How do college scouts look at/ determine this?
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This is a pretty broad question that could go a lot of different ways and apply differently to ages and circumstances. Also, we can talk more superficial or drill down. I'll start.
Body - frame, lankiness, athletic movement, fast-twitch, genes (parent and older sibling size and athleticism). Mechanics - fluid, no major hitches, agile, throw/swing motion (at or close to correct and reasonably natural). Other things like demeanor, competitiveness, "big game" capabilities, etc. You can also go the path of stability, family financial outlook...
I will echo Cabbagedad on all of the above. Projectability is subjective and very much in the eye of the beholder. There is no formula. Every coach/scout makes his own determination about how much weight he gives to any specific criteria.
I guess I was wondering because my son has always been a big kid. Big as in big boned. When I compare him from when he was a baby to now (almost 16) he has always been bigger then my size at the same age. Right now he is bigger then me (6' 206lbs - he can trim up some) - broad shouldered and has some extra lbs on him. I was always a runt until a senior in high school. I think I was 5'11" 165lbs or something like that, with lots of fast twitch. Does that mean they will look at him and say he has no projectability?
Does that make sense?
In the vaguest of terms, I'd liken projectability to frame size, but what everyone has said is also true. Here's one way to know. Go look at my son. Projectability is what he is NOT.
@Dadof3 posted:I guess I was wondering because my son has always been a big kid. Big as in big boned. When I compare him from when he was a baby to now (almost 16) he has always been bigger then my size at the same age. Right now he is bigger then me (6' 206lbs - he can trim up some) - broad shouldered and has some extra lbs on him. I was always a runt until a senior in high school. I think I was 5'11" 165lbs or something like that, with lots of fast twitch. Does that mean they will look at him and say he has no projectability?
Does that make sense?
Often that type of player (6 ft, 200) will be called "physically maxed out" by scouts. That means he will be seen as less peojectable but if your performance is already good that isn't that big of a deal.
I mean if you already throw 95, who cares if you are maxed out?
However if you are 200 pounds of solid muscle and you throw 81 that obviously isn't so great because where is the growth going to come from? (Unless you have abysmal mechanics- but that isn't great either).
But of course even if he weighs 200 it doesn't mean he can't get stronger, especially if he has higher body fat that he can drop and "replace" with muscle.
So still keep working on strength but keep bodyweight in check because the strong but chubby one (powerlifter physique) will be labeled "bad body" (guessing he is more of a mesomorph body who quickly puts on muscle but also a bit of fat).
Most (but not all) coaches/scouts give a lot of weight to genetics. If they see a kid that comes from an athletic family with a history of producing college and/or pro athletes (in any sport), that kid will often get more consideration than a similar player w/o that background. It’s just the way it is.
How tall is the mother?
I know a few recruiters that take this question very, very seriously.
@ReluctantO'sFan mine are all weird and completely ignored my averageness. PTWoodson passed his dad up even though I’m barely 5’4”.
I agree with what everyone said but would add that projectability is all about how much better they think you can get. So it might be that they think you can grow more, get a lot stronger or get a lot more skilled. That means that late growers, guys who are from up North, guys who play other sports or guys who haven’t had a ton of baseball training are all viewed as protectable.
Scout to me "How tall is your son?"
Me "5'11"
Scout "Nobody's 5'11". If I like him he's 6'0". If I don't like him, he's 5'10"."
Not having facial hair helps
@adbono posted:Most (but not all) coaches/scouts give a lot of weight to genetics. If they see a kid that comes from an athletic family with a history of producing college and/or pro athletes (in any sport), that kid will often get more consideration than a similar player w/o that background. It’s just the way it is.
So true. I've met college scouts and for the introductory meeting I noticed them giving me a once over, eyeballing my physical characteristics. My wife also was checked out but I will stay away from that... Maybe that's why my son received very little serious offers . Later realized they were looking at genetics and physical potential for him. Not as much for MLB scouts since he was 20, or they weren't so obvious. What I do think is important for my son is the way my wife and I conversed with them. The way we conducted ourselves, our thoughts, proper etiquette, values, etc. all hopefully played a part if he could be compatible with the team. All intangible things but still important.
There are two kids in my son's HS class.
One is 6'5", with Dad who is 6'6", and was a D1 and MiLB player. Plays on non elite teams. Still trips over his feet sometimes when running the bases, strikes out a ton, and his velo is low from off the mound because his mechanics are a work in progress. On the plus side, has a killer curve, can hit the ball a mile when he connects, and run fast in the OF when everything is in synch. also just put on 30 lbs during the off season, and STILL looks skinny.
The other is 5'10 1/2", 195. Big butt, strong. Very polished player who plays on the top travel team in the state. Very good hitter, with power. Strong, good hands. Slow runner, average arm, but versatile in the field. Dad is a former pro athlete, who is also 5'10 1/2".
Player one is projectable, but also a project.
Player two is a better ballplayer at the moment, but is nearer his maximum potential right now.
I'd want one of each on my team.
I remember my son playing in a 13u travel tournament sponsored by a USA Today Top 25 private school. After my 5’2” 100 son had led off and played exceptionally well at short and center I was grabbed after a game by the head coach. He looked me up and down. I’m 6’1”. Then he asked the height of his mother (5’8”). Knowing what this was all about I added his 17yo sister was 5’10” and committed to a D1 softball program.
