How to Become a Baseball Scout

How to Become a Baseball Scout

Do you love the game of baseball? Does it excite you when a rookie bursts on the major league scene sporting raw talent and excellent numbers? Do you become giddy when you discover a teenager packing some major heat, all the while swinging an awesome bat and defying the odds? If so, you may want to consider a career in the major leagues as a baseball scout. This how-to guide will provide all the information you'll need to begin your exciting new career.

What Do Scouts Look for in Baseball Players?

This video examines what baseball scouts look for when they are scouting potential players. Some of these attributes include players that can run, are great defensively, can hit for both average and power, and have great arm strength and body make-up. The video discusses the importance of a player being in good shape, with good foot speed; the ability to run the 60-yard dash in 7 seconds flat. The character of a baseball player is also highlighted. Scouts want players that have a great attitude, that are willing to play hard everyday and have a positive influence in the clubhouse.

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Introduction
- If you have an eye for recognizing future athletic talent and love the sights and sounds of the ballpark, then you might want to explore a career as a baseball scout. The job will require that you be on the road for extended periods of time, traveling from town to town and from state to state to troll for new talent. But the benefits of landing the next Albert Pujols or David Wright will make up for the time spent away from home. Continue reading this guide to discover how to become a baseball scout.
Step 1: Study the Game of Baseball
- For anyone pursuing a career in a specific sports-related field, it is essential that you are well-versed in that particular sport. For some, this simply means being a fan of the game, attending live events, or watching or listening to it on the television, radio or online. For others, this means actually playing the game, whether it be on the professional, amateur, collegiate or extracurricular level.
Step 2: What Does a Baseball Scout Do?
Baseball scouts determine the pool of players each major league team will consult each year while choosing whom to sign and draft into their minor league farm system. They travel around the country, studying and scoring prospective players on specific skill sets using:
1. Note cards
2. Radar guns
3. Stopwatches
- Depending on their specific designations, scouts assess players by attending:
1. High school games
2. College games
3. Minor league match-ups
4. Major league games
5. Conferences and events, including Selectfest baseball. It is one of the largest annual events where college and professional scouts can meet and study players on the high school level.
- An average baseball scout will generally assess a player based on his performance at the time the scout is observing him, but the more gifted ones are able to envision the player's future potential as well. All scouts refer to a general set of criteria to make these assessments, typically examining both position players and pitchers on their:
1. Aggressiveness
2. Work ethic
3. Instinct
4. Dedication
- Criteria for position players includes:
1. Hitting ability
2. Running speed
3. Power
4. Fielding
5. Arm strength
- Pitchers are analyzed based on the timed speed and effectiveness of their:
1. Curveball
2. Fastball
3. Slider
4. Other pitches such as split-fingers or knuckleballs
Step 3: Develop Relationships
- Most baseball scouts are affiliated with the game in some way before they are hired on, whether as former players, managers or in the more indirect roles associated with office management or minor league positions. These prior relationships give them an edge over other qualified individuals, so it is vital for the aspiring scout that is not already employed in the sport to network, even if it means volunteering your time in some baseball-related way.
Step 4: Explore Job Opportunities
- The sport of baseball hires scouts to assess players on both the amateur and professional level, sending amateur scouts to study high school and college players and professional scouts to focus those already affiliated with the major league aspects of the game. These scouts are often hired by:
1. Major league franchises: respective scouts work solely for a specific team, often using additional criteria specifically sought after based on a team's needs
2. Major League Scouting Bureau: allows teams to gain collective scouting information at a reduced cost from the clubs' hired scouts. 34 full-time scouts and 13 part-time scouts are employed, all of them gathering and compiling relevant information on potential players.
Conclusion
- For those that love traveling and possess a passion for baseball in all its various forms, a career in baseball scouting awaits you. If you are a hard worker, armed with both determination and the foresight to spot untapped talent, then success as a baseball scout likely awaits you as well.
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