How to Run a Successful Baseball Tryout

In baseball, as with any sport, you want to get the best players possible on your team, playing at their strongest positions. It can be difficult to evaluate baseball players in a short tryout, because large samples are often necessary for judging success, especially with hitting. Structure your tryout so that you are getting the most out of your potential players. By running specific tests and drills, you can make quick and accurate judgments about the skills of the players at your tryout.

Instructions

    • 1

      Have your players run around the diamond, as foot speed is very useful for both outfield defense and base stealing. Time them running from home to first base. Pair players up and race them against each other to find the quickest player at the tryout. Make this player your leadoff hitter and center fielder if his hitting and defense are good enough to make the cut.

    • 2

      Evaluate your players' hitting abilities. Give them at least 10 or 20 pitches each to hit. Avoid looking only for power. Look for players who make solid contact with the ball. Give high marks to players with quick bat speed and the ability to drive the ball to all fields, rather than the players who can hit home runs but also miss the ball a lot.

    • 3

      Hit pop-ups and grounders to evaluate your potential players' fielding abilities. Place players at the shortstop position to take ground balls. Judge their skill in fielding ground balls cleanly and making strong, accurate throws to first base. Hit fly balls to outfielders and look for players who read the ball well and get into position to catch it early.

    • 4

      Have pitchers throw off the mound to a catcher. Look for a variety of different pitches if you are trying out adults or older teenagers. With younger kids, look for accuracy and an ability to throw strikes. In all cases, select pitchers who throw hard and can keep the ball down in the strike zone, as this will produce a lot of ground balls.