Inside the Draft: A Scouting Director's Message to Travel Ball Parents

What do MLB scouts really look for in players and families? In this episode, Matt Hannaford unpacks one of the most honest scouting director talks ever shared with Perfect Game All-American families. From multi-sport athletes to classroom behavior, in-home visits, and the critical factor of signability, this episode dives into the real conversations scouts have behind the scenes. Matt Hannaford brings an advisor's perspective to help families and players understand how scouts evaluate talent, on and off the field. If you're a parent, player, or coach preparing for the next 11 months leading up to the MLB Draft, this episode delivers clarity, strategy, and practical tools for navigating one of the most important processes in baseball. What You'll Learn Why scouts value multi-sport athletes and well-rounded development How tournament play, Jupiter, and spring games impact evaluations What scouts look for in classroom behavior, community reputation & professionalism The truth about in-home visits and family communication Signability explained—and how families can approach it wisely The role of pre-draft workouts, the MLB Combine & advisor clarity 📲 Connect with Matt Hannaford: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ https://www.aligndsports.com/ Previous Episodes Mentioned: Michael Garciaparra: https://youtu.be/mheMuyG3IDg Trevor Haley: https://youtu.be/_fV0WFimwIM Mike Wagner: https://youtu.be/y2hfBQOB8m4 Alex McClure: https://youtu.be/BRPpUyfkFmE #MLBDraft #BaseballParents #PlayerDevelopment #PerfectGame #MLBScouting #MostValuableAgentPodcast #BaseballAdvice #MLBCombine