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Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Inside the Draft: A Scouting Director’s Message to Travel Ball Parents
01:00:55
What do MLB scouts really look for in players and families? In this episode, Matt Hannaford unpacks one of the most honest scouting director talks ever shared with Perfect Game All-American families. From multi-sport athletes to classroom behavior,...
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Foreign what is up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the Most Valuable Agent podcast. I'm your host, Matt Hannaford, and today we are diving deep into one of the most, I would call transparent parent focused talks I have seen from a team executive in a very long time. This specific talk came from a scouting director of a major league team. Now, he and I, this particular scouting director and I, among other people, were part of a panel where we were speaking to the families of Perfect Game, All Americans, specifically the Perfect Game, All American Game, which just took place a couple weeks ago. They had this panel where they invited experts in various fields in the business of baseball. You know, and I'm talking tax advisors, financial managers, social media experts, mental skills coaches, D1 head baseball coach, nil expert, obviously an agent. That was me talking as well as a scouting director. And what I appreciate so much about what the scouting director said was he gave us pretty much a blueprint for how scouts and teams think through the draft, what they value, how this process unfolds for them. So ultimately, and I know this was his intention because it came across as he delivered his message, you know, he wanted to give families a ton of information so that they could be better prepared for the next 11 months. So this information was extremely valuable. So much so that I wanted to bring it to the podcast and share with you a lot of the really important takeaways that I found. So here's what I want you to keep in mind, though. So the scouting director, he's obviously speaking from the standpoint of a team, so I'm going to give you some alternative viewpoints from the player side. And while what he shared, I'm going to tell you is right on the money, I think sharing with you all another layer of context from the player side could be even more valuable, which is why I'm doing this. So. And also keep in mind, this process, it is not cookie cutter. There are strategic decisions along the way that need to be tailored to each of the players in their family situation. So you guys need to rely on your advisors to help kind of guide you through this as well. I'm certainly not trying to tell you this is all the information you need to make decisions, but what I'm hopeful for is this information will give you guys a starting point to start thinking through and understanding what the next 11 months are going to look like. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to read through what the scouting director had to say generally, and then after each section, I'm going to Break it down from the lens of an advisor and again from the family and the player side. So let's get into it.
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Okay?
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So the very first point he makes, he says, I get asked all the time about multi sport athletes. And let me be clear, from my perspective, again, the perspective of a scouting director, it's a win, win. It's a win for the player, it's a win for the team every single time. If your son is playing quarterback or point guard, I'm showing up to those games. Why? Because I want to see how your son competes in different environments. I want to watch how he responds, whether he's the football player or the basketball player. When that coach gets on him a little bit, you know, it's a different personality. I want to see how he handles that pressure. You know, when it's loud, intense, maybe it's a Friday night crosstown rivalry that's real. I want to be there. Now, at some point, as baseball gets more serious, your son, or maybe even you as a parent might make a decision where it's time for him to stop playing multiple sports. And he said, maybe it's a timing thing, maybe it's about avoiding injury and that's fine. I totally understand that. But here's the deal. If you're walking away from football or basketball as a second sport, then your training environment better be locked in. He made that point very clear. You can't stop playing another sport and then coast into December of your son's senior year. That is not going to fly with them. He says if you're getting all, if you're going all in on baseball, then your habits and your structure need to reflect that. Now, if your son has played multiple sports and he's now focused strictly on baseball, that's great. I want to make that clear. But that's also where things like the Worldwood Bat Tournament and Jupiter come into play. He says you've got time now to get more reps in, so keep competing. But the message is the same. You can't view the extra time as a vacation. You've got to use it to get better. So to wrap it up, playing multiple sports is a great thing. Don't skip it because you think you don't. That teams don't want to see it because we do. And if your son does choose to go all in on baseball, then treat that commitment seriously. And whatever path he chooses, remember this. It should still be fun. If it's a Friday night and you're playing football, enjoy it. If it's a quiet off season and you're training specifically for baseball. Enjoy that too. This isn't supposed to be easy. It's supposed to challenge you. That's what makes you better. So here's the reality. I get asked all of the time about multi sport athletes and I'm going to tell you like I am fully aligned with the scouting director here. I've said it before on the podcast and I'll keep saying it. Multi sport athletes, they bring a lot to the table. You know, we've talked about this with Alex McClure, the West coast cross checker for the Tigers, Mike Wagner, the Yankees national scouting director. Both of those podcasts, I did address this thing. They've both emphasized essentially the same thing, just so you guys know, which is scouts want to see athletes, they want to see movement. By the way, also, as I'm remembering, I just did an episode with Michael Garcia para. In that episode, he played four sports in high school and gave specific things to think about when it came to that stuff. So again, the scouts, they want to see movement, they want to see competition. How a player handles different types of pressure, that's valuable for them. It's certainly valuable for a scouting department. So I want to be clear, if a player doesn't want to play a second sport, that's totally fine. No one's forcing anything. But don't stop playing a second sport merely because you think it's going to hurt his draft stock. Because it will not. Teams like it. As a scouting director just confirmed where I do want to expand on what the scouting director's point was, was actually around Jupiter. So the WWBA in October obviously takes place in Jupiter. Just because you're not playing football or basketball, that does not mean you have to fill that time by going to Jupiter. That is not, not a default move by any means. Specifically, as I speak about pitchers, obviously October often lines up with what's like potentially a down period for, for throwing. So if you've had a strong summer, the smart move might be actually to rest, recover, and then prep for the spring. On the flip side, if you didn't perform the, the way that you wanted to during the summer, then yeah, maybe Jupiter becomes an opportunity for you to kind of reestablish yourself, which is