How to get drafted
Separating myth from truth about how baseball players get drafted.
Lately I have been looking around at different websites and a surprising question that has come up multiple times is “how do I get drafted.”
With this question being thrown around on the web by inquisitive college and high school players, I have seen many interesting answers that are not helpful to anyone that wants to play professional baseball. It also looks like the people that are answering this question don’t know anything about the workings of a baseball organization. I am not saying that I know everything about baseball, but I’ve played professionally for 10 years now so I’ve learned a thing or two about getting drafted.
Myth #1 – Who you know. Just because you know a player in an organization he is not going to help you get drafted. Knowing the right scout, coach, or high front office person might be helpful, but even this won’t guarantee anything.
Myth #2 – Social Media. Being a social media monster isn’t going to help either. Putting your videos on You Tube is just a waste of time. When you jump from high school or college to professional baseball you are getting into the business of baseball. Just like any other business out there, they want to be competitive and get the best employees out there. Professional scouts are not looking online at facebook and You Tube to find their next 5th round outfielder.
Truth #1 – Play well. Sorry to state the obvious, but there it is… The very best way to get noticed is to play well.
Truth #2 – Play often. Playing on multiple teams will not only let you hone your skill through practice (Baseball is a skill specific sport where you need to work on your craft), but it gives you additional opportunities to be seen by scouts. Play in as many games as possible. Play your high school or college season and play in a wood bat summer league. These summer leagues are all over the country. It can be good to play in different parts of the country so different scouts can see you play the game.
Truth #3 – Play with the best. Playing with players who are better than you will not only help to make you a better player, but it can actually help you get noticed. Maybe you are like me where scouts were not lining up to see me play, but I had some studs on my team and we played against some really high profile players that scouts were wanting to see. Being on the same field gave me a chance to play for these scouts. They weren’t there for me, but if I played well enough they might notice me. It only takes one scout and one team to believe in you, it doesn’t take any more.
The bottom line. Don’t over complicate the whole process. If you play well enough the scouts will find you. But also give them a chance to find you by playing as much as possible.
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About the Author: Doug Bernier
Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 11 years. After hitting .361 with the New York Yankees this 2012 spring training where he relieved Derek Jeter at shortstop, Doug spent the 2012 season with the Yankees’ triple A team. Click here to get personal, one-on-one instruction with Doug Bernier
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Excellent; I like your poignant honesty.
Many teams also have tryouts camps each year. Go to mlb.com and look for when the teams have the tryout camps which are free.
Dave, thanks for pointing that out. It’s true, although the fact is that it is extremely difficult to get picked up by a team that way.
It is never easy to get signed but you are in front of the people who have the power to sign you. I will also say in the 5 years that i was part of this open tryout with the KC Royals we did sign at least 1 player every year out of this open camp.
Excellent information. Thanks, Dave.
It’s TRUE–If you play well, the Scouts will FIND you. When I was a young man playing for a California “Semi-pro” team. I had just finished reading Ted Williams’ book–The Science of Hitting. The next 5-6 games I batted 17 for 21.( GREAT BOOK for hitting instruction, by the way.) Anyway, the scouts found ME; Cleveland, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, California Angels & Oakland A’s.. I mean these guys came out of the woodwork! I was going to Long Beach State University at the time, so the first thing they asked me was where I went to school. I found out later that they did this so they could come see me play & assess my abilities against other college competition. I played one season at Long Beach, but playing against teams like USC and UCLA (exhibition games) also helped bring out the Scouts.
And no, I didn’t get drafted because music was my passion(baseball was #2), and by the time next June’s draft came around–I had graduated college and already left baseball to embark on a cross-country music tour.
Great blog, Doug! My son loves it, he is only an eighth grader and his passion (no surprise!) is baseball. He has played on a traveling team for two years as well as his Junior High team. He is already researching which colleges disburse the most MLB draft picks! Does this make a difference in the big picture? He really wants his life to revolve around the sport…ideas for college major? Business? Sports Medicine? Thanks for your input!
Tami,
I am glad your son likes our site. Keep checking it, we will be adding videos to our articles over the next few months. Also we plan on adding new things all the time.
I truly believe that the college your son picks will not have a huge impact on him getting drafted. On our team this year, about half the guys that went to college went to schools that are not household names. Sometimes that may even be an advantage. First of all, you can only get better as a player if you actually play. If he is fortunate enough to start at a big school his freshman year, thats awesome. But if not, it may be better to go to a school where he can play right away and get better.
Playing at a big school allows for more looks from scouts because consistently they get scouts at every game. But small schools play big schools frequently and he will get looks at those games. Now coaches and scouts talk and trust me if he plays well he will be found. In my situation I wasn’t the best player on my college team but the players that were better brought the scouts in and I played well enough to catch their eye. The biggest thing is, if he plays well enough he will be found.
I don’t know what your son likes when it comes to school. Even when he does play pro ball I hope he will be able to go back and finish school. It didn’t seem like a big deal to me at the time, but now I am so glad I went back after my first professional season to finish. I majored in exercise science and I wish I would have done business. Since everything is a business I think it would have been more beneficial. I believe that if your priorities are right you can balance baseball with academics.
Hopefully that helps a little. Any more questions or comments let me know. Thanks
Doug Bernier
Well stated…makes good sense. I,guess you just wonder how the scouts can find all the talented players. I am sure some,get missed even so. It seems most of the scouts are looking at the pitchers from what I have noticed at games. I love the game and not sure what I will do after this season. My son is a senior who plays college baseball for Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fl.. Of course like most parents we think our son is draft potential, but honestly he is very good. He is a first baseman and as I tell everyone he makes plays like the guys on TV, lol. I guess will cross fingers and hope he as a stellar season and continue to get noticed.
Brenda,
Thanks for your comment. I know it can be a stressful time and I hope things workout for your son. One thing he has going for him is that Florida has a lot of scouts running through there, because of all the talent around the state. Good luck and I hope things work out.
Doug Bernier