My son just made his verbal to a lower level D1. He is a fine student, but would much prefer the pro atmosphere to the dorm life. We have sent letters to all 30 teams telling them this, and chat with the scouts about it when they call (and hopefully visit). Living in Iowa, there is no spring season, so not many scouts will be making home visits (one scheduled thus far). Any advice as to what else we can do to make it happen?

CAll Jerry Ford at Perfect Game and I'm sure he'll give you some good advice.

I would not, however, let the scouts know that you are JUMPING at the opportunity to sign...given the tone of the posting.

iowakiddad,

I'm not sure we know who you are, but I would guess you go to Urbandale HS. Denny Barton, the excellent coach there is a friend of ours. Urbandale has a good junior MIF that will be playing in the PG League this spring.

I'm surprised, it appears you're unaware of the Spring and Fall Leagues. The PG League is one of the heaviest Scouted HS Leagues in the United States and it is made up of mostly Iowa players (the very best Iowa players). We have had as many as a dozen "Scouting Directors" and other high front office staff at weekend double headers. There have been games with 50 to 100 MLB scouts in attendance.

Here are some facts you may not be aware of. The PG Leagues have produced over 70 draft picks from Iowa and a few surrounding states. In fact, over the past 9 years, every single high school player drafted has played in the PG League. In other words... not one single high school player has been drafted in Iowa for 9 years who did not play in the PG leagues.

I am even more surprised that if you are talking to scouts, they haven't told you this.

Just over the past few years, players in the league have included Jeff Clement (drafted but at Southern Cal), Matt Macri (drafted but at Notre Dame), Joel Hanrahan (drafted 2nd round by Dodgers), Peter Blake (drafted 4th round by Twins), Zach Hammes (drafted 2nd Round by Dodgers), Ryan Sweeney (drafted 2nd round by White Sox), Brad Nelson (drafted 4th round by Brewers), Chris Tritle (drafted by Oakland), Drew Davidson (drafted by Orioles but at Illinois) and several other draft picks. Jhonathan Figueroa, Alfredo Fernandez, Marvin Urdaneta all signed free agent contracts right out of the Iowa SPRING League. Both Figueroa and Fernandez signed for $500,000 plus.

In addition nearly every player who went on to play DI baseball in the past 9 years from Iowa, played in the Leagues. Some are at top 25 programs like Baylor, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Wichita State. Oklahoma State, and USC.

It bothers me when Iowa players use the reason of no Spring Baseball hurting them. The best players in Iowa have about ZERO chance of being overlooked if they are in the League. If any state had a League that included every potential draft pick in that state playing against each other every weekend, it would be the best place to find MLB scouts. Iowa has that big advantage over other states. All of the above mentioned players know this and so do the many others who have played in the leagues.

Thanks for the info PG. We looked into it, but said no, as we knew we'd have selected a college by then. It's a good league, for sure, but we were a bit hesitant about having a couple bad games and losing some luster. My son is a "tools" guy signed to play at D1 level. We're pretty confident he'll be drafted, we just want him to be selected where he should be, not to fall because teams think he'll go to school.

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but we were a bit hesitant about having a couple bad games and losing some luster.

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Wow!

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

You cannot play this game if you are worried about "losing some luster" !!!!!!

TRhit

You want him to be selected where he should be????????? Where do you think he should be selected? Should he be selected before all those that dont worry about having bad games and losing luster? I dont think you can hide and get what you want. You mentioned on another thread your son is 5 foot 6 tall. It can happen but Im surprised that your pretty confident he will be drafted. What makes you so confident about that?

Because he is good. But, a D1 signing is not a guarantee of being drafted, I know. He has not played against top flight competetion, and was recruited and is being sent letters because of his athletic ability.

Seems to me a bad showing in a small sample would be much more damaging than a good performance would help.

Iowa...If you are truly from Iowa and have not taken advantage OF THE BEST AMATEUR TALENT EVALUATION ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA for your son, you are a LOUSY PARENT!

Simple as that.

re; iowakidsdad,I-YI-YIEEEE!

iowakidsdad

Seems to me from all I've read recently, players are slotted pretty well by the Major League Scouts. The way I understand it from all the information I have so far (much of it from this web site) scouts rarely judge a player from one performance alone. They are looking for skills as much as anything. If your son has the skills they will see him more than once. That is if they are interested in drafting your son's position.

