INTO UNKNOWN
Scouts must evaluate players who aren’t playing
So Oppenheimer and the Yankees are still on a clock, albeit a new and uncertain one.
“You are digging down on videos and information, looking at things closer than you might have been able to in the past,” Oppenheimer said. “There is still a lot for us to do. We just have to adjust and adapt now.
“It’s still the case that we have to put the best available talent into our system right now,” Oppeheimer said.
But it is more challenging doing it without having “eyes-on” players.
Baseball has been shuttered pretty much across the country. High school seasons, in which scouts who work for Oppenehimer and across baseball would be doubling back on seniors and juniors while also checking in on new faces among the younger players, are canceled.
There is some hope that when our country is cleared to get back to work, school and sports, baseball will find a way to organize some large-scale showcases for these players.
“You hope so, but someone has to be the boots on the ground and organize something like that,” Oppenheimer said. “It’s a lot more complicated than just a normal showcase.”
The NCAA added another potential wrinkle Monday night, when it allowed Division I teams to give players an extra year of eligibility at their discretion. They will even increase the scholarship limit for baseball to
In order to get back on the baseball field, Nick Ahmed is willing to play as a masked man.
The two-time Gold Glove shortstop for the Arizona Diamondbacks said he’s seen some pictures of recent baseball games in Asia where players have worn protective masks to shield themselves from the spread of the coronavirus.
He said the masks “wouldn’t be ideal” but if it means baseball could be played, he’s ready.
“I’ll be up for anything at this point just to be able to play,” Ahmed explained Tuesday during a video conference. “If they said, ‘Hey, you can start games on May 15th or June 1st, but you have to wear masks.’ If that’s the only thing holding us back then sure, guys would do it.”
Ahmed is at his home in Phoenix with his wife, two young sons and brother, trying to stay in shape, fighting boredom and hoping baseball can be played at some point this spring or summer.
Ahmed said players are open to just about any scenario for playing games. That includes empty ballparks, ample doubleheaders or yes, even masks.
“If it comes to playing with no fans for a little while, as much as that would be extremely weird and strange, we’d be open to it,” Ahmed said. “Hopefully it wouldn’t have to last a long time but to get more games in and get games on TV for fans to watch, we’re all for that.”
Ahmed signed a $32.5 million, four-year deal in February that solidified the 30-year-old in the Dbacks’ long-term plans. He said when spring training was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, he quickly ordered some workout equipment from Amazon. He’s also trying to do some baseball work with his brother, a minor leaguer in the D-backs’ organization. accommodate seniors who want to return.
“I am sure that will have some sort of effect, but the decision is left up to the individual schools,” Oppenheimer said. “We’re not sure how that will work. Some kids may graduate and what if the school doesn’t have a graduate school? I think that is going to be on a case-by-case basis and I am not sure it will be afforded to everybody, so we’ll see.”
The majority of college seniors would typically be lower-round players in previous drafts, but this opportunity could give them a little more leverage. College juniors and high school seniors would be the higherround draft picks who would be more affected by the shutdowns and the decision by MLB and the union to be able to defer signing bonuses and cap the signing bonuses for undrafted players.
Oppenheimer thinks these will not be huge hurdles for teams at the draft. “I still think players will sign,” Oppenheimer said. “I believe that will not be a problem. So, we are still getting prepared. We’re analyzing a lot of video. We’ve got a lot of things that we can dig into, go into more detail with.
“It’s a strange time for everyone, we’re adapting and adjusting to it as we go.”