| As many know by now, the average body size | | | | overall draft status and it can even make you |
| of Major League Baseball players has greatly | | | | appear to be a better hitter by boosting your |
| increased since around the mid 1990's. Players | | | | batting average from beating out infield singles or |
| began to hit more home runs than in the past and | | | | bunts. |
| coaches stopped calling as many steal attempts in | | | | Scouts come across thousands of players and |
| fear of running into outs. Go back and look at the | | | | have the tough job of trying to predict who will |
| stolen base leaders through the years. In 1982, | | | | succeed at the next level. Speed will obviously be |
| Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases. Nowadays, | | | | the deciding factor when choosing between two |
| anything over 40 is considered a huge year. | | | | players that have equal ability when comparing |
| However, speed is still a big factor in the recruiting | | | | their other tools. During the recruiting process, |
| process and ultimately may be what gets you a | | | | speed gets you noticed. If you have ever been |
| roster spot, a scholarship, or a higher draft pick | | | | to a showcase, one of the first things they will |
| and signing bonus! | | | | look at is your 60 yard dash time. The purpose of |
| The ability to run is considered one of the five | | | | this is to immediately weed some players out. If |
| tools that scouts look for when recruiting players. | | | | your 60 time is not where it needs to be for |
| The others are the ability to hit for average, | | | | your position, they may have already crossed |
| power, throwing-arm strength, and defense. It | | | | you off of their "watch" list. |
| used to be that speed alone could earn you a | | | | I like to say that when assessing your five tools, |
| roster spot on a major league team. Other than a | | | | each can be classified as a liability, average, or a |
| few rare exceptions, this is no longer the case. | | | | tool. In terms of speed, a liability would mean that |
| Currently in the eyes of many professional | | | | you are so slow for your position that scouts |
| scouts, running speed is probably the least | | | | may not even look at what else you can do. |
| important of the five tools. In the past you may | | | | Unless you are a super-freak hitter you are |
| have heard a scout say, "Wow, this guy can run. | | | | probably not getting to the next level. Average |
| Can he hit at least a little?" Meaning that speed | | | | speed would mean that you are just fast enough |
| alone could have gotten someone to the big | | | | to play at the next level, but it is not really going |
| leagues. Any hitting ability would be icing on the | | | | to impress either. Having speed as a tool means |
| cake. Now, you are more likely to hear "Wow, | | | | that you run better (sometimes exceptionally |
| this guy can run, but can he hit?" Meaning, it's | | | | better) than most other players at your position. |
| great that the player can run, but they wouldn't | | | | It is not the only thing looked at in scouting, but it |
| get called up unless they were a major league | | | | is definitely a huge bargaining chip in your favor. |
| hitter. This is, however, starting to change as the | | | | Think of it as a credential on a resume. A |
| league is beginning to clean itself up. Home run | | | | doctorate degree looks better than a master's |
| totals are down the past few years and major | | | | degree, a master's degree looks better than a |
| league organizations are starting to put greater | | | | bachelor's degree, which looks better than a GED, |
| emphasis back into speed. | | | | which looks better than no degree at all. |
| It may sound as if I'm saying speed is not that | | | | Obviously, if interviewing for an upper level |
| important. That is not the case at all! While it is | | | | position, the job recruiter will first look at the |
| true that speed is less important at the major | | | | person with the doctorate because he has the |
| league level, it does still play a huge factor in the | | | | most credentials. The same holds true in the |
| high school and college game. This is especially | | | | world of baseball recruiting. In essence, you are |
| true among teams that play in large, open | | | | interviewing for an upper level position. The more |
| ballparks and do not hit a lot of home runs. Also, | | | | credentials and tools on your resume, the more |
| even though professionally it is not as valued as it | | | | likely you will be looked at. |
| once was, speed is still a huge factor in your | | | | |