totally valid. But again, the point here is this is a strategic decision that should be based on your performance history, your goals, and, and really what's going to get you trending up in the spring. Because I want to be clear, performing well in Jupiter but falling flat in the spring, it it doesn't really help you. You want your arrow, so to speak, to be pointing up, heading into the draft and from the team side, look like they're. They're always going to tell you that they want to see you play more. That's their job. They want more data, they want more looks, they want more information. And I certainly don't blame them for that. But your job as a player and as a family is obviously to make the right decision for your specific path. So don't rely just on going merely because everyone else is going. You have to figure out what is the right thing specifically for you. Okay, so next thing I want to hit on, he says, and this is a big one, he says, is classroom behavior. Because it matters. As a scouting director, I am not just watching games, he says. I'm talking to teachers, I'm calling guidance counselors. I'm asking around town. Because if your son is a serious draft prospect, the spotlight is going to be on him. It does not stop on the field. We're paying attention to how he carries himself in school, how he interacts with adults, and how seriously he takes his responsibilities. That's an important one. Now, look, I know some kids are jokesters. Maybe your son, he has a few buddies who are a little loud or a little obnoxious, little reckless. He calls him goofballs. He says, look, that's fine when you're 13, but if you're trying to be a professional, that stuff has to tighten up. If your son is walking out after a game, meaning, like going to the parking lot, and he's clowning around with a group of guys, the scouts are watching, and if he's acting like a fool, that is going to raise some eyebrows, that's going to raise some questions for the team that will affect how a team views him. Word for word. That's what he says. He says, you might think, come on, it's just kids being kids. But for us, it tells a bigger story. It tells us who your son chooses to surround himself with. It tells us what kind of decisions he makes when no one is looking or when he thinks no one is looking. So I'll say it again. The classroom, the behavior, the social stuff, it's all real. We see it, he says, as a scouting director, and it plays a role in the overall evaluation. Okay, so, I mean, here's the reality. I could not have said it better myself. Parents. And look, I know you guys hear that, and it's like you're nodding. I know. Yes, this is right on. Right On, I mean, the reality is, is I understand, like we're preaching to the choir when we're talking to you. And ultimately, you know, I hope the player, if you're listening, I really need you to hear this. Like, if you think this doesn't affect you, you're dead wrong. Who you hang around, that obviously matters. These teams aren't just investing in a bat or a fastball or, you know, any various tool. They're investing in a person, future professional. So here's a simple gut check. If you need one. Would you feel confident inviting your group of friends, the ones that you hang around with the most, the ones that maybe your parents are saying, are you really want to hang out with them? Would you invite them to a sit down meeting at your house with you and the general manager of a major league organization where you can let your buddies and you can act with your buddy in front of the GM how you've been acting in those various occurrences. And if the answer is no, then that should tell you something. You're going to be judged by the company you keep. That's just a reality. So if you're serious about this dream, you need to start making decisions that reflect it. All right? So moving on. So the next point he raises is in home visits. So he says this is part of the process where teams want to get to know you and your family on a personal level. And he says there's no one size fits all way to do it. Some families prefer zoom calls, and that's totally fine. We'll hop on a zoom. This particular scouting director says. He says other families, they don't want people coming to their house. And he says that's fine too. So then set something up. He calls it off campus, meaning away from your home, like a meeting room at the high school or maybe the head coach's office. If that works for you, it certainly works for us too, he says. But if you're open to having scouts in your home, great. Maybe you've got a meal prepared, maybe it's casual. Either way, just know these visits are coming. So however you want to have them, however you want to host them, just be ready. He says I've had in home visits where we sat at the table for three or four hours talking through everything. Minor league life, the draft process, college scholarship options, you name it. And for me, that's what the in home visit is about. It's relational. If I'm going to sign your son, this guy says, then we're going to need to be in each other's lives. So I want to know what makes your family tick. And I want you to know who I am, too, what I stand for, and what my track record looks like. So whether it's in person, over zoom, or on campus, just make sure you're prepared because those meetings are a part of the process and they matter.
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So I completely agree with what the scouting director is saying right here. These in home visits, they obviously matter. They are relational, they help teams figure out who you are. But here's where I do want to offer some guidance for families, again, from the players. First side, I, I, I should say so. So first and foremost, do not spend three to four hours with every single team. If you're being looked at by 15, 20 clubs, you know, if you're considered a top pick, like you're talking 25 to 30 clubs, that kind of time commitment is going to, it's going to be impossible to manage. So not to mention especially for a high school kid who has homework and, you know, strength training and games and everything else that goes on in a high school schedule. So these meetings at the end of the day, here's the key. These meetings should not hijack your life. If they do, it means the process isn't being managed properly. What I would recommend, though, to families is pick one day a week, say Monday, and only schedule meetings on that day. So this ultimately is going to help you create structure. It helps your son stay focused, but it also tells scouts in a professional way. We take this seriously, but we also run a tight ship. So second, your son should be the one that is managing the communication with the scout. He should be the one that is texting or emailing the scout to schedule the meeting, confirming the location, confirming the time he should take the lead during the actual visit. This is his future. That's the reality. And you want teams to see him operate like a professional with, you know, keep in mind in the meeting, you want to make sure that your son, when the scout shows up, he's the one to offer them a drink or a snack or if you choose to feed them, he should play a role in, you know, hosting that scout. Next, make sure that your son is dressed appropriately. I tell my clients, look, a collared shirt at the bare minimum. I obviously want the kid to be comfortable. So I'm not telling you to put a sport coat on by any means, but, you know, I think a college or a college shirt is certainly appropriate. And then throughout the meeting, I think it's very respectful if at least your son refers to the scout as, sir, there's a chance. The scout says, don't call me sir. Call me, you know, Mr. Whatever, or call me by my first name. That's obviously fine, too. But