Drafting Questions

[Ry9770]

I'm only in 8th grade and in the Babe Ruth level. My future goal and dream is to play in the Major Leagues. first i will have to send some kind of application.Then people told me scouts will evauate me when im in my senior year in highschool. Do scouts go to every high school or just the top high schools in the state or nation? Then they'll call me when the draft is over whether or not i got drafted. Am i right? if not please give me more info.

I just want to know right now so i can prepare for my senior year even thought its a few years ahead.

[JordanDL3891]

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[Dravecky43]

I'm only in 8th grade and in the Babe Ruth level. My future goal and dream is to play in the Major Leagues. first i will have to send some kind of application.Then people told me scouts will evauate me when im in my senior year in highschool. Do scouts go to every high school or just the top high schools in the state or nation? Then they'll call me when the draft is over whether or not i got drafted. Am i right? if not please give me more info.

I just want to know right now so i can prepare for my senior year even thought its a few years ahead.
Ok, here's how I understand it (and I've read a lot about the scouting process because if fascinates me).

When you get to the varsity level in high school, scouts will take a look at you. If they like you, they'll come back and scout more. Once they decide you're a draftable talent, they will give you a sheet with basic background questions (such as DOB, position, etc.). I'm not sure whether that is legal in underclassman years, but I know they can do it senior year.

You might also be invited to elite prospect showcases, a la the Area Code Games. Many, many players that get drafted get invited to a showcase before their senior year.

Once teams have your background info, it's all up to them with the scouting. Well, I suppose it's all up to you to play well and showcase yourself. But the team will fill out scouting reports and, if you are one of the best, they could send a top executive to see you. By early June (when the draft is held) you should have a very good idea whether you'll be drafted or not.

On draft day, you will get a call from the team that picks you. After that they'll either discuss a contract or tell you they want you to go to junior college and play and they might sign you right before the next draft.

If you go to a powerhouse or top-division team, scouts should know about you pretty easily. If you are at a smaller school, a booster or coach that knows scouts might have to give the scout a call to see you.

But don't get discouraged if you haven't heard anything by draft day on whether you will be selected or not. When I was walking out of my graduation in 2004 I saw a friend that played on the baseball team. He is a 6'4" left-handed pitcher (which is eerily reminiscent of my own younger brother) and I asked him, "Is anyone from the team going to be drafted?"

He said, "Nope."

Well, a few days later the draft was held. After the draft concluded on the second day I looked on MLB.com and saw that, sure enough, my friend, the very one I talked to, had been picked by the Mets. Granted, it was the 50th (and last) round, and his career has stalled in JC because of injuries, but his whole life he can say he was drafted by a major league team.

Also, look for a book titled (I think) "How to make pro scouts notice you." I bought a copy at Borders about six or seven years ago. It has most of what I told you and more, including what scouts look for specifically. I'll look for my copy and give you the exact name.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: The name of the book is, in fact, "How to Make Pro Scouts Notice You," and it is written by Al Goldis, who was a scout for the White Sox, among others, if I'm not mistaken. Here's a link: How to Make Pro Scouts Notice You (http://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Scouts-Notice-You/dp/1570282005/sr=8-1/qid=1161577779/ref=sr_1_1/104-7670014-7446320?ie=UTF8&s=books)

[BallCoach06]

Bottom line....If you can play, scouts will find you.

There are some ways to help increase exposure. You can attend showcases, camps, etc.

Just play hard, have a great attitude, and have fun! The rest will take care of itself.

[FindAGap12]

It is wonderful to have the goal of playing professional baseball, but do not plan for it until you start to get to that level...either throwing 90 MPH or being able to consistently hit 90 MPH.

Plan for the next level first...HS ball. Do what it takes to became a Varsity athlete. Once you become a highly successful Varsity athlete, you can start think about Pro Ball...

Most 8th graders who are already planning for the draft are setting themselves up for failure, because they are overlooking the development that they need in HS. Go one step at a time.

