Cedar Rapids Reds

Building the next generation of baseball and softball stars and leaders in Cedar Rapids!

We're a proud non-profit organization focused on skill development, sportsmanship, and creating lasting memories for youth in our community.

10/01/2026

Written by Chicago White Sox Scout Kevin Burrell.

A message from every professional baseball scout to every high school and college potential baseball prospect.

We’re always watching!

EVERY. SINGLE. LOOK.

Pregame work. I/O. BP. Bullpens. Intrasquads. Scrimmages and regular season games. Every one of those is a look — and every look is being written down.

How you run to first base… or do you run to first base. How you move on the field and off the field. How you throw between innings. How you take BP when you think no scout is watching. How you execute pitches in a side session or between innings warming up. How you handle or process a poor at bat. Whether you’re coachable or whether you’re not. And how you treat your teammates.

First one on the field?

Last one off the field?

It’s ALL being noted.

All of it.

Get to the Big Leagues first—before trying to act like those in the TV league. You’re not.

Scouts aren’t just evaluating your tools. We’re evaluating everything: your habits, your effort, your work ethic, and your character. The player who gives effort every rep stands out — because so few do it consistently.

Newsflash…Scouts don’t care about your “ranking” or what publications write about you (positive or negative). Scouts don’t care how much NIL money you’re getting, or if you’re getting any at all. We’ll make our own evaluations and our own decisions.

Be intentional. Play hard. No matter the setting, the score, the competition or who’s in the stands. When you don’t, you’re only hurting yourself, and you’re to blame.

There is not much you can control in this game — but the one thing you can control is your effort, your work ethic, and your hustle.

Because when you least expect it, someone is ALWAYS watching, and you never know which look is the one that matters.

Winners Win!

Make. Every. Look. Count.