What are my chances?

quote:

I'm not trying to brag here, just relaying what we have learned and heard through the process. That is not to say that a 5'11" 150# kid can't be a top level recruit, prospect or successful major leaguer, but he better bring something special to the plate, so to speak, such as amazing arm strength, freak speed, and/or a big bat.

Steve,

Agree with what you say, with one exception to the above quote. For the most part, players of any size to become a high level recruit, prospect and especially a successful Major Leaguer, all have to bring something special. Size by itself means very little without having something to go with it. We see lots of big kids with great bodies who lack the necessaqry talent. They might score higher regarding projection, but projection is the hardest thing to grade accurately.

Look at the Minnesota Twins 40 man roster as of right now.

40-Man Roster
Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
30 Scott Baker R/R 6-4 210 09/19/81
-- Brian Bass R/R 6-0 215 01/06/82
53 Nick Blackburn R/R 6-4 205 02/24/82
26 Boof Bonser R/R 6-4 260 10/14/81
56 Carmen Cali L/L 5-10 185 11/04/78
28 Jesse Crain R/R 6-1 205 07/05/81
51 Julio DePaula R/R 6-0 180 12/31/82
54 Matt Guerrier R/R 6-3 195 08/02/78
-- Bobby Korecky R/R 5-11 190 09/16/79
47 Francisco Liriano L/L 6-2 200 10/26/83
74 Jose Mijares L/L 6-0 230 10/29/84
36 Joe Nathan R/R 6-4 220 11/22/74
17 Pat Neshek S/R 6-3 205 09/04/80
60 Glen Perkins L/L 5-11 200 03/02/83
37 Dennys Reyes R/L 6-3 245 04/19/77
39 Juan Rincon R/R 5-11 210 01/23/79
57 Johan Santana L/L 6-0 210 03/13/79
59 Kevin Slowey R/R 6-3 195 05/04/84
73 Oswaldo Sosa R/R 6-4 225 09/19/85
Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
7 Joe Mauer L/R 6-5 215 04/19/83
58 Jose Morales S/R 5-11 190 02/20/83
55 Mike Redmond R/R 5-11 200 05/05/71
Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
32 Brian Buscher L/R 6-0 200 04/18/81
25 Alexi Casilla S/R 5-9 180 07/20/84
-- Adam Everett R/R 6-0 170 02/05/77
-- Brendan Harris R/R 6-1 200 08/26/80
-- Mike Lamb L/R 6-1 200 08/09/75
-- Matt Macri R/R 6-2 200 05/29/82
33 Justin Morneau L/R 6-4 225 05/15/81
8 Nick Punto S/R 5-9 185 11/08/77
-- Matt Tolbert S/R 6-0 175 05/04/82
Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
5 Michael Cuddyer R/R 6-2 220 03/27/79
50 Garrett Jones L/L 6-4 225 06/21/81
16 Jason Kubel L/R 6-0 210 05/25/82
31 Darnell McDonald R/R 5-11 210 11/17/78
-- Craig Monroe R/R 6-1 205 02/27/77
-- Jason Pridie L/R 6-1 190 10/09/83
2 Denard Span L/L 6-0 195 02/27/84
-- Delmon Young R/R 6-3 215 09/14/85

19 pitchers
8 6'0 or less
4 5'10/5'11
10 6'2 or more

3 catchers
1 6'4
2 5'11

9 infielders
5 6'0 or less
2 5'9
2 6'2 or more
2 6'1

8 outfielders
3 6'0 or less
3 6'2 or more
2 6'1

There is still a lot of room for those 6'0 and under at the top. Size is nice, but talent is what counts. It concerns me that so many think size is more important than it really is. It's only an advantage when accompanied by special talent.

Everyone (myself included) uses the old "everything being equal" explanation. Problem with that is that "everything is very seldom equal"!

quote:

by fan: My son has tried everything to gain weight and has been to a nutritionist. he eats 4-5ooo calories a day and gained 6 pounds since june

maybe a second opinion (nutritionist) is in order

If I am a scout do I want player to be ripped and look fully mature at 18?

I remember reading once about a scout that had two players side by side, of equal ability, the player who looked like he had more room to grow (not necessarily up but out), with a baby face was his choice.

So from a scouting standpoint, what is best given the players have the same ability.

