What Do Professional
Scouts Look For?
February 2015
Version 1
Property of Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Baseball is a traditional sport and is our favorite pastime. Every young baseball
player wants to get discovered and potentially play at the major league level. And,
likewise, every professional scout wants to find that diamond in the rough player
who everyone else misses, but turns into a superstar. The chances of this player
and scout meeting are very slim, but if you have the right information you can
potentially improve the odds. Understanding what professional scouts are looking
for can assist you in the process of developing as a baseball player. Everything
falls on you as a player, your coach and parents can’t do it for you. Scouts have
been trained to look beyond a players performance on a particular day, and
focuses on the components of a player’s game, including the physical and
psychological factors that distinguishes a ball player. There are five fundamental
physical tools that scouts look for when they evaluate a player. Of course, scouts
want to see you play well when they go see you, but they are really trying to
analyze your potential as a professional baseball player. They are forecasting
based on current skill sets, what a player will look like 3-5 year from now. Baseball
players cannot play at the highest level without tools. For position players, what
are the tools scouts look for?
1. Hitting
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Make contact with the ball
Hit the ball hard
Bat Speed
Hit to all fields
Being aggressive at the plate
Making adjustments if fooled on pitch
Ability to get the ball to jump off the bat
Knowledge of strike zone
Hand/Eye Coordination
Ability to handle pressure
Scouts want to see players who consistently hit the ball with authority!
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Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
Grading Hitting /Projected Batting Average
80:
70:
60:
50:
40:
30:
20:
.330
.300 to .329
.285 to .289
.270 to .284
.240 to .269
.220 to .239
.000 to .219
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2. Hitting for Power
Most would assume that hitting with power means hitting the baseball 400+ feet.
While country long homeruns is a major component of power hitting, players who
specialize in hitting it hard and powerful all over the field is consider powerful.
Grading Power / Projected Home Runs
80:
45+
70:
35 to 44
60:
26 to 34
50:
15 to 25
40:
10 to 14
30:
5 to 9
20:
0 to 4
3. Running
Of all the tools, running speed is the easiest to judge. A stopwatch does a pretty
good job determining a player’s speed. However, if pure speed were all that
mattered, track stars would make great baserunners. Scout understands that
speed has to be utilized properly on the base path to be effective and that many
players rely on instinct and quickness to overcome lack of foot speed.
60 Time
80:
6.4 seconds
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Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
70:
6.5 to 6.6 seconds
60:
6.7 to 6.8 seconds
50:
6.9 to 7.0 seconds
40:
7.1 to 7.2 seconds
30:
7.3 to 7.4 seconds
20:
7.5+ seconds
Time to First Base
Right Handers & Left Handers
RH:
80: 4.0 seconds
RH:
70: 4.1 seconds
LH:
70: 4.0 seconds
RH:
60: 4.2 seconds
LH:
60: 4.1 seconds
RH:
50: 4.3 seconds
LH:
50: 4.2 seconds
RH:
40: 4.4 seconds
LH:
40: 4.3 seconds
RH:
30: 4.5 seconds
LH:
30: 4.4 seconds
RH:
20: 4.6 seconds
LH:
20: 4.5 seconds
LH:
80: 3.9 seconds
4. Fielding
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Cover a large area of the infield or outfield (range)
Move or jump on the ball before it is hit (quick feet)
Receive the ball with little effort, smoothness (soft hands)
Move hands quickly in fielding a bad hop (quick hands)
Get feet set smoothly to make the throw
Make difficult plays look easy
Some players have limited running speed, but fielding instinct that gives them
quickness is something scouts understand.
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
5. Arm Strength
This is a tool that is often overlooked by youth ball players. Having a strong arm is
essential. The ability to fire the ball across the diamond to throw a runner out or
to throw a runner out from behind the plate or outfield is important for a major
league player.
Remember scouts are trained to evaluate a ball players present ability to
determine if their future potential may be equal to a major league standard.