I think it goes a long way just to show respect to these scouts. If a scout asks your son a question, then he should be the one that answers directly with eye contact. So, you know, if. If a scout asks your son, hey, so tell me why you chose to be committed to lsu, you know, and then dad chimes in and then gives him the answer. And then the son merely says, yeah, that's pretty much it. Like, that's defeating the purpose of even having the in home visit. The in home visit is not meant to. To get to know the parents. It is a little bit, but it's not meant to get to know the parents before the player. The player is the one that they're investing in. It's fine for mom and dad to add color to things. If something is said that you as a parent feels like that wasn't conveyed properly, go ahead and speak up. That's okay. But you know, as an advisor, when I get a phone call from a scout saying, matt, every single time I ask the player a question, mom and dad answers like, that's not a good thing. So just be mindful of that. Now, if a scout asks your son a question and let's just say he doesn't know the answer, a great response is, would you mind if I get back to you on that? You know, I want to take some time and I want to think about it. That's totally fine. But be mindful. If they do ask a question, have a. Have a pen or a. A piece of paper, write down what it was, and. And guess what? Think about it. Maybe talk to your advisor and then get back to him with an answer. It does. It defeats the purpose if you say, let me get back to you, and then he says, sounds good. He remembers you don't. And then a month later he says, you, hey, by the way, like, you never got back to me on this answer. Like, it just defeats the purpose of you even saying, can I get back to you on it? Telling him, can I get back to you on it? Isn't to avoid answering. It's actually just to gather your thoughts and. And then give them an appropriate answer later. So the only way that works is if you actually give them the answer later. Okay, now let's talk about a tricky subject that I know a lot of people have heard about. That is the topic of Signability. Now, what signability basically means is if you've never heard the term before, it's when a scout asks a player what he ultimately wants to sign for to become a professional. Now, the reality of that question is, is there's obviously various times that these questions come. We're specifically talking about in home visits right now. So in my 25 years in the business, I've actually only had it get brought up one time in the fall in an in home visit. And I had prepared the parent and the player for the question. So they kind of knew that it was a little bit of a joke that the guy was bringing it up, and they. And more importantly, they knew how to respond to it. So I want to share this with you guys as well. It's super rare. It does not happen a lot, but in the event that a scout brings it up, it could be something like this. Hey, I'm not. I'm not asking for the sign ability now, but just so you guys know, there is going to come a point in the spring where I'm going to call you on the phone and I'm going to need to know what your number is and you need to tell me at that point. Right? And so an answer for a parent or for the player is, look, my family and I, we haven't finalized that decision yet, but we understand how important this is for you and just know that when the time comes, we are going to have a clear sense of what that is and we would be happy to share it. Now, that does not mean I don't want you to jump to conclusions. It does not mean that you're the one sharing it with the scout. It may come from your advisor. It most likely should if you have an advisor. But needless to say, you're signaling to them that you know how this business works and that, like, you're getting advice. So now the next thing is, if they ask whether you want to sign professionally out of high school or go to college first, I don't want you to say, oh, oh, no, I'm. I'm definitely signing. No matter what. You got to keep in mind, like, even if that's how you feel, that's going to cost you leverage. So a better answer is, look, you know, I think every player ultimately wants to sign first, of course, but, you know, I've got a great opportunity in college, and if that's what I choose to do, it's because I believe that was the best decision for my career at that time. You know, I don't Control. This is the player talking. Like, I don't control if a team drafts me. You guys control that. So I'll tell you what, like, I'd love to play pro ball. That's certainly a dream of mine. But I don't get to dictate right now in the fall how that's going to turn out. I got to focus on baseball and I'm going to let all that take care of itself first. Like some version of that is completely acceptable. But again, I'm not expecting that you guys are going to get that question quite yet. Yeah. So I mean I, again, just to belabor the point, I guess a little bit, at the end of the day, like the scout ultimately is trying to figure out like, does your son want to play pro ball? And it's certainly a fair question. You know, again, talking about the signability, they're just trying to assess all the things. So I think the, the right answer is like, you want to be honest, but you just have to be aware that, you know, if you, if you merely tell them, look, I'm not a good student. And so like, I know I'm committed to a college, but I'm probably not going there. They're going to use that against you. That's just the reality. So after every single in home visit with a team, I think you should let your advisor know how it went. They certainly can help clarify anything that might have been misunderstood or answer any follow up questions from the team. So, and then one more, one more thing before the visitors. I think it makes sense to go back over, you know, maybe some of the, the, the, the questionnaires that they've sent to you on the draft prospect link, get familiar with what those questions are. Again, you know, the goal is not to memorize the answer, but it's just, it kind of gets you into the like the mindset of like, oh, right, like these are some of the questions that I may get. Ultimately, I think it'll, it'll be kind of a good guiding light for you as you enter into the first in home visit. The first one is always, you know, the most anxious. I think that a family gets, once you have one, you feel a lot more comfortable and it becomes a lot, a lot easier. All right. And then finally, so don't show up to these meetings as a family or as a player empty handed, meaning be ready to ask some questions, thoughtful ones, like specific ones even. That shows you're serious, it shows you're engaged, it shows you're interested. You know, obviously it shows that you're also evaluating them as an organization, not just them evaluating you. So I always tell players, like, look, this is a two way conversation. You have a right to be curious about the people in the system that you might be stepping into. And asking the right questions certainly tells teams that you're mature enough to handle this level of responsibility. You know, if you guys actually want me to send you questions that I provide to my players through the inhome process, follow me on Instagram DM me and I'd be happy to send those to you. My Instagram is MF Hannaford, so shouldn't be too hard to find me. All right, so next. So here is something a lot of players don't realize. He says, we are not just talent evaluators, we are investigators too, okay? This is a scouting director telling parents, we are not just talent evaluators. We're. We are investigators too, okay? And he says, I'm serious. When I'm in a small town for a meeting with a player, I don't just show up at 6pm for the meeting. Call