Which closest to Md. showcases are best for a 15 yr. old h.s. catcher? Do some highlight catchers and others pitchers? If you can't afford to do them all, which would you recommend?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Dear Catch R:
I would HIGHLY recommend Perfect Game (http://www.perfectgame.org) or Pro-Motion Sports who do the Blue-Grey Classic Baseball Showcases (http://www.impactprospects.com/bbpipeline.html). These are legitimate operations with qualified staff. Your son will be properly evaluated and there will be college scouts on hand.
Your son is probably too young right now for the Pro-Motion, but not PG (Perfect Game).
If your son is strong academically and wants to go Ivy League or to a top academic school, contact Brendan Sullivan of Head First Baseball. Brendan runs the nationally esteemed "National Honor Roll Showcase and Camp" in VA and Fl. Almost every Ivy League coach (and then some) attends. (http://www.playheadfirst.com/sports_national_honor_baseball.jsp)
Brendan is also a great ambassador to the youth game in this area and will gladly talk to you about various college options, even if you're not part of his Gamer program. Here's another link to a NY Times article about him and the showcase (http://www.playheadfirst.com/pdf/HeadfirstBaseball_Honor_Roll_Baseball_NYtimes.pdf).
Locally, I've heard good things about the Mid-Atlantic High School Baseball Classic held at UM (http://www.diamondrecruiting.com) and The Southern Maryland Baseball Camp (http://www.somdbaseball.com/index.htm).
MCBA (Montgomery County Baseball Association) ran a showcase earlier this year, however, I don't know if they're doing it again or how well it was run (http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=mcba).
Al McCormick, who is the moderator of this MD forum, is also a good resource for information. I know he runs some programs that are tailored and specific to getting players seen by particular schools/coaches. Your son is still a little young for that too, however, it's good that you're starting now.
If you do PG (Perfect Game), be sure to do a State ID Showcase first. Unfortunately, I don't think there are any specific to MD, but they have them throughout the country; and in PA, VA and NJ throughout the year. PG has a working relationship with Baseball America and they are no doubt the top evaluation and tracking program in the country.
Even though he's only 15, it's my respectful opinion that the first question you and your son should discuss is...in what area of the country would he like to play ball when he goes to college (I assume that's the plan...
.
Typically, people think of schools first, instead of area. There are good/great academic institutions everywhere, so proximity to what's important to him and your family, be it weather, closeness to family etc, might be something you'll want to discuss first, then look at schools...of course based on your son's educational goals. I would then choose the showcases based on their proximity to the prospective colleges/universities/area he wants to attend, since it's the coaches from those schools that will most likely be present.
Again, given your son's age, 1 or 2 showcases a year, in the region he wants to attend school, will give him a big advantage. The baseball coaches in that area will get to know him and they'll see his progress over the next few years. If you're looking up east, PG has a section on their site dedicated to that area. If you're looking down south, pick showcases in the SC, GA area, etc... Mid Atlantic...do PA, NC and VA, etc...
One last piece of advice...do not attend a showcase unless he's well practiced and ready, and he should showcase himself ONLY in the position(s) he's proficient in. Once his score gets entered into a database, that's it.
One bad score or showcase is NOT going to end his career, however, these showcases are competitive and coaches take note of the players, thus you want to make sure he plays to the best of his ability. Too many players feel they have to do IF, OF, C and P all in one showcase, and that's a mistake unless they're good in all those positions. It's about quality not quantity, and the showcase directors will explain that before they start.
Again, with PG, you'll need to start with a State ID showcase first.
Good luck!
I would HIGHLY recommend Perfect Game (http://www.perfectgame.org) or Pro-Motion Sports who do the Blue-Grey Classic Baseball Showcases (http://www.impactprospects.com/bbpipeline.html). These are legitimate operations with qualified staff. Your son will be properly evaluated and there will be college scouts on hand.
Your son is probably too young right now for the Pro-Motion, but not PG (Perfect Game).
