Baseball Tryouts | Advice from a Coach

I have seen players losing their sanity every summer before baseball tryouts. It is natural to be nervous before your upcoming tryouts; however, knowing some tips and tricks can help you overcome the jittery. 

Tryouts are an important event for players who are willing to play baseball in a team. Your potential is judged, and your position on the baseball team is determined during this event. 

It would be helpful for you if you could understand and showcase your talent during the tryouts. Tryouts are played on the baseball field before the main tournaments have started.

It is like a test run for the athletes where the coaches measure their skill level, hoping to get a good player who can work hard and be an advantage for the team.  

Being a former baseball player and a coach, I have always relied on baseball tryouts to select the perfect pitchers, batters, and baserunners whom I can rely on and who can be coached to work hard and participate in this competitive sport. 

In this article, we will discuss baseball tryouts in-depth and give you important insights that will hopefully aid in player development and make you understand what to do and what not to do during this event. 

What are Baseball Tryouts? 

Baseball tryouts are test-run before the main baseball game begins. Here, one player is observed by the head coach, and the players also get a chance to showcase their talent. 

Baseball tryouts are held to form the best teams, and the most dedicated players who are ready to face any challenges are picked out during the process.

During the tryouts, coaches observe most players by their athleticism, professionalism, and if they are willing to work hard for their team. 

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There are several levels of curriculums that the players need to go through during the tryouts. You will most likely be guided by your coach after you arrive at the tryout location. 

Nevertheless, we will take a look at the different stages of the tryout. No matter where your tryout location is, e.g., an open tryout or a tryout with indoor facilities, the steps are the same. 

Structure of Baseball Tryouts:

Baseball tryout structures are more or less the same as any event that requires showcasing. The first thing you need to do is show up at the scheduled location a few minutes earlier than expected. 

Wondering why? That’s because this gives you leverage and shows how much you care about being selected. You will also get the time to get accustomed to the surroundings and prepare yourself mentally and physically. 

Let’s see what the different structures of baseball tryouts are-

1. Warm up before you start

If you have started playing at a young age, you probably already know the importance of warming up before any major event. Not only that, we always practice warm-up sessions with our school and college players before any tournament schedule. 

Warm-up sessions before starting the main tryout help to ease yourself, and you will get your blood flowing, which will cancel out the inertia.

To be a part of a competitive team, you must make sure that your muscles are loosened up so that you can be prepared for rigorous actions during games. If you skip the warm-up, it can hinder your tryout activities and can also increase the risk of injury.

Warming up prepares you for baseball activities like throwing, batting, and running, it warms up your core and muscle temperature, and it is one of the most important things before starting the games. 

Here are some warm-up techniques to get you started-

• Jogging- Casually jog for five to ten minutes around the baseball field. 
• Arm swings- Do arm swings forward, backward, and side-by-side about five times.
• Dynamic stretching- Dynamic stretching involves exercises like ankle twists, closed knees, open knees, leg swings, knee hugs, Frankensteins, and butt kicks. If possible, practice for about fifteen minutes. 
• Wrist circles- Both hands five times, clockwise and anticlockwise. 
• Hip, neck, and trunk rotations- Clockwise and anticlockwise five times. 
• Prisoner squats- ten times. 

I hope now you understand why coming to the tryouts ahead of time is important. Get your heart pumping before you jump to the baseball field. 

2. 60-Yard Dash

The 60-yard dash evaluates your running speed. It is to measure how long you take to cover the 60-yard distance. Your coach will tell you to keep your time within 7 seconds as that is the time taken by most MLB (Major League Baseball) players. 

An average baseball player usually takes 6.7 to 6.9 seconds to cover the distance. You have to work on your speed at least two months before your tryouts because it is among the crucial parts of getting selected. 

Coaches can see your hard work that reflects on your athleticism, and your running speed is one of the first things they look for.

Successfully running your 60-yard is important to get selected in the tournaments, and this is measured even before you hold a baseball. You have to build your stamina and run multiple times (2 or 3 times) to get an accurate running speed. 

