I’ve written before about how not all showcases are equal, and how parents need to ask the right questions before signing their kids up for any event promising “exposure.” I have a whole checklist I tell families to follow. I’ve repeated it in posts, emails, conversations—you name it.
And yet… this past weekend, I didn’t follow my own advice.
Here’s what happened.
A few weeks ago, a “college recruiter” reached out to my son on X (Twitter). He told him he liked the videos on his profile and wanted to see him in person. He said he was hosting a showcase next month, and offered him half off the registration fee. Along with the message came a list of twenty-five colleges—DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and JUCO—who were supposedly going to be in attendance.
I’ll admit, my radar lit up immediately.
The event was cheap.
It was in November.
There were no social media posts from previous showcases.
I couldn’t find a single review.
And the schedule seemed way too short for any real evaluation to happen.
Normally, that’s where I tell other parents: move on.
But my son was excited. This would be his first college showcase outside of PBR and USA team tryouts. He wanted to go, and I convinced myself that—even if it wasn’t perfect—it could still be a good first experience before the bigger showcases down the road.
That was mistake number one.
A few days before the event, the director sent out an email with the itinerary. A parent replied asking for a confirmed list of attending coaches. The director responded by saying he was “still finalizing the list.” That was two days before the event, and no updated list ever came.
Another red flag.
Another one I ignored.
We arrived on showcase day, battling 30–50 mph winds. Not their fault, but it set the tone. Parents gathered in the stands, scanning the field for college coaches. After a few minutes, you could hear the whispers:
“Where are all the coaches?”
“Is this it?”
“Did anyone else get an update?”
Only three adults stood on the field: the showcase director, an assistant, and one community college coach. By the time the event officially began, there were a total of four coaches out of the twenty-five promised.
The disappointment was obvious. Some families had driven three or four hours.
You could see the frustration building—not just from the lack of representation, but from the silence and the misleading information leading up to the event. At that point, it was clear the director knew attendance would be low, which is probably why he avoided sending that “final list” everyone asked for.
The event itself was rushed: one 60-yard dash, a handful of ground balls, ten swings during BP, and two at-bats of live pitching. And that was pretty much the entire showcase.
Later that evening, one parent emailed everyone expressing exactly what most people were feeling—that families had been lied to, that the event should have been canceled or at least communicated honestly, and that the director’s lack of transparency was worse than the showcase itself.
And I don’t disagree.
But here’s the twist.
Even with everything going wrong, my son handled the day like a pro. The few coaches who were there complimented him, asked about his school and his grad year, and showed genuine interest. He’s a 2028, and most coaches right now are extremely focused on the 2027 class, so any recognition at this stage is encouraging.
Still, the real lesson wasn’t for him—it was for me.
It reminded me why I created Beyond the Dugout in the first place. Why I share this kind of information. Why I try to help families avoid situations exactly like this. Because while there are great showcases out there, there are also events run by people who use urgency, discounts, and inflated promises to sell spots.
I didn’t follow my own rules, and it cost us time, money, and a day that could’ve been better spent. But it also reinforced my belief that parents need to be educated, prepared, and skeptical—not cynical, but cautious—because once you’re in the recruiting world, opportunities come fast, but not all of them are actually opportunities.
If you’re a parent reading this, the takeaway is simple:
- Do your research.
- Trust your gut.
- Ask for confirmations.
- Look for proof.
- Don’t let excitement override red flags.
My son got something out of the day, and that’s great—but the experience reminded me how easily families can be misled when emotions and dreams get involved.
Hopefully, our story helps you avoid the same mistake.See you out there —
Beyond the Dugout.
Ready to Take the Guesswork Out of Recruiting?
If you’re a parent or player navigating the recruiting process, check out my eBook .—
The Baseball Recruiting Blueprint: Practical Tips & Insights to Help You Navigate the Recruiting Process
It’s a step-by-step guide built from real experience — written by a parent currently going through the process. Learn how to get noticed, communicate with coaches the right way, and make confident decisions for your player’s future.
