...have an impact at the major league level.
When you hear someone in the media speaking of a “five tool” player, it refers to a player who has great strength in all five of the basic skill categories.
Ultimately the more plus tools players that a baseball club has, the more it will win games. What the body does on the field is only part of the player though.
THE MIND
Having talent is one thing, being able to take it to the highest level is another proposition. One of the biggest wild cards in the evaluation of the player is finding someone with the mental discipline to get to the big leagues.
Everything from increased competition to signing bonuses to just being away from home can wear on the mental toughness needed to maximize a player’s technical abilities. As the openings to advance narrow, and the pressure ratchets up, figuring out who has the mental toughness, emotional self-confidence and the maturity to face down those very real and large hurdles is another part of the player’s makeup.
Do they have a great work ethic? Are they talented but a bit lazy? Is the player a natural leader, an introvert, or the class clown? Do they have a temper, or tendency to use bad personal judgment?
It is the scout’s job to be able to tell anyone from the club, from the scouting director to the general manager, everything that there is to know about the players on the short list heading into the June draft.
You find them with old-fashioned legwork, by hitting your territory.
THE TURF
Amateur scouts will scour three to five states seeking top high school and college players.
During the summer months, area scouts will focus on seeing players for the future. Taking in summer tournaments, showcases and a few college league games help the scout establish his list of players to see for the following year.
By the next spring, scouts already know most of the potential prospects in their area. Occasionally a player who has improved during the off-season will jump onto a scout’s radar, and be added to their list, or a new high school athlete will debut on the scene.
Scouts in southern states begin in January, while northern scouts will start in late February.
If they see a player that they would like to draft, an area scout will submit a report on the prospect to the scouting department. Based on the level of that prospect, additional scouts known as cross-checkers, or even...
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