Baseball is a game of skill, strategy, and mental toughness. It’s a sport where every play, every at-bat, and every reaction can be the difference between moving on to the next level or being overlooked. The phrase "You never know who’s watching” holds a special meaning in baseball because scouts, recruiters and coaches are always evaluating players. Not just on their ability, but on their attitude, work ethic, and character. While your talent will get you noticed, it’s your character that will get you recruited… or not.

 

While there are thousands of real-life examples, the following are just three.

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The Unappealing Strikeout

Several years ago, at one of my son’s summer team’s games, three college scouts were sitting in the front row next to our team’s dugout, and I happened to be right behind them. I could see they each had a list with three names on it. One name was familiar on all three lists—my son’s. Knowing that scouts do not want to hear from parents, I kept my mouth shut and just observed.

 

Midway through the game, one of our team’s players struck out looking. He didn’t just walk back to the dugout. Halfway back, he slammed his bat into the ground, yanked off his helmet, and let loose a string of expletives and blaming the umpire for what he believed to be a bad called strike three. He didn’t just mutter them under his breath—we all could hear him. He stormed all the way back to the dugout, still cursing.

 

One of the scouts turned to me, smirked, and said, “Well, that was nice, wasn’t it?” Then, without another word, he placed the tip of his pen on that player’s name and crossed it off the list. Just like that, the opportunity for that player vanished—not because he lacked skill, but because he showed poor sportsmanship and a lack of emotional control. Talent alone isn’t enough; how a player handles failure is just as important as how they handle success.

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The Shortstop Who Wasn’t Ready

Before a high school game, I was sitting in the parking lot and struck up a conversation with a gentleman. As we talked, he revealed that he was a scout for the New York Mets, and he was there to watch the shortstop for the visiting team. He had done his homework, knew the kid had potential, and was excited to see him play in person.

 

A few minutes later, the visiting team’s bus pulled in. Players started stepping off one by one, all dressed in their uniforms, ready for warm-ups. Then, the shortstop the scout had come to see walked off the bus. Unlike his teammates, he wasn’t dressed. His baseball pants were slung over one of his shoulders, and his hat was on backward. 

 

The scout sighed, shook his head, and said to me, “I’m not going to waste my time here. If he doesn’t respect his teammates, his team, or the game enough to at least be dressed, that just ain’t gonna cut it. There are at least ten other shortstops I have to look at that are as good or a little better. He ain’t as special as he thinks.”

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The scout never even made it to his seat. He turned around, got back in his car, and left. That player never knew he had an opportunity right in front of him, and he threw it away before he even stepped on the field.

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A Chance Viewing

Opportunities don’t always come when you expect them. Sometimes, you’re being watched when you don’t even realize it. That’s exactly what happened to Chris Olave, a now NFL wide receiver who played at Ohio State. His recruitment to one of the biggest college football programs in the country happened completely by accident.

 

In the spring of 2017, then Ohio State offensive coordinator Ryan Day traveled to California to scout a quarterback named Jack Tuttle. Tuttle was one of the top quarterback recruits in the country, and Ohio State was interested in him. But as Day watched Tuttle throw, something else caught his eye—the guy catching his passes.

 

Chris Olave wasn’t even playing that season. He had been ruled ineligible and was on the scout team. But that didn’t stop him from showing up, working hard, and preparing like he was playing on Friday nights. Day took notice of his speed, route running, and work ethic. He asked about Olave and eventually offered him a scholarship to Ohio State.

 

Jack Tuttle, the guy Day originally came to see, never got an offer from Ohio State. Chris Olave, the guy who wasn’t even supposed to be on anyone’s radar, got the opportunity of a lifetime simply because he always put in the work, even when he thought no one was watching.

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Character Counts

Scouts, recruiters and coaches aren’t just evaluating athletic performance; they’re looking for players who show respect, discipline, and leadership. They don’t want to invest in someone who will be a problem in the locker room or someone who crumbles under pressure. The way a player carries themselves during games, practices, and even off the field matters.

 

If you sulk after striking out, if you blame umpires or teammates, if you show up late and unprepared, you’re sending a message that you’re not ready for the next level. It doesn’t matter how good you are, there will always be someone else with similar skills who also has a better attitude and a stronger work ethic. Being coachable, showing up early, staying late, and encouraging teammates are all characteristics that stand out to scouts. They want players who will bring positive energy to the team, not drama. Every reaction you have, whether it’s after a bad call, a bad inning, or a bad game, is being watched. How you handle adversity is just as important as how you handle success.

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Every Moment is an Opportunity

Whether it’s practice, a game, or even just walking off a bus, you are always making an impression. You might think no one is watching you during warm-ups, but there could be a scout or coach noticing how focused and engaged you are. You might believe no one cares about how you carry yourself in the dugout, but a coach could be observing how you treat your teammates. You never know when a college recruiter or a pro scout is watching you from a distance, evaluating not just your ability, but your attitude, your work ethic, and your character. It's possible they are there looking at someone else and just like Chris Olave, you impress them more. Many times, the biggest moments of your life will come when you least expect them. That’s why it’s crucial to always give your best effort and conduct yourself with professionalism at any level.

 

You never know who’s watching. But you can always control what they see.