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Suggestions for Players and Coaches
by: Tom "T Bone" Baker

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Here are some tips and insight into how to help your player "get scouted" by the professional baseball scouts.  The source of this information is Pittsburgh Pirates scout Tom "TBone" Baker.

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Players:
Play summer ball at the highest level possible:
The better the competition the better you become.

Attend tryout camps and showcases beginning with:

• The summer between your Sophomore and Junior years.
  
• Attend as many as possible (only one team has to like you).
  
• Watch the papers for announcements.

At the camp:

• Stretch and thoroughly loosen-up.
  
• Give it your best but stay within yourself.
  
• Don't hurt yourself for one day.
  
• Don't wait for tomorrow to get in shape.

Typical camp schedule of events:

• 60 yard sprint in pairs.
  
• Run through the line.
  
• Catchers throw to second.
  
• Pitchers throw in bullpen
  
• Outfielders throw to third and home
  
• Infielders field grounders and throw to first.
  
• Selected players bat.

Game time:

• Warm up properly.
  
• Always take practice serious.
  
• Throw with authority
  
• Hustle
  
• Run out all hits.

   

Send schedules to scouts and college coaches:

• Date & time - opponent - location
  
• Directions to home field
  
• Phone number to confirm.

 

Coaches
Send rosters to scouts and colleges:

• name
  
• positions
  
• bats - throws
  
• height - weight
  
• birthdate - graduation year

Schedule better teams:

• It's better to evaluate a good hitter against a good pitcher.
  
• It's better to evaluate a good pitcher against a good hitter

Play on weekends:

• Part-time scouts usually have a real weekday job

Play in tournaments:

• Several teams in one location attract more scouts

Play in larger towns:

• Better chance of being seen

Report results to media:

• Scouts can read

Send data to scouts and coaches:

• Mass email lists will save time
  
• Email can also cut down on late night calls

Communicate with school's main office:

• Make sure they know your game information
  
• Even who's pitching and whose on the DL

College coaches should host a scout day for your team:

• It's like a tryout camp plus an intersquad game

Host an off-season showcase for high school players:

• Scouts and college coaches can both attend
  
• It's great added exposure for area players

A team or player web site is a great help:
It should include a schedule

Tips:
What do scouts look for?

• foot speed
  
• arm strength
  
• hitting ability

Scouting structure:

• General manager
  
• Scouting director
  
• Special assignment / advance scout
  
• National crosscheckers (2 to 4 for each team)
  
• Supervising scout (covers 3 to 4 states)
  
• Scout
  
• Associate scout