contact the coaches ahead of the event and let them know you are interested in their school and direct them to your event and to ask them to watch your player. That will get the most bang for your buck!

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
PGStaff and I will probably disagree on this point but as interest from scouts and colleges increases the less you "need" to purchase exposure. If I owned a showcase I'd be very excited over having a sophomore LHP 6'3" 210 lbs touching 89 mph. (Matter of fact if you'll send me $500 I will guarantee him a college scholarship in writing -- money back if he doesn't) .

Seriously, talk to some college coaches that have seen your son. I know they can't approach you but you can call them today. Explain your situation and ask for their advice as to what route to take. Or if your son has interest in a particular school go to that school's camp. Even though your son is just a sophomore you should be getting a very good feel for where your son will fit and who is interested in him. My son never went to a WWBA or a PG showcase and he received literally boxes and boxes of letters from colleges. (big boxes). He did go to one TBCA at MTSU but it was rained out. He played for a great summer team, attended a couple of small showcases, 2 college camps, couple of free pro tryouts, a free pro draft workout in Bush Stadium, a free combine at East Coast Pro in Wilmington, NC. These events provided him with much more exposure than he "needed" but we enjoyed the process, the press and the attention ---- and it didn't break the bank. Keep us posted.
Fungo

If you ask one coach what route he should take, the answer could very well be; don't go to a showcase, don't go to a showcase tournament, don't go to the Area Code Games, don't go to the East Coast Showcase, don’t go to any more events, and just come to my camp our school and we will evaluate you and possibly give you some pointers.

Why would I say that, because he will not want some other U or MLB club finding a good player! The showcases provide an avenue to test your skills against other players, hopefully top players, and to be exposed to many different schools and MLB clubs.

That is why you should always ask the very top programs. They don't worry about the competition as much and are more likely to give you some good advice.

BTW, you will see those programs always at East Coast Pro, Area Codes, Perfect Game National, WWBA events and USA Baseball. They are there for a good reason! They're looking for players!

If you're not that caliber of a player to attend those type events, they will still give good advice as to what you should do.

Jeff,
My son was a top prospect in HS and he played at two major events in HS before he signed, USA as a sophmore and WWBA Jupiter (fall) his junior year. He did two PG showcases after that (January and June of junior year) but IMO, the best experience was a great travel team senior summer.

Do what you can afford but choose wisely.
The key is finding the balance, and the right balance usually depends on the one in your checkbook.

[quote]Point being, attending an event doesn’t impress the scouts, and college recruiters… Talent does!!![/quote)

This should be carved into the forehead of every parent out there.

PG Staff you have a PM.

Again, thanks for all the info from myself and others.
I have gone through this with players but never mine and it is different. Each player is different. My older son who is a senior is a great player and fielder just does not the size and the ability to throw with the left hand. He will be a good D2, D3 or juco player. It is just hard knowing what to do and how hard to push or when to stay out of it. Plus, how much to invest.

What I have picked up recently from talking with parents and coaches of programs is that the best players are easier to "sell" and thus would need less exposure at these individual showcases. The borderline players, or tougher sells, may need to do a few more for more exposure or to increase their ratings.
Once the word gets out about a top player the scouts show up.
What the individual showcase may help to identify or varify that a player is a top prospect.

An individual showcase will give a player an opportunity to showcase his baseball tools. A team showcase will give a player an opportunity to show how his tools play in a game situation.

In my mind the combination of the two is the best route to go---this way you get the best of both worlds