Whens the right age/grade to start showcases?

First of all, 14 is the perfect age to start getting the grades and "study game" in order. It's much easier to focus on baseball when that "school thing" is steady. Next, develop a plan for the next summer, looking at your local opportunities and then determe with your parents your level of committment.........There again, you can't determine that committment level unless the studies are under control.

First-understand what a showcase is for...finding a fit for baseball after high school.
That said, if you are serious and committed to that goal then I would recommend locating some low cost showcases, even the ones like Blue Gray or Pro-Day, where you are "trying out" to see if you qualify for one of their larger events.
My reasoning is that I believe that it is a good idea to get used to the format of a showcase and the anxiety you may go through as you try to perform your best knowing you are being graded. I would recommend a few of these smaller events before venturing out to a Perfect Game event. You want to be comfortable with the process (as well as swinging wood) before you go to a larger venue. I would look around now to see if there is anything inexpensive within a comfortable driving distance of your home.

It's a bit early. I'd wait until the year of your 16th birthday. But having said that, concentrate on improving your game, and when you're 16 play in some high profile tournaments and events (and showcases). Get on the college radars at 16--go to their camps-- then at 17 do some more showcases and camps to show your improvement. Play with the best summer ball team possible, and work on your defense, hitting and quickness. As a shortstop, you should know you have a lot of competition, so make sure your bat and arm are not liabilities.

I agree with floridafan. I actually think an early showcase is good so you can see where you stack up against the other players. The ONLY real “downside” to any showcase is the cost to attend the events. Even the small less expensive showcases offer some good. Start with this smaller, local, and less expensive showcase to familiarize yourself with the format. Consider too that you can do much of the same thing at a free pro tryout. Keep checking for pro tryouts in your area. Sometimes there are age limits on the pro tryout but that all depends on the scout(s) running the tryout. I took my son to his first showcase and pro tryout when he was 14. His high school coach actually suggested the pro tryout. I did this (as floridafan suggested) to get used to the format and to compare his talent to the other players in our area. This comparison helped him when he started looking for a college fit.
At age fourteen our main goal wasn’t exposure but it happened anyway (which is good). We only went to Joe Barth’s All-American showcase and Mid-West Prospects which are both smaller showcases plus the “big” East Coast Professional Showcase (which is free). Bottom line is it doesn’t make any difference if a college coach or a pro scout sees you at a $5 sandlot showcase or a huge $500.00 event ---- it will ALWAYS be your talent that makes things happen.
Best of luck,
Fungo

I agree with floridafan and Fungo - get used to the showcase environment and look at the talent level around you. My son went to one at your age and realized he still had a lot of work to do and hittng the weight room was his first priority.

He was alo complimented by many scouts telling him to continue to work hard and good things will happen.

You have not made either your HS JV or varsity team as yet-- I would worry more about that before I concern myself with showcases

I'd wait till you were on varsity before spending money on show case. At this time I'd use the money for lessons.
when you are 16 you can attend free pro tryout and gain show case experence.

Lot's of good feedback! all-starSS you've got a PM.

I sent you a pm back. tell me if you got it.

Yep and back at ya.

I would suggest that you think in terms of graduating classes (07, 08, etc.) vs ages. You should get exposure your sophomore year and really hit the high visibility showcases and exposure tournaments your junior year.

As others have suggested, first go to low cost -low visibility showcases to get used to the format and get over the nervousness, if you are not familiar with them, you can go to a high visibility showcase and watch how some are run and what the competition is like.

If you go to a high visibility showcase and you are not at the top of your game, coaches, scouts, and the rating service folks could see you they may note weaknesses and you could have an up hill battle overcoming the image.

I agree with 1 showcase at an early age.
My son attended 1 at 15. It was a 3 day showcase put on by his Elite organization. Cost about $100. Coaches from all over the US as far away as California and Georgia. He got lots of interest and glowing comments but the 3rd day the underagre kids were told not to attend. We did not go to another until he was graduating from HS. Our marketing program was well under way and talks were on going with several schools. The showcase at 19 resulted in several contacts, verbal offers and programs being sent. Some coaches called and left messages and we tried to let them know he was in talks with a few schools he wanted to go to. I think people are way too anxious and a couple well placed showcases would be done at an age that the school can sign you.
We did attend some free Pro camps which were very similar to college showcases. At 14-15 msot players are going to be overmatched by 18-19 yo players. If you get nervous playing in a showcase you are playing the wrong game. Baseball is one game you can't hide your mistakes.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
At 14-15 msot players are going to be overmatched by 18-19 yo players. If you get nervous playing in a showcase you are playing the wrong game. Baseball is one game you can't hide your mistakes.

There are certainly many ways to give the player exposure. Many showcases try to get like classes together, Perfect Game has started to have showcases which are geared to specific classes such as pre-high school vs their normal showcases that more sophomores or juniors attend. If the player is one of the top players, by going to showcases specifically for younger players, they can get on the radar early and "enjoy" the ranking and recruiting process early.

Tournaments are the same where those which are highly scouted, they like to have like classes so the coaches and scouts can see players for their specific recruiting cycles.

quote:

Many showcases try to get like classes together, Perfect Game has started to have showcases which are geared to specific classes such as pre-high school vs their normal showcases that more sophomores or juniors attend. If the player is one of the top players, by going to showcases specifically for younger players, they can get on the radar early and "enjoy" the ranking and recruiting process early.

As much as I love PG, I do not agree with pre-HS showcases. They do 999 great things...this one is troublesome to me. But lets not blame them. If there were no market, it wouldn't be there.

I agree with TR and its very similar to advice we received from a pretty smart "baseball guy"...concentrate on making your HS team. Then concentrate on making the varsity. When those things are taken care of, look for a showcase appropriate for your grade and age.

Our son went to his first showcase (a local one) during his Junior year. Fungo's advice is good too, but there is no one way to skin this cat.

BTW - I also agree that pre-HS is too early as there is much development going to happen, I just wanted to point out that you need to choose the correct showcase that is for a specific graduating class.