Our Approach to Player Development

DC Dynasty is a player development based program. We believe PD should be the absolute foundation from which we build our program. We want to prepare players to compete at the highest level possible. Remember, no college coach or scout will use your travel teams' record as a pre-requisite. Focus on development now, and winning later.

PD is not best measured in batting average, ERA, or team wins. These baseball stats can often be a trap and or an illusion for the athlete. A good batting average and a team win makes everyone look good, but we should not be using that as a way to measure PD.  We have seen average players in little league become above average players in high school and vice-versa. Why is this? Oftentimes, the best players in little league are the biggest and strongest at that particular time in their development. Bigger and stronger on a smaller diamond and fence is a greater force advantage, because many young men start puberty between 12-14 years old. 

Our intent is to evaluate, and share a set of metrics as they relate to player development and overall potential as a baseball player. For example, a 12u player measures his rotational explosiveness (med-ball throw) at 3ft (below average measurement by age), however, his exit speed is measured at 57 mph (average measurement by age). We would take these metrics and determine if the player improved his mechanics and strength in his rotational explosiveness metric, this player can easily reach an above average exit speed (ball speed measured off of batting tee when struck). This is a good example of what player development should look like. 

Methodology

Athleticism, Speed, and Explosiveness

Pro-agility 5-10-5 shuttle: Change in direction, short distance acceleration, and quickness

10 yard dash: Short distance explosiveness and acceleration

Broad jump: Athletic explosiveness, strength, and balance

Throwing & Catching

20, 40, 60 feet: Throwing and catching mechanics for accuracy and arm strength 

Quick feet & transfer drill: Footwork/transfer quickness, balance, and accuracy

Pull-down: Max arm velocity

Hitting

Med-ball throw: Rotational explosiveness

Contact & Power: Hitting stance and balance, accuracy, and play-making hits

Exit Speed: Generated bat speed

 How to Read the Data

Pro-shuttle & 10 yard dash: Measured in seconds. The lower the number the faster the player.

Broad jump: Measured in feet and inches. The higher the number the more explosiveness potential.

Quick-feet & release: Measured in seconds (the lower the better) & observational rating (the higher the better)

Arm velo: Measured in MPH. The higher the number the more throwing velocity generated.

Rotational explosiveness: Measured in feet and inches. The higher the number the more explosiveness potential.

Exit speed: Measured in MPH. The higher the number the faster the ball comes off the bat.

Observational evaluation scale:

1 - Below average 2 - Average 3 - Above average

Throwing & catching: Measured by observation 1-3 rating.

Hitting contact & power: Measured by observation 1-3 rating.