Okay so here’s what went down today with this baseball scouting thing. Got this email blast screaming “Ahsaa Baseball 2025 Top Players – Watch These Rising Stars NOW!” Looked clickbaity as heck, but I was already bored fixing my lawnmower, so why not? Grabbed my faded old camp chair, a thermos of questionable coffee, and hauled myself down to the local high school field they mentioned. Supposedly some serious young talent was playing.
Setting Up Shop
Parked way out in the gravel lot ’cause it was packed. Like, way more people than I expected for a high school game in August. Heat was freaking brutal. Seriously considered just turning around and finding AC. Found a spot way down the right field line, kinda behind the fence. Unfolded the creaky chair, spilled some lukewarm coffee on my shorts – classic start.
Eyes on the Field
Tried to figure out who the supposed “top players” were from the email. No handy program, just a crumpled team sheet someone dropped. Started scanning the dugouts. Saw one kid immediately – kid had this look, you know? Not bouncing off the walls, just calm, eyes tracking everything during warm-ups. Big kid, pitcher. Number 18. Remembered the email mentioning a “Power Arm to Watch”. Had to be him.
First inning, guy named on the crumpled sheet – let’s call him “Rico” (not his real name, obviously) – comes up to bat for the other team. Shortstop. Looked kinda lean, quick twitchy movements. Email hyped a “Five-Tool Phenom”. First pitch, he slaps a hard grounder right up the middle. Nothing fancy, just smoked it. Got to first stupid fast.
Watching the Game Unfold
The pitcher kid, number 18? Wow. First batter he faces after Rico steals second? Struck him out on three nasty pitches. Fastball that made a pop sound, then this curveball that just dropped off the table. Crowd gasped. Third pitch, another fastball, batter swung late. Easy out.
Later, Rico was involved in a double play. Hard hit ball his way, he fields it clean, flips to second, second baseman fires to first. Routine if you’re a pro, impressive for high school. Smooth, quick hands. Confirmed the glove part of that “five-tool” hype.
Another inning, kid playing center field – skinny guy, looked younger. Ball absolutely crushed to the gap. I figured, double for sure. This kid turned on the damn jets. Ran a crazy route, full extension dive… SNATCHED it out of the air. Crowd went nuts. Like, standing O nuts. Turns out he was one of the “Under-the-Radar Gems” mentioned. Hidden? Not anymore.
The Takeaway From the Dirt
Sat through all nine innings, sweating through my shirt. Coffee was gone by the 3rd. What stuck with me watching these kids?
- The Pitcher (18): Dude wasn’t just throwing hard. He was pitching. Changed speeds, hit spots under pressure. Looked bored sometimes, like he knew he was in control.
- The Shortstop (Rico): Played smarter than anyone else. Fast, sure, but his brain was faster. Always seemed to be right where the ball was going. And that hit? Consistent hard contact.
- The Center Fielder: Pure instinct and speed. That catch changed the whole game. Electric energy when he made plays.
Headed back to the dusty parking lot, sunburnt and smelling like cheap hot dogs. The email wasn’t totally full of it this time. Saw some serious raw talent out there grinding in the heat. Made me feel old, honestly. But also kinda excited? Like spotting a player before they blow up. Yeah, worth the sunburn. Mostly.