it a day. I might roll into town at noon and I'll head to the local diner. I'll stop by the public library, I'll ask around, hey, do you know so and so family? What is this kid like? He says, that's real. I've done it this year. In fact, I had a 6 o' clock meeting with a player and I spent the whole afternoon learning everything I possibly could about him from the people in his hometown. And he says, because here's the truth, we're trying to understand the whole picture, not just what kind of hitter or pitcher your son is, but who he is when no one is watching. So if you're a family in this process, make sure everything in your community is lined up. The way your son treats people, the way your family is perceived. It all matters because scouts will be asking around. We're going to find out who your son really is one way or another. And let me tell you, he's a thousand percent right. They are not just scouts, they are part investigators. And I want to be clear here. When a scout is building a relationship with you, it's strategic. He's not just being friendly. He's doing his job. He's gathering information to help his team ultimately determine whether they want to take you, how much they want to pay you, literally start to finish. So you just have to be mindful. This whole get to know you process, it is not random, it's not innocent, it is highly Calculated. You know, scouts, ultimately, they're trained to find out what makes you tick. So they're listening, they're observing, they're asking around town as I just, you know, articulated. And they're doing it with a purpose. So the other thing, I kind of want to make sure that you guys understand. And I've seen this play out over and over, you know, months before the draft, scouts are going to be communicating with you guys and they're going to casually say something like, you know, to you, mom and dad, hey, you know, your son's a first rounder, and trust me, that's going to be flattering when you hear that. And it may not be he's a first rounder, maybe it's a top three rounder, maybe it's a, you know, if your son maybe is only being scouted by a handful of clubs and he says, hey, man, this guy has a chance to go in like the top five rounds. And regardless, it is going to be flattering. But you have to be mindful, even though it might be true down the road when the draft comes, I want to caution you, those kind of comments, especially this far in advance, they're not a guarantee. They're opinions. So it's, it's a much longer game than them merely, you know, making some random guess as far as what they think your son's ultimately going to end up being. So again, being mindful, these relationships, they're calculated. So I think you just have to kind of be aware of, you know, any sort of comments like this. They should be evaluated against the full industry landscape, not just what one scout says. So, yeah, remember, when a player gets drafted, you know, it's not just about performance. It's about a lot of things. Medicals, makeup, you know, the position, the organizational need, the bonus pool, strategy of the team. There's a thousand variables. It is not just random. So, you know, you might see the same area scouted every game and think, wow, this team, oh, man, it's this team must be taking my kid early. And I can tell you firsthand that's not how it works. You know, I know players who had area scouts there at nearly every single game and they went undrafted. You know, teams will often say they really like you, and they might, but, you know, like is a subjective term. What like to you and like to them mean could be two completely different things. You may take a scout saying we really like you to mean you're a first rounder to them, really like you, maybe you're a seventh rounder. So you just have to kind of be, you know, aware of that. And as this scouting director said, teams want to become experts on who you are both on and off the field. So that includes, you know, parts of your story that you may not want them to know. They're going to ask around, they're going to poke and prod, and that's part of their job. And so, you know, the. The reality is, and this is why, you know, I've been certainly saying this for a while, player, you need to hear this. I know mom and dad have probably been telling you you can't fake character, you can't fake discipline, and you certainly can't fake maturity. So there's no fooling the scouts. They're gonna find out what matters, and they'll honestly, they'll keep digging until they do.
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Okay.
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All right, so next one, he says, all right, so last thing I want to touch on from the fall winter portion, which I guess is what he refers to as the second quarter, is hit groups and workouts. Now, I can't speak for every team, he says, but I'll tell you, I'll tell you what we do. We like to run regionalized workouts in the off season. Small groups, usually seven or eight guys who are committed to D1 schools or players that we've got our eye on. It might be December 12th in Columbia, South Carolina, or somewhere else in the region. We'll get together, we'll hit bp, maybe we'll run a throwing program. Will just want to be around the guys and get a feel for them. It's pretty laid back, but it's meaningful. So if you get invited to one of these pre draft hit groups or winter workouts, I suggest you go. He says, I recommend it. It's a great chance to build a relationship with scouts and teams because fast forward seven months, we're in the draft room and our GM says, do we really know this kid? Can we trust him if we give him 600 grand? And we'll say again, this is coming from the scouting director. Yeah, we were around him in Columbia in December. We did an in home in October. We've been tracking him. We have done our homework. He says, those touch points matter. They help build the case for us, and that gives us confidence that we really know who the player is that we're drafting. Okay, so here's my thoughts on that. This one's a little tricky because from a team's perspective, I totally get it. They want to spend time around the player as much as possible. They want to feel confident in who they're potentially investing, you know, six or seven figures into. And the hit groups and the winter workouts certainly give them another data point in their evaluation. But here's the reality that I think families need to hear. I've seen players who decline these workouts and still went in the first round. I've also seen players who attended every single one of these things and didn't receive a substantial offer or any offer at all. And the reality is, is the reason why is because performance is still the first box that ultimately needs to be checked by these teams. So if your son, if he's not performing at a high level, no amount of handshakes, no amount of batting practice, no amount of reps at these winter workouts is going to change his draft trajectory. You know, teams like makeup, but they're not going to draft a player just because he's a good kid who showed up. That's not how this whole thing works. And I know that's going to sound funny because I just made such a big point on the makeup portion. But again, like just common sense, you know, they're not going to give a kid a ton of money if the kid, physically speaking or from a tools perspective, doesn't warrant that amount of money, regardless of how good of a person he is. Do these events have matter? Yes. But they don't override what I would call kind of like the core truth of the process, which is the body of work on the field. That is going to be the thing that drives the draft stock. Everything else, while important, is supplemental.
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Okay?
