USA Baseball 15U East Team Championships

Really? No.

My understanding of these type of events are that if they are truly legit they don't cost anything.

My 13U kid received a similar letter for this year's 14U NDTP qualifying tourney. They were willing to set him up with a team to play in FL. No thanks. May still do the NTIS as I enjoyed going to Cary.

Thanks Caco3girl, that is my general understanding as well of these types of events. However, the search I did on here indicated that the West Championships draw a lot of elite teams and scouts. I think the East version was new last year, so I was trying to figure out if it did/will draw elite competition this year.  We are thinking it might be worth it if it is going to draw good competition and scouts. In other words, we are thinking this may provide good showcase type exposure rather than an actual chance at the national team.

2022 NYC, I'm curious as to why you would turn down the NDTP tournament invitation in favor of the NTIS path. It's my understanding that they are parallel paths to the development team/national team, but the tourney is one event instead of the 2-3 separate NTIS level tryouts. Hope you don't mind me asking, I'm just trying to make sure my understanding of the paths are correct.  

I coached a team in this event a few years ago so I have firsthand experience.  It is a good event in that it is well run and there will be good teams there.  It is worth the money if that is what you are after.  If you think your son has a legitimate chance of being chosen for the 15U USA National Team you are being naïve. Most of that roster has already been selected, IMO.  From the standpoint of scouts - there are some there. But by and large they are not looking at 15 year olds.  They will show up to watch a hard throwing pitching prospect, but scouts already know who they are going to watch before the tournament starts. I enjoyed the event and I would take a team back there in a heartbeat.  I wouldn't go as a "free agent" individual.

I've only heard of one event where kids this young went and the team was formed from a hodgepodge of talented kids.  That one was free.

This sounds like a money grab all day long. If you have the money get to a really good PG tourney. I know tons of 15u teams in GA that allow guest players.

I went and looked at last summer's 15U national team (www.usabaseball.com/team-usa/15u/roster) and something struck me -- in line with Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, 60% of the roster was born in the first three months of the year, and the latest birthday was August 2nd (that is, every kid was born in the first seven months and two days of the year).

Not responsive to the OP's question, but I thought it was interesting.

Edited: sorry, just noticed there are a couple 2003s on there. But still 50% of the roster born int he first quarter of the year.

That is interesting 2019DAD! USA Baseball adheres to the international age rules, which is calendar year. So it is a perfect example of Gladwell's theory about the oldest kids. That theory is mentioned in The Sports Gene by David Epstein. Great read about which athletes end up being elite athletes. 

Zia2021 posted:

Thanks Caco3girl, that is my general understanding as well of these types of events. However, the search I did on here indicated that the West Championships draw a lot of elite teams and scouts. I think the East version was new last year, so I was trying to figure out if it did/will draw elite competition this year.  We are thinking it might be worth it if it is going to draw good competition and scouts. In other words, we are thinking this may provide good showcase type exposure rather than an actual chance at the national team.

2022 NYC, I'm curious as to why you would turn down the NDTP tournament invitation in favor of the NTIS path. It's my understanding that they are parallel paths to the development team/national team, but the tourney is one event instead of the 2-3 separate NTIS level tryouts. Hope you don't mind me asking, I'm just trying to make sure my understanding of the paths are correct.  

Zia,

My son and I went for the experience of playing on the USA field and he wanted to check out UNC, Duke and NC State. Having a Nov bday, below Avg height of the other 13U kids (he was 5' 6ish at the time) and while he did well there were players with college metrics. There were dozens of kids at the NTIS who could have made the team, I am sure they are going to the 14U trials. I really do not want to spend the $$ for a trip to Florida. Cary again yes, as we will hit other NC colleges

2022NYC, thanks for the response. We enjoyed Cary as well. I know some people think the NTIS system is a money grab, but I view it as just another fun and valuable baseball experience. I would recommend it if it's not going to break a family's budget. However, I would add the important caveat that a player should go into it for the experience itself and not a real chance at making the team (as many others have said here). For my 2021, the local NTIS tryout in 2016 was his first showcase style event and he learned a lot from that experience at a fairly young age.