The beautiful thing about baseball is as a player you will be evaluated on a daily basis. This is the case in some high schools but mostly colleges. It’s interesting how the evaluation of a player works. One scout may take a look at you and think your worthless and on another day a scout takes one glimpse of you and be drooling over your tools.
The awesome things is, it only takes one guy to like you for you to have a chance at the next level. Notice how I said the word tools. This word is very important because this is what scouts are basically trained and paid to evaluate and project, and if you don’t have at least two tools that standout either at a showcase, or game, then you better have intangibles that translate into your statistics or performance on a day-to-day basis.(improving your tools can be explored in our training section)
As a position player what is evaluated is prioritized by specififc categories. this is what is evaluated in order.
Catcher- Defense-Arm strenght-power-hitting-running
1st Base- Hitting-power-fielding-throwing-running
2nd Base- Hitting-fielding-running-throwing-power
3rd Base-Fielding-throwing-power-hitting-running
Shortstop- Fielding- throwing-running-hitting-power
Left- Hitting- throwing- power- throwing-fielding
Center- Fielding-running-hitting-throwing-power
Right- Throwing- hitting-power-running-fielding
So basically if you can find a way to improve at least two of the five basic tools to an exceptional level, you will be in good shape.
Average professional 60 yard dash is 6.8. For a middle infielder some require a 6.6 or they may move you to a corner position in which would be expected to hit for power.
One thing I want you to understand is as a baseball player you have to ,not simply work hard, but work smart. This comes from knowing what you need to specifically work on to be a better player. Don’t waste your time trying to mold yourself into a player that you’re not. At the same time, if you have a clear vision of what type of player you aspire to be, don’t let anything or anyone get in your way. So with smart work, progress is not only possible but enviable. You will improve!