I'm wondering if any of you have stories about current young pro players or pro prospects, when they were even younger.
Could you tell they had something special that would make them pro prospects some day? At what age did you first think they had a chance to eventually go pro? What did you see that made them special?
The only prospect I remember seeing at a young age is the son of RHPMom. My son played summer baseball with him for several years off and on, I think starting at about age 12 and the last time around age 17. I wasn't a good judge of baseball talent, but my husband always said from the first season that Drew had something special and had a chance to be a pro. I don't remember whether or not his stats were outstanding, but I think it was a combination of physical and mental tools - the ball jumped off of his bat, he had a strong throwing arm on or off the mound, and he seemed to have a combination of confidence and boyish enjoyment of the game. After following Drew's first year as a college pitcher, I would have to say my husband was a pretty good judge of baseball potential.
Who do you remember from a young age, and when/how could you tell he was a "prospect"?
Posts: 3706 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
MNMom - This is an interesting question. I have known several kids who have been drafted. While I think most of those were standouts when they were younger - there are many other standouts who were not ever drafted.
I've seen a lot of kids that were great when they were young, but other kids "catch up" to them. As well as just the opposite. For the most part though, the mental make up of the kids are what has set them apart. "Mental tools" as you called them. I think you can see this somewhat in kids that make it to the college level, but those kids that eventually get drafted have a work ethic and drive that's just different. Some kids loose this as they grow older, but for some the fire just burns even more deeply. That is probably what your husband saw in RHPmom's son.
Posts: 5389 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: December 30, 2004
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
I first felt he was a pro prospect when he was 3 years old in 1987. I was teaching him how to bat and he whizzed a whiffle ball past my ear and drove it 42 feet over the fence in the back yard....my feeling was confirmed seventeen years later on June 7, 2005 when he was taken in the pro draft.
Posts: 4965 | Location: Spring Creek (Jackson),Tennessee | Registered: December 26, 2002
One kid amont the others run faster, when throwing the ball he has more strengh, he is one of the smarters, and follow instructions from the coach without hessitation. There you have a future prospect, a piece of rock that with time and pulishment will become a diammond.
Faith is to believe what you don't see; The reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
I have seen several young ball players that have made it to Top tier DI programs and above. What I think seperates them from the "pack" has nothing to do with physical ability, it is all between the ears.
When you look at 12-14 year old boys, the ones that have matured faster are usually among the best players, but that says very little about their future whenever the rest of the boys catch up to them.
But look for the kids that take the game very seriously, yet still have a love for the game. I saw a 12yo kid 2 years ago, one of the best hitters that I have seen at that age. After every single pitch, no matter the situation, he would take one step back, turn, and do absolutely nothing until he was given the go ahead from the coach. I later talked to his coach, and he said in the 2 years that he had coached him, he had NEVER told him to do anything but swing away, but this same coach told me he had never seen such respect for the game.
That is what makes someone strive to be a winner
"It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course." Hank Aaron
Posts: 259 | Location: Omaha NE | Registered: August 04, 2005
This is our list of Alumni for the America/Japan Goodwill Series since 1983. 40% of the players who played in this Goodwill Series, have reach the Major Leagues including Delmon Young at age 13 in the Area Code Games. Brother Dimitri at age 15 in Korea.
Rob Ritchie, Tigers 1983 Brad Brink, Phillies 1983 Alex Sanchez, Blue Jays 1983-84 Matt Williams, Giants 1983 Greg Jefferies, Phillies 1984 John Wetteland, Rangers 1984 Paul McCellan, Giants 1984 Brian Keyser, White Sox 1984 Fernando Vina, Brewers 1987 Greg Pirkl, Mariners 1987 Mike Kelly, Mets 1987 Marty Cordova, Blue Jays 1987 Donnie Osborne, Cardinals 1987 James Mouton, Padres 1987 Jim Edmonds, Cardinals 1987 Tim Laker, Pirates 1987 Ed Giovanola, Padres 1987 Erik Plankenberg, Devil Rays 1987 Tyler Houston, Indians 1988 Jim Converse, Royals 1988 Todd Steverson, Padres 1988 David McCarthy, Red Sox 1988 Bo Dodson, Red Sox 1988 Chris Prichett, Phillies 1988 Mike Lieberthal, Phillies 1989 Dimitri Young, Tigers 1989-90 Kurt Miller, Cubs 1989 Micah Franklin, Cubs 1989 Nick Johnson, Nationals 1989 Ryan McGuire, Mets 1989-90 Adam Melhouse. A’s 1990 Antonne Williamson, Brewers 1990 Tim Kubinski, A’s 1990 Jacob Cruz, Rockies 1990 Benji Gill, Angels 1990 Dante Powell, Cardinals 1991 Jason Kendall, A’s 1991 Nomar Garciaparra, Cubs 1991 H. Matsui, Yankees 1991 Chan Ho Park, Rangers 1991 Geoff Jenkins, Brewers 1991 Derrek Lee, Cubs 1992 Torii Hunter, Twins 1992 Mark Redman, Pirates 1992 Mickey Callaway, Angels 1992 Buddy Carlyle, Padres 1992 Jeff D’Amico, A’s 1992 David Lamb, Mets 1992 Chad Hermansen, Pirates 1994 Randy Knoor, Phillies 1994 Eric Valent, Mets 1994 Ryan Mills, Twins 1994 Steve Colyer, Dodgers 1994 Dave Coggin, Phillies 1994 Nick Johnson, Expos 1994 Charles Alley, Orioles 1994 Eric Chavez, A’s 1994 Jason Marquis, Cards 1995 Joey Dillon, Marlins 1996 Jayson Werth, Dodgers 1996 Matt Wise, Brewers 1996 Jason Young , Rockies 1996 Nick Bierbrodt, Diamondbacks 1996 Aaron Miles, Rockies 1996 Bud Smith, Cards 1996 Nick Garcia, Mets 1996 Jeff Phelps, Nationals, 1996 Cesar Crespo, Padres 1996 Aaron Hill, Blue Jays 1998 Shane Costa, Royals 1998 Connor Jackson, Diamondbacks 1998 Sergio Santos, Diamondbacks 1999 David Espinosa, Reds 1999 Corey Smith, Indians 1999 Jason Kubal, Twins 1999 Abe Alvarez, Red Sox 1999 Adrian Gonzalez, Rangers 1999 Adam LaRoche, Braves 1996-97-98 Jermey Bonderman, Tigers 1999 Carlos Quenton, Diamondbacks 1999 Delmon Young, Tampa Bay 1998-2002 Jason Vargas, Marlins 2000 Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay 2000
Yes, we could predict on 90%, but not everyone. Too many variables, including the decisions and philosophy of the ML teams. One of my favorite is H. Matsui [Yankees[ 1991-92 for the Japan National Team. He played in the 1992 Goodwill Series against Torri Hunter and Derek Lee.
Bob Williams
Posts: 378 | Location: Santa Rosa, California | Registered: February 23, 2005
We're movin' on up . . . 