If your son is strong academically and wants to go Ivy League or to a top academic school, contact Brendan Sullivan of Head First Baseball. Brendan runs the nationally esteemed "National Honor Roll Showcase and Camp" in VA and Fl. Almost every Ivy League coach (and then some) attends. (http://www.playheadfirst.com/sports_national_honor_baseball.jsp)
Brendan is also a great ambassador to the youth game in this area and will gladly talk to you about various college options, even if you're not part of his Gamer program. Here's another link to a NY Times article about him and the showcase (http://www.playheadfirst.com/pdf/HeadfirstBaseball_Honor_Roll_Baseball_NYtimes.pdf).
Locally, I've heard good things about the Mid-Atlantic High School Baseball Classic held at UM (http://www.diamondrecruiting.com) and The Southern Maryland Baseball Camp (http://www.somdbaseball.com/index.htm).
MCBA (Montgomery County Baseball Association) ran a showcase earlier this year, however, I don't know if they're doing it again or how well it was run (http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=mcba).
Al McCormick, who is the moderator of this MD forum, is also a good resource for information. I know he runs some programs that are tailored and specific to getting players seen by particular schools/coaches. Your son is still a little young for that too, however, it's good that you're starting now.
If you do PG (Perfect Game), be sure to do a State ID Showcase first. Unfortunately, I don't think there are any specific to MD, but they have them throughout the country; and in PA, VA and NJ throughout the year. PG has a working relationship with Baseball America and they are no doubt the top evaluation and tracking program in the country.
Even though he's only 15, it's my respectful opinion that the first question you and your son should discuss is...in what area of the country would he like to play ball when he goes to college (I assume that's the plan...
.Typically, people think of schools first, instead of area. There are good/great academic institutions everywhere, so proximity to what's important to him and your family, be it weather, closeness to family etc, might be something you'll want to discuss first, then look at schools...of course based on your son's educational goals. I would then choose the showcases based on their proximity to the prospective colleges/universities/area he wants to attend, since it's the coaches from those schools that will most likely be present.
Again, given your son's age, 1 or 2 showcases a year, in the region he wants to attend school, will give him a big advantage. The baseball coaches in that area will get to know him and they'll see his progress over the next few years. If you're looking up east, PG has a section on their site dedicated to that area. If you're looking down south, pick showcases in the SC, GA area, etc... Mid Atlantic...do PA, NC and VA, etc...
One last piece of advice...do not attend a showcase unless he's well practiced and ready, and he should showcase himself ONLY in the position(s) he's proficient in. Once his score gets entered into a database, that's it.
One bad score or showcase is NOT going to end his career, however, these showcases are competitive and coaches take note of the players, thus you want to make sure he plays to the best of his ability. Too many players feel they have to do IF, OF, C and P all in one showcase, and that's a mistake unless they're good in all those positions. It's about quality not quantity, and the showcase directors will explain that before they start.
Again, with PG, you'll need to start with a State ID showcase first.
Good luck!
The Southern Maryland Baseball Showcase is great. Run a great summer and winter showcase out of Arundel high school. Lot of colleges come out to the winter, most likely same for summer.
My son loved the winter Southern Md. camp... (Al, we met you there!) Thanks to being spotted at the camp, our son is playing for a new metro team, and hopefully will be #1 catcher for them.We are also going to do the So. Md. summer camp, but were a bit concerned that the only kids that seemed to be really looked at by the scouts and college guys were the pitchers! Our son used to pitch... still has on occasion and could get better if he wanted to... he is very accurate with a closer mentality, but HE LOVES CATCHING MOST!!! and he is not a big kid at all... strong but short. He really wants to play in college and gets decent grades in honors and GT classes (could be better... says he's trying!) We are getting very mixed messages about showcases.... what else can he do?? His high school is in Howard Cty. and is not very good this year.
I remember you.
Please feel free to call me anytime and I will provide you my thoughts!
Enjoy Easter.
Al McCormick
(410) 721-4203
www.mostvaluableplayer.biz
Please feel free to call me anytime and I will provide you my thoughts!
Enjoy Easter.
Al McCormick
(410) 721-4203
www.mostvaluableplayer.biz
I went to the Southern Maryland Camp in the winter as well and thought it was a good camp although there may have been too little space for a full evaluation, it also seemed like the scouts were looking more at the hitting then anything else.
Blue Gray, Most Valuable Player, and Perfect Game.