Q Does my age, my size, my (whatever) matter?

AThere are two important words you should understand about the scouting process - projectability and investment. Projectability (which probably isn't even a real word) is what scouts are concerned with most in young players. As Kurt puts it...

"Scouts try to project your size by looking at a variety of factors. Your current body type and maturity level are one of the things scouts look at. The size of your parents and siblings can also be an indicator of where you are heading. If a player has not filled out yet, it can be an indication that there is more room for added growth and strength, thus making that player possibly a better player or pitcher in the long run compared to the player who is fully mature. Remember, a scout is trying to look a few years down the road to project what you will be."

Q At what age does the scouting process begin?

AScouts routin ely request information from young players so that they can follow that player over the course of a high school or college career. There is no age restriction on when scouts can watch a player or get a player information card on him. I might see a player as young as 14, a 9th grader, that I want to follow. Players younger than that are usually not playing in the games we usually attend.

QWhen am I eligible to be drafted?

AExcluding a few exceptions, a player is eligible for the draft after their senior year in high school. Players subject to the draft are those in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. A player is also eligible each year if he attends a junior college. For a player that attends a four-year institution, that player will be eligible at the end of their junior year or whenever they turn 21.

QWhat are the peak ages?

APlayers must show an advanced skill level in order to be signed out of a tryout camp. Once a player reaches 22-23 years old, they are much closer to their full potential than is the player who is 18. With the younger player, there is still a lot of 'projectability' left. There is not as much room for improvement for an older player. It's not unheard of for a player to be signed in his mid-20's but the chances definitely decrease as the player's age goes up. While plenty of players signed out of college go on to have fine professional careers, players on the fast track to the Major Leagues are already in AA or AAA by the time they are 22-23 years old.

QDoes your potential to be scouted and signed decrease with age?

AScouts refer to 22-23 as peak years. They don't spend a lot of time looking at players in over 25 adult baseball leagues. Although you may have stayed in good shape and are mentally ready, there are thousands of players who have been improving and gaining game experience in those 4-5 years since you played competitively. You will have to stand out at a tryout camp in order for a scout to sign you because they have no past track record to go off of or look at. It's not impossible, but the odds are long for a player who is 22 and hasn't played competitively for the last 4 years. Of course, there have been a few older players signed as free agents. The most recent notable signing was Jim Morris, a 38 year old high school teacher and coach. His players challenged him to tryout with a major league club and he did so. He was signed and pitched in the major leagues either last year or the year before with Tampa Bay. Why did he make it? He was a left-handed pitcher and threw about 95 mph. This was a real exceptional situation but a great story.

QWhat About Long Shots?

AWebBall also gets many, many questions from men's league players, also players injured in their early twenties who feel stronger at 30, players who were signed but cut 'without explanation', and so on. We don't like to burst bubbles and squash dreams, so we hate these questions because we often don't have a good answer.

First, in the case of those who were signed, tested and released, we are not the people to ask. Maybe you didn't live up to your projectables; maybe you were too slow to come back from an injury; maybe they just had some better prospects and only so much budget to go around - which is what the other word 'investment' is all about. After all, pro baseball is a business more than a game. And the risk of a long shot winner may just be more than many clubs can afford. Don't take it personally. Especially if an injury got in the way. Many of today's good coaches, instructors and, yes, even scouts were former players whose career ended with a torn ligament, bone damage, or some other irreparable injury.