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Live Chat With Former MLB Scout Tim Kissner
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Tim kissner
10:01
Good morning to the MLBTRADERUMORS community from snowy Juneau Alaska.  Excited to talk some baseball with everyone- and hope I am able to get to all of your questions!  Tim
MikeD
10:01
What’s the state of the scouting community in MLB today? IIRC, several years back the Astros fired many (all?) of their scouts, but then wisely reversed course. Is the community growing, or is what the Astros did still happening, but on a smaller scale?
Tim kissner
10:04
MikeD-  I think looking back over the past 25 years, departments have grown.  When I was a young scout, all amateur scouts did tons of pro coverage as well.  So we began to see more scouts being hired to do pro work only.  International scouting is growing now, so more scouts are being hired in that area as well.  I think scouting as changed as a whole- but the number of scouts there actually are- hasn't.  Perhaps it's more, who are being hired as scouts now, compared to 20, even 10 years ago
Joe Davola
10:04
Other than those you worked for, was there another team's scouting department that you envied or tried to emulate?
Tim kissner
10:07
Great question Joe- growing up, I always greatly respected the Twins, who were run by the late Mike Radcliff.  Mike was a leader by example.  The Twins were the first ones to the park, and the last one to leave. They had all the info it seemed.  They are in great hands now with guys like Sean Johnson, Deron Johnson, and others who carry on Cliffy's work ethic and passion for scouting
MikeD
10:07
Is it more satisfying for a scout to sign a star such as Julio Rodriquez, or to discover an unknown diamond in the rough and then see him make the majors?
Tim kissner
10:10
Hey MIke-  both are great in their own way.  Every scout knew Julio-  his talent wasn't a secret.  But watching him in the big leagues has been great for me and all the M's scouts involved in signing him.   I signed Scott Mathieson out of Canada in 2002 in the 17th round. Watching him improve, and work his way thru the minor leagues was really cool.  Watching his debut in Philly in 2007 I believe, was amazing, and when 40K fans were chanting his name at the Tokyo Dome as the closer for the Yomiuri Giants gave me goosebumps.
Johnny B.
10:10
What are some underrated skills that excellent scouts possess that most fans don’t know about?
Tim kissner
10:11
Hi Johnny.  The ability to communicate and get to know people. The players themselves, the families of the players, coaches, agents etc.  Scouts have to be able to get information, and get to know what's inside a player.  If you aren't able to communicate, your aren't going to get the good info your organization needs
Darrell
10:12
Hello and thank you for the chat! I am A Braves fan since the 70’s. What particularly did you see in Travis d’Arnaud?
Tim kissner
10:15
Travis went to a great baseball HS.  he was very well coached.  His catching(receiving) skillls and ability to throw were very impressive.  I thought at the time, he could be a gold glove catcher in the ML.  I feel he's more of a hitter first catcher now- which is great too.  He always had the ability to make solid contact, and used all fields.  I didn't see the power he has shown in the big leagues.  Trav has had a great career and I am proud of how resiliant he has been with coming back from all his injuries
Still a giants fan
10:15
Thanks for doing this, Tim. Who is a player you scouted that you saw potential in, that not a lot of other people saw. And who's a guy you scouted that went on to have the best career
Tim kissner
10:17
I saw Ohtani a ton in Japan, going back to 2013.  I believe he will have the best career of any player I have scouted.  .....   I would say Scott Mathieson for the 2nd part of your question.  Scotty still playing too- will be on WBC Team Canada this year
Not Rob Wilfong
10:17
What qualities make a good MLB manager?  Fans only see in-game decision making, but there must be more to it.
Tim kissner
10:17
I'd say most importantly, that your players trust you.
Barbarino
10:17
Do you get frustrated by the long-standing narrative that scouts don't like analytics?
Tim kissner
10:18
Very much so.  This isn't true, at least in my case.  There is nothing wrong with analytics.  My issue has always been, when you start to no listen to your scouts, and rely soley on the numbers
Trog
10:19
Tim, I'm a Texas high school teacher and have many student athletes. One of their biggest beefs is that they don't get exposure unless they are attending a huge school where the coaches have connections to scouts and colleges. (Most high school coaches can't/don't advocate for the teens, because they also are teaching in the classroom). Do you have some tips for younger athletes trying to get noticed by colleges/pro scouts?
Tim kissner
10:20
If you can play, you can play- and a college coach, or scout is going to find you.  Everyone has video cameras on their cell phones.  take some video- email it to a local college coach or whatever...  if the player feels like he is getting overlooked.  If you can play- we will find you
Fan
10:20
When Jason Heyward was an amateur, Braves scouts famously watched him from the woods to hide their interest in him.   What’s the weirdest thing you did in order to observe a player?  And if you don’t mind, who was it?
