Would like to get some opinions on which plays a bigger role on kids who want a baseball future. Please let me know thoughts.

Many times summer ball is where a player will get a better chance to be seen. Many college coaches don't have time during the high school season because they are playing too.

Many times summer ball is where a player will get a better chance to be seen. Many college coaches don't have time during the high school season because they are playing too.

 

Agreed summer is where the player will be seen, now if they like what they see, then sure they'll come out and see you in the HS season.

Agreed summer is where the player will be seen, now if they like what they see, then sure they'll come out and see you in the HS season.

 

Agreed. If someone is REALLY good, a college coach will usually try find time during the high school season to see them.

If a player is good enough, they will play college ball if they want to. If they are not good enough, they won't get the opportunity to play college ball. Many of these summer league teams, especially those who take kids from all over and have no association with a high school team use "we get kids seen by scouts and recruiters" as a tool to get kids to play. Many high school teams have their own summer team now and give their players the opportunity to play and practice with less cost than that of the travel ball teams. However, some club teams use "we get you noticed" line to convince kids to play making their parents think it is a good investment.

 

I am not trying to discredit summer ball and how important it is to keep the kids playing during the summers as opposed to doing nothing. However, I have met many scouts and college coaches at high school games, district tourneys, and regional tourneys. To listen to some of these summer ball teams say that you don't get noticed playing high school ball is a complete lie and a cheap ploy to get a kid to join their travel team.

If a player is good enough, they will play college ball if they want to. If they are not good enough, they won't get the opportunity to play college ball. Many of these summer league teams, especially those who take kids from all over and have no association with a high school team use "we get kids seen by scouts and recruiters" as a tool to get kids to play. Many high school teams have their own summer team now and give their players the opportunity to play and practice with less cost than that of the travel ball teams. However, some club teams use "we get you noticed" line to convince kids to play making their parents think it is a good investment.

 

I am not trying to discredit summer ball and how important it is to keep the kids playing during the summers as opposed to doing nothing. However, I have met many scouts and college coaches at high school games, district tourneys, and regional tourneys. To listen to some of these summer ball teams say that you don't get noticed playing high school ball is a complete lie and a cheap ploy to get a kid to join their travel team.

 

A man that is telling the truth.:thumb:

You won't get noticed as much on a bad HS team as you will on a good summer team.

I'll add that by playing on a quality summer ball team, it expands the opportunity to be seen. If your high school team is a little weak, as mentioned in an earlier post, and your summer team features a top prospect or two, scouts (college and/or pro) who routinely come to watch the best players, also get to see everyone on both sides of the field. As you know, the baseball network is very tight. So if a minor school is talking to a scout and mentions that they are in need of a shortstop, the scout may say "I seen a kid over the weekend that might be of interest to you"...and there you have it.

 

I’ll admit, some of the expenses get a little crazy, and if a coach tells you that "they are travelling to Florida to play in a 62 team tournament and 50 colleges will be there" be cautious, the schools already know who they're looking at, and to watch over 1000 players in a weekend...no way, not happening!

 

One other point...our son has played on travel teams the past few years and it's been worth a penny invested. It expands his network with other players/coaches that might not normally happen, and several have become true family friends.

We played a team that finished 16-12 last year...they featured a top prospect, take him off the team, and they probably go 8-20?? Every time we played them, the stands were full of pro and college scouts. My point is...If you can play at the next level, they will find you. :thumb:

I know that a bright baseball future can only be defined by the beholder. Having said that, what is "the future" to play at UK or LSU or to play at Campbellsville or Shawnee State? Personally I think parents spend way too much money trying to get their kids "noticed". If you want to play in college, you can find a place to play. Now if you are looking for a full ride scholarship, that may be a different matter.

 

I think kids always remember what high school they went to and how their team did. As for the summer teams, I think it is a decent experience, but with so many leagues and tournaments, I think it all becomes a haze. I have heard many a kid say they went to the state high school tournament, or were upset in such and such a round in high school, but the summer stuff-they don't really expound a ton of information.

I don't believe one is any more important than the other. I believe going to a couple combines is important though, if you have what they are looking for, and speed is one of the main things they look for. Your contact information is given directly to each coach. Your high school team playing some top teams, with some good prospects, helps get players get seen as well by default. Scholarships, D1 schools have a total of 11.78 scholarships to give, D2 has 9, and NAIA has 12 to give. So the chance of getting a full ride to any school on a baseball scholarship is pretty slim. Half and less than half are more the normal given. Then going to some of the smaller schools, their tuition can be very high. Walk on opportunities are offered as much as any for baseball, except for each teams very top players.. Talk to the local baseball players at Northern.

A quick question. Do they play much defense in summer ball?

A quick question. Do they play much defense in summer ball?

 

In my opinion they do. Many teams don't play much small ball if a scout is around. The theory is a scout doesn't want to see you bunt, he wants to see you hit one in the gap to move the runners.

I totally agree with your theory. Our son's summer team won 2 state titles last year and his high school football team finished 14-1 and state runner-up. I can guarantee you that he would trade those 2 state titles for the high school title in a heartbeat. Not taking anything away from the summer team experience (GREAT GREAT times) but you just can't compare the two.

I know that a bright baseball future can only be defined by the beholder. Having said that, what is "the future" to play at UK or LSU or to play at Campbellsville or Shawnee State? Personally I think parents spend way too much money trying to get their kids "noticed". If you want to play in college, you can find a place to play. Now if you are looking for a full ride scholarship, that may be a different matter.

 

I think kids always remember what high school they went to and how their team did. As for the summer teams, I think it is a decent experience, but with so many leagues and tournaments, I think it all becomes a haze. I have heard many a kid say they went to the state high school tournament, or were upset in such and such a round in high school, but the summer stuff-they don't really expound a ton of information.

I totally agree with your theory. Our son's summer team won 2 state titles last year and his high school football team finished 14-1 and state runner-up. I can guarantee you that he would trade those 2 state titles for the high school title in a heartbeat. Not taking anything away from the summer team experience (GREAT GREAT times) but you just can't compare the two.