3. How to Measure 60-Yard Dash Time

Stopwatch

While you run your 60-yard dash, make sure your coaches have a stopwatch while practicing to measure your time accurately.

Note: Baseball tryout coaches use the same mechanisms to assess your 60-yard dash time.

Marker

Mark your way starting from zero, and the next mark will be at forty yards and the last at sixty. It will be helpful if you have coaches in every mark that will ensure accurate calculations. 

This is how coaches for professional players assess the running speed during tryouts. 

• From zero to a tenth, the initial or starting speed of the player is calculated. 
• From ten to forty, the acceleration speed is calculated.
• Lastly, top speed mechanics is calculated from forty to sixty. 

The coach assigned to the specific yards will stop their timer after you cross that line. Once your lap is over, the final time can be said after adding them all. 

4. Play Catch

I think I do not have to tell you the importance of throwing and catching in baseball. During baseball tryouts, playing catch is basically to show the coaches your potential in playing in the tournaments. 

Here, the coaches will see your throwing and catching skills till the second base. You can practice playing catch before your tryout to polish up your moves.

Not only that, playing catch increases your concentration and focus on sports. As a result, you can proceed to different competitive levels. 

Popular former baseball player William Earnest Harwell (January 25, 1918 – May 4, 2010) has a famous saying about playing catch. He said, “Baseball is the president tossing out the first ball of the season. And a scrubby schoolboy playing catch with his dad on a Mississippi farm.” 

This shows good catching skills can give you an advantage and get attention from the coaches. You want as many good points on your side as possible and create most situations where you can attract the head coach. 

Give them reasons to remember you for your skill of working hard and sticking to your postures from the beginning till the end.

If you have started playing baseball during your school or college days, it will enable you to build close contact with sports and increase your chance of getting selected for the league. 

Nevertheless, if you play with dedication and are open to working hard regardless of the situation, age is just a number. 

5. Position Specific Playing 

At this point, catchers are going to catch, pitchers will show their skill, and batters are going to bat. Position-specific playing means you have to play to portray your skill level for the fall tournaments being in specific positions.

This helps the coaches to make a final decision about your position on the baseball team. Let’s see some position-specific roles for different players and what you have to do-

Catchers

Catchers will do what they do best, catch. If you are a catcher, you have to toss some bases and block some baseballs. 

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Infielders

Infielders go to shortstop and get about five ground balls to field and toss them across the diamond to first base.

Outfielders

The outfielder’s responsibility is to go out in the outfield, get some ground balls and fly balls, move to the right field, and throw the ball to third base. During this time, all the position-specific players will concentrate on their defensive work. 

Pitchers

Pitchers are required to do their bullpens. As a pitcher, now you get a chance to show your arm strength and demonstrate your different pitching abilities, and show that you are competitive. 

Here are some pitching drills for you to perfect your baseball pitches-

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Also, you can check Baseball Pitching Sequence Strategy.

Batting Practice

Batting practice is when all the players participating in the tryouts get a chance to hit. It is not evident how many rounds you are going to hit. It can be three or four or even five. 

However, here you are given the opportunity to prove yourself, and that is why it is very important to stay focused. You have to hit line drives and stay in the middle of the field. 

Traditionally, the showcase ends with batting practice (BP). These were the tryouts structure that experts followed in selecting players for the league. 

Read this article on Are pitching machines are good for batting practice?

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How to Stand out in Baseball tryouts? 

The first thing you need before you check in to your tryouts location is your confidence. Coaches love players who can take charge and show openness to development. 

Please do not act like Mr. Know It All and always respect the instructors, especially when they are talking. Even if you have played baseball all your life, you have to keep in mind that coaches know more.

Let’s see some other tips on how you can stand out during your tryouts-

• Be a Leader

There will certainly be many occasions when the coaches instruct the players to do something. Grab that opportunity to come forward and lead the crowd. 

If you are to form a line, bring yourself forward and guide everybody into a perfect line. Never hesitate to be a vocal leader. It is important because your coach is going to take notes of that even before the tryouts begin. 

Show your coach that your talents are not baseball-specific and that you can be better than the rest. 

