A veteran scout once told me something behind home plate that completely changed the way I evaluate players. “Jason, 70% of the guys who get drafted will be done the day they sign a professional contract.” At first I didn’t understand what he meant. Then he explained the 70/25/5 principle—a simple breakdown of how professional baseball careers actually play out. It’s one of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned in scouting and player representation. The challenge isn’t finding the superstars. It’s finding the 2.5%… and avoiding the 70%. Full article below.

How did we identified and evaluated Ben Simon long before the spotlight followed? From a mid-major program to the world stage, this piece breaks down what we look for, why it mattered, and how the process actually works.

Hey everyone — welcome to Next Pitch! I’m Jason Hoffman, President of Baseball Operations at Reliance Sports Agency, and I’m fired up to have you here. This group is built to give you real value on your baseball journey—whether it’s recruiting tips, travel ball advice, NIL updates, or insights from scouts, agents, and coaches. Make the most of it: ask questions, help others, and jump into the conversations. We’re all part of the Next Pitch team now. 💪 Don’t forget to introduce yourself in the comments—and if you want to help us grow, check out our affiliate program that gives you 40% recurring commissions for every member you bring in. Let’s build something special together!

When a player hears his name called in the MLB Draft, everything changes. There’s excitement, relief, validation — and an immediate decision to make. For many families, that moment feels like a crossroads: pursue professional baseball now, or protect the education path that made it possible in the first place. What’s often overlooked is that Major League Baseball has built education protections directly into professional contracts through programs like the Continuing Education Program (CEP) and the College Scholarship Plan (CSP). These aren’t afterthoughts. Education benefits are negotiated alongside the signing bonus and are designed to give players confidence that turning pro doesn’t mean sacrificing their future off the field. Understanding how these programs work — and why teams offer them — is critical for drafted players and parents navigating the transition to professional baseball.

A quick reminder when you’re looking at these charts: a 50 on the scouting scale is Major League average. That means if a player is graded as a 50 in power, speed, arm strength, or velocity, they project as a big leaguer in that tool. High school and college players are usually not evaluated only on where they are today — scouts are projecting where their body, strength, mechanics, and skills will be at physical maturity. So when you see a 40 today, that doesn’t mean “below average.” It means this player has the raw ingredients that could grow into a 50+ big-league tool with development. These numbers help scouts translate workouts, game performance, and measurables into future professional value — and that’s exactly how draft boards are built.