Three common questions I am asked by families (there are others, but these jump out):
"Can you get him to throw faster?"
"How can he put on size?"
"Should he attend this showcase?"
Let's talk about the third question - college showcases.
The baseball season has come to a close. Most players are ready for a little down time to recharge for next spring. So why is the off-season such a prime time for showcases? Just when a pitcher thinks it's time to shut down, mom or dad read about a big showcase that is happening in November or December and start worrying and wondering if their boy is missing out.
Players find themselves in a tricky position when it comes to showcase attendance. Yes, it is important to rest their arm and begin to recharge for next year. But, especially with upperclassmen, the college search is seemingly ongoing and non-stop. A late fall or early winter event seems like part of the recruiting process.
Showcase organizers have great promotional skills. It's their job to bring parents a perceived urgency, making their particular showcase feel like the one that will open the doors to a golden recruiting opportunity. While, in reality, it isn't exactly as certain and quick as that, there is value and a definite need to attend at least one or two showcase events.
I would say the decision to participate depends on a few factors, but there is usually no harm in going.
I was recently having a "showcase conversation" with a mother following one of our pitching lessons. A friend and baseball mom had made her aware of a winter showcase 4 hours away in New Jersey. Her friend went on to suggest that it would be important, "to get exposure."
"Getting exposure" is about as overused and underdelivered phrase in the college recruiting world as their ever has been. Exposure is not as powerful a word as it may have been 10, 20, or 30+ years ago, before technology took over. These days, a player can take a video of themselves, maybe with a radar reading, in their backyard and get great exposure. Just look at the number of YouTube videos on the internet.
Combine this with the idea that a showcase may have upwards of 80 attendees, who get to throw a limited number of pitches or take minimal swings, in front of maybe a dozen college coaches and the chance of getting the desired exposure is low.
With this being said, players who find themselves in a showcase doing a lot of waiting around can still find a way to maximize the event benefit. Simply being there is important, especially if it is a first timer. There is a definite "hurry up and wait" tempo to showcases. It just happens when you get a lot of players who need to get looked at and coaches who want to see a little more from one kid. If players aren't prepared, they may find themselves struggling to feel loose after sitting way too long.
Flat performances, they happen. When they do, it would be a good idea to go to a second showcase, better prepared and ready to display improvement. Showcases present a win-win situation, in my opinion. If you are not in top shape (and most players will not be if we are talking about a mid-winter event) a good coach will recognize this and take that into consideration. Perhaps a player is in the middle of a winter sport. The fact that he is participating here shows a level of commitment to baseball - a positive quality.
Coaches are forever using the data from showcases in their recruiting tactics. They especially like to see an upward trend from one event to the next. If the initial off-season metrics are down a notch, a second showcase - closer to or during the season - will likely show better results and project growth - again, a positive.
It used to be that coaches would scout a player in person first and look at his statistics secondly as a recruiting plan. Modern times have flipped that narrative, creating a, "good news, bad news" scenario. Many players are known to have that intangible competitiveness - that "grinding it out" quality - on the field. This is what makes them great.
Showcases aren't designed to show a player's competitive intangibles. The priority is on accumulating data and putting the best numbers possible on the board - but some qualities, like hustle, attentiveness, alertness, and positivity, can still emerge in a "tryout" setting. Coaches will study the numbers but there are opportunities to make an impression with extra effort and attitude. Many events add a scrimmage into the format, others are strictly bullpens, bp, and timed sprints. This is something to consider for a chance to compete in game conditions. A controlled scrimmage may offer a chance to show some of the competitive qualities that numbers cannot.
A word of advice to players and families... Be strategic with the number and locations of the showcases you select. Over the years, I have encountered families who go to showcases in warm weather states as more of a family vacation around some baseball. Others are more zeroed in on a showcase at a "dream" school - knowing it is a stretch to play there - or favorite geographic area. In both cases, the family experience is the priority. Other players will search for a realistic college program - or a desired part of the country - and look to attend a showcase in front of those schools and coaches.
Some colleges will invite other local colleges to attend. Others are set up for their program's coaches - no other schools attending. You are competing for a few spots and working out with maybe 60 or more guys. Unless you have a specific invitation, the showcases with multiple colleges, of various sizes, make sense. The "single school" events are less apt to give you the desired value for your investment.
Remember, the same coaches attend regional showcases, for the most part. You don't need to go to different local showcases, especially in the same season. Keep working hard for the next few months, get stronger, and improve your skills so you can present the upward trend that coaches love to see.
Embrace the importance of showcases. Be smart, make a plan and keep quality over quantity in your decision making!