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So I don't think you should feel pressure to say yes to every one of these invites. Make strategic decisions. If your son is in a good spot physically and the workout fits your plan, then go. But don't confuse what I would call kind of proximity with progress. What gets, what gets you drafted, excuse me, is performance. And that's pretty much the leading factor, so be mindful of that. All right? So the next thing, so he says, once we get through the holidays, right around January, that's kind of the halfway mark of the process. Think of Christmas break as halftime. The third quarter starts in mid January, and from our end on the scouting side, that's when we activate the troops. Every Monday, I'm on the phone with every scout in our department. I'm calling my guy in the Deep south who's based in Birmingham, and I'm saying, hey, who's seeing Steel hall today? Then I might say, all right, let's, let's send Somebody to Logan in Mississippi to check on, you know, Landon Harmon. He says, then I'm calling our guy in the Northwest. What's going on with Slater to Brun? He's got a doubleheader on Wednesday, right? So this is. This is kind of him, you know, vocalizing his communication with the scouts. You know, he says, can you double check and see if we can go see school cruise, school craft while you're in the area? He says, this is how it works. Every week, starting mid January and running all the way to June, we're deploying our scouts to different parts of the country. Wherever your son is, every time we see him, we call that a look. And every look matters. You won't always know when it's happening, though. Sure, you might see the area scout or a regional guy, but trust me, there are others, special assistants, scouting directors, gms. And he makes a point to say our GM literally hits the road all the time. He makes it a huge point to go on these visits and to scout himself. He says, so when we get into the spring evaluation, I need your son to understand every single day counts, even a practice day, even a bullpen, because someone is always watching. He says, I've got guys in the trees. Literally. There's no time for any games, no time for coasting. Every rep matters. Every day is an opportunity to be evaluated. So treat it that way, okay? Yeah. I mean, again, like, I can't agree more with. With what he just said. I think he said it perfectly. The spring ultimately is where everything starts to crystallize for them, right? Every look matters, as he said. Every rep counts. Every, um, you know, you have no idea who's showing up or when. You know, sometimes, you know, the director, the area scout, someone else may reach out to your advisor and give them a heads up. Maybe they'll tell you. But if no one reaches out, don't just assume that no one's going to be there. I think you need to. You're better off assuming that someone will in fact be there. And regardless, whether you see somebody or not, like, nothing changes. You know, there's an old saying, I know that Ted Williams had, which is, you know, the reason why he would give everything for each one of his games, as far as effort level goes, is because he said, at some point, you know, every single game is going to be the first time. Maybe this kid in the stands saw me play. So again, I think that attitude is the right one, which is like, the only thing you can control is giving your best effort. So whether a Scout is there or not, that shouldn't change how you act. Be consistent with that. So, you know, again, to belabor the point, if your mindset is, oh, it's just a light day, then you're risking a scout ultimately seeing that day and then them getting the wrong impression. So, you know, again, the scout or this stretch from January to June, it separates truly like the dudes from everybody else. So stay locked in. And yeah, there's no room for cruise control, so get used to it. All right. Next up in the third quarter, early spring, is communication, the scouting director says. He says, now, this might sound simple, but it's huge. Your son and you as the family, you guys need to be responsive. He says, whether it's text messages, emails, scout threads, you've got to stay on top of this stuff. He says, let me break this down. So every region has a scout group, text or email chain. And let's just say that your son is a pitcher and he knows he's throwing on Thursday at 3pm at a specific high school. He says every Sunday, you should be updating that scout group with that next week's schedule. He says, just send a message. Send the time, the date, the location, make sure it's accurate, and make sure you send it out early. Now, there are some instances, by the way, where you don't know, you know the information well enough in advance, but as soon as you find it out, you make sure you. You tell those scouts, he says, because here's what we cannot have happening, he says, if I, the scouting director, I activate a national cross checker, I fly him out to Jackson, Mississippi, and he gets to the field, and then he finds out when he gets to the field, actually, the game is tomorrow. He says, that hurts your son more than you realize. That's a breakdown of communication, and it reflects poorly on the player. He says, same thing. If an area scout texts and asks, hey, are you guys taking BP on the field today? He says, respond. It matters if your son just texts back, yes, sir, we're hitting with Wood at 3:30, then that's a win. That shows us he's mature, responsible, and locked in. So be responsive. Scouts notice that, and it goes a long way.
- [35:36]
B
Okay.
- [35:37]
A
Yeah, again, couldn't agree more. The scouting director absolutely nails it with this one communication. I mean, it's everything in this process. It's not just logistics. It's about, you know, perception and responsiveness. Believe it or not. It's going to signal things like maturity. It's going to signal organization, professionalism, and believe Me, like, scouts notice that stuff. So if you can't even manage a schedule, if you can't reply to a text message, how the heck are you going to handle the daily demands of pro ball? So it may seem small, but it speaks volumes, which is why scouts place such an emphasis on it. Okay, so next point. So scouting director says heading into spring, you already know what's coming. There are going to be scouts everywhere. Cameras on every at bat, rankings, projections, mock drafts. He says, but here's the key. You have to block out all the noise. Do not get caught up in the hype or the chatter. None of it matters if you're not showing up and actually competing every single day, he says. Instead, lean into the moment. Dive in together as a family. Enjoy it. Because no matter how it goes, this stretch, this ride, it's never going to happen again out of high school. You'll only go through this draft process out of high school one time. If your son goes to college, it will be different. So don't let the weight of it steal your joy. Again, absolutely correct this process. It can feel like a pressure cooker, but if you let it consume you, you know you're going to miss the point. So enjoy the ride. You're only going to get one shot at this thing out of high school. Make it count. Obviously, for all the right reasons. Okay, so now he says going into the fourth quarter, this is what we call the pre draft session. He says, let's say your team just won state. It's late May or early June. The draft is call it July 15th. That gives us scouts. This is what he's saying. Six weeks left on the clock. He says at this point, the advisor process becomes critical. He says, now let's rewind for a second. So far, we've seen your son all summer. We start to get a good idea at that point. All right, this guy, he looks like a second or a third rounder. He said, now fall hits. Maybe he's playing some football. We get through our meetings. He says, now in winter, we see him in December at that hit group he talks about. He says still he's tracking spring rolls in. He says we're locked in on his abs. We're building the full picture. He says, and now we're here. This is the fourth quarter. He says, this is when reaching out to advisors. And he actually references me in the talk. Guys like me, you know. He says the question is simple, like when I call guys like Matt. He says, the question is, what's the signability? What is it going to take to sign your client? What is it going to take for you to sign your son? He says, I don't care if it's $10 or 10 million. We just need clarity. The player, the family, and the adviser should have met at that point. Everyone should be aligned. So when I pick up the phone, meaning the director, and I call, the answer should be clear. Here's the number. If we're there, we're ready to go. If not, he's going to school. He says, that's it. No pressure, no confusion, no games, just alignment. He says, and if it all works out awesome, then we're starting his pro career. If not, then it's off to college and maybe we'll see you again in three years. He says, either way, the key is make it a family decision. Be honest, be direct, be prepared. He said, that's how good decisions get made at this stage of the game. Okay, so I mostly agree with this. Now, what I will tell you, yes, teams absolutely want clarity, and this scouting director is 100% right about that. But if I'm being honest, the truth is, is not every family has the clarity as early as teams would prefer. And I want to make sure that you guys hear me, that's okay. All right? So what the director's really saying is for a team to make a decision on your son, they're going to need to start building a sense of, you know, where you guys stand as a family. So they would love to have that clarity as early as possible, but the truth is, they don't need it until the actual draft. The reason, though, that they say that they need this information early is so that they can start lining up their board. If everybody waited and did not give them their signability until draft day, it would make their job as, as a scouting community exponentially harder. So what they do is they tell everybody, look, at some point in June, we're going to need to know what that number is. I'm telling you, if you don't know what the number is in June, that's okay. You don't need to tell them. Right. Then you can let them know in the days, weeks leading into the draft.
