I Watched the Best Baseball Player at a Showcase Get Zero Recruiting Calls — Here's Why It Happened
I've been to hundreds of showcases and tournaments over my career as a coach and recruiter. And I've watched this happen more times than I can count:
The most talented kid at the event—the one who hit bombs in BP, ran a blazing sixty, and made every play look easy—went home with nothing.
No calls. No emails. No interest.
Meanwhile, a kid who was good but not elite had three coaches calling his parents before the weekend was over.
It wasn't because the talented kid had a bad day. It wasn't because he wasn't good enough.
It was because nobody told the coaches to watch him.
And that's the heartbreaking truth about recruiting that most parents don't understand until it's too late.
Talent Alone Doesn't Get You Recruited
Here's what I wish every parent knew: being the best player at a showcase doesn't mean you're getting recruited.
Coaches don't watch every kid at every event. They can't. There are too many players, too many fields, and not enough time.
So coaches prioritize. They watch the kids they've been told to watch. The ones their assistants flagged. The ones whose travel coaches called them about. The ones whose names are already on their board.
If your son isn't on that list, he's invisible—even if he's the best player there.
I've seen it happen over and over. A kid dominates a showcase. Parents are buzzing. Other families are asking, "Who is that?" And then... nothing.
Because no one marketed him. No one told the right coaches he'd be there. No one built the relationships that get a kid noticed.
The Kid Who Got Noticed (And Why)
Let me tell you about two players I saw at the same event.
Player A was a 2025 shortstop from Texas. Electric tools. 6.7 sixty. 94 mph exit velo. Smooth hands. Made every play look effortless. He was easily the best position player at the showcase. I didn't know his name before the event. His travel coach didn't reach out to me. His family didn't send an email. He showed up, played great, and left. I never followed up. Neither did most of the other coaches.
Player B was a 2025 third baseman. Solid player. Not a superstar. Ran a 7.1 sixty. Good bat, nothing crazy. Defensively sound but not flashy. But three weeks before the showcase, his travel coach emailed me: "Coach, I've got a 2025 third baseman you need to see at the Perfect Game event in July. Strong kid, great makeup, plays the game the right way. I think he's a fit for your program." I put him on my list. I showed up to the showcase knowing exactly when and where to watch him. I saw him take BP. I watched his defensive work. I tracked him in game action. After the event, I called his parents. Two months later, he was on an official visit. He signed with us in November.
Player A had more talent. But Player B had something more valuable: someone advocating for him.
Why Coaches Miss Talented Players
Here's the reality of how showcases work from a coach's perspective:
Coaches don't have time to watch everyone. There are 200+ kids at a showcase. I can't watch them all. I have to prioritize. I watch the kids I've been told to watch—the ones my assistant coaches flagged, the ones whose travel coaches I trust, and the ones who've been in contact with me.
Coaches don't know your son's story. If I don't know anything about your son, I don't know if he's a fit. Is he a 2025 or 2026? What positions does he play? What's his GPA? Is he serious about my school? Without context, even great talent blends into the crowd.
Coaches trust recommendations. If a travel coach I respect tells me to watch a kid, I watch. If a high school coach I know calls me about a player, I pay attention. Recruiting is relationship-driven. Coaches lean on people they trust to help them find players.
There's no follow-up after the event. Even if I see a kid who looks good, if there's no follow-up—no email, no video, no outreach—I move on. I'm recruiting 15-20 kids per class. If your son isn't staying on my radar, someone else will take his spot.
What Families Should Do Before, During, and After Showcases
If you want your son to get noticed at showcases, you can't just show up and hope. You have to market him. Here's how:
Before the Showcase: Let Coaches Know You're Coming
This is the most important step, and most families skip it.
Two to three weeks before a showcase, send personalized emails to 10-15 target schools. Let them know:
- Your son's name, grad year, and position(s)
- The showcase name, date, and his jersey number or team name
- A link to his highlight video
- A brief note about why you're interested in their program
Example:
Coach Davis,
My son, Ryan Miller, is a 2025 RHP/OF who will be competing at the PG Southeast Super in Atlanta on July 14-16. He'll be wearing #12 with the East Cobb Astros.
Ryan is a 3.7 GPA student interested in business programs and would love the chance to play at [School Name]. Here's his Hudl video: [link]
We'd love to connect if you're attending the event.
Thanks,The Miller Family
That email puts your son on the coach's radar. Now when they show up, they know to look for him.
During the Showcase: Make Sure Your Travel Coach Is Working for You
Your travel coach should be advocating for your son. If they have relationships with college coaches, they should be texting, calling, and pointing coaches toward your kid.
If your travel coach isn't doing this, you need to have a conversation. Or you need to find a different team.
Some families hire independent recruiters or advisors (like Premier Athletes) to handle this part—because good advocacy is the difference between getting noticed and going home empty-handed.
After the Showcase: Follow Up Immediately
Within 48 hours of the event, send follow-up emails to the coaches you contacted before. Let them know:
- How the event went (stats, highlights, any standout moments)
- Updated video if you have new clips
- When you'll be competing next
Example:
Coach Davis,
Thanks for taking the time to watch Ryan at the PG Southeast Super. He had a strong weekend—went 2-0 on the mound with 12 Ks in 9 innings and hit .375 at the plate.
Here's an updated video with clips from the event: [link]
We'll be competing at the WWBA in Georgia next month and would love to connect again.
Thanks,The Miller Family
This keeps your son on the coach's radar and shows you're serious about their program.
The Bottom Line
Talent doesn't speak for itself. Not at showcases. Not in recruiting.
The best player at the event isn't always the one who gets recruited. The one who gets recruited is the one who has someone advocating for them, who's been marketed to the right coaches, and who follows up after the event.
I've seen it happen too many times: incredibly talented kids go unnoticed because no one told the coaches to watch.
Don't let that be your son's story.
At Premier Athletes, we help families market their athletes the right way—before, during, and after showcases—because talent alone doesn't get you recruited. Strategy does.
