I was just wondering why the major league scouts want to scout a pitcher at his first or second scrimmage. It would seem that they would want to wait until you have gotten a few innings in and gotten the rust off. Our coach doesn't even let pitchers throw from the windup or throw any breaking pitches at this point. My son is pitching his third inning since November and I know that at least 4 teams are coming to watch and I was concerned that his performance will not be as good as it will be after he gets some more innings in. Will the scouts come back if he looks rusty?

They are interested early because a kid usually throws their hardest in the first few games. They are fresh out of the off-season. I think that is why.

Remember that they are just doing their jobs. Would you like them all to stay indoors and watch TV until all the pitchers say that their arms are in mid-season form? The scouts have experience, and they know the date, they know what they are looking at and looking for.

no way...Just be grateful they are out to watch a quality player.

Consider the alternative?

There are a lot of things a scout can pick up on in the early part of the season. Form is always good, mound presence is important also.If speed and accuracy look good in the early parts of the season, then by mid season they should be worth the trip to see them again.

Thanks for the replies. I am grateful, nervous too! I was just wondering if he wasn't throwing as hard or didn't look as good because it was so early, if they would quit looking.

They also want to have a "baseline" performance to compare later performances.

Don't worry about why they're there, just relax & enjoy the ride.

BTW, don't say too much to the Scouts. Be polite, honest, sociable. But give no more info than necessary. Don't forget who signs their paychecks. They are just doing their jobs but they aren't there for your benefit either.

Good advice. As they say, "It's just business."

Remember also, scouts have to get in "playin' shape" too. Many will be heading to spring training, as well as early season college games later this month. This is especially true in sunbelt states like Texas. Lots of players, little time!
If they're there looking at your kid now, be happy. You'll probably see them again before the season is over.

"take your boy hunting'instead of hunting for your boy"

Kind of funny how they find out somehow about intra-squad scrimmages and the like. A true demonstration that the baseball community is a very small world and people talk.

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"Pitching is the art of instilling fear," Sandy Koufax.

justbaseball

Can't believe you took my son's favorite Koufax quote - can we share?

Had one scout call wanting times for tryouts so he could see young son early.

If he was out there today all he saw was him shoveling snow off the pitcher's mound.

Well K2 - Your son is a lefty and mine is a righty, so you probably deserve the quote more than me. So will you share back with me?

Koufax played basketball as a freshman at my undergraduate alma mater - Univ. of Cincinnati. He was only there a year before he signed. But we still like to claim him.

Your son won't be shoveling snow at this time next year!

________________
"Pitching is the art of instilling fear," Sandy Koufax.

Back from the game. My observation is they just wanted to see how hard he was throwing. The reason I say they were interested in velocity is because another player was hitting 88-89 that they hadn't seen before and even though he walked at least 5 batters in his two innings they still liked him. There were about ten scouts there with stalkers. My son threw two innings and hit 90 many times. Not his best game, but he didn't look as rusty as I thought he might.

No way,
I don't think it is all about velocity. There are many other factors to consider.

I agree about the other factors. I just think that his velocity peaked there interest. Or should I say got him on the radar screen.

justbaseball

Thanks for sharing. Young son has an "if" "instill fear", inked on the underside of the bill of his cap. Of course he also has "don't forget to duck"

If you haven't seen it Street & Smith has their 2004 Baseball Annual out at newstands and have a couple of pages on their HS AAT. E&D are cited. Congrats to E.

K2 - I think I like your young son! Sounds like a winner to me.

I saw the magazine too - its so amazing. I used to read their basketball version as a kid looking at the recruiting lists and hoping my team (Bearcats) would land a top recruit. To see your own son in that magazine is yet another simply amazing step on this amazing journey - as you well know.

Congrats also to D. Looking forward to meeting you and seeing them face-off at a ballpark in the not-so-distant future.

________________
"Pitching is the art of instilling fear," Sandy Koufax.

Thanks, perhaps a match up at Sunken Diamond. Best of Luck to E this HS season. You must be about ready to play your first games. We're still shoveling snow - snowing again tonight - the boys have yet to have an outside practice. Frustrating.

if

I too was surprised to see a ML scout at a HS scrimmage game this past week -- just 2 weeks into spring practice and 2 1/2 weeks before the season opener.

- Whoever said a walk was as good as a hit, couldn't hit.

I attended Chuck Lofgren's first game of the season last week. About 40 scouts showed up! They almost out numbered the fans for a while. A great start for Chuck and nice exposure for the rest of the players too.