[Ry9770]

It is wonderful to have the goal of playing professional baseball, but do not plan for it until you start to get to that level...either throwing 90 MPH or being able to consistently hit 90 MPH.

Plan for the next level first...HS ball. Do what it takes to became a Varsity athlete. Once you become a highly successful Varsity athlete, you can start think about Pro Ball...

Most 8th graders who are already planning for the draft are setting themselves up for failure, because they are overlooking the development that they need in HS. Go one step at a time.

Thank You. I think you right. I should try to get into Varsity first. Then i'll go 1 step at a time. The town i live in has a huge problem with picking players for the team. The coaches seem to pick players that they know well but arent good and evntually the team usually wins about 2 games a year. =[. I hope that will change when i get to HS.

Another question is can you get into Varsity if your a freshman? i know you can for football but im not sure about baseball. My friend is also thinking about playing baseball in HS. He isn't that good yet.lol. If he gets cut does he get into the freshmen team or will he not be able to play at all.

[iamdiesel18]

Thank You. I think you right. I should try to get into Varsity first. Then i'll go 1 step at a time. The town i live in has a huge problem with picking players for the team. The coaches seem to pick players that they know well but arent good and evntually the team usually wins about 2 games a year. =[. I hope that will change when i get to HS.

Another question is can you get into Varsity if your a freshman? i know you can for football but im not sure about baseball. My friend is also thinking about playing baseball in HS. He isn't that good yet.lol. If he gets cut does he get into the freshmen team or will he not be able to play at all.

Depends on the high school that you go to and the coaches. Every high school that I've ever heard of does NOT have a rule that prohibits freshmen from playing on the varsity team. There are no official rules against it, but the high school coach may have different ideas. He may have a team policy that he doesn't have freshmen play on the varsity. But if he was an intelligent coach, and the freshman was good enough to play at that level, the player would be on varsity.

As for your friend, that is another question that you would have to ask the high school head coach. Usually if you show some talent or projectablility, the coach will keep you around for a couple of years to see if you develop and get better. If you or your friend play at the freshman or jv level, do not get discouraged. I did not play on my high school's varsity baseball team until I was a junior. I was still looked at by scouts and ended up recieving a scholarship to play baseball at a Division 1 university. Set big goals and work your butt off everyday to achieve them.

[Williamsburg2599]

Found this at MLB.com, it's an interview with Frank Marcos of the MLB Scouting Bureau:
Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau Q&A
Frank Marcos of the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, recently explained the functions of the Bureau, and revealed what they look for when scouting players.

Q: What's the main purpose of the MLB Scouting Bureau?

A: We try to provide the best information on prospects to help clubs make more educated selections in the draft.

Q: When was the Scouting Bureau formed?

A: In 1974, ownership developed the idea to centralize scouting. It was not part of the Commissioner's Office. It was an independent group supported by the clubs. In 1985, [Commissioner] Peter Uebberoth brought the Major League Scouting Bureau under the umbrella of the Commissioner's Office.

Q: Why was it started?

A: Cost was a major issue. It allows the club to get information for a fraction of the price of having two full-time scouts of their own. They're getting a lot more bang for the buck.

Q: How many scouts work at the MLB Scouting Bureau?

A: We have 34 full-time scouts and 13 part-time scouts across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Q: How do your scouts rate prospects?

A: We have basic generic things that apply to both position players and pitchers and then we have specific things for position players and pitchers. We grade position players on hitting ability, power, running speed, arm strength and fielding. We use a scale of 2-8 in each category to grade our players and come up with an OFP (Overall Future Potential). A total range of 40-80 covers Major League prospects. Forty is the minimum for our category of a Major League prospect. We have fringe, average and definite prospect [categories]. As the number gets higher, the better the prospect is.

We grade pitchers on fastball, curveball, slider and other (if the pitcher throws a knuckler or split-finger). If a pitcher doesn't throw an "other," he gets graded on the three he throws. But that's when a scout's instinct comes into play. If a pitcher only throws two pitches, but the scout sees he has the arm instinct to develop a slider, he'll grade him higher. A scout can move the number up if he feels the potential is higher.