Bee>, that looks great,I'm in, but mine doesn't eat that anymore. It's chicken, chicken, chicken, steak, chicken, chicken, vegetables, rice, protein and more protein.

quote:

There are a load of things to take into consideration with a HS player---I learned this from my sons AD while sitting watching a JV basketball game-- he pointed out on of the players--fully blossoming with body hair--- and my son who was stark naked at that point when it came to body hair---he told me your son won't physically mature until he is 19/20 years of age---the other kid is done--- and he knew what he was talking about---my guy went to college at 5-9/150 came out at 5-11/195 and the other kid never played college sports despite being a superb three sport athlete in HS

PARENTS===sit back and let it come to the player

I agree. I teasingly call my son "Amish man" because his facial hair skims only his jaw line and hasn't filled in above that. His future college head coach has predicted that he probably won't bulk up until sophomore year in college. My husband was 5'10", 145 lbs., when he graduated from high school and now measures 6'0" and weighs a muscular 180 pounds. It simply takes some players longer than others to develop.

i can see putting on 25 pounds in two years, i can do that over a good weekend. that lasagna is only an horsdeurve at my house. the thing i'm looking for is how to get rid of the 25 pounds? i will have to call johny craig, jenny's chubby brother.

BaseballRulz1789,
Wow! Your question has generated alot of replies.
Thats part of why the HSBBW is as great as it is. Alot of people from various walks of life, with players interest at heart!

I am an believer in making dreams happen and going against the odds.
If you concede to those that tell you," you have no chance ", then chances are you won't.
If there is a will, there can be a way, but with that comes extreme hard work and only Y-O-U know if you have what it takes inside of you.

Almost impossible to give you an honest assessment without having seen your ability,..and even then,...it would be just a guess, or a matter of opinion coming from lil' ol' moi' ( I'm just a shortstopmom and not a recruiting coach ).

But,...here's what I have to offer you. If you want it, you have to make it happen. You have to committt 100% to going after your dream.
Don't wait for strangers to give you their opinion if they think you have a chance or not.

Dont be hung up about size,....make it a non-issue, and play well.
( Last time I checked, no one was interested in a batter's height or size of his bicep, the last time he hit a triple! )
IMHO, results are what coaches look for.

Knock on coaches doors.
Make calls to baseball offices.
Ask for a tryout or evaluation.
Dont take no for an answer. Beg, plead, bake cookies ( ha!)....
Email the coaches and tell them of your desires and interest to play at the next level.
Hit every division you can think of.
Email them a 2nd, 3rd, 4th time. If possible, go to their camp or a showcase.
Send them your Spring schedule and ask them to come take a look at you.
Keep moving until you can get someone to take interest.

quote:

I fear that no matter how much I practice and train it will never be good enough for college or even the bigs, can.

Gotta change your way of thinking.
From now on,... "FEAR" is a four letter word.
If I were you, I'd make a point to take it out of my vocabulary.

Think positive.
Say to yourself, " I will make it !!!! ".
Remember, baseball is is a mental game as well as a physical game.
Work harder than any other on your team, both on and off the field.

Go for it kid. Dont worry about chances or odds. Worry about making your dream happen!

I wish you the very very best!! PM me any time, and I would be glad to help you in your persuit of knocking on recruiting college doors!

Get movin' kiddo,....you got work ta' do!!

Fan-
Sounds like your son is strong and healthy. Stay on the shakes if you want to, maybe he is receiving some other health benefit from them besides weight gain. But nature is nature, he is on his own timeline for growth and weight gain. It will happen- this concern about getting bigger and stronger before a young man's body is ready for it is exactly what has kids/young men/ turning to illegal help to make things happen faster.
Relax, we all grow by a genetic code and he will be what that genetic code has already preset for him.
Keep working hard, eating right- he will not fail to mature

A pb&j on a really good whole wheat/7 grain bread
is about 350 calories - is a cheap, fast, easy and even better with chocolate milk.

quote:

by fan: Bee, reading over this thread i realize you have a lot of knowledeg and i know i am just a mom. .. begin to understand how hard we have tried to put weight on my son ... But I dont know what else to do to get him to gain more. if you have any suggestions i would appreciate it

1) there is no such thing as "just" a mom

2) why not post some of your questions in the strength/conditioning forum - there are some knowledgable people there and some may have dealt with situations like your son's

3) they could also critique your son's workouts and may have some suggestions for more building & less burning - some conditioning programs can rev up metabolism

4) that dialog could help others too

5) and I'd be happy to answer any pm questions

fanofgame,
I know this was directed to Bee> but I am not sure what the issue is. Your son's weight will come on naturally, all you should worry about is that he eats a well balanced meal. And he eats to replace what he loses in workouts and playing. You cannot outsmart mother nature. You claim your son is not skinny, muscular, what do you want? My son's D1 roster had some smaller players than your son, it was about ability not size or weight. You seem to be equating the D1 opportunity to that. If your son is good enough to play at that level, they will have their trainers take care of that issue.

