With the increasing popularity of amateur baseball scouting organizations, there are a variety of recruiting rankings published on a yearly basis. College baseball recruiting rankings list out the top players by graduating class. They also determine the top talent at the national and state level. The rankings from one organization to another can vary drastically though. It’s not uncommon to see a completely different set of players in the Perfect Game and Baseball Factory Top 100’s. This can be a result of different scouting evaluation methodologies and preferences. Most commonly, it’s due to differing player participation within the organizations.
Prospective college baseball players tend to stay with the same organization for the showcase events and tournaments that they attend. Through these events, they’ve built relationships with coaches, scouts, and other staff within the organization. As a result, players have a high level of trust and confidence in the services. Having said that, as new scouting organizations emerge and start to expand in different areas of the country, we’ve seen a growing number of players participant in events across multiple scouting organizations.
The Role of Showcases in Rankings
To be ranked, players will typically have to attend a showcase event. Participating in a few tournaments will also help players earn a ranking. At a showcase event, scouts collect a variety of performance data. Some of this data includes 60 yard dash times, arm velocity, exit velocity, and pop time. The organization will also have scouts in attendance who provide a showcase report. With their expertise in evaluating amateur baseball players, these scouts provide an unbiased summary of the player’s baseball abilities.
Showcase events also have a live game component to them. Due to time constraints, there are a limited number of innings so it only provides scouts with a small sample size. By attending a few affiliated tournaments, it provides scouts additional opportunities to evaluate the player’s talent, and potentially generate a ranking.
Benefits of Earning College Baseball Recruiting Rankings
Many prospective college baseball players are appealed by the opportunity to be ranked at the national and state level. With a ranking, players become even more visible within the player promotion platforms that these scouting organizations have developed. Thousands of college coaches and professional scouts are a part of these networks. They actively use their services to support their recruiting efforts.
The web based player profile is a core piece to their player promotion efforts. The profile houses the player’s basic information, performance data, scouting reports, event awards, video footage, and rankings if applicable. These organizations will not only feature ranked players on high visibility website pages but also promote them through other multimedia channels, providing exposure to the players.
Building Credibility
Players should have a realistic set of expectations when attending their first showcase event. Taking a look at the ranked players within Perfect Game, you’ll find that these players have been attending showcase events and tournaments for a few years. Players typically need to attend multiple events to build up enough credibility to get ranked. A few solid performances at showcases and tournaments will give scouts an opportunity to recognize the player’s talent.
Not every player will earn a ranking though. Ranked players have at least one tool that sets them apart from other players. The players at the top of the charts often have multiple tools that they excel in. For instance the top 10 pitchers in the Perfect Game Class of 2021 ranking throw in the mid to high nineties with control and also have other plus pitches. Even the top 500 ranking consists largely of highly recruiting players that plan on attending the top college baseball programs in the nation. If you are a middle of the pack player that is average across the board, there is a good chance that these organizations won’t include you in their rankings.
To wrap things up, working with these scouting organizations have a variety of benefits and the ranking system is just one of them. Even if a player isn’t ranked, they will still benefit from an increased level of exposure to college coaches.