Expert: John Priest - 6/17/2008

Question
I'm a Freshmen in high school and I was wondering what I have to do to be Major League material.

Answer
Marcus,
What scout look for are the five tools.  The five tools are (1)hit for power, (2)hit for average, (3)arm strength, (4)fielding, (5)running speed.  I am going to add a 6th tool with potential.  Scouts will also take a look at players with a tall body and a wide frame.

Your goal for now should be to get scouted and play college ball.  Go to showcase camps to get yourself out there.  Check the perfect game website out at www.perfectgame.org.  Check for locations of camps in your area.  They will rate you from 1 to 10 on ability.  You will see 100's of MLB players who have gone to these camps prior to getting drafted.  The more you do the more exposure to pro and college scouts you get.

You can also go to open MLB tryout camps if you are older than 16.  These camps and showcase camps will give you an idea as to where you stand with other players.
 
Here is the remaining schedule for these open tryouts.  You can find them at http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/tryout_us.jsp

6/23 9 a.m. Smith-Wills Stadium
1200 Lakeland Drive Jackson, MS

6/25 9 a.m. LaPierre Field
200 Lesa Marie Lane Kennewick, WA

6/25 9 a.m. Parkway South High School
801 Hanna Rd Manchester, MO

6/26 10 a.m. Frankford High School
Large & Dyer Philadelphia, PA

6/27 9 a.m. Rockhurst University
1100 Rockhurst Rd Kansas City, MO

7/1 10 a.m. Cardinal Gibbons High School
3225 Wilkens Ave Baltimore, MD

7/3 10 a.m. Clarke Springs Elementary School
1101 Dance St Richmond, VA

7/7 Noon Allegany College of Maryland
12401 Willowbrook Rd Cumberland, MD

7/11 9 a.m. Milwaukee Area Technical College:
Oak Creek Campus 6665 South Howell St. Oak Creek, WI

Thank You and Good Luck,
John Priest