BURNSVILLE TRAVELING BASEBALL
TRYOUT EVALUATION KEY
Players are divided alphabetically into groups of approximately 10 players. Coaches and two independent evaluators, from outside the program or from a different age-level, will evaluate the players.
Players are evaluated and graded in three areas: hitting, fielding and throwing. Additionally, there will be an optional pitching/catching evaluation and each player is timed in the 40-yard dash. The pitching/catching evaluation is not required, but is recommended. The pitching/catching evaluation is used to help the coaches determine who can pitch/catch, but pitching/catching may also separate two or more players that are real close in their rankings. An indoor scrimmage is held to validate the grading. After the indoor scrimmage, player selections are completed.
Team selection usually consists of at least one outdoor scrimmage. The coaches and age level directors will structure the scrimmages for their age group. The coaches will then meet with board members and conduct team selections or a player draft, if there is more than one team at the same level (A or B).
***The Age Level Director is responsible for running the tryout. ***
FIELDING & THROWING
Infield: The player will take 2 practice and then 6 live ground balls at the Short Stop position and will make a throw to first base. (Note: a left-handed player may take the ground balls between 1st and 2nd and complete the throws to 3rd.) Scoring done per ground ball. Scoring range: 0-96.
Note: Odd numbers can be used to further differentiate plays.
Grading Fielding:
8Excellent form (feet and hands), play nicely completed
6Play completed with out bobbling ball
4Bobbles ball, ball remains in front of player and play is completed
2Play is completed, but with great difficulty
0Play is not completed, ball continues to the outfield
Grading Throws:
8Strong throw straight to the 1st baseman’s chest.
6Strong throw to 1st baseman without pulling off base.
4Rainbow throw to the first baseman’s area.
2Strong throw but pulls first baseman off base.
0Throw is not completed.
Outfield:The player will take 2 practice fly balls and then 6 live fly balls at the right field position and will make 2 throws to each of the following positions: 2nd, 3rd, and Home. Each fly ball will require the player to move forward, backward or laterally. Scoring done per fly ball. Scoring range: 0-96. Note: Odd numbers can be used to further differentiate plays.
Grading Fielding:
8Play nicely completed (proper footwork and body/arm/hand position).
6Play completed with out bobbling ball.
4Play is completed, but with great difficulty.
2Bobbles ball, ball remains near player and play is then completed.
0Play is not completed, ball continues to the outfield.
Grading Throws:
8Strong throw straight to the target (max 1 bounce)
6Strong throw to the target area.
4Rainbow throw or several bounces to the player catching the ball.
2Throw is a rainbow to the target area.
0Throw is not completed, wild, or inaccurate
BATTING
Warm-up: Each player will receive 6 pitches from the pitching machine in the warm-up cage prior to going into the evaluation cage. The player will then receive two warm up pitches in the evaluation cage.
Evaluation:The player will move from the warm-up cage to the evaluation cage. In the evaluation cage, each player will have his batting skills evaluated utilizing the short toss and then the batting machine. The batting machine speed will be set to a maximum of the number listed below for each age group.
10 – 40 MPH12 – 50 MPH 14 – 60 MPH
11 – 45 MPH13 – 55 MPH15 – 65 MPH
Short Toss:Each player will receive 6 pitches in the strike zone and then will be evaluated on the following:
Grading Batting
Mechanics (Load, Forward Trigger, Pivot, Follow Through)8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Bat Speed/Hands Through the Zone8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Contact/Hard Hits8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
A player will receive one score for Mechanics/Bat Speed/Contact after all 6 pitches are completed. The scoring is not done per pitch. Scoring range: 0-24.
Batting Machine:Each player will receive 9 pitches in the strike zone. They will be evaluated per pitch on the following:
Grading Batting
8Line drive/good mechanics
6Hard ground ball/good mechanics
4Made contact/poor mechanics, popup/good mechanics
2Missed pitch/good mechanics
0Missed pitch/poor mechanics, did not swing at strike
Scoring done per pitch. Scoring range: 0-72.
Pitching/Catching/Speed Timing/Scrimmages
Player evaluations for these events are not figured in to the total tryout score. However, they can be used to assist the coaches in determining in-house reassignments and team selection.
Pitching The purpose of the pitching evaluation is to give the coaches a look at potential pitchers
Warm-ups:Each player will get 10 warm-up pitches thrown from the warm-up mound.
Evaluation:Each player will pitch 10 balls from the evaluation mound and will be evaluated on the following after the pitches are completed. Typically the player will throw fastballs. The player may, at their discretion, throw a change-up. They should inform the evaluators before the pitch in this case.
Grading Pitching:
Velocity:
FFast, strong, considerably above average
MMedium, average speed
SSlow, below average
Control:
4Excellent control, ball low in the strike zone
3Good control, ball in the strike zone
2Average control, ball in strike zone half of the time
1Below average, ball occasionally in the strike zone
0Weak, ball rarely in the strike zone
Form:
EFluid, well developed form
GAverage, needs some work on motion
PThrows ball towards plate
Catching The purpose of the catching evaluation is to give the coaches a look at potential catchers.
Each player will catch several pitches from a pitcher. The player will be wearing full catchers gear during the evaluation. The player will make 2 throws from home to second base.
Speed TrialEach player will be timed in the 40 yard dash twice, with the better time recorded.
ScrimmageGame situations, scrimmages, additional hitting/throwing/fielding, etc. may be used.
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10/7/2018