• Practice Forward Lean

Remember where we discussed running a 60-yard dash? This forward-leaning technique will be very beneficial for that. Instead of running with a straight body posture, run leaning forward with your chest and chin slightly forward than your body.

You will notice multi-sport athletes practice forward-leaning technique while running to accelerate their running speed.

This is the thing you can not get handy with on the day of your tryouts; practice this technique from a young age, if not at least a month before your tryouts. 

• Be Yourself

Always remember to be yourself during the entire tryout session. Do not ride in the tide and act like someone you are not. Trust your skills and always show confidence in your moves. Show that you are interested, active, and not a kid to mess around with. 

Your coaches keep an eye on you from the moment you step onto the tryout location. So you better act like you are already on a baseball team and show pride in yourself. 

• Be Well Prepared 

Check for all your equipment a night before you step on the field. Make sure you have everything, and you must also be well dressed. 

Do not show up wearing shorts or a backward baseball cap. If you are planning to do that, leave that thought already.

Coaches will see you first, so you do not want them to make a snap judgment, which is exactly what they are going to do seeing you with a wardrobe malfunction. 

Wear clean and proper baseball pants, an athletic t-shirt, and a baseball cap, and go equipped with your clean gloves and bat. 

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Make sure your clothes are comfortable, and it does not create any hurdles during your movements. It is preferred to wear outfits that you are used to wearing, and brand new clothes can sometimes cause irritation or allergies, especially during summer.  

Tips to impress your Coach during Tryouts: 

In case you missed any points we have previously discussed, here are some bullet points to keep in mind. 

• Reach early to your tryouts location.
• Be coachable.
• Look like an actual baseball player.
• Take your game seriously.  
• Be a good teammate. 
• Show confidence.
• Be attentive. 
• Perfect your posture. 

How to Prepare for Baseball Tryouts?

You can not prepare for baseball a few days before the tryouts’ dates arrive. It takes a lot of dedication and weeks of development to prepare yourself for the upcoming summer tryouts. 

Physical fitness is not the only thing you will need, and it takes a strong mind and higher competitive levels to excel in your performance. Pay attention to the coaching you get and never underestimate other players’ skills, and skip practices. 

One thing to keep in mind, if you have four to six weeks left for your tryouts, it is time for you to fill up the void spaces where you think your performance lacks. Put yourself in a position where you have a mindset to overcome any obstacles that come your way. 

Here are some tips for you on how to prepare for your upcoming tryouts:

Be Present

If you are into baseball, you must find a lot of occasions where players from different age groups are asked to participate in voluntary baseball activities. 

These voluntary workouts can include catching, voluntary batting practice, etc. Nevertheless, when you hear the word “voluntary,” it is not what it sounds like. 

If you want to make it to the final selection, make sure you attend everything preseason. However, if you are among the multi sport athletes, it can be difficult for you to show up every time during voluntary workouts. 

But if you have nothing going on apart from baseball, you should not give any excuse and miss out on any chance of participation. The voluntary workouts will also help you build contacts in the field, and you can even learn new things and share ideas in the process.

Make Connections

While we are still on the subject, the voluntary workouts or preseason playoffs give you a better chance to make connections with the baseball officials in your school. 

It will give you leverage if you are already on the baseball committee and the coaches are familiar with your face and forms.

Rather than showing up for the first time on the day of tryouts, participate on as many occasions as you get to establish your commitment to baseball. 

Show your leadership skills during the time of your voluntary workouts, not only to the coaches but to show other players that you are a great leader. 

It would be best if you always tried to earn respect from the coaches and your teammates by working hard and taking control of the situation. 

Get Strong

When tryouts dates are approaching, you have to make yourself stronger, bigger, and faster. If you have a few weeks or months of time before your showcase, use the time to work on yourself. 

Work out to improve your skill set, which can not be developed by only attending voluntary workouts two or three days a week. Do more specific exercises focusing on a different agenda five to six days per week. 

Get additional workouts outside of the baseball field if you are seriously into baseball and want to make it to a baseball team. There are different types of exercises for different age groups, which start from as early as nine years of age. 