Another time after a 16u game a coach from a program known for getting it’s 17u players to D1 approached me. When I was in the neighborhood (35 miles away) I decided to drop in. I name dropped my son to get the tour. I looked at the alumni wall and commented I played college summer ball with X and Y’s dads (both kids started for Vanderbilt, both drafted, one in the first round). The coach’s eyes lit up. He gave me the full tour. I could tell what he was thinking about my son. He must have called my son the second I left the facility. I was told about it when I arrived home.
Would a scout care that 2022's grandfather was an NBA draft pick and his great uncle was in the MiLB? Or is that too far removed?
@JETSR71 posted:Would a scout care that 2022's grandfather was an NBA draft pick and his great uncle was in the MiLB? Or is that too far removed?
They would care.
@adbono posted:They would care.
How do you work that into a conversation? Well back in college when I was on a D1 soccer team....lol. It just seems so odd
Right? You know what is funny, I was on a college soccer team, small (d3) but I never knew you had to sign up as class. I never got credit for it but I played in games... go figure...
@Trust In Him posted:So true. I've met college scouts and for the introductory meeting I noticed them giving me a once over, eyeballing my physical characteristics.
It was good for all involved that RipkenFanSon's RC (who was also the position coach) was also under 6 ft tall.
@baseballhs posted:Not having facial hair helps
Bingo!
@JETSR71 posted:Would a scout care that 2022's grandfather was an NBA draft pick and his great uncle was in the MiLB? Or is that too far removed?
I believe on many college recruiting forms it asks if any relatives played college sports. If is just asks for 'parents', tell 'em anyway! It certainly couldn't hurt.
We parents never met the pro scouts, but we knew who they were and I'm sure they asked around to who we were. "You never know who is watching" applies to parents, too.
I can't stress enough about not sporting facial hair during college recruiting. You don't want to look like a man.
And another thing, NO one measures a player without cleats. If your son is 5'11", he is 6'0". Don't round up to 6'4" lol.
@keewart posted:I believe on many college recruiting forms it asks if any relatives played college sports. If is just asks for 'parents', tell 'em anyway! It certainly couldn't hurt.
We parents never met the pro scouts, but we knew who they were and I'm sure they asked around to who we were. "You never know who is watching" applies to parents, too.
I can't stress enough about not sporting facial hair during college recruiting. You don't want to look like a man.
And another thing, NO one measures a player without cleats. If your son is 5'11", he is 6'0". Don't round up to 6'4" lol.
what if the kid is 6'2" and a sophomore? does it matter if he lists his actual height or goes up an inch? he's primarily an infielder but pitches as his second or third position.
@keewart posted:I believe on many college recruiting forms it asks if any relatives played college sports. If is just asks for 'parents', tell 'em anyway! It certainly couldn't hurt.
We parents never met the pro scouts, but we knew who they were and I'm sure they asked around to who we were. "You never know who is watching" applies to parents, too.
I can't stress enough about not sporting facial hair during college recruiting. You don't want to look like a man.
And another thing, NO one measures a player without cleats. If your son is 5'11", he is 6'0". Don't round up to 6'4" lol.
"In cleats on cement"
So things I've learned:
Baseball is just like football in that everyone is an inch (2 in football) taller on the roster than in real life.
AND my husband I should never attend any events given Lefty is a full foot taller than me and 6 inches taller than his father....but we should both find a way to forward our (relatively) impressive athletic history. Oh and Lefty should keep his 6 chin whiskers shorn.
Like recruiting wasn't hard enough.
My husband (basketball player) always “measured” in his shoes. My son downplays his height because he did not want to get pushed into pitching (when he was being recruited for college) and now because there are assumptions about tall outfielders and injuries.
@PTWood posted:My husband (basketball player) always “measured” in his shoes. My son downplays his height because he did not want to get pushed into pitching (when he was being recruited for college) and now because there are assumptions about tall outfielders and injuries.
Kevin Durant is 6'-9"...
@PTWood posted:My husband (basketball player) always “measured” in his shoes. My son downplays his height because he did not want to get pushed into pitching (when he was being recruited for college) and now because there are assumptions about tall outfielders and injuries.
In 2019 there were only two position players 6’6” or taller (Judge and Greiner). The rep for injuries has to be completely on one player’s (Judge) inability to stay healthy. Greiner is a backup catcher. Catchers get dinged just because if their position.
The complaint I remember hearing is tall player’s strike zone is too big and easy to work. The only 6’6” or taller position players I remember are Frank Howard and Dave Winfield. Howard was a lumbering player. Winfield was an athlete also drafted by the NFL and NBA. He won seven gold gloves.
Ms. Wood is probably the only shorter parent who should be seen to reassure her son is done growing.
I know the boys are all eager to show off their facial hair, but it's not a good idea during recruiting. To my dismay, my son is currently sporting a very patchy looking mustache that he has been growing for 3 weeks
At 12U, there were twin boys that were 6 feet tall and threw 73-74. They both had full beards for the 12U championship in honor of No Shave November. Everyone was scared to face them. Senior year in HS, they were still 6' and topped out at 78-79. It was the biggest indicator that they were pretty much done at 13.