Scouts are NOT trying to identify the best hitters on the team or in the area if they
do not project to have major league potential.
In evaluation position players, scouts pay close attention to hitting because it is
very difficult to find a player who can really hit and potentially be a major leaguer.
There are many things they look for when evaluating a hitter, but on top of the
list is going to be bat speed. Scouts are trying to identify bat speed and players
making hard contact or creating explosive power.
Lets breakdown requirement by each position:
Outfield Requirments
Left Field
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Hitting Ability & Power emphasized
Ability to catch baseball emphasized
Arm strength to home plate
Speed not critical (6.8 60 perferred)
Center Field
 Speed is critical
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
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Special ability to catch the baseball
Hitting ability is emphasized
Arm strength
Power not critical
Instincts for positioning
Aggressive
Right Field
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Hitting ability & power emphasized
Ability to catch baseball emphasized
Arm strength
Speed not critical
Above Average:
Average:
Below Average:
Grading Outfield Arms
Ball stays online with carry
Ball stays online without carry
Ball lacks carry, requires bounce
Infield Requirements
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Short Stop
Soft hands & ability to catch and release ball quickly
Range
Speed, agility, & first step quickness
Hitting ability & power de-emphasized
Instincts for positioning, anticipation & reaction
Aggressive
Second Base
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Hitting ability & power emphasized
Soft Hands & ability to field baseball
Speed, Agility, & First Step
Arm Strength not as critical
Instincts for positioning, anticipation & reaction
Aggressive
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
Third Base
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Hitting Ability, Run Production & Power
Soft hands & ability to field baseball
Arm strength
Speed not critical
First Base
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Hitting Ability, Run Production & Power
Soft hands & ability to field baseball
Arm strength
Speed not critical
Grading Infield Arm Strength
Above Average:
Ball stays on line w/ carry
Average:
Ball stays on line w/o carry
Below Average:
Ball thrown softly, but makes play
Catcher Requirements
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Leadership Qualities
Durability & toughness
Soft hands
“5” Arm strength & release time 2.0 sec
Quick feet
Hitting ability & power emphasized
Flexibility
Speed not required
Ability to block pitches
Baseball instincts & awareness of game
Grading Catcher’s Arm Strength
80:
70:
60:
1.75 seconds or less
1.76 to 1.81 seconds
1.82 to 1.86 seconds
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
50:
40:
30:
20:
1.87 to 1.91 seconds
1.92 to 1.96 seconds
1.97 to 2.1 seconds
2.2 seconds & above
C
1B
2B
SS
3B
LF
CF
RF
Catch
Bat
Bat
Field
Bat
Bat
Speed
Bat
Throw
Power
Field
Throw
Power
Power
Field
Power
Bat
Field
Speed
Speed
Field
Field
Bat
Field
Power
Throw
Power
Bat
Throw
Throw
Throw
Throw
Speed
Speed
Throw
Power
Speed
Speed
Power
Speed
What do scouts look for in pitchers?
Pitchers
 Velocity - scouts first consider how much velocity a pitcher can generate.
 Movements – does the ball sink, drop, slide, fade, rise, or merely go
straight?
 General Mechanics – maturity, poise, rhythm, and pitching techniques.
 Delivery – over the top, three quarters, side arm or submarine style? Free
and fluid or forced and labored?
 Arm Action – arm path at beginning and end of throwing movement. Herkyjerky or fluid?
 Curveball – rotation, sharpness, direction, and extent of break? Can a
batter easily adjust or does the pitcher hide the pitch?
 Other Pitches – what other pitches and can he throw for strike?
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
 Changeup – critical for success in professional baseball. Can he throw for
strike, and is it effective?
 Control – can one locate his pitches?
 Type – Power pitcher? Finesse pitcher?
Grading Arm Strength
80:
98+
70:
93-97
60:
90-92
50:
88-89
40:
85-87
30:
83-84
20:
Below 82
A pitcher must have sound delivery, solid basics and good arm action or must
show that minor adjustments will give him these qualities in the near future. Bad
arm action and poor delivery considerably lessen the chance that a scout will see
a young pitcher as a prospect with potential for improvements.
