AboutTom O`Leary Expertise I am am best suited to answer questions regarding minor league baseball prospects.
Experience Originally, i started doing this because i became engrossed researching prospects for a fantasy league. Back then all i really wanted to do was answer questions about baseball prospects.
Funny how time flies but twelve years later i have been asked questions regarding the negro leagues, what minor leaguers get paid, why players don't rub their injury when they get hurt, and how players can tryout for the minor leagues to name only a few. i was recently in correspondence with a father of a marine who lost several fingers while in Iraq; he was later drafted by the padres and is playing in their minor league system. additionally, i get a lot of questions from guys asking me if i think they can be successful at these tryouts or if they should tryout at all.
I do my best to answer every one's question without overstepping my bounds of knowledge. *sometimes i have to tell people that i just can't answer their question.* And sometimes i have to tell people that they just aren't good enough to be a professional ball player.*
most recently i have received two negative feedbacks from people who didn't like my response. one 30 year old guy who hadn't played since he was a teenager asked me if he really had a shot at making the tryouts. realistically, i said no. i guess he didn't appreciate my bluntness but what would you have wanted me to say?
i am not really an 'expert' in anything. i just answer people's inquires, give some conservative advise or tell them 'i don't know.' after twelve years i have realized that i do fulfill most most questioners satisfactorily which keeps me doing this.
I have a 19yr old son. He is a left handed pitcher. He is not going to attend college. If attending open camps, what are the scouts looking for? Pitching is command, change of speeds, movement, and velocity (in order of importance). Do scouts still stand on the side lines with radar guns and stop watches? How much importance do they put into that? I think of Jamie Moyer when I think of these questions. My son is very similar. Relies heavily on savviness and the first 3 ingredients but lacks the high velocity (77-80 now). Bottom Line - Do you think scouts will invest and work with him to get velocity to mid 80's under the condition that those other 3 items in his arsenal are well above average? Or will they not even bother because of the velocity? Thanks
Answer George,
you are correct, in the tryouts the scouts look for is command, change of speeds, movement, and velocity and that's no secret. yes, radar guns and stop watches are still used. in a number oriented world, the radar gun is very useful. what i suggest your son do is join an independent league and hone his skills. if he has the talent to go pro, he will be noticed; there is too much money to be made off him if that is the case. good luck.
