quote:

Originally posted by HitaHomer1:
Going back to the original question on the thread

How about being in the right place, at the right time, and in front of the right eyes?

Sounds like the right eyes liked the HS prospect more than you did!

I like the kid. And, as a little boy he loved baseball more than any kid out there. He just isn't better (IMO and others O)than a lot of the other talented kids in the area. Lots of errors, lots of strike outs. No control over temper - gets kicked out of a lot of games etc. I would love for him to make it as a pro - even in the minors. It is really his only hope. I'm just going back to the original thread question as I just don't get it.

He didn't get drafted very high, so he is going to go JUCO.

Hit,
Your example hit right on the head of my original post. From what I've read on this thread, on other threads, and websites it seems that having at least one "plus tool" can get a player noticed and possibly drafted. Your guy has plus power. He wasn't drafted high but he was drafted and that was exactly the point of the question.
No doubt that having two or more pluses will get a player drafted much higher.

This is a great thread and I have been following it.
No one knows all what a scout looks for but from from what I have experienced I know that if a player has extremely good bat speed and can hit for power at an early age he is going to get some looks. Hitting a baseball 400 feet off a guy throwing high 80s low ninetys and doing it more than once is not something all players can do.most above avg players can get better at grounders and even improve quickness and speed to some degree, but the ability to HIT be a pure hitter is what starts to separate out at the higher levels.A perfect example is Manny Ramirez. Talked about before . Not a great defender but one of the purest hitters in the game and hes there.IS he fast? he jogs to first LOL,is he quick, is his arm a cannon?No but he can hit. Another example Jeff Franceur (I love Jeff and we are Brave fans). jeff is a superior athlete, strong arm, all the tools but He struggles with pitch selection, he is struggling with hitting. He is a good player but if he continues to struggle hitting it will become a problem. Thats my viewpoint on some of this.

It seems to me that as a position player Hitting is the tool that will get you drafted. Other tools are good, but hitting is king. A position player that can not hit for average and/or power unless he runs 6.3 and has an additional tool, will probably get passed on.

For pitchers, it is obvious that velocity will get you there, even with minimal control or additional pitches. I guess that the belief is that the rest can be taught, But hitting (batspeed), running, and armstrength, seem to be God given skills that otherwise are not easy to develop.

If a kid can drive a ball out of a park with wood against decent pitching at 18, even if he does not do it consistantly, shows a skill that is not easily (or possible to be) taught. Temper flare ups because of unmet expectations may infer desire and an unwillingness to accept mediocrity. Some maturity may help with these mental lapses. The ability to hit consistantly can be developed by a player who already has the gift and the skill to hit.

quote:

Originally posted by njbb:
besides talent you need exposure

You hit the nail on th head there my friend!!
EXPOSURE!!!!!