I was wondering, how early do Pro scouts start looking at players? Do/can they approach you if they are looking at you earlier than you Sr. year?

-Kevin Dorko

I would suppose that someone will suggest that they know someone who has been scouted since they were in 3rd grade!

Realistically, I would suppose scouts would start to follow someone in the summer after their sophomore year if they are a pitcher, especially left handed; and, likely to start following someone in their junior year of high school and into their senior year in high school.

They have no restrictions, I believe, but bbscout is our resident expert and perhaps he'll chime in soon.

It was suggested, (about twenty-years ago),
to check height and weight beginning in the 7th grade. Gavin Floyd was one of those found early!

I was approched a few days ago by a scout concerning my son. He ask if my son was a Junior or senior. I told him my son was a freshman. He then ask me his age, and what High School he went to and last but not least he wanted his name, Not sure what it all means...but it was kind of exciting.

Starr, Did you see the scout's eye's bulge out.
That's a sure sign. LOL
Good luck.

I was so shocked I couldn't tell you if his eyes were bulging out. I do know that I was one of two parents apporoached that evening. The catchers parents were also approached.

Congratulations. It sounds as if your son is turning some heads early in his career. Scouts are naturally attracted to talent (not age) but there is also a practical side to all this. Starr, I would savor the moment and use this as a motivational tool for my son to focus on his baseball. As you well know there will be a lot of hard work plus high and lows in between the freshman year of high school and the professional draft. I do see this as an indicator that good things CAN happen to your son IF he stays focused on his baseball. Not that this even applies to your situation but I have seen some part time bird dog scouts act as if they were area scouts with some of the younger players and their parents. Whatever the situation it is all GOOD.
Fungo

Thank You Fungo....He is very focused on baseball. He is a pitcher and he has the natural talent and the skills but we are now working on the mental side of the game...He is young and has a few years to go.

Yeah Star, it sounds like you gota winner on your hands.

quote:

Originally posted by theEH:
Starr, Did you see the scout's eye's bulge out.
That's a sure sign. LOL
Good luck.

***why bust chops or be a Pin is this guys balloon?

About 98% of what appears on this Forum is encouraging, then the other 2% is acidic?

Hey Starr, give me a PM. I am excited for you

Scouts or possible agents can be any where at any time. During the process in high school a scout who turned agent had film on my kid when he was 13, at a little tiny tournament in San Diego.

My dad always remind me every game, practice, etc, "You never know whos watching."

When I was a soph. (when I wasn't pitching) I backed up a senior at SS. His dad was a Yankee scout.

He told me throw EVERY ball in pre-game infield/outfield as hard as you could.

"Never know who's watching".

Good way to devp. arm strength!

itrogas,

You received good advice..."You never know who is watching"

When I was a frosh, my fall team played against the Bayside Yankees. I made a great play and 4 scouts talked to me before the game was over.

The point is...they were at the game to watch several other guys but I was able to show them something. Luckily, I was taught to sprint on and off the fiel and do other little things that made a difference in their eye.

quote:

Originally posted by Catcher41:
I was wondering, how early do Pro scouts start looking at players? Do/can they approach you if they are looking at you earlier than you Sr. year?

I currently have on my watch list a 15 YO freshman RHP who's playing Varsity.

I just happened to see him lose a PG after 6 1/3 innings, which caught my eye (his team played on the field before my son's 12U team). Last week I saw him pitch a no hitter through 4 innings. He throws in the low 80s with three pitches.

I'm not sure that he'll be able to keep it up, but I'm going to follow him.

quote:

Originally posted by thepainguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Catcher41:
I was wondering, how early do Pro scouts start looking at players? Do/can they approach you if they are looking at you earlier than you Sr. year?

I currently have on my watch list a 15 YO freshman RHP who's playing Varsity.

I just happened to see him lose a PG after 6 1/3 innings, which caught my eye (his team played on the field before my son's 12U team). Last week I saw him pitch a no hitter through 4 innings. He throws in the low 80s with three pitches.

I'm not sure that he'll be able to keep it up, but I'm going to follow him.

With 99 so commonplace, why would he even be on your "watch list"?

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
With 99 so commonplace, why would he even be on your "watch list"?

Because I think the kid may actually know how to pitch.

As a Freshman he's dominating Seniors, and doing so with 3 solid HS pitches (FB, CU, CV). That's different than always blowing guys away with just a 99 MPH fastball.

Guys who rely on just their FB's in HS very often top out, at least by the time they reach the ML level because they never actually have to learn how to pitch. It's guys who actually know how to pitch, who know about deception and throwing hitters off balance, who tend to succeed in the big leagues.

quote:

Originally posted by thepainguy:
Guys who rely on just their FB's in HS very often top out, at least by the time they reach the ML level because they never actually have to learn how to pitch. It's guys who actually know how to pitch, who know about deception and throwing hitters off balance, who tend to succeed in the big leagues.

This shows me your aren't really affiliated with any MLB team.

1) A HS pitcher who relies on FBs only HAS to have a very good one in order to be drafted. If he didn't, no MLB team would even look regardless of how cunning he is.

2) If a P makes it to the Majors, he has obviously demonstrated an ability to pitch. He has deceived hitters in every level of pro ball below him. He has developed secondary pitches and 90% of the time has command of 3 pitches.

Please stop your ridiculous posts. You can fool some people who haven't been exposed to higher levels of baseball but to the rest of us, you just look silly.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
1) A HS pitcher who relies on FBs only HAS to have a very good one in order to be drafted. If he didn't, no MLB team would even look regardless of how cunning he is.

I agree that you have to have a good FB to be drafted, but you don't have to have a major league FB to be effective in HS. In many cases you just have to throw hard.

The movement of your fastball is one thing that will determine whether your fastball will cut it at the next level.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
2) If a P makes it to the Majors, he has obviously demonstrated an ability to pitch. He has deceived hitters in every level of pro ball below him. He has developed secondary pitches and 90% of the time has command of 3 pitches.

I agree.

I also don't know where I said anything to the contrary.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
Please stop your ridiculous posts. You can fool some people who haven't been exposed to higher levels of baseball but to the rest of us, you just look silly.

I think the reason you don't like me is that we come from two different schools of thought.

I'm not one of those velocity-obsessed guys. Instead, I want to find guys who have great mechanics and who really know how to pitch, regardless of whether they are the hardest throwers on the squad.

All I care about is whether a guy can get hitters out, which means I have a great deal of respect for "soft tossers" like...

- Maddux
- Glavine
- Suppan
- Moyer
- Wakefield

I'm fine letting the other guys drool over (and overpay for) the flamethrowers. What I am looking for are the guys who actually know how to pitch but who people like you would never give the time of day.

quote:

Originally posted by thepainguy:

I think the reason you don't like me is that we come from two different schools of thought.

Once agin you are wrong. I don't like you because you obviously don't know what you are talking about and then come on the board claiming to scout for a MLB team. I don't deal with liars and stupidity very well.

quote:

You said:
Guys who rely on just their FB's in HS very often top out, at least by the time they reach the ML level because they never actually have to learn how to pitch

You don't know where you said anything to the contrary? How does a kid with a plus FB in HS make it to the MLB without developing secondary pitches? Would success in the minors constitute learning to pitch?

Again, this shows a lot about what you don't know.

Continue your backpedalling. It is fun to watch.