Some baseball players are blessed with tremendous physical ability. They are naturally fast. They have quick hands. They have tremendous throwing arms. Their raw potential jumps out at scouts. Other baseball players must work diligently to develop the needed foot speed, bat speed and arm strength to advance. Players from both ends of that spectrum---and from everywhere in between---populate college and professional baseball rosters. Average athletes can make themselves into great baseball players by developing key skills to a high level.
Step 1
Establish your ultimate goal. Is it to play college baseball, pro baseball or both? Hundreds of the nation's top players jump from high school baseball to professional baseball each year. Thousands more chose to play college baseball. Some hope to improve their draft stock at the collegiate level while others use baseball to help pay for their education.
Step 2
Understand what abilities scouts covet. College and pro scouts follow the same players and use the same criteria while evaluating talent. "The generic qualities that apply to both position players and pitchers are things like aggressiveness, instinct, dedication, work ethic," Frank Marcos of the Major League Scouting Bureau told MLB.com. "We grade position players on hitting ability, power, running speed, arm strength and fielding. We grade pitchers on fastball, curveball, slider and other, if the pitcher throws a knuckler or split-finger."
Step 3
Follow a baseball-specific training program. Strengthen the core muscles as the first priority. Ballplayers "need to possess explosive lateral movement, quick feet, seamless hand-eye coordination, power, flexibility, linear speed and the reflexes of a ninja," writes Norman T. Eng, certified strength and conditioning specialist, on BaseballTrainingSecrets.com. "Core contraction has to be explosive and powerful." Tailor all weight training to baseball movements. The movement patterns for throwing, hitting and short-distance sprinting are sharp. Increased strength alone won't dramatically improve performance. Players must be able to apply that strength in baseball situations.
Step 4
Build throwing-arm strength. A big arm is a huge asset for pitchers, catchers, left-side infielders and outfielders. Long-tossing is a time-honored method of building arm strength for young players, but proper weight training and plyometric exercises can also make a big difference. Some athletes have naturally stronger arms than others, but all athletes can improve their throwing.
Step 5
Work with a quality hitting instructor to maximize your ability. Scouts have a saying: "That bat will play." If you can hit the ball hard, you will get their attention. Scouts look for hand quickness, bat speed and power. Scouts do not dwell on statistics, no matter how gaudy they are at a particular level. Pro scouts are looking for players capable of making the transition from composite bats to wood bats, which generate less power.
Step 6
Climb the competitive ladder. Work your way up to summer teams followed by professional and college scouts. Most geographical areas have teams with a history of sending players to college and pro baseball. Those are the teams you want to play for. College coaches and the Major League Scouting Bureau look at top teenage players each summer. "We look at what we call 'follows,' mostly 15- and 16 year-olds," Marcos told MLB.com. "There are showcase events that have been great for younger kids. They have the chance to compete against the top kids in the country. The more visibility he has to the scouts, the better."
Step 7
Keep working. Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper is one of the most electrifying power hitters to emerge in years. He left high school early and demolished pitching at the junior college level. He was the first overall pick in the 2010 major league draft at the age of 17. His drive was as impressive as his talent. "He's got the best work ethic I've seen out of a high school kid," Las Vegas High School coach Sam Thomas told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I get criticized 'cause we had four-hour practices out here. And this kid ... as soon as he's dismissed, will go on a dead sprint to his dad's truck because he's going to go hit for another hour and a half."
Tips and Warnings
- Have fun playing baseball so burnout doesn't occur. Pitchers should establish good mechanics while they are still growing. Hitters should focus on hitting line drives instead of home runs. Remember that athletes develop at different paces. Remember that scouts note body language and temperament.
- Don't overtrain before your body fully develops. Pitchers should not throw breaking pitches before they physically mature.
Things You'll Need
- Baseball equipment
- Weight training equipment
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