There are people that post on this site that are far more knowledgable than I am, so maybe some of them can shed more light on the practicalities of showcasing your son for the draft.

beenthereIL. Just because a parent hasn't gotten his son to a PG
showcase and paraded him all over the country doesn't make him a LOUSY PARENT!. Baseball, is a GAME played between 2 white lines. Talent, is in the eye of the beholder. The beholder, can be any one that appreciates the game. Word of mouth is very powerfull and if a player is good he's going to get noticed.
That's what scouts are for, to go out and FIND the talented players. Yes, going to a PG show case and running all over the country or the world will certainly get a player an edge. But not every one can afford to do that. A LOUSY PARENT! Comeon...

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Word of mouth is very powerfull and if a player is good he's going to get noticed.

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That is a fallacy and an incorrect statement. The sooner that your skills are detected the better chance you have. Scouts are far more critical of someone they find late. They will allow for a few bad outings, etc if they have been watching overe time. If they have just discovered him late then he has to be on every time out.

Also scouts don't compare a kid to feeble competition. They like to see kids compete against the best. If you hide they will know it and they will not be fooled by a star in feeble competition.

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

I agree 100% Jerny!

While we appreciate the support that many show for what we do. A parent deciding not to attend our activities, for any reason, does not qualify as being a lousy parent.

In fact, there are some "GREAT" parents who post on this site, who have outstanding players who never participated in one of our events. Two that come immeadiately to mind are Fungo's son and BBScout's son. Oh yes, here's another one... Bob Howdeshell's son.

While these outstanding players have never been to our events, both Josh Bell and Brett McMillan were highly ranked players by Perfect Game while they were in high school.

That perhaps is the strangest thing regarding "iowakiddad's" comments. We have no idea who his son is! We have over 20 players ranked in Iowa and I don't think any of them are his son. Especially not, if his son is really 5'6. The smallest ranked player we have listed in Iowa is 5'9. If he's from Urbandale high school we have the best prospect from that school in the league. This was based on the coaches recomendation.

We have not missed a draft potential player in the state of Iowa for 10 years. Most every club does not scout Iowa high school players outside our league. That is a fact!

We have missed drafted players in California, and other states, but we don't miss them in Iowa. Some day the law of averages will find an Iowa player drafted that we're unaware of. It will be difficult because we talk to every full time scout who covers the state. We have an Atlanta Braves scout on our staff. It doesn't seem very likely that someone will surprise us by getting drafted in a good position. But, you can never say never.

Beenthere, as always we appreciate your support, but disagree with calling a father we don't even know a lousy parent. "iowakiddad" might be the greatest of all parents. I do think he needs to be better informed though.

I hope he's correct and things work out great for his son. I'd rather be wrong about this one being a draft pick. But, I'd bet against it!

Iowakiddad, is your son a Jr or Sr this year?

Pgstaff, If an outstanding player has never been to one of your events, then how is it that they can be Highly Ranked by
Perfect Game?

In my opinion, and please don't take what I say OUT OF CONTEXT, if a parent lives in Iowa; has a son who he (the parent) feels is a professional prospect; and, knowing that Perfect Game is in Iowa; and, doesn't take the son to a PG event, (IF HE HAS THE FUNDS TO DO SO), then, yes, he is a lousy parent!

jerny11...You don't have to go to PG events to get nationally ranked. They get their information from a ton of sources, including but not limited to: high school coaches; college coaches; scouts; and, from time to time, a knowledgeable parent or two.

We know all about your lefthander in Illinois. That is why I tried to get him to join us for a couple of national tournaments...for the exposure!

I do live in Urbandale, but my son doesn't.

And, we'll see you later. What an incredibly arrogant putz.

And my son is a junior who is graduating after 3 years, with a 3.8 GPA, amazing considering what a bad parent I am.

I was going to say so much more, but then, I think you have all the answers with all of the scouts at your door in URBANDALE, IOWA.

I applaud your sons academic record.

You, like so many others, take things out of context! In my opinion, as I've said before a couple of times, if you don't get your son the opportunity to be exposed in a PG setting in Iowa (and you live in that thriving metropolis of Urbandale, Iowa (Where is it?)), which is the home state of PG; and, if you can afford it and don't do it for your son, yes, you are a lp.

Has nothing to do with his academic effort and gpa.

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Someone pm'd me. Is Urbandale next to Cornfield in Iowa?