Written Showcase Evaluation?

Welcome!

They used this kind of system when 2B went to a camp at UGA a couple of years ago. Depends on the school, but for this one, I thought they were very straightforward, and will prove to be accurate when things shake out for 2B. Good luck!

To answer the rest of your question regarding what 2-4 means, they will have it defined on the evaluation. But, just my opinion here, try not to get hung up on the number, whether it's 1 or 5. It's one more reference point on your son's journey.

Baseball mom,

It will probably be like this

5- draft prospect, High DI
4- low to mid DI
3- above ave HS player
2- average HS player
1- like what you have stated.

Agree with 2bmom. Use the numbers as a guide to get better even if it is a 5

You have both been very helpful - thanks!!!!

We will definitely keep it all in perspective and use it as a tool. We have gotten honest assessments from the local (DIII) coaches involved with his travel team as well as report from a regional pro scout. It will be nice to compare notes and continue to encourage improvement.

Eval of 2013 arrived today . . . trying to take advice and keep it in perspective for the boy.

Lots of 2s, and a 2+ (2 = with development could play college ball). Comments say he had a good camp and he is young with plenty of time to develop and weight room will bring more strength.

These evals can be quite ridiculous and yes I am a little peeved, LOL. Son got a terrible eval from a College that will remain un named. But the reason it peeves me is that he got 1 official AB and 3 plate appearances in 2 games, the daggone coach allowed the hitters to walk. I would like to know of all those on here that have taken their kids to a college showcase how many coaches allowed the hitters to actually get a pitch to hit or allowed walks?
To me, how in the world can you eval a hitter in a case like that. I can assure you the college kids watching them hit off of a machine indoors were not jotting down info on their hitting prowesses either.

Rockford, they are telling your son exactly what he needs to do: get to the gym. My son finally got serious about lifting about a year ago and it made a huge difference in everything - speed, strength, power, confidence. If you can afford it, find a good personal trainer who can work with your son on a baseball-specific strength, conditioning, and nutrition program. That's what we did. We got very lucky with a trainer who had a friend on the Red Sox training staff, and 2B has been on their program for nearly a year. If that's not an option, there's lots of good info in the Strength and Conditioning forum. It takes a lot of hard work, but if your son dedicates himself, he can do it.

Interestingly, he has been doing serious conditioning with both school and travel that started after this showcase.

He did another local event this past Sunday and we received those numbers today too. Much higher scores in hitting and FB velocity.

Any given day, and keep working is the message we are giving him!

And no, I can't imagine a coach letting batters walk. At our recent college showcase if you got four balls they put a runner on for you and then you started a new AB with a 1-1 count. I don't know if that is standard, but we thought it was fair.

I would take these 1 to 5 grades with a grain of salt because they are extremely general. A longer written report like they give at Perfect Game tells you a little bit more of how they saw a player. Even then, just keep working hard and don't let these grades destroy your or your son's confidence.

Rockford, this college is a Big Ten school too. New coaching staff, you may figure it all out by that info, their mascot is a nut ....go figure.

Three Bagger is right.

It's hard not to take these evals personally. But you can use the information they give you. One school's eval ranked my son D1 caliber, but not their level D1. That was a pretty clear message to cross that school off the list. (For the record, he will most likely not go D1, at least not in 2011.)

I would much rather have that kind of answer than be led on "...you are on the top of our recruiting list...please come to our next camp...the cost is only..."

Good point, three-bagger! We have learned a lot through these boards that has been confirmed with personal experience. Our kid is definitely good enough for them to all suggest we pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to send him to their camp.

With that grain of salt, take the money spent on these showcases and use it towards physical training and lessons. I am not putting all showcases on the same level but a quality instructor should be able to gauge you child's ability. As many have said, many showcases are "cattle calls" to bring in some nice $$$.

I'm all for physical training and lessons. 2B has had a personal trainer for the last year, and the same hitting coach (former pro) for the last 5 years. But, with all due respect, there are a lot of for-profit instructors out there who will tell mom or dad just what they want to hear so they'll keep bringing little Johnny in for instruction.

quote:

But, with all due respect, there are a lot of for-profit instructors out there who will tell mom or dad just what they want to hear so they'll keep bringing little Johnny in for instruction.

I had a Dad tell me that his son's pitching instructor told him that his son shows alot of potential because at the age of 9 he was throwing 40 mph. He was a lefty though

BK35 that is hilarious to me actually because I have coached all different age groups and I started all over this year with a local organization and took on the 9U team. It is great because the kids are kids and having fun.

Why would you even radar a 9U kid? Makes no sense to me. Teach proper mechanics, and take everyone to Dairy Queen after the games.

Then again he is a lefty so means he is legit!

i agree!!!!

My son just got his first eval. He finally, understands when I tell him, "Don't quit your day job, just yet". In all honesty the eval was a bit broad. 1 below average high school, 2 average high school, 3 average college, 4 impact college player, and 5 pro prospect. He got 2+, which I guess is above average high school player. In all honesty, that is what he is. Time to get really serious or simply sit back and enjoy the high school experience.

Eric G - did "The" school in question use a 2-8 scale for the evaluations? What do you define as a "terrible" eval? Just wondering, as I believe my son (a 2014) attended a similar event for frosh/sophs at that same school this past fall.

TTJr has had two evaluations by college coaches. What I find most helpful are similiar comments. I mean, if two coaches see the same thing on different days, maybe TTJr should think about it. Numberical scores were somewhat consistent, higher on the second evaluation. Both used the 1-5 scale.

Listening to a lot of grumbling about the evaluations and I think I can provide some insight.

We evaluate the 5 tools:
Hit, run, throw, field and power.

At the amateur level(high school) most colleges or scouts recruit two types of players: now guys and projectable guys or players that will develop in their program. "Now guys" should make an impact their freshman year.

Back to interpreting the evaluation from a scouts point of view.

It's tough to make clear projection on where a 14, 15, 16 year old player will end up due to the fact that they will grow. Point is if you get an eval. that says "needs to continue to develop skills set and strength" or "needs to improv... x,y,z" its the truth. If players didn't have anything to work on, we'd all be making 40 man roster minimum which is 400k!!

Also, if your going to camps at Big D1 schools and getting an evaluation from them that doesn't rate too high, start looking into JC programs. Most of the players that go to big D1 programs are players that are "now guys" who have committed early as sophomores/juniors or JC transfers.

Also look into getmynameout.com showcases. Their evaluator staff includes a hall of famer and a former scouting supervisor.