The road to the Majors? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Bossnass · 05-05-2004, 09:55 PM

A friend and I were recently discussing the steps and levels someone has to go to 'make it' at the top level of whatever sport.

We are both Canadian born and raised, so it was easy to agree on hockey and even football. We have a pretty good idea about basketball, as far as talent being recuited to college teams and recruited from there to the NBA.

However, I'm not sure about baseball. I find it relatively boring to watch, I haven't played outside of a beer league since junior high school. As far as I've noticed, there isn't much of a baseball presense at any of the local post-secondary schools I've been around. Even our farm team, the team formerly known as the Edmonton Trappers, has left town. So really, I know little beyond the basic mechanics of the sport.

So what are the steps, the tiers, etc, to go from a skilled teenager into the next A-Rod?

Ace_O_Spades · 05-05-2004, 10:01 PM

I had the privilidge of playing with an extremely talented pitcher... as far as i know (corect me if im wrong)

but he:

played AAA Midget, where he got scouted to play for Canada's team, where he got scouted for the Anaheim Angels farm team

im sure you could get scouted through College teams, or various other lower division teams.... gah, i guess im not very much help at all

moonlight · 05-06-2004, 03:26 AM

Here in the states, usually the teenagers play on the school team and AAU or Legion Ball in the summer and fall. Especially here in Florida where kids can play ball pretty much all year long. Florida is a hotbed of baseball talent, especially the greater Tampa area.

Once drafted, players hit Rookie ball, and then progress to short season, Low A, High A, AA, and then AAA. Most of your better prospects skip one or two levels along the way and most prospects spend very little time in AAA ball. AA is probably the best overall competition in the minors as those teams are frequently loaded with good talent. AAA rosters are usually littered with what are called "AAAA" players; players that are good minor league guys but don't have what it takes to succeed at the major league level.

goddfather40 · 05-06-2004, 08:46 PM

In my area, the steps were as follows, starting at about age 5:

Little League (5-12 yrs old)
Pony (13-14 yrs)
High School (14-18 yrs) in the Spring
AAU, American Legion, 'Scout' teams, 'Area code' teams in all other seasons

Upon high school graduation you can choose to go to college or, if you get drafted, sign with a Major League team. Many players choose college even though they get drafted. After you graduate college, you also can get drafted.

As previously mentioned by moonlight above, when you finally sign with a team, you have Rookie ball (small towns), A (medium size towns like Lancaster, Lake Elsinore in the California league), AA (large towns like Wichita, KS), AAA (big cities like Salt Lake City or Buffalo) and finally the big leagues (biggest cities).

Jadey · 05-07-2004, 12:47 AM

Goddfather broke it down pretty good above, but here's a little more detail.

I've worked at several levels all the way from coaching and umpiring little league and "t-ball" games to working at the Double A level.

Most cities have "sanctioned" little league levels based on age groups similar to what was mentioned above, but a number of cities also operate youth leagues independent from the Little League governing body. This is where a large number of children get their starts.

After scaling the different levels there are also the High School, AAU, American Legion, etc. leagues.

Upon graduation there are a number of options:

- If you are good enough you can get drafted by a major league team that then evaluates your skill set and places you at one of the minor league levels.

- College baseball is an option.

- There are a large number of Semi-Pro leagues that also operate throughout the country.

- There are a number of Independent League Teams that also operate. These teams are basically the same as the minor leage teams as far as talent levels of the players, but they are not affiliated with a Major League team, hence the "Independent" designation.

- All major league teams also hold a number of tryout camps in cities throughout the country. These are very interesting. You get players of all sorts that show up to these tryouts and only a very few actually get signed, but weirder things have happened. I've been fortunate enough to work a camp catching for prospective players and you get all sorts.

Now, from any of those routes you can end up being drafted. You are then assigned to a minor league team based on your talent level. As goddfather40 mentioned, there are a number of levels, but even withing those levels there are tiers. There is "High-A" ball as well as "Low-A" ball. Diffferent leagues also have a tendency to be hitters leagues or pitchers leagues based on the predominant characteristics of the ballparks, cities, weather, etc. Like moonlight stated, a number of players skip levels based on thier skills and development. And I agree that Double A is probably where your most talented players are.

This was rather long, but I just love to talk about baseball. Sorry.

