Baseball coaches, at all levels of the sport, need to evaluate players for specific strengths and weaknesses to improve their existing teams and to scout potential future stars. During the evaluation process, coaches will often rely on a basic assessment checklist, considering the five key athletic tools players need to succeed at the sport's highest levels.
Speed
Speed, often the easiest of the five tools to evaluate, plays a key role in base running, determining whether or not the player will be able to take the extra base, to score runs and to pressure the defense into mistakes. Speed also affects fielding, with fast players being able to cover more ground to chase down potential base hits. Coaches may not be able to teach speed, with most considering it a natural gift, but they certainly need to recognize its value when assessing players.
Glove
Often overlooked by casual fans, defense decides as many baseball games as hitting and pitching. Players need to be able to field their position with skill and confidence, as an untimely error can lead to defeat. Catchers, shortstops, third basemen and center fielders, in particular, need to be exceptional fielders since they tend to handle more chances than their teammates.
Arm
While most baseball discussions of arm strength tend to focus on pitching, arm strength remains one of the five tools for evaluating all baseball players. The arm works in combination with the glove to determine a player's worth as a fielder. The slickest glove won't mean much if the player can't throw the ball with strength and accuracy to the correct base. Arm strength matters most for catchers, shortstops, third basemen and outfielders.
Average
Baseball players need to hit for average to help teams score runs. They don't have to be able to win batting titles, but hitting for a consistently solid average, for example .275 or higher, is critical for generating offense. In recent years, baseball theory has changed somewhat, valuing a player's ability to draw walks and get on base more than merely a strict batting average, but hitting for average demonstrates the player's ability to handle the bat and contribute to the team's offense.
Power
Perhaps the most beneficial tool of all, hitting for power can make up for other deficiencies in a player's game. Power doesn't just mean home runs, either. A consistent power stroke will produce doubles and triples, as well, creating shortcuts to offense. Power hitters eliminate the need for two or three hits to score runs and can erase pitching and fielding mistakes with one swing of the bat.
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