Just Baseball: A Guide to Navigating the World of Baseball Recruitment for Players and Parents

by Mike Just, Scott Brosius (Foreword by)

Overview

That sound, the first crack of the bat.

Every year in early spring a special kind of joy comes over those who love America’s favorite pastime, baseball. This feeling is no different for the millions of kids who dream of greatness when they pick up a bat and make their way to the plate.

In Just Baseball, Mike Just has created a guide to the world of baseball. Drawing from his own journey to the pros, Just better equips parents and players to make smart decisions as they pursue the game while encouraging players to pursue excellence, maximize their talents, and inspire them to find greater satisfaction in the game.

The book covers these topics and more: At what age should youngsters start playing the game? What values will define a player’s baseball character? How important is it to be a team player? What do baseball scouts look for? How can players gain an edge in recruiting? What if your head coach leaves? Is being drafted out of high school a good or bad thing?

Baseball is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Learning how to make thoughtful choices that make the most sense for one’s own set of circumstances is all part of getting to the next level. Mike Just’s own experience provides valuable insight for all those who are serious about baseball, and who want to be the best.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683580843
Publisher:	Sports Publishing LLC
Publication date:	05/09/2017
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Mike Just played baseball at all levels, from Little League through high school, college and the pros. At Liberty University he was All-Conference, hitting .379 and establishing the fielding record for assists in a single season. He played at the professional level in the Frontier and Northern Leagues, where he led his teams in batting, steals, and doubles. He now runs the Just Hits Professional Baseball and Softball Instruction Academy in Westwood, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Foreword Scott Brosius vii

Preface ix

Chapter 1 Why This Book? 1

Chapter 2 So Many Choices-Leagues, Clubs, Schools, Etc 6

How Young Do I Start? 6

How Do I Know Which Leagues Are Good? 9

Which High School? Does It Matter? 12

A Winning Program 17

Chapter 3 Preparation Can Make All the Difference 20

How Do I Prepare Before High School? 21

Importance of Strength Training, Conditioning, and Diet 22

Why Do Good Grades Matter? 33

Chapter 4 Private Instruction and Red Flags 40

Chapter 5 Goal Setting and Values 51

Goals Can Create Focus and Motivation 51

Taking Chances-Don't Be Afraid to Fail 55

Performance-Enhancing Drugs 58

Be a Team Player 60

Chapter 6 The Mental Side of the Game 64

Chapter 7 The Next Level 69

How Do I Stack Up Against the Profile? 70

What Do Scouts Look For? 71

Tools of Hitting and Pitching 72

Know How You Project 87

Chapter 8 An Edge 89

Advantages 89

Recruiters-Good or Bad? 91

Showcases, Camps, and Showcase Teams 93

What Else Can I Do? 99

Chapter 9 Tricky Scenarios 104

The Advantages of Being a "Priority Guy", 104

What If the Head Coach Leaves? 107

Is Being Drafted Out of High School a Good Thing or a Bad Thing? 115

College Divisions-How Much Do They Matter? 119

Chapter 10 Top 10 Best College Summer Leagues 126

Chapter 11 The Pros 134

An Advisor or Agent? 134

The MLB Draft 138

Independent Ball-Good or Bad Move? 143

Chapter 12 Why Not You? 155

Extra Bases 160

A Single-Baseball Resume Recruiting Video 160

B Double-The Long Toss Program 163

C Triple-Baseball Is Life 165

D Home Run-Importance of a Coach/Instructor as a Mentor 166

E Grand Slam-Mike Just's Story 172

Sources 211

Acknowledgments 212

Editorial Reviews

"The bottom line is this: even if you, as a parent, are a lifelong, diehard baseball fan, you really owe it to yourself and your son to read a copy of Just Baseball. While the game of baseball may not have changed that much since you played, the truth is, the business of baseball has changed dramatically, and continues to change. And if your boy has hopes to keep progressing to the next level, Just Baseball is a very solid guidebook." - Rick Wolff, Ask Coach Wolff

"The bottom line is this: even if you, as a parent, are a lifelong, diehard baseball fan, you really owe it to yourself and your son to read a copy of Just Baseball. While the game of baseball may not have changed that much since you played, the truth is, the business of baseball has changed dramatically, and continues to change. And if your boy has hopes to keep progressing to the next level, Just Baseball is a very solid guidebook." - Rick Wolff, Ask Coach Wolff

From the Publisher