05-05-2004, 09:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bossnass Détente Location: AWOL in Edmonton	The road to the Majors? A friend and I were recently discussing the steps and levels someone has to go to 'make it' at the top level of whatever sport. We are both Canadian born and raised, so it was easy to agree on hockey and even football. We have a pretty good idea about basketball, as far as talent being recuited to college teams and recruited from there to the NBA. However, I'm not sure about baseball. I find it relatively boring to watch, I haven't played outside of a beer league since junior high school. As far as I've noticed, there isn't much of a baseball presense at any of the local post-secondary schools I've been around. Even our farm team, the team formerly known as the Edmonton Trappers, has left town. So really, I know little beyond the basic mechanics of the sport. So what are the steps, the tiers, etc, to go from a skilled teenager into the next A-Rod?

05-05-2004, 10:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	I had the privilidge of playing with an extremely talented pitcher... as far as i know (corect me if im wrong) but he: played AAA Midget, where he got scouted to play for Canada's team, where he got scouted for the Anaheim Angels farm team im sure you could get scouted through College teams, or various other lower division teams.... gah, i guess im not very much help at all __________________ Feh.

05-06-2004, 08:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
goddfather40 Llama Location: Cali-for-nye-a	In my area, the steps were as follows, starting at about age 5: Little League (5-12 yrs old) Pony (13-14 yrs) High School (14-18 yrs) in the Spring AAU, American Legion, 'Scout' teams, 'Area code' teams in all other seasons Upon high school graduation you can choose to go to college or, if you get drafted, sign with a Major League team. Many players choose college even though they get drafted. After you graduate college, you also can get drafted. As previously mentioned by moonlight above, when you finally sign with a team, you have Rookie ball (small towns), A (medium size towns like Lancaster, Lake Elsinore in the California league), AA (large towns like Wichita, KS), AAA (big cities like Salt Lake City or Buffalo) and finally the big leagues (biggest cities). __________________ My name is goddfather40 and I approved this message. I got ho's and I got bitches, In C++ I branch with switches -MC Plus+

05-06-2004, 03:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
moonlight Upright	Here in the states, usually the teenagers play on the school team and AAU or Legion Ball in the summer and fall. Especially here in Florida where kids can play ball pretty much all year long. Florida is a hotbed of baseball talent, especially the greater Tampa area. Once drafted, players hit Rookie ball, and then progress to short season, Low A, High A, AA, and then AAA. Most of your better prospects skip one or two levels along the way and most prospects spend very little time in AAA ball. AA is probably the best overall competition in the minors as those teams are frequently loaded with good talent. AAA rosters are usually littered with what are called "AAAA" players; players that are good minor league guys but don't have what it takes to succeed at the major league level.

05-07-2004, 12:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jadey This Space For Rent Location: Davenport, Iowa	Goddfather broke it down pretty good above, but here's a little more detail. I've worked at several levels all the way from coaching and umpiring little league and "t-ball" games to working at the Double A level. Most cities have "sanctioned" little league levels based on age groups similar to what was mentioned above, but a number of cities also operate youth leagues independent from the Little League governing body. This is where a large number of children get their starts. After scaling the different levels there are also the High School, AAU, American Legion, etc. leagues. Upon graduation there are a number of options: - If you are good enough you can get drafted by a major league team that then evaluates your skill set and places you at one of the minor league levels. - College baseball is an option. - There are a large number of Semi-Pro leagues that also operate throughout the country. - There are a number of Independent League Teams that also operate. These teams are basically the same as the minor leage teams as far as talent levels of the players, but they are not affiliated with a Major League team, hence the "Independent" designation. - All major league teams also hold a number of tryout camps in cities throughout the country. These are very interesting. You get players of all sorts that show up to these tryouts and only a very few actually get signed, but weirder things have happened. I've been fortunate enough to work a camp catching for prospective players and you get all sorts. Now, from any of those routes you can end up being drafted. You are then assigned to a minor league team based on your talent level. As goddfather40 mentioned, there are a number of levels, but even withing those levels there are tiers. There is "High-A" ball as well as "Low-A" ball. Diffferent leagues also have a tendency to be hitters leagues or pitchers leagues based on the predominant characteristics of the ballparks, cities, weather, etc. Like moonlight stated, a number of players skip levels based on thier skills and development. And I agree that Double A is probably where your most talented players are. This was rather long, but I just love to talk about baseball. Sorry.