- [40:32]
B
Okay?
- [40:33]
A
So, you know, and I pretty much just said that. So as we, as we lead up to the draft, okay, it is not uncommon for you guys, families, parents, players to get a phone call from an area scout asking about what the signability is.
- [40:49]
B
Okay?
- [40:50]
A
From a family side. The truth is, there's a reason why some families don't have the information yet.
- [40:58]
B
Okay?
- [40:58]
A
Because as a family, they're still trying to evaluate and gather the information from the teams, right? They're trying to get feedback from these meetings that the teams are having. They're still trying to just think about, all right, you know, what is my preference? Is it college? Is it. Is it pro ball? And so, you know, in my experience, parents and players, they don't want to make mistakes. So that obviously takes time, and that's okay. But just know this, when we get to the draft, like the actual draft, that needs to be shored up and you need to have some indication. You don't want to just wait for draft day to, like, start thinking about it. Things are going to happen too fast, and you're basically setting yourself up for failure. So next question I'm assuming is on the top of your mind is, wait a second, like, how do you even determine signability? So there's three ways that most families do it. The first way, some families just pick a number, this arbitrary number, and they say, all right, if I don't get X number of dollars, then I'm going to go to college. It's not based on what their value is. It's based on maybe it's based on nothing, but maybe it's based on what they value college for. But it's not based on something they can point to. It's more of like a vibe. Right? So let's just say it's a kid who's committed to Stanford and he was ranked high, but didn't really have the summer or the spring season that he was hoping for. Maybe his velo was down. Maybe his, you know, mechanics were off a little bit, and he just didn't progress like he needed to. And so that player says, all right, you know, My number is 5 million, and if I don't get 5 million, I'm not going to sign. Right. That would be a guy that I would put in that category.
- [42:37]
B
Okay.
- [42:38]
A
But I will tell you that is extremely rare to look at it this way. It's does not happen a lot. So I'm not suggesting that that be the way that you look at it. That is but one way to look at it.
- [42:50]
B
Okay.
- [42:51]
A
All right. So the second way that some families look at it is kind of the inverse of that, which is we're not picking a big number. It's basically the opposite. It's all sign for anything. Right. And again, not based on anything. It's just based on, well, I want to play pro ball. I'm not a student, so, you know, I'll sign for as much as somebody gives me. But if I don't get taken in the top 10 rounds, and now we're in the 19th round and you offer me 10 grand, I'm signing. Right. That's the other way to do it. Now, what I will tell you is, like, that is the worst way to do it. You know, that is obvious that it doesn't equate to, like, actually getting paid what your value is. So I want to caution you, I'm almost saying that being away as, like, tongue in cheek, there's no reason to have that approach. If you want to have that approach, because you think somehow that you need to convey to a team that you really want to play pro ball and you want to show them how eager you are, if that's your attitude, then you're probably not good enough. Because if you're good enough and you're being scouted, you're just like, you're costing yourself money, and there's not going to be opportunity and it's desperate and not a good pathway.
- [44:01]
B
Okay.
- [44:02]
A
If you're somebody who actually is good, though, and maybe you don't have the guidance and you're thinking this is the right approach, let me tell you why this is a terrible approach. Because if you were to tell teams well in advance of the draft that you're going to sign for anything, and as the draft gets closer, let's say he's invited or you're. If you're the player or if he's your son, he's invited to the combine, and he has a great combine. And now all of a sudden, like, there's a lot of interest. Maybe there's some buzz that he could go in day one. Right. The top three rounds. The reason this approach is risky is because, you know, what is your leverage at that point? And if you're thinking, well, our leverage is we could just say no. We, you know, the Dodgers call us on the phone and they want to offer us three to 500 grand. Yeah, we'll just say, no, we're not going to sign. If you've already told teams that you'll sign for anything, the reality is, is that team actually doesn't have to call you. They could just take you in the draft and they just eliminated every other team that could sign you. Right now it's. You get to negotiate with them, and let's see how bad you want to go to college and they'll test you on it. These scouts are ultimately looking to save money as much as you'll Let them save. So to think that having this approach of just saying, I'll sign for anything won't combat and bite you in the butt, like, it's naive at best, it's stupid at worst. So do not do that. Something to be mindful of.
