How to Evaluate Your Skill Set as a Baseball Player
With so many high school baseball players trying to get the attention of a limited number of college coaches, it's tough to make yourself seen. If you want to play ball in college, take inventory of your skills and find out what needs improvement.
If you want to measure your skills as a player, consider the five tools that scouts use: hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, fielding and throwing. Here is more information on each tool and how you can improve.
Hitting for Average:
If you want to improve your baseball star rating, then you need to start attending showcases and tournaments that are put on by major colleges. These events tend to attract a lot of scouts, which means you'll have a great opportunity to show off your skills.
If you can impress the scouts at these events, then your star rating will improve in no time. So make sure you start getting out there and showing everyone what you're made of. The baseball world is waiting for you.
Hitting for Power:
There's no question that baseball is a power game. If you can hit the ball hard and far, you're going to have a lot of success on the diamond. That's why so many players focus on improving their hitting for power.
There are a few key things that you need to do to hit the ball with power. First, you need to generate bat speed. The faster your bat is moving, the more power you're going to generate. Second, you need to be strong. The stronger you are, the easier it will be to drive the ball. Finally, you need to have good technique. If your swing is off, you're not going to generate as much power as you could.
If you want to improve your hitting for power, focus on those three things: bat speed, strength, and technique. With a little bit of hard work, you'll be hitting the ball harder than ever before.
Speed:
There's no question that speed is a key element of baseball. A player who can run the bases quickly is a valuable asset to any team. But what exactly is base running speed? And how can you improve your own speed on the diamond?
Base running speed is simply the measure of how fast a player can run from one base to another. There are a number of factors that can impact base running speed, including technique, stamina, and even the type of baseball cleats you're wearing. If you're looking to improve your speed, it's important to focus on refining your technique and building up your endurance.
Start by practicing your takes off and turns at each base, and then work on increasing your distance as you build up your stamina. With a little practice, you'll be surprised at how much faster you can run the bases.
Fielding:
I'm always surprised when I see baseball players with incredible batting statistics who can't seem to field their position well. Fielding is such an important part of the game, and yet so many players seem to overlook it.
If you want to be a great baseball player, you need to focus on developing soft hands and quick feet. With soft hands, you'll be able to make those diving catches look easy. And with quick feet, you'll be able to move around the infield or outfield with ease. If you can master both of these skills, you'll be well on your way to becoming a great fielder.
Throwing:
If you want to be a baseball superstar, you need to have a strong and accurate throwing arm. This tool measures your ability to throw the ball accurately and with velocity, so you can see how you stack up against the competition.
To improve your throwing, focus on refining your mechanics and building up arm strength through weightlifting exercises. With a little hard work, you'll be firing lasers all over the diamond in no time.
Conclusion
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to getting recruited to play college baseball. However, by taking stock of your skill set and understanding what you need to work on, you can put yourself in a much better position to catch the eye of a college coach. Keep honing those five tools, and don't forget the importance of having a strong work ethic—college coaches want players who are passionate about the game and are willing to put in the hard work necessary to get better. With dedication and determination, you'll give yourself the best chance possible of making your dream of playing collegiate baseball a reality.