Create rosters and make a plan to follow. Put on some muscle mass and stick to a proper diet. It is very difficult to gain muscle and follow rosters during baseball season. So this is something you have to start doing before the game begins. 

Maintain a calorie surplus diet throughout the year because once the tryouts start, you will be playing and working out so much that keeping up with the burning and adding calories will get tough. 

Develop your Baseball Skill

Needless to say, working on your baseball skill is the first thing you should care about when you are a baseball player. But doing this right before or during your tryout season will do you no good. 

Practice, practice, and practice all the baseball skills and not only the ones you enjoy doing. In fact, if you think you need to improve or improvise a certain skill, pay more attention to that 

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Focus on your weaknesses even though they are not fun to work on. Work on your defensive work, as well as your arm strength, e.g., pitching and catching, bunk, hit, and polish every one of those skills because you doesn’t know what you have to deal with in the field. 

Practice Healthy Lifestyle

I know it can be difficult to keep yourself in shape off-season. However, I have always preached to my players to start living a healthy lifestyle six months before the tryouts begin. As a coach, I have always prioritized my players’ fitness and health. 

With a good lifestyle, you can build your stamina, gain muscle mass and be in good shape overall. Physical fitness and well-being are needed for multi sport athletes and not precisely for baseball.  

• Sleep

Start taking care of your body if you have not started already. Get a good night’s sleep, by which I mean six to eight hours of quality rest. It will help every part of your body, and you will be able to work better and stay alert throughout the day. 

• Water

Hydration is another very crucial part of the human body. Ensure you are drinking enough water depending on your regular activities. Drink at least two liters of water every day.

You can add healthy drinks such as green juice and lemon water to your diet to ensure you are not getting bored of drinking water. Even a small amount of dehydration can negatively impact your performance. 

It is a proven fact that dehydration can cause muscle fatigue and increase body temperature, which can significantly hinder your performance in the field. 

• Food

We are what we eat. This is something I never get tired of saying to my students in all age groups. Make sure you are getting a sufficient amount of nutrients to keep up with your hectic life. 

You have so many other things going on in your life apart from baseball, and your body needs enough energy to go through everything. Sure, you can have cheat days one or two days a week but make sure you avoid food with a high sugar quotient.

It would be better also to avoid fast food and foods that generally come in boxes and packets, e.g., packaged, processed food. Stay away from drinking soda or carbonated drinks as these things do not have any nutritional value whatsoever and have a high sugar level. 

Do not go too hard on yourself. You do not have to track your calorie intake or obsess over things that you are eating. Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet and keep yourself active.  

What do you need before Baseball Tryouts?

Here is a list of Baseball Equipment you need before your tryouts:

• Sunglasses
• Pro hitter
• Glove locks
• Baseball
• Wristbands / wrist tapes
• Elbow guard
• Leg guard
• Batting gloves
• Bat
• Shoes/Cleats
• Helmet 

You can always add or subtract any equipment of your choice. If you are wondering which bat to choose, here is an article to clear your confusion- Baseball Bat Size Chart | Choose The Perfect Size.

What should you not eat before Baseball Tryouts? 

You want your body to feel its best before an important event. Especially when it is as big as your baseball tryouts, you have to feel energized, light, and at the same time full. 

Light, in a sense, you do not want to feel your tummy full while running. At the same time, you can not afford to feel hungry. 

Look closely at your food’s fueling properties or follow your dietitian’s advice. You should always eat one or two hours before your tryout and avoid simple carbs (candy, soft drinks, cookies, etc.). 

Try eating complex carbs like beans, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, etc. Our body digests the complex carbs slowly so you won’t feel as hungry or lack energy. Avoid processed foods, fast foods, and sweets, as these foods are hard to digest, and you may feel bloated or unwell. 

What should you Avoid Doing during Baseball Tryouts? 

We have discussed everything about what you should do before and during your baseball tryouts. However, knowing what you should avoid doing is equally important if you want to excel in your journey. 

As a coach, I know how some players work day and night and leave no stone unturned to get selected during the showcase season. It can be devastating if you do not make it up to your dream of the slightest mistakes. 