- [45:25]
B
Okay?
- [45:27]
A
The third way is the most common. It's also probably the hardest to pin down. So it's one of the reasons why I think oftentimes it takes longer for families who take the third approach to actually determine what their signability is. So what it is is a combination of two things. One is, what do I find school to be worth, right? What is the college experience playing college baseball worth to me? And then combine that with really, what is the industry saying about what my value is, right? So it's putting those two things together so naturally as the process unfolds, if you're being considered a top three round pick, and let's just say your advisor helps you believe that your true value is anywhere from 1.5 to $2 million, it's really trying to think through that and understand, like, okay, well, you know, don't. I'm a big fan of this. I don't think best case scenario, think worst case scenario and then prepare accordingly. If you're going through that process, you know, think about it like, okay, if, if your advisor is telling you that Your value is $1.5 million and you need to go through hypothetical saying, well, what if a team offers me a million? Am I going to sign for that or am I going to go to college? You don't want to wait to think about those things until draft day. Because the reality is, is a team very rarely calls you and gives you the number that you want. Usually, even if your number is $1.5 million and that has been conveyed and they have 1.5, they'll still call and say, will you take one too? So you're gonna have to be prepared to say no if, if that is your answer. So again, not to belabor the point, but this is one of the reasons why I think the third way of doing this, while it is the most common, it also is the most time consuming. And, and the reason why these, these assignability discussions actually happen a little bit later.
- [47:29]
B
Okay?
- [47:30]
A
The other thing that I just want to make sure that you guys are prepared for. So the truth is, on draft day, again, you're not going to have hours to make decisions, right? We're talking minutes, if not seconds to make a decision. So you're not going to have the luxury of Time. So what that means is the weeks leading up to the draft need to be about preparing you for when that gut, you know, that gun is placed on your head and you're needing to make a decision in a minute. You know what the answer is? That can't be the first time that you're actually thinking about it. If that's the case, then you guys have completely mishandled this draft process, or your advisor has mishandled it, which is why you want to make sure that you have somebody who is experienced.
- [48:16]
B
Okay. Okay.
- [48:18]
A
The last thing that I'm going to say about signability here is when a team calls with a number, you need to know whether that number is a real offer.
- [48:28]
B
Okay.
- [48:29]
A
Is it an actual commitment by the team? Meaning if you were to say yes, then that means they're taking you and they're giving you that number.
- [48:39]
B
Okay.
- [48:40]
A
The alternative is they're just calling in, like kicking the tires, calling five other players, asking them the same thing, seeing what their options are. And so, just so you know, that's going to take you literally saying, when a team calls and says, will you take a million dollars? It's going to take you saying, well, before I answer that, is this an official offer? Right. And they'll tell you, yes, it's an official offer, will take you if you say yes to a million. Or they may say to you, no, it's not. This is just us finding out so that we understand, you know, what our options are. And so what I would encourage you is if they, if it's the latter, if they say, listen, this is not an official offer, this is just us kind of just gauging what our options are, then you need to take that into account as you give them your answer. So if, if you're a parent, you've ever heard these, like, horror stories of, you know, so and so said this scout called him and made him an offer, told them they were going to take him in the next round. Never did. It's because it wasn't an official offer. It was the scout kicking the tires, the parent or the family or the agent, never asking, was this an official offer? This is how you hear stories like this. So hopefully that was helpful. Okay, here's the next part that this scouting director brings up. He brings up pre draft workouts, and he says, this is a key point. So as he references himself, mentioning, back in December, teams will sometimes run small hit groups to start building relationships. But when it comes to these official pre draft workouts, this is where you absolutely need to Lean on your advisor, he says, and here's why. You might get a call from a team on June 2nd asking you to come to a workout and your first thought might be, wait a minute, I haven't seen this team much this year. Why are they reaching out now? He says that's exactly the kind of situ where you need more context because not all interest is created equal. Sometimes a team is just late to the party. Maybe they didn't get to do all this work during the spring like some of these other teams. Maybe the area scout does, doesn't know you at all. Maybe your name popped up on some ranking and now they're scrambling to catch up. He says. Other times the same team has been on you behind the scenes. Maybe they ran international cross checker. Maybe the scouting director has seen you play three or four times, you just didn't know. This is where your advisor becomes critical. They should be able to help you separate the real interest from the last minute noise. When those workout invites start rolling in, your advisor will know which teams have done the work and which ones haven't. Not every invite needs to be accepted. Trust the process. Trust your circle. Make smart decisions about where you put your time and energy. Okay, look, my thoughts are, I completely agree with this. This is one of those spots where, yeah, your advisor really needs to earn their keep. Not every pre draft workout invite is the same. Sometimes, you know, a team that's been on you all year is just showing up and, you know, checking a final box. Other time it's a team that hasn't done much what much work on you and is trying to play catch up in the process, as the scouting director alluded to. So that distinction obviously matters. You don't want to waste time. That's the reality. And so you also don't want to put your son at risk if you're the parent listening to this. So that happens sometimes. When you accept every single invite kind of blindly and unnecessarily, you ultimately do need context. You know, there's an example, you know, that I went through this year where the area scout was inviting this particular player to their pre draft workout and the reason why he was doing it is because none of his supervisors had been in to see him at that point and he was really trying to like sell this player on his supervisor. But at the end of the day, again, we're signabilities and these things start to come into play. It's like the player wouldn't have just signed for a little bit of money. So there Was no world in which this player was going to go to this workout and improve his draft stock by millions of dollars, maybe tens of thousands of dollars, maybe a few hundred thousand dollars, maybe. But we're not improving our draft status. Millions of dollars in one workout in front of decision makers. That is like very rare. If not, doesn't happen. So that is something for you to keep in mind. This is why you do need to make sure you understand. You know, how many times this team has seen me, who from the organization has seen me, what's their level of