Making it to Major League Baseball is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports, and only a tiny fraction of players ever get there. For those chasing the dream, a tryout is one way to get in front of scouts and prove they belong.
But there is more than one type of tryout, and the path to the pros looks different than most people assume. So what are the types of MLB tryouts, and what is the realistic route to getting noticed?
From open tryouts to invitation-only showcases to the draft itself, here is a clear breakdown of every path, what happens on tryout day, and what scouts are actually looking for.
The chart below covers the types of tryouts, the tryout-day flow, and the routes to pro ball. Take a look, then we’ll explain each part.
Contents
What Are the Types of MLB Tryouts?
There are several types of MLB tryouts, each serving a different purpose. Open tryouts are theoretically available to any player who meets the age and experience requirements, held at a team’s facility and offering a rare chance for an unknown to be discovered.
Closed or invitation-only tryouts are for players a scout has already identified and wants to see up close. Showcase tryouts are skill-focused events (often for pitchers, catchers, or hitters) where many scouts watch at once, and they frequently require an invitation or a fee. Tryout camps evaluate large groups through drills and scrimmages, and independent league tryouts offer a separate, very real path into professional baseball. Each format is a different door into the same building.
The Reality of Open Tryouts Today
Here is an important reality check that many older guides miss: true open MLB tryouts have become rare. After Major League Baseball dissolved its centralized Scouting Bureau, and with the explosion of showcases and travel-ball events that let scouts evaluate players earlier, only a handful of teams still hold open tryouts, usually during the summer after the June draft.
These post-draft workouts are “pro-style” auditions where scouts want to know what you can do right now, not down the road. So while open tryouts still exist and have launched a few unlikely careers, they are not the main path to pro ball, and anyone planning their route should know that going in.
What a Tryout Day Actually Looks Like
If you do attend a tryout, expect a long, structured day. You sign in, fill out an information card with your details, and receive a number that becomes your identity for the rest of the event. You pick one position to try out at, and then, often, you wait, large tryouts can run for hours.
Position players run the 60-yard dash first; a good time is generally under about 6.7 seconds, and slow runners (often anyone over roughly 7.0 seconds) may be cut, though catchers are usually kept to catch pitchers. From there you go through position-specific defensive drills and throws, then batting practice where evaluators judge your contact, power, and approach. Pitchers get a separate session, typically 12 to 16 pitches tracked by radar for velocity, movement, and command.
What Scouts Are Looking For
At every tryout, scouts are evaluating the famous “five tools”: hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, fielding, and arm strength. Very few players excel at all five, but standing out in even one or two can be enough to earn a longer look or an invitation to a more exclusive workout.
For pitchers, the evaluation centers on velocity, command (the ability to locate pitches), and the quality and variety of their pitch mix. Beyond the raw tools, scouts also watch for instincts, composure, and “makeup”, how a player carries himself and competes. The goal of a tryout is not to teach you anything; it is to show, in a few minutes, that you can play right now at a professional level.
How to Prepare and What to Bring
Preparation matters because you get one shot to make an impression. Physically, focus on the skills you will actually be tested on: sprinting, throwing, fielding, and hitting, along with strength and conditioning. Show up looking the part, fitted baseball pants, cleats, a cap, your glove, and your own batting gloves, since looking professional signals you are taking it seriously.
Warm up properly with dynamic stretching and light cardio to avoid injury and be ready when your number is called. Mentally, stay present, manage your nerves, and compete with confidence. Many tryouts also have you complete a liability release and may charge a registration fee, so research the specific event’s requirements and costs ahead of time.
Other Paths to Professional Baseball
Tryouts are just one route, and frankly not the most common one. The vast majority of professional players are signed through the MLB Draft, usually out of high school, a four-year college, or junior college (JUCO), which is why strong college play in front of recruiters is the most reliable path. Independent leagues (such as the Atlantic League, American Association, and Frontier League) operate outside affiliated baseball and regularly serve as a back door, with standout performers earning contracts from MLB organizations. For younger amateurs, showcase events, travel ball, and programs like American Legion Baseball are where scouts and college recruiters do much of their early evaluating. For more on the youth pipeline, see our piece on how important travel ball is for MLB players.
The Bottom Line
The types of MLB tryouts include open tryouts, closed invitation-only workouts, showcases, tryout camps, and independent league tryouts, each a different way to get in front of scouts. But the honest picture is that true open tryouts are now rare, and the draft, fed by high school, college, and JUCO baseball, is the dominant path to the pros. If you do get a tryout, scouts will judge you on the five tools and want to see what you can do right now, so prepare hard, look the part, and compete. The road to MLB is incredibly steep, but understanding how the system actually works is the first step toward giving yourself a real shot.