Following from an earlier question regarding what is the % of players who attended specific showcases go on to play in college, how many players do you think who play college ball attended a showcase?

Not to be nit-picky, but what do you define as a showcase, other than the obvious?

* Is a college all star camp a showcase? (e.g. Stanford all star camp)

* Is a high profile tournament with lots of scouts/coaches a showcase? (e.g. WWBA World Championships - Jupiter)

* Is the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars a showcase? (8 team tournament of all stars from which USA Jr. National Team is chosen)

* Is an all star game (North/South in California) a showcase?

* Is the AFLAC All American Game (or others more regional or state) a showcase?

I would argue they're all a form of a showcase and thus I would guess very few college players have not showcased their skills.

High School Baseball Showcases
http://www.angelfire.com/vt/prospectwatch/index35.html

How many college players never attended a showcase? This is not an answerable question. No statistics are kept and everything would be by guesswork.

Yes, guys get signed in colleges without attending showcases. It varies by state, college and coach.

What comes to my mind is that this isn't your real question. Why don't you try re-stating your question a bit more meaningfully.

Yes, the question needs more refinement. I was trying to have people express their thoughts/experience with how important it is to attend a showcase camp that they "paid for," as opposed to an invitation camp or all-star selection or tournament with their team. In other words, if most attended at least one paid showcase camp somewhere, it could mean that that is the manner in which most players evaluated/recruited. I know there are no hard statistics, but I also know that you can get a sence for what many players think is important.

I can't speak for everyone else, but I know that when my son was contacting schools and attending tryouts, every one asked for his (select) summer team information and what showcases he had attended. Since the coaches all asked for this info, I am assuming the coaches all place a value on it.

My son is the only boy on his team that did not play on a good select team or go to showcases that I know of.

I know there are MANY college players that don’t attend paid showcases...BUT...this in no way should be construed as my endorsement to just let “things” happen during the recruitment era of a high school baseball player. There are many high school players that have gone on to play college baseball that could have gone to a “better” situation had they showcased. The more options a player has, the better. If a player doesn’t showcase, and plays for a low-keyed summer team, sure he will be seen by some of the local colleges or possibly a college that has ties to the HS coach, but that is all.
Finding the right fit at a college is important for a player’s success. If a player has just one or two options, obtaining that good fit is a long shot at best.
Fungo

With the porliferation of all the new events which seem to pop up every day-- showcases, tournaments, ID camps etal there cannot be too many players in college who have not done than playing HS ball

I would think any player doing more than HS ball is "showcasing" in some form or another

there is also a ton of players attending HS Showcases that have NO CHANCE playing college baseball what so ever. Just curious how many Showcase operators will turn down willing paying players who have no talent.

Fungo,

Good post! I agree wholeheartedly.

Nice post Fungo (once again!).

dominick - Put yourself in a college coach's place. Where can he go and get the most bang for his buck (or time)? A reputable showcase has more quality players than a game between 2 teams. More players are "discovered" at showcases, while more players are "followed" at HS and summer games.

Dibble - Not sure how a showcase operator of a non-invitational showcase would know ahead of time who should be there and who should not. But also speaking from the parents' side of things...anyone who wants to "take their shot at it" and can afford it (a parent has to make that decision)...why not? When our son went to his first, small local showcase, we had no idea whatsoever where he would fit. We didn't think he'd look foolish, but JC? D1? D2? D3? pro? We had no idea.

So I say take your best shot players/parents as long as you're not taking dinner off the table to do it.

In "most" every way I think Fungo is correct. I hesitate to say all because of the reference to the "better" situation. My son did not attend any showcases in part because that was 5 years ago, in part because we didn't know about them and in part because nearly all the feedback we received including an All Star camp report was that he was a high quality DI middle infield prospect. I can assure that he and we mailed, faxed and called every coach on a list of 15 schools. One DIII coach recruited him like crazy and that was it. In retrospect would showcases have made a difference. Would they have gotten him a "better" situation? When questioned by a reporter after he was drafted from the DIII my son probably answered that question best when he said:
"I didn't get recruited highly out of Menlo," Armstrong said. "Trinity told me I could come in and play every day."

Armstrong started every game since his freshman year.

"It's been a great experience," he said. "If I went to a Division I school, I might've gotten picked higher, or I might've gotten overlooked."

In retrospect, I think showcases would have provided him more opportunities but am ambivalent about the "better" part.

infield dad

The important thing is that your son is happy where he is---isn't that the goal ???

TR, That is indeed the goal and that why I posted my son's quote. Playing, improving, being with friends, good academics and being where you are wanted and respected is what matters. It isn't "always" found through a showcase is the point I was trying to make but may not have. I also agree with Fungo that if you are a quality player and do not attend showcases, the way recruiting is set up these days you really limit the chances of finding the best fit.

infielddad - Your son's story is an inspirational one in my book. Its a model that many young men can look too and emulate. I hope that someday I get the chance to meet him and shake his hand. He truly seems to have what it takes to make it in this world. I'll look forward to following him in whatever endeavor he pursues from baseball to what, law?

Justbb, thank you!!!! Our son was really lucky. Got all the attributes from Mom's side to overcome the genetic issues from Dad's. (That was Mrs. Infielddad.) Had a wonderful conversation during the holidays and learned his career path is going to be in baseball. Until then we cross our fingers, toes, legs, arms--well you get the point and hope he can keep this dream going.

Dibble,

I am guessing........hmmmmmmmmmm.. about NONE!

My son has been invited to more showcases, we can't keep track of all of them.

Most of which are out of state and are really expensive.

There are a few here in Chicago, but again they are not cheap either.

So, we are stuck! I have posted this before and I am going to post it again.

How can you get exposure if you can't afford the showcases?

sox fan,
Here in Massachusetts we have what is known as the Bay State Games...I know New York has the Empire Games and Penn has an equivalent venue...ours cost app $30-40 for a weekend of baseball attended by 300 to 400 scouts...if your state has a similiar venue perhaps this maybe affordable...otherwise most showcases tend to be quite pricey

If you try to be a cheepy, you will screw your kid in the long run and be paying alot more tutition.

Cant tell you how many parents have told me they listen to another parent and did not attend and showcases and have no scholarship offers and are paying a ton in tutition.

PG game did a study a few years ago 96 of the top 100 hs players attended a major tournament or HS Showcase.