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While on set at the MLB Combine, Buck Showalter filled viewers in on a few interesting characteristics he once used to evaluate talent in incoming draft classes.
The former manager, who led the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Orioles, and Mets across a 22-year MLB career, viewed facial hair and flat butts as deterrents when looking at prospects.
Yes, you heard that right.
He broke down why on Tuesday.
“I’m looking at how high is their butt. Do they have a full beard?” he said while covering the newest draft class at the Combine.
“You don’t see a bunch of pancake rear guys playing. You don’t!… If I see a guy that’s got a full beard, there’s an ‘X’ there. He’s not getting any bigger, he’s not getting any stronger. You better like what you see. He’s fully grown, for the most part. I’ve got more, but I’m gonna stop.”
Eye color, facial hair and what?!?!
Buck Showalter’s scouting style might be a little different than most 😂 pic.twitter.com/llYzXRwAJg
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 18, 2024
He continued on to reference even eye color and wrist size in that lengthy explanation, diving deep into his datapoints on how a player might project at the next level.
Social media immediately reacted.
“This philosophy is what is wrong with scouting in the MLB. Who cares if a guy has facial hair and green eyes?”
“And they say ‘new age analytics’ are ruining the sport…”
While bizarre, at least some of that scouting seemed to work for the 4x Major League Manager of the Year. Unfortunately, it never led to a World Series appearance.
He’s far from the first coach to obsess on seemingly non-crucial player characteristics in the recruitment process. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze apparently has an ankle infatuation, which he uses to determine whether or not a prospect can make it in the SEC.
Sometimes, being able to simply catch and throw aren’t enough! Thankfully, Buck Showalter has done the research to better allow us to evaluate talent.