What's with all the Wood Bat Tournaments?

The point is that pro scouts go to showcase tournaments the same as college coaches do, and they want to see wood bats in the hitters hands.

I've been to about 15 showcase tournaments and have yet to see any hitter that was being scouted for a direct move to professional ball. If by chance there are pro scouts in attendance, they are there to see pitchers. Besides Bryce Harper, I don't recall any high school players that are recruitied as hitters. Maybe a CF, C, or flashy SS, but not as a hitter.

I'd rather see these players start to get used to the BBCOR this Fall.

quote:

Originally posted by ihatedaddyball:
I've been to about 15 showcase tournaments and have yet to see any hitter that was being scouted for a direct move to professional ball. If by chance there are pro scouts in attendance, they are there to see pitchers. Besides Bryce Harper, I don't recall any high school players that are recruitied as hitters. Maybe a CF, C, or flashy SS, but not as a hitter.

I'd rather see these players start to get used to the BBCOR this Fall.

Not sure which showcases you have attended, but the better ones have pro scouts there and that is exactly what they are looking for...hitters. The pro scouts want to see them hit wood.

Simple process. If a prospect can hit with wood, the prospect can hit with the BBCOR. Most hitters worth their salt, train with wood anyway.

quote:

I've been to about 15 showcase tournaments and have yet to see any hitter that was being scouted for a direct move to professional ball. If by chance there are pro scouts in attendance, they are there to see pitchers. Besides Bryce Harper, I don't recall any high school players that are recruitied as hitters. Maybe a CF, C, or flashy SS, but not as a hitter.

I'd rather see these players start to get used to the BBCOR this Fall.

Hitting is actually the #1 tool that scouts look for. The first round of the draft has many high school players each year. If a player can’t hit, he won’t be a first round pick. Position is not as important as hitting ability. There are just as many, if not more, high school first baseman than high school shortstops drafted in the first round.

If a player can hit with wood, he will be able to hit with any other bat. If a player can hit with metal, it does not mean he can hit with wood. Therefore the wood bat is able to show both pro scouts and college recruiters who the best hitters are.

The best fielders, fastest runners, best arms, etc., may or may not get drafted. Those considered the "best" hitters definitely get drafted and they often get drafted in the first round.

Here are a few high school draft picks, that scouts wanted to see hit with wood. Notice that they are not all CF, C, or flashy shortstops, there are some first baseman listed. They all have one thing in common and it is not their position, fielding ability,speed, arm strength, etc.

Josh Hamilton
Casey Kotchman
Prince Fielder
Jeremy Hermida
James Loney
Carl Crawford
Joe Mauer
Adrian Gonzalez
John Mayberry
David Wright
BJ Upton
Justin Upton
Jason Heyward
Freddie Freeman
Delmon Young
Billy Butler
Andrew McCutchen
Jay Bruce
Joey Votto
Colby Rasmus
Cameron Maybin
Eric Hosmer
Brett Lawrie
Mike Moustakas
Mike Trout

Stud hitters always will be at a premium because short of a legit NO. 1 pitcher they are the hardest thing to find. Pro scouts want to see power and the metal bats masked that for a generation and maybe the BBCOR will solve some of that.

If you think about it there's maybe 50 guys who are legit 3/4/5 hitters in MLB. If you project into that you don't need to be able to play the rest of the game and you'll play for 15-20 years. See Manny Rameriz, Adam Dunn and Jim Thome for proof of that. The way the economics are now it's a $200-$300 Million skill if you can get to the bigs at 20 or 21 and hit two maxed out contracts.

quote:

Originally posted by ihatedaddyball:
I've been to about 15 showcase tournaments and have yet to see any hitter that was being scouted for a direct move to professional ball. If by chance there are pro scouts in attendance, they are there to see pitchers...

We had 2 MLB scouts looking at one of our hitters this weekend - 1 from an MLB team and one from the MLB Scouting Bureau. They were in attendence solely to see him, per their words.

College coaches like to see how you hit with wood, too. It's a way of separating contenders from pretenders. A kid who cannot square it up with wood is less likely to make the adjustment from facing HS to college pitching.

But if you disagree, then let those who want to play wood bat go their merry way without you. Problem solved.

Also regarding "Showcase" Tournaments.

The most heavily scouted events, both MLB scouts and College recruiters, are Wood Bat events.

Hitting with wood requires the ability to square up the ball on the best part of the bat. That skill will get you ready to hit with any bat. Especially if you are able to do that against high level pitching!

OK. Forget the pro scouts...for now. I haven't seen one 2012 player from Virginia who will be drafted in the pros out of high school for being a great hitter. Not this year....and I've seen just about all of them. I'm talking for colleges. You would think the colleges would like to see the BBCOR bats being used, since that is what they use. And I personally would like my kid to get used to the BBCOR, since that is what he will use next Spring.

quote:

Originally posted by ihatedaddyball:
(1)...I haven't seen one 2012 player from Virginia who will be drafted in the pros out of high school for being a great hitter...

(2)...You would think the colleges would like to see the BBCOR bats being used, since that is what they use...

(1) There are quite a few MLB teams that are taking an interest in this hitter who think differently than you.

(2) Colleges like to see you swing with wood. It helps them ID good hitters.

"You would think the colleges would like to see the BBCOR bats being used, since that is what they use."

I can see where you might think this. But if you'll listen to those who've been dealing with college coaches for a while and hearing what they are actually looking at and for, you'll find that what you might surmise is simply not the case.