The generic qualities that apply to both position players and pitchers are things like aggressiveness, instinct, dedication, work ethic.


Q: Predicting who will make a good major league pitcher must be especially difficult.

A: You can always tell arm strength. We all have radar guns for that, but you can't put a radar gun to a player's heart or head. If you had seen Todd Van Poppel, you would have been sure he was a can't miss. But he did. And then sometimes you have overachievers. Orel Hershiser is a great example. Not too many people were high on him.

Q: How does somebody become a prospect? How do you decide who to scout?

A: Every goal of our year is the June draft. After that, we gear up for the summer, when we get a chance to see younger prospects we didn't have time for before the draft (Prior to the draft, MLSB scouts are busy looking at those eligible for that year's draft). We look at what we call "follows," mostly 15 and 16 year-olds. There are showcase events that have been great for younger kids. They have the chance to compete against the top kids in the country. The more visibility [a kid] has to the scouts, the better.

We develop a follow list by the end of the summer or the early fall. We have a list of five to six hundred players that will be eligible for the 2000 draft. In addition, we'll have lists of players eligible for the 2001 and 2002 drafts. We're always trying to stay ahead.

We also get letters, phone calls, faxes from parents, girlfriends, coaches, agents about players and sometimes it is very valuable information. Some guys are creative. We get videotapes, color shots of their swings. I guess they see it as investment in their future and are willing to go to that extent.

You can never have too much information. We will pass information on to the scout in the area. We'll also provide players with a list for tryout camps.We have 35 tryout camps in June throughout the country and the clubs hold camps as well. It's a chance for a player who doesn't have the chance to be seen to show what they can do. Hopefully kids remember it in a positive way, that it was fun and that they had a chance.


Q: How can players get in touch with the MLSB?

A: They can write to:

Major League Scouting Bureau
3500 Porsche Way, Suite 100
Ontario, CA 91764
Fax: 909-980-7794
Phone: 909-980-1881




I'm a little older, but I'm in the same boat as you. BTW, You can start going to MLB Tryout Camps at age 16. Good Luck.:waving

[bluezebra]

A word to the wise. Don't forget your school work. Not to put a damper on your goals, but very few get to play in the Minor Leagues, and even fewer get to "The Show". Also, if you don't keep up your grades, you can't play HS ball.

If you don't get drafted out of HS, go to college. There, you'll have two chances for a good future. Many players are drafted out of the college ranks, plus you'll have an education to fall back on.

If you don't get drafted, don't give up. Try out for an Independent League team. Quite a few are picked-up off an "Indy" roster.

What ever happens, GOOD LUCK.

Bob

p.s. Forget an application, except to apply to a college. The Majors don't draft that way. You could do that for an "Indy" team though.

B

[Williamsburg2599]

A word to the wise. Don't forget your school work. Not to put a damper on your goals, but very few get to play in the Minor Leagues, and even fewer get to "The Show". Also, if you don't keep up your grades, you can't play HS ball.

If you don't get drafted out of HS, go to college. There, you'll have two chances for a good future. Many players are drafted out of the college ranks, plus you'll have an education to fall back on.

If you don't get drafted, don't give up. Try out for an Independent League team. Quite a few are picked-up off an "Indy" roster.

What ever happens, GOOD LUCK.

Bob

p.s. Forget an application, except to apply to a college. The Majors don't draft that way. You could do that for an "Indy" team though.

B


All true, and make sure to find out your HS rules on Athlete elgibility so that if your in danger of not having the grades to get on the team, you know and can get extra help. And lots of schools don't care if your failing cooking or english, a F is a F to them no matter what the class, so treat all classes seriously.

[bluezebra]

All true, and make sure to find out your HS rules on Athlete elgibility so that if your in danger of not having the grades to get on the team, you know and can get extra help. And lots of schools don't care if your failing cooking or english, a F is a F to them no matter what the class, so treat all classes seriously.

"...so that if your failing cooking..."

And learn the difference between your and you're.

Bob