Wade Boggs wasn't the prototypical third baseman, but he was still effective in that position. (Rick Stewart/Allsport)

What scouts look for: Pitching

Before a player even picks up a bat or glove, a scout will have already done some evaluations. Since they are looking for players who will be able to play at the Major League level, several factors go into consideration:

Size/Build:

Is the player going to grow more? What's his body type -- is he long and lean, or thick and stocky? What's his weight -- is he going to develop more, or has he fully matured? Since heights on rosters aren't always accurate, scouts will often get near a player during practice to get a true estimate of his height. Or watch him next to an umpire, and compare his height.

"Guys with short arms aren't going to have a lot of wasted movement there," says one veteran scout. "He'll get to the ball quicker and may have less holes in his swing than a guy with long arms."

Intangibles:

Does he spend extra time in the cage? When it's 8:30 on a Sunday morning and it's freezing outside, is he bundled up sitting in the dugout or is he playing pepper or getting in some running?

"We look for his reactions on called balls and strikes," a scout says. "Does he go jaw-to-jaw with the umpire? Throw his helmet into the bleachers? Does he take his 0-for-4 performance in the field with him? We want to see if he lets things affect him."

One Major League scouting director said with the significant amount of money invested in top draft picks, teams will often have a player speak to a sports psychologist.

"They usually just talk to the kid, tell us a little bit about their makeup," the scouting director says. "We rely on our scouts to tell us things, too, but this is just another thing we do to try and protect our potential investment."

On the field, scouts are looking for how a prospect plays the game.

"Play hard and with passion," the scouting director says. "Don't act like you've been in the big leagues already. Show me you can throw, show me you can run. Most of us would do anything to have their ability, so let's see them use it and enjoy it."

Rating players:

OFP	Type of player
70-80	All-Star, well above-average player
60-69	Above average
50-59	Major League average
40-49	Below average, fringe player
30-39	Well below-average, organizational-type player

The five tools position players are rated on are hitting, power, running, fielding and throwing. When a player has all of these skills, he's considered a "five-tool"' player. Prospects are rated on a scale of 20-80 (or some clubs use a 2-8 scale) in each of the areas in the present and future categories, and then the numbers are averaged to arrive at an Overall Future Potential number, or OFP, which projects the level that prospect will play in the Majors.

Speed:

Left side	Rating	Right side
3.9	80	4.0
4.0	70	4.1
4.1	60	4.2
4.2	50	4.3
4.3	40	4.4
4.4	30	4.5
4.5	20	4.6

Every scout carries a stopwatch to measure a hitter's speed to first base. The watch starts the moment the ball makes contact with the bat and stops when the batter reaches first. The scout then gives that player his speed rating.

Hitting:

One of the most difficult things a scout has to do is project who will be able to hit and will who not hit at the Major League level. There are certain similar qualities found in successful hitters: strength, bat speed, full extension and follow through after contact, aggressive (hits first good pitch) and having the ball "jump" off the bat.

"I'm looking for a guy who can get the sweet part of the bat on the ball on a consistent basis," says one scout.

There are some minor mechanical adjustments that can be made to improve future performance -- tinkering with a stance, or moving the hands -- that scouts may note as well. But there are some negative things to be aware of: fear at the plate (front foot steps away as hitter prepares to swing), hand hitches in a swing, too much uppercut in a swing and a dead bat (doesn't get it started).

"I check the rhythm on his approach," says one scout. "Is he chopping an ax, or is there rhythm with lift to his swing?"

Projecting power potential in high schoolers -- who may not reach the big leagues for seven or eight years -- is also tricky.

"You gotta get creative with kids who aren't mature yet and who are using aluminum bats. Maybe he's not going to develop his power until he's 25. But when does it come? Jeff Bagwell hit four home runs in Class-AA ball. Paul Lo Duca spent nine years in the minors and now he's showing some power in the big leagues. It's a tough thing to project."

Fielding:

Middle infielders with a strong arm and plus defensive skills can make it to the big leagues. Good fielders show quick feet, agility and instincts -- being in the right spot at the right time. Scouts had Derek Jeter's instincts rated high when he was just a prep shortstop in Kalamazoo, Mich., and he showed them why after that play against Oakland in the Division Series last year when he came out of nowhere to flip the ball home.

"To me, that was the epitome of baseball instincts," says one veteran scout. "That's an 8."

A good fielder's actions should be smooth and graceful -- the guy who makes it look easy. Outfielders should be able to react quickly, have good range and anticipate. If a player doesn't get a good jump and is slow reacting to a play, there's little likelihood he will ever develop into a skilled defender.

Scouts look for specific things at each position:

Catcher:
Tools ranked in order of preference by one Major League scout are fielding, throwing, hitting, power and running. But a big part of a catcher's job is intangibles -- calling pitches, managing a staff and being the on-field leader. "When you're a catcher, you're a full-time babysitter, too," said one scout. "You have to know what [pitchers are] thinking, and know when to pat them on the back and kick them in the rear."

First base, third base:
Corner infielders are expected to provide some power to the lineup. A scout ranks his preference in their tools as: hitting, power, fielding, throwing and running. "They are run producers, but there are exceptions to every rule. [Wade] Boggs was more of a scorer, but was still effective in that position." Third basemen should also have the arm strength to make those long, accurate throws across the field to first base.

Second base and shortstop:
Fielding, throwing and running are still the top requirements for players at these positions, but the recent trend as been to see more power at this position with the establishment of an Alex Rodriguez, Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra type of position player. "But power is still a later priority," says one scout. "He still has to be a good fielder and be able to throw across the diamond." Agility, quickness, soft hands and instincts are all things successful middle infielders should have.

Left field and right field:
Run production is key for the corner outfielders. These guys must be able to get on base and drive in runs. Defensively, since they are making those long throws to the infield, a strong, accurate arm is a must -- especially in right field since right fielder must make a long throw to third base.

Center field:
Tools in order of one scout's importance are running and fielding, then hitting, throwing and power. Center fielders are the quarterback of the outfield, so they must be able to anticipate and have good range to get to balls hit out there. Pure athleticism and quickness is something you'll find in good center fielders -- enabling them to make those over-the-shoulder catches, or climbing the fence to rob a player of a home run.

In amateur ball, often times the best player on the team will play shortstop or center field, even though he may not project at that position in the Major Leagues, so scouts have to evaluate a player's skills and tools and then decide where he best may fit with a big league club.

"If I see a kid at shortstop with athleticism and running speed, can he move to a corner position with bat and power? Or will he have to play second base in the big leagues because he doesn't have the agility of a Major League shortstop," says a scout. "But if he has enough foot speed and enough bat, he can play in the middle infield."

Some scouts say it's like figuring out a puzzle -- where can these tools best fit?

"Look at the kid. He's the best player on team. He's 6-3, 180 [pounds] and will go up to 205. He's got a little power, so this guy could play third base or right field. He's got good reactions, so third base isn't out of the question. It's all about seeing what the individual is like.

Christine Destefano is executive producer of MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Any opinions referred to here are not necessarily those of Major League Baseball.

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