Son got an invite to try out for this showcase. Does anyone have any information on it? We would have to travel a few hours to try out. Is it worth it?

The event is run by major league baseball. Only the best of the best get invites. Heavily scouted by pro and college folks. Players ge to play against the best. In a word, Go.

lovethegame25,

Dad04 is telling you the facts. This is our favorite event (outside our own) to scout. Anyone invited to East Coast Pro needs to attend.

I'm not fully aware of the tryout process, but do know the best players in the East who are at our National Showcase each year, we strongly recommend they go to the East Coast Pro and they almost always do! And they are almost always glad they did!

Just being listed on a roster at the East Coast Pro is a huge benifit! Again, I'm talking about the actual East Coast Pro that was held in Wilmington, NC in the past (this year in Lakeland, FL) I'm not familiar with the tryouts, but would guess that they are good also.

I agree with Dad04 - In a word, Go!

profile of east coast pro showcase
http://www.angelfire.com/vt/prospectwatch/index119.html

My son also got an invite to "try out" for the show case. So appreciate the comments from Dad04, PG and FM.

It sounds like it will be a great experience if you make the team. I believe there are five teams involved on the east coast; San Diego, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Yankees, and Boston.

Biggest drawback I see is that if you make the cut, the dates for the Showcase in Lakeland are already after school starts in August(at least here in Alabama). Kids only have 2 months summers these days.

I was wondering how this relates to the area code games? If you have the chance to attend this Showcase, do you need to go to the area code games if invited to that too?

Is the East Coast Pro strictly regional? Are there invited players from other regions of the country who also attend? Do they hold an event like this on the West Coast?

Thanks for all the info. AL MA 08 when are the dates. I didn't see any dates on the paperwork my son came home with (I'll look again when I get home from work) but it sounds like something we won't pass up if he were to make it.

I believe the dates for East Coast Pro are Aug 1-4 in Lakeland, FL. Not sure about the dates for tryouts.

East Coast Pro does have regions that each team covers. There have been a few players in the past from states west of the Mississippi River, but not many.

The scout in charge of the East Coast Pro we see quite often. They attend the PG National and the big WWBA tournaments every year. The people who run ECP are among the finest baseball people in the business, we actually try hard to help them in anyway that we possibly can. Many of them have helped us a lot over the years, too.

A player should never turn down the opportunity to participate in the ECP, if at all possible to attend.

The closest type event of that stature on the West Coast would be the Area Code Games.

There are a few players who attend both.

The schedule for East Coast Pro this year is:

July 31: Get there

Aug. 1-4: Events

Aug. 5: travel home

The tryout date is June 12th in Jackson, Ms.
Thanks for the info on the dates.

ltg25, I see Midlo Dad already responded to your question about dates. Those are the dates I was told also. I'm not sure whether there is one or multiple tryouts, but we have the same date and place as you. Good luck to your son.

Are you going to PG National Showcase? Almost end up leaving one and head for the other. It seems they watch each others schedules.

al ma 08, this would be the first showcase he is attending. We are looking forward to seeing what they are all about. Hopefully he gets to go.

Anyone have contact information on this event? If so please send it to me.

My son has the great privilage of being invited to participate in both the "Area Code" games being held in Long Beach, California and the East Coast Pro being held in Lakeland, Florida. Do many young men participate in both? (Travel logistics are tight at best)Certainly, my son looks forward to competing against the best of the best for two full weeks. His June schedule is also full with the Sunshine East Showcase and the PG National in Cincinnati.

I guess another question is can a young man be overexposed in his zest to play with and against the best competition he can find?

Most players do not attend both, but regarding overexposure...

The only players that are overexposed are not among the best IMO! Look at it from the college recruiter or MLB scout's side. The more you can see a player the better you can evaluate him. The more accurate scouts and recruiters are, the better for everyone concerned in the end.

Bottom line... Once a player attends that college or signs that pro contract, there is no place to hide. Your player will be exposed every day! That is when it proves valuable that both the scout/recruiter and your son have made the correct decisions. Over exposure can be the best thing for everyone concerned. In the end it just provides for more accuracy and truth!

Now if that over exposure becomes something that causes undo wear and tear on the player, it is a different story. Then it is just over doing it period and has little to do with over exposure!

Thank you for that perspective. Certainly, my question wasn't offered with any fear of the kids ability to compete. More the wear and tear and travel getting from event to event. Can you provide an estimate of how many kids (non-pitcher) play in both events?

Your perspective and guidance is much appreciated.

Well, there are very few players from west of the Mississippi who attend East Coast Pro. I’m just guessing here so if someone knows better please post.

The vast majority of the players who attend East Coast Pro do not attend Area Codes. First of all, in past years there have only been a couple teams from the East in the Area Codes. I’d guess that three fourths or more of all the Area Code players are from the West Coast and Texas. The best players in Florida and Georgia usually don’t go to the Area Codes, but are normally in the East Coast Pro.

In the past, the teams entered in the Area Codes include a team from the NW (mostly Washington), a team from Texas, a team from the Midwest, 3 teams from mostly California, a NE team and a SE team. The SE team has probably produced the least amount of talent at the Area Codes over the past few years, due to the top players not going.

On another note… Last year over 80% of the players in last year’s June PG National participated in either the East Coast Pro, Area Codes, Team USA, or the Aflac All American Classic. Believe it or not there were a couple players who played in all of the following last year…

PG National
Team USA
East Coast Pro
Area Codes
Aflac Classic
WWBA Tournaments

Sometimes one event leads to the other.

We will find out in June how going to all that stuff worked out. From a college stand point, it has already worked out well, in every case, I believe.

Thanks to those who responded to our original post about attending this event that it was a must to go to. The information we received and contacts that we made were great. It was a great experience all together for my son. Fortunately for him he had already committed to a college a few months ago so he already had that end covered but the people he met on the professional side was unbelievable. If anyone ever has a chance to attend this showcase I can now say it is a must to go to.