Tim kissner
10:21
I've done something similar- stood on the track, next to the baseball field-  acted like i was watching the track meet-  basically to see what other scouts where there.
Cards fan
10:21
What does it take to be a scout in MLB? What type of schooling or degree do you need? Thanks!
Tim kissner
10:23
I know scouts who have advanced degrees, and scouts who never graduated from HS.  Major in whatever you like.  It's the experiences around the game that help  Getting an internship with a team, etc.  If you are looking for the front office route, major in computer science, statistics or business
Brian
10:23
Hi Tim thank you for doing this. My question for you is how do you break into scouting. I have my masters in sports management and even went to MLB Scout School the last year they had it. Since then I've coached baseball in division 3 high school but really want to scout. Any advise
Tim kissner
10:25
Brian- keep at it!! Keep coaching, building your network.  Take online classes from rapsodo, etc.  Understand all the available technology.  Attend the winter meetings.  Go to minor league games in your area and write reports.  Send those reports to a scouting director....   just ideas.  I wish you all the best
Connor⚾️
10:25
What was your favorite part of the Job?⚾️ thank u for taking time to do this👍🏻.
Tim kissner
10:27
Hi Connor.  THE PEOPLE.  Baseball is an amazing game.  I miss my time in the stands with my friends.  Or having breakfast at the hotel and talking shop.  Having a couple beers and discussing the industry with friends/scouts after the game.  I miss my friends in the game.  I miss the excitement of signing a player, or draft day.  And working in Japan was a personal fav of mine
Chris m
10:28
Hello. Question on scouting amateur international prospects. How do scouts project a player who is often age 13-15 when they are first discovered? For example, Jasson Dominguez was the top international prospect in his class yet was not even 17.
Tim kissner
10:31
Great question!  I saw a kid in VZ at 13.  I remember thinking, I would give him 1 million right on the spot.  He was a lean, athletic SS with all the tools.  He signed for much more than 1 mill when he was 16, and at that point he didn't look like the same kid.  had gotten heavy, was going to be a 1b/DH only....  so your question is what all international scouts think about.  how do you scout a 13 year old.... very carefully.  Their bodies are stil changing, they haven't matured yet.  you have to know the kid inside and out.  you have to have experienced scouts.  you need to see the kid in game situations.  lots of mistakes are made in latin america, but hopefully you can avoid them by doing as much work as possible, and like Mike Arbuckle always said, know your player!
Joe Davola
10:32
What is the longest drive you've taken to see a player?
Tim kissner
10:34
the dreaded long drive-  made so many of them.  lets see-  I drove from Spokane to Eugene OR one day, and back the same day-  so probably 900 miles in one day- just to see a HS kid in Eugene who was recommended to me by an agent.  Long drive, kid wasn't a prospect if you are wondering lol!
Walton Dilcox
10:34
Appreciate the chat. Have you seent this Thomas White kid in the 2023 draft? Hoowee
Tim kissner
10:34
I haven't.  Sorry!
Andrew
10:34
What do you look for in a player that can’t be measured by a game statistic?
Tim kissner
10:35
heart, instints and drive.  The other word I would use- probably not appropriate for a public forum- but it's what Dallas Green preached when I was a young scout with the Phillies...  gotta have heart and ......
Barbarino
10:36
Will the rule changes have a dramatic impact on the game this year? My first reaction was yes, but the more I think about it the less of a difference I think it will make. What say you?
Tim kissner
10:37
Honestly, I have read about the rule changes, but not put a lot of time into thinking about them.  I don't like the 3 hitter minimun from last year.....  Sorry- I know I didn't answer your questions.
10:38
Baseball has been around a long time.  Been a ton of changes lately.  I wonder why that is...... food for thought
RA
10:39
Hey Tim! I coached in the Alaska Baseball League with the Glacier Pilots a few years ago and noticed that there is not much exposure for kids from AK in baseball. Has there been any plans for that besides just sending them to PHX or SEA to play?
Tim kissner
10:42
hello RA! Fellow Glacier Pilot!  there are some people doing good things in Anchorage.  Jamar Hill runs Gamers Baseball.  Jamar was a Met's minor leaguer and has done really good things in ANC to help grown baseball.  Here in SE Ak, we have the Midnight Suns program that I am involved with.  I would like to see a statewide travel ball team for HS age kids play out of ANC in the summer.  Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and schools up north have put out some quality kids lately.  Hebert out of S. Anchorage HS is at U portland.  if we could keep all the good HS talent in the state in the summer - I would love that.  But travel would be expensive, and there are some hurdles to jump over
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