WebBall.com - Scouting Process Q & A

Scouting Process Q & A

Kurt Kemp When Kurt first began contributing advice on the scouting process to WebBall, he was an enthusiastic young scout for the Atalanta Braves. Over the years his experience and sphere of infuence have grown. Many of the questions answered for us were during his time as a Regional Scout and Cross-Checker. Kurt has now moved up again, appointed in August 2006 as Director of Player Development for the Atlanta Braves. A deserving promotion which takes him out of the day-to-day scouting process. Though unable to continue to directly answer questions from players as he has done for us over the years, he remains one of the resources we turn to for inside insights. (Click to close.)

These answers were provided by Kurt Kemp (see bio). If you read through these answers to frequently asked questions, you'll see that you can be scouted almost anywhere - just keep working on the 6 tools you need to succeed! Some guidelines though - please don't ask any scout you see to look at your tape, come to your games, etc. And please don't send them to WebBall either - we are not a scouting bureau, and will not be able to respond to player scouting requests.

Where do I go to get noticed by scouts?

Almost anywhere baseball is being played is a potential site to be seen. Many players are going to be seen while playing for their spring or summer team. The major difference between camps and showcases is that a camp will be more geared toward improving your skills and a showcase will be geared more toward performing and being evaluated.

Tournaments are a favorite for scouts as you can see a number of teams at one site and it's very time efficient.

Showcases have become very popular and there are quite a few of them, anywhere from the local level to the national level. Some are by invitation and others are open to anyone. The major showcases around the country are the Team One National Showcase held in Tempe, Arizona, the Area Code Games held in Long Beach, CA, and the Perfect Game Showcases which are held in Iowa and Florida. Some of those showcases are by invitation and others hold tryouts at various sites around the country. I'm sure I'm leaving out other showcase events and I don't mean for the list to be incomplete, but if one is offered in your area, it's an opportunity for additional exposure to college coaches and professional scouts. [See WebBall calendar.]

Tryout Camps are utilized more by some organizations than others. They are free of charge and players can attend as many of them as they want. Many of the colleges in and around your area will offer summer baseball camps. They are a good opportunity for a young player to improve his skills and learn from some of the top coaches in the country. I would recommend calling the baseball office of the different colleges in your area and finding out if the costs and time the camps are offered fit your needs.

Speaking more specifically, I hold 6 tryout camps each year, usually at the beginning of the summer. It gives me a chance to see many players that I might not have seen during the spring as well as seeing players who will be draft eligible in future years. {Editor's note" this from Kurt was in 2002; he is no longer a scout, but the same approach is followed by others.]

What should I do to get noticed?

One way that players get noticed is that their physical skills stand out above other players. That is the most obvious and also the one that is most out of control of the player. A players skills are what they are at a given moment in time. A scout may or may not see those actual skills on a given day but if they are present, they will usually emerge at some time. Scouts also notice whether a player works hard, hustles, enjoys playing, etc. Players will be most successful if they play within their abilities and play hard.

Will You Come And Scout Me?

Short answer, no. Scouts have territories, agendas and their own network for developing follow lists and tracking players. Sending us an email with your stats, your game schedule, your contact info is not going to do it - we probably won't even look at it. That's true whether you send it yourself or get your sister or mom or girlfriend or wife to write saying what a wonderful player you are. It even goes if you get your coach to write. Someday WebBall may consider setting up a player registry, but for now your best bet is to contact clubs directly, or better yet to simply play great baseball on a great team - that's the best way to get noticed.

How can I send tapes and info on me (or 'my player' or 'my son') to scouts.

One option would be to send it directly to the scouting department of the major league club. The club will then forward the information to the appropriate area scout.

Do I need to have an agent first? Should I sign up with one of these recuiting companies?

Agents and recruiters are just a matter of individual choice. There is no right or wrong answer. A player could find out what services an agent provides and then determine if one would be appropriate or necessary. Recruiting services are again a matter of choice. Find out what they are going to provide and then determine what amount of value there is for the cost charged to you.

QDoes The Team I Play On Matter?

[Kurt's original answer] If you are good enough, scouts will find you regardless of whether you play for a good team or a bad team. Good teams which are well coached tend to produce good players. Good coaching can help the player maximize the given level of physical ability he has.

[Added thoughts from WebBall: In a politically correct world, it doesn't matter. You know it matters to some degree. Obviously players at Div I colleges may be seen more often than players on Div III teams. And high school teams that make it to district and state championships, and beyond, may put their players in front of more scouts more often too (see above). But stop and re-read those last two statements - being seen more often is not the same as being seriously scouted or signed. It still comes down to player performance. And that's the aspect of the process that you do control - training!]

This scout came up to me and said he was with the (team name). Is he for real?

Most scouts will identify who they are, what club they work for, and what their title is. If it's an area scouting supervisor, that person is responsible for the players in a given territory. There are also a number of part-time scouts and associate scouts. A part-time scout is one who is paid by the major league ball club but just on a limited basis. They are probably working under an area supervisor. Associate scouts or "bird dogs" are usually non-paid individuals who work for an area scout and provide names of players they think have potential.

What does it mean to be carded?

The information on a player a scout has noticed usually goes onto a player information card so that the scout can keep track of the large number of players in his area. If a carded player develops to a point where the scout feels the player is a major league prospect, the scout will fill out a report on the player and turn it in to his respective organization. On that report will be the player's personal information (height, weight, address, phone number, etc.) as well as an evaluation of the player's skills and abilities (hitting ability, power, arm, fielding ability, and running speed.)

Does this mean I will get a contract offer?

Just because a scout talks to you, cards you, or files a report, it does not mean they are going to offer you a contract. The group of players the scout recommends to his organization then becomes part of the pool of players that may be selected in the free agent draft during the year that the player is eligible to be drafted by a major league organization. For players in the U.S. and Canada, they must go through the free agent draft before any contract can be offered. Once you are selected by a club, they have the negotiating rights to you for a given period of time and may offer you a contract.

I was a .425 hitter in my league this season, why haven't I been scouted yet?

Performance is just one aspect of the scouting equation. It's an important one in that good players tend to perform well, that's one of the things that makes them good. But a player's raw physical skills, potential, and projectability all play a part as well. There are many, many players who are very good high school or college players but don't necessarily possess the skills that scouts see as being necessary to be a major league ballplayer.

When does the scouting process really begin?

For issues related to this and other age/timing questions, see Age Issues.

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