Interestingly enough, you should see the pick of the cardinals before my son, he's tall and a beanpole. His ability earned him second pick, not his weight.

TR is right, it comes when it comes.

Fanofgame,
The player I am speaking of is 6'4", age 23 weighing in at 180.

TPM he is also a lefty.

Yes BBHD,
Ability not weight.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Steve,

Agree with what you say, with one exception to the above quote. For the most part, players of any size to become a high level recruit, prospect and especially a successful Major Leaguer, all have to bring something special. Size by itself means very little without having something to go with it. We see lots of big kids with great bodies who lack the necessaqry talent. They might score higher regarding projection, but projection is the hardest thing to grade accurately.

PG,
Yes, I agree 100%. What I should have clearly said is, all other things being equal, size matters. I said my son's size sets him apart from smaller kids with similar baseball skills. In son's case, those skills are very high, which is the PRIMARY reason he reached top level D1 status. His size, strength and speed got him noticed.

In regards to my quote about a smaller guy bringing something special, I was trying to answer previous posts mentioning guys like Lincecum, who happens to have freakish arm strength. If his fastball was at 'only' 90-92 mph, he never would have been drafted in the higher rounds. His size would have prevented that. The fact that he brings it at 98-99 mph is what got him there. I'm sure you'd agree that if Lincecum was 6'3 220# he would have probably been the first or second overall pick in the draft. His size prevented that, so all things being equal, size matters.

In any case, you are absolutely correct. They ALL have to bring something special, regardless of size.

Lincecum is a freak of nature. Not sure he shouldn't have been one of the first two picks the way it was.

But it always amazes me when certain not so big players without amazing tools (ie, Eckstein) become outstanding Big League players. It is the exception to the rule, but I love it.

Yes, size does matter. But not to many of those who don't have it.

Of course, you are right also.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
If I am a scout do I want player to be ripped and look fully mature at 18?

I remember reading once about a scout that had two players side by side, of equal ability, the player who looked like he had more room to grow (not necessarily up but out), with a baby face was his choice.

So from a scouting standpoint, what is best given the players have the same ability.

TPM,
I don't know how to answer your question. You'd have to ask the scouts who have evaluated my son, and the D1 coach who signed him.

In son's case, they chose the guy who has worked his tail off, has great tools, AND has a great athletic build. Does he have room to grow? Absolutely. Coaches and scouts would have to make their own judgements about individual players on a case by case basis. But, in son's case, I am convinced that his hard work to develop himself physically is what paid off in the end. He set himself apart from other less physically developed players with similar baseball skills.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Lincecum is a freak of nature. Not sure he shouldn't have been one of the first two picks the way it was.

As it turned out, he absolutely should have been the first player taken. Too bad his size prevented it.

Thank you all for your great insight, I really am appreciating it. I will prove all of the naysayers wrong someday.

quote:

Originally posted by BaseballRulz1789:
Thank you all for your great insight, I really am appreciating it. I will prove all of the naysayers wrong someday.

That's the right attitude! Go out and get what you want, regardless of what anyone tells you. It's totally up to you. Best of luck!

BBRulz - Sift through the advice, take advantage of that which seems appropriate for you....and go for it! Then, keep us all posted on how you progress. You've got a lot of people on this site who will be pulling for you!

quote:

Originally posted by BaseballRulz1789:
Since most of you seem to be very knowledgable about the game, I figured I'd ask you.I've been playing baseball my entire lifeand I have dreams to continue to play as long as I can.
I'm entering my senior year.After high school I have aspirations to play college baseball and even pro baseball.However I havent got a look from any scouts not even division 3 schools. I've been starting on varsity since my sophomore year and play outfield. I batted around .330 last year and for the legion team i hit.400. I have dedicated myself to the game of baseball and feel like my game will improve greatly next season.
The problem that I have is that I'm a very small player. I'm only 5'11 and weigh around 150. I also don't have much muscle to me, but I have been lifting.
My main question I guess is what is the likelihood of me playing college baseball(any division) and from there do I have any shot at being drafted, if I continue to hone my skills. Should I continue to chase this dream or should I face reality? I fear that no matter how much I practice and train it will never be good enough for college or even the bigs, can. What should I do?

My son was 5'11" 150 lbs when he was drafted