interest? All this stuff goes into play when you're making these decision. And so again, this is where a good advisor comes in. They're going to know which teams have done the work, which haven't. They're going to know, you know, if you're getting these late calls to these workouts, they're ultimately going to be able to sift through a lot of this to help you decide, is this one worth attending? Is this one worth attending? You know, at this point in the process, every move you make has to be strategic. So lean on your advisor. Okay, so let's talk about the combine. He says if your son is good enough to be here at the PGL American game, he says, then chances are you're probably going to get an invite to the MLB combine. And if he does, it's absolutely worth attending. This scouting director says the combine has been a really valuable part of the draft process over the last three or four years. Each year teams meet with around 100 players and it serves as a kind of five final evaluation before the draft. He says, for our organization, we bring a full group. We bring myself, a few guys from the front office, our farm director, and we sit down to really break down a player's year. It's a pulse check. We ask some tough questions. So players need to be prepared for the interview side of things. There's also the on field piece where guys can show off their tools. There's also a medical component as well. If you take the medicals. He says at the combine, every team, GMs, scouting directors, they get access to the same information. He says that transparency matters. You also get a chance to perform in front of decision makers to put a final stamp on your body of work. So if you get that invite, take it seriously, show up ready. It's a great opportunity and it can absolutely help your draft stock. Okay, all right. So I actually did an entire episode on the combine. Overall, I will say I do agree with a lot of what is being Said here with some caveats. So if you guys want to check out the episode that I'm referring to about the combine, it was with Trevor Haley, a former cross checker with an organization who no longer is, but he was actually at the combine, and we did it while we were there. So it's an interesting episode. We. We dive into a lot of this stuff, and he gives you, from a scout's perspective, someone who's not a scout anymore, but, you know, being able to speak freely as far as, like, yeah, you know, what is being evaluated and what are the things to consider. So definitely check that out. But with that being said, what I said on that episode, and I will say right now, is I am never a fan of hiding your way through the draft. It rarely works out the way I think that everybody hopes. With that said, when it comes to the combine, I don't think that there are considerate or I do think there are considerations that are case by case basis and need to be evaluated as such. So the takeaway here is not 100% of the guys should be going to the combine or 100% of the guys shouldn't be going to the combine. It is a case by case basis. The first thing I want to tackle, though, specifically is the medical evaluation. So I want to be clear. The participation in this is totally voluntary. There are guys that go every year and agree to do the medical portion. There are guys that go every year and agree not to do the medical portion.
- [56:19]
B
Okay.
- [56:20]
A
What's the difference? If you choose to go through the full medical process and a team were to draft you, what that means is they must offer you at least 75% of your slot value.
- [56:34]
B
Okay.
- [56:35]
A
Or a minimum of 50 grand if you're taken after the 10th round.
- [56:39]
B
Okay?
- [56:39]
A
When does this become relevant, though? It only becomes relevant if a team takes you and you don't have an agreement done before they take you. If you're a guy that has an agreement done before they take you, then this becomes less relevant.
- [56:54]
B
Okay.
- [56:55]
A
There's an off chance it's relevant. I don't want to get into it. It'll just confuse people. But it's less relevant.
- [57:00]
B
Okay?
- [57:02]
A
So keep that in mind. Now, on the flip side, if you're invited and choose not to participate in the medical, okay, then teams aren't obligated to offer you any specific percentage of the bonus amount.
- [57:15]
B
Okay?
- [57:16]
A
So this is something that you need to understand fully. Speak to your advisor. They can help walk you through it more specifically as it relates to your situation. So that Was the medical portion. Now, as far as the rest of the combine, there are obviously the one on one meetings with the organizations. There's the on field portion. There's the strength assessment as well. As far as the on field. I'm sorry, as far as the meetings with these teams, something to keep in mind is, you know, there's 300 players there. As this scouting director referenced. He had a hundred meetings, so he's not meeting with every player there. So there are going to be players that go that may have no meeting set up with teams. They may have one meeting set up with teams. Those meetings get set up by mlb. So MLB will send you your itinerary. They will make you understand on these dates, this is when your meetings are. It'll be very clear. But don't just assume if you're getting an invite to the combine, that that means I'm doing all these meetings too. No, you may have a few meetings, none or a ton. But regardless, you need to be prepared.
- [58:25]
B
Okay.
- [58:26]
A
As far as the on field portion and the strength assessment, like the medical piece, those are pieces that are just as important to evaluate. And whether or not you participate in those things, they need to be a strategic decision. So again, I know I've said it a million times on here. This is where your advisor really matters. You need to sit down with them and discuss what makes the most sense for your specific situation. So while I am generally in favor of going to the combine whether or not you participate, whether or not you do the medical portion, determining what's right for you, all of that is, you know, specific to you and should not just be based on following the crowd. So, I mean, look, here's the bottom line that wraps it up. What the scouting director shared, it's incredibly valuable.
- [59:17]
B
Okay?
- [59:19]
A
You know, it's why I wanted to do this. I think, you know, it's even more impactful because it's. It's transparent, it's candid, it's coming straight from the team side. But just know this, if you're a family going through this process, you do need to understand the information is only as useful as the strategy that you have that's built around it. That's where your inner circle starts to come in. Okay? Your advisor, your coaches, your family. These are people who can help you filter through all the noise, your specific situation, and make smart, informed decisions. That's the reality. This process, it is not one size fits all. What works for one player might not make sense for another. And if you try to follow every piece of advice. Without context, you're going to lose sight of what's best for you. So be informed, be prepared, but above all, be intentional. This is your process. Own it. Build a plan. Surround yourself with people who will help you stay aligned with your values and your long term goals. So thanks for listening. If this episode helped you or it raised any questions, feel free to reach out to me. I'm always happy to have these conversations and as I mentioned in the episode during the in home visit portion, if you want me to send you those questions, follow me on Instagram DM me and I would be happy to send your way. So, as always, stay focused, stay grounded, and trust the process. See you next time.