Fall ball is the prime time for pro scouts and college recruiters to observe prospects. I, for years, coached the Lone Star Baseball Club team. I had a panel of pro scouts that selected the top prospects in the Texas Gulf Coast to play for me and I tried to not screw them up too much. From off this team 16 players have made it to the Majors, 60 or more to pro ball and over 250 got the opportunity to play in college. Every time we stepped on the field, you could expect the more than a few pro scouts and college recruiters to be watching. One of my primary responsibilities was to educate the players in what the scout were looking for and how best to showcase their talents to leave a positive impression. I was dealing with pro and college "prospects" but this TIP will apply to all levels of play.

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I spoke to them about how you can turn a negative into a positive and conversely a positive in to a negative. One player hit a line shot into the gap, a positive. But then lolligagged to first taking no turn although the left fielder had to make an extraordinary play to keep the ball from going to the wall. I pointed out that getting a good hit always impresses the recruiters but they expect him to be able to hit some or they wouldn’t be looking at him. When he dogged it to first he did far more damage to his chances than if he had K’d 3 times. Now the notation they will enter in their book is “ don’t like the way he plays the game”. On the other hand one of the players hit a pop up to the pitcher but sprinted to first. What players must understand is every time they swing, someone punched a stopwatch. On the pop up he was timed in a 4.2 to first, an excellent time but you better believe that a note was made that that 4.2 was recorded on a pop up!

Heck, Babe Ruth popped up on occasion. Does a player think that they are impressing anyone by a show of disgust when they don’t hit the ball solidly as if that had never happened to them before. How many times have you seen players thrown out by a step on a routine ground ball to short after showing disgust for an instant after contact? To act out after less than hoped for results, shows a lack of respect for the game! One has no control of what happens after the ball is contacted. That part of the play is over but the play is still ongoing. RUN. Take an aggressive turn at first. The play is not over until the umpire signals the batter out. SOMEONE MAY BE WATCHING that will decide the rest of your career.

One player popped up and helped himself . Another ripped a shot and seriously hurt his chances in the eyes of those there that day of playing beyond HS. Watch Biggio and Eckstein play the game and emulate them. Respect the game and let your ability be the determining factor in whether someone wants you to play for them not your approach to the game.

Play hard from your friends at www.tipsfromthecoach.com. .

Yours in Baseball,

Bruce Lambin

THE COACH