Great, now the question we all wonder: WHAT ABOUT MY STATS?
Many scouts regard statistics as an indicator, not so much of professional ability,
but rather of potential strength and weakness. That is something many players,
parents, and coaches do not understand.
For example: If a guy is supposed to be a speedy guy a scout will check and see
how many steals he has in how many attempts. Weather it looks like he stretches
singles in to doubles, how many triples he has. So whether he is hitting .250 or
.450 doesn’t really matter as much as these other stats.
Stats are a piece of the puzzle, focus on developing your skills and mastering your
craft and let the stats go. Do you have the potential 3-5 years from now to be a
major league player?
Other Thing Scouts Notice:
Body type:
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
Scouts will not walk away from a prospect that can potentially be a major leaguer
regardless of his body type. But body check is one of the first things a scout will
do when they go watch a guy play. They typically lead toward kids who are bigger
or have the potential to be bigger based on the size of the men in their family.
One of the things scouts like is shaking a kid’s hand, to get an understanding of
how big a kids hand is and how strong they are, which both are very helpful when
throwing and hitting a baseball.
Athletic Frame:
Obviously this is the most desired, which involves height, muscles, balance, agility,
fluidness and general ease to the game of baseball.
The Projectable Frame:
This frame pertains to players who develops late and have room to grow. They
likely have broad shoulders, lean under developed muscles, broad flat chest, and
thin legs.
Scouts do not have a problem with projectable frame, definitely better than
someone who has fully grown.
The Mature Frame:
This is not an ideal frame. This suggests that this player may have a lower ceiling
to his overall game than an athletic or projectable frame player. But by no means
does this mean that kids in mature frames can’t develop into a major leaguer.
Passion, Desire:
Scouts are drawn to players who display a great deal of passion and desire to play
the game of baseball. These players are self-motivated, which is needed to get
through the grind of the game.
Work Ethic:
Minor League and Major League baseball is a grind and a player has to be one of
the best in the whole system to continue to have a chance to play. Talent only
takes one so far, eventually you have to work hard to play and to be great.
Game Knowledge:
Players that know and have a feel for the game are attractive to scouts.
How to deal with failure:
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Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
How you handle adversity and failure is something every scout wants to see. This
displays the maturity of the player.
Body Language:
This includes physical mannerisms, ways the uniform and hat is worn, physical
reaction to adverse situations.
Confidence:
The game is long and the player only has a few moments during the game to
demonstrate his ability. Confident players will succeed on a consistent basis.
Leadership Skills:
This can be displayed several different ways, some players are vocal, and others
are by example. Do other players respond to this player who is displaying
leadership skills?
Mental Toughness:
Players are going to struggle and everyone knows it. So does the player have the
mental toughness to keep fighting through adversity and get it figured out and
turned around?
Improvement over time:
Is a player spending time with a player developer who is helping them improve
their skills year after year?
There is much more that goes into scouting a player and his potential of playing at
the professional level than his stats, which is what most people perceive to be the
going factor.
Let’s talk just a little bit on how to impress a scout:
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Dress like a ball player
Hustle at all times (practice, games, warm-ups)
Be a leader and a team player
Sportsmanship
Be honest and forthright
Demonstrate your ability every time you step on the field
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com
 Play like there is someone there all the time
If you are a player who has the desire to play professional baseball, we
recommend the following:
 Focus on developing your skills
 Find the best instructor in your area or surrounding area
o If you can’t find a good one, then do online coaching with a good
instructor.
 Start the process of marketing yourself early
 Get the right information
 DO NOT DEPEND ON YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COACH – you need to do this
yourself
©Copyright Athletic Mission Baseball Academy
Athletic Mission Baseball Academy, 6521 E 46th Street Tulsa Ok 74145
Tel (918)856-9167 www.athletic-mission.com