Keeping everything in mind, let’s see what you should avoid doing during baseball tryouts:

• Arriving Late 

One of the major turn-offs for the coaches is when a player does not arrive on time. As we have already mentioned, you should always check in early to your location and warm up before the actual event starts. 

If you want to be on the rosters, if getting on the team is crucial for you, you have to be extra careful about your timings. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare yourself physically and mentally and get accustomed to the situation. 

You do not want to look rushed or tired during the most important event as a baseball player. It does not send a good message to the coaches. You have to be punctual and show that it matters to you. 

• Not Dressed-up for the Event

Imagine watching a play where the actor is not appropriately dressed as the character. This is how you are going to look in your tryout if you do not care about the dress code.

Every major event has its signature uniform or style to remember it for, and baseball is no exception. Wearing a clean and proper baseball t-shirt, pants, and hat and carrying your own baseball equipment shows your effort and that you are a professional. 

Look like your part, and if you are not familiar with the dress code, you can always search online and gather information. Never wear your baseball hat backward, and going extravagant with the dressup is not necessary. 

Make sure your shirt is tucked in, and you are wearing a belt. Do not wear shorts and remember to wear athletic shoes like baseball turf shoes. Ensure that you are not wearing sneakers or tennis shoes. 

It would help if you plan ahead of the day and keep your ensemble ready to avoid last-minute anxiety. You do not want to stand out negatively in front of the coaches, so do not wear anything too bright that can attract unnecessary negative attention. 

• Indolent Attitude

No one likes a passive attitude, especially when you are somewhere to participate. If you want to act lazy, you can stay at home on your couch. But if you are on the field, show them that you are here to play. 

Be active and prompt in all your activities and take your actions seriously. Your coaches need you to run hard, play hard, catch hard, and see development. Do not stroll during a jog or stand slothishly last in line. 

Be extra attentive towards your enthusiasm for the sport and hustle when you are playing catch or going for your 60-yard dash. You can develop this habit during practice before your big showcase. 

• Do not Interrupt your Coach

If you ask me, there is nothing more annoying when my students interrupt me while I am explaining something to them. If you have the habit of overlapping with someone’s talk, change it immediately. 

When your coach is explaining something to you, maybe telling you how to do a drill or how to throw a perfect pitch, Do Not interrupt them in the middle. You can not pay attention to them or talk to someone else while they are still speaking. 

Focus on what your coaches are explaining, and do not show that you don’t care. Never cross your arms or look down and always maintain eye contact.

Your tryouts are not going to last for a day; they will end in two to three hours, so be actively present in the moment during that time. 

• Do not Distract your Coaches

Never disturb your coaches by asking them something which can wait for later. However, if you have questions regarding the tryout, you can communicate and discuss your problem.

But when they are in the middle of the tryout, they are trying to evaluate the players, which can be disturbed by the unnecessary chatting. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do MLB teams have open tryouts?

A: Yes, Major League Baseball (MBL) holds open tryouts for players in any age group. There are a series of events, and these are open to anyone.

The tryouts are free of charge, and its only motive is to leave no stone unturned to hunt down the best players across the country. 

Q. Are there any Age requirements for Baseball Tryouts?

A: There are no age requirements for the baseball tryouts. However, players have to be seven years or above to participate. 

Q. What do Baseball Tryouts consist of?

A:  Baseball tryouts consist of a series of structured events to showcase players’ talents and passion for the sport. Here, the players have to participate, and they can not play in a particular position. A player has to show skills in every position in order to get selected. 

Q. How long do Baseball Tryouts last?

A: A tryout event can last for about two to three hours. 

Final Word

If you are passionate about baseball, there is nothing that can be an obstacle between you and the baseball tryouts. It would be best if you started to work on your form, posture, body, and athleticism before the tryout season starts. 

Make sure you regularly exercise and maintain healthy food habits throughout the year. Sure, you can lie back, relax and enjoy, as that is also important because baseball is a sport to enjoy and not something to make you tired and agonized. 

To quote the baseball legend Yogi Berra, “Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too.”

Listen to your coach and work out at least five days a week to keep yourself active. Never underestimate any baseball position or pitch, and face your fears. I hope you have an amazing showcase season this summer. 

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