Scott Sopata

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@DanKelleySports Devers channeling his inner Roger Dorn

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@bryce_sopata

[Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) @BauerOutage]

Most pitchers who can't throw a curveball for strikes are making the same mistake — their hand is late and the middle finger never takes over.

Here's a drill that fixes it fast.

Bounce the ball halfway to your partner. That's it. Simple.

But watch where it kicks when it hits the ground. If you've got true 12-6 spin, the ball kicks straight forward toward your partner. Dead straight. No side movement.

If it kicks sideways, you've got sidespin. That's a sweeper, not a curveball. Your hand isn't finishing the job.

What the drill actually forces you to do: get your hand out in front early, and let the middle finger pull straight down through the pitch. That's what creates true 12-6 rotation. The ground doesn't lie — it shows you exactly what kind of spin you put on the ball.

A lot of guys think they're throwing a curveball but the ground reveals it's really a slurve or a sweeper. The ball kicking sideways is instant feedback. No guessing.

Once you can bounce it straight to your partner a few times and feel the middle finger doing the work — now shift your eyes. Look at your catcher's chest instead of the halfway point. Same feel, different target.

That's how you translate the drill into a real pitch.

If your curveball is pulling to the glove side or hanging high on the arm side, try this before anything else.

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

Bryce Sopata Medina HS ‘27/ Sting Baseball 17u INF/OF

2-3 with 2 triples in Championship game.

@PBROhio1 @StingTravelOH @MHSBaseballBees @bryce_sopata

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@bryce_sopata Medina HS ‘27 INF/OF

first tournament games of the summer. 4-6 on the day with 2 triples including this one to RF to start a rally. @StingTravelOH @MHSBaseballBees

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@Browns Jimmy, did you meet with Garrett before or after you attended the Guardians game?

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@ctd4_l2361 @joycecalhio Speaking of which, how did cheerleader Zagura spin this on CBD?

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@_p_t_g_22 #chessvcheckers

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@RodzIsBackVII @216Rickvh02 @noribsnorice1 @three_pet3 He’ll 3 days ago he was on here saying it’s time for a playoff push, let the greatest DE compete for a title

Guy’s a clown

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@_p_t_g_22 I also read the the 2nd and 3rd is equal to a first so essentially we received 3 1sts for Dino boy

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@JB17191966 @923TheFan @KenCarman @NickPedone12 Bring back Peter Brown

[Medina Bees Baseball @MHSBaseballBees]

🐝GAME DAY🐝

Your Battling Bees take on Perrysburg today in the District Finals!

⏰ 2:00 PM
📍 North Ridgeville HS
🎟️ Tickets: https://t.co/eLAxYGxq3A

Come out and cheer on the Bees as they battle for a District Championship! 🏆

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@_p_t_g_22 Hopefully not this Rizz award

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@bryce_sopata

[𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐳𝐞�� @utahscout1219]

The Scouting Classroom #𝟵

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘂𝗽 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘁 and…

THE HARDEST TOOL TO EVALUATE

The hardest thing to evaluate in baseball is not bat speed.
It’s not arm strength.
It’s not velocity.
It’s makeup.

Why?
Because almost every player knows the right things to say.

“I work hard.”
“I love the game.”
“I’m a competitor.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Every scout in America has heard those answers.

Hundreds of times.
Maybe thousands.

The problem is this:
The interview room is easy.
Scouts aren’t trying to find the rehearsed or coached-up answer.

We’re trying to find the truth.

WHERE SCOUTS REALLY LEARN ABOUT THE PLAYER

That’s why makeup work rarely happens during the game itself.

It happens before BP, after BP, on bus rides, and in conversations with coaches, teachers, teammates and travel ball coaches.

Sometimes even the clubhouse manager knows more than anyone.

Because eventually patterns start showing up.

I spent 20 years scouting and learned something:

Talent can fool you.

Makeup usually doesn’t.

TOOLS VS. MAKEUP

I've seen players with average tools and exceptional makeup play way beyond what the scouting report said they should become.

And I’ve seen premium talent never get close to their ceiling.

Not because the tools weren't there.

Because the makeup wasn't.

You watch a star player strike out with runners on base.

Helmet slam?
Finger pointing?
Excuses?

Or does he put his helmet away, sit down and immediately start preparing for the next at-bat while cheering on teammates?

You watch a pitcher give up a three-run homer…

Tempo change?
Body language collapse?
Or does he get the baseball back and compete?

A REAL EXAMPLE

One player that always comes to mind is Efren Navarro.

I signed Efren out of UNLV in the 50th round of the 2007 MLB Draft and later coached him that summer with the Orem Owlz.

On paper, there were always players with louder tools.

Higher draft picks.
Bigger bonuses.
More hype.

But makeup doesn’t care where you were drafted.

Efren showed up every day.
Same preparation.
Same toughness.
No excuses.
Just consistency.

As a 50th-round pick, you're fighting uphill from day one.
Most players don’t survive that climb. Efren did!

Year after year. Level after level. Until eventually he reached the Major Leagues.

Today he’s a U.S. scout for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan.
That journey wasn’t built on draft status.

It was built on makeup.

SCOUTS LOVE ADVERSITY

Scouts love adversity.
Not because we want players to fail.

Failure removes the script.
Failure tells you who they are. Good game?

Energy everywhere.
Big smile.
Life of the dugout.

Then one bad inning happens. Shoulders drop. Head down. Complaining.

That bad body language?

That’s information.

THE PLAYERS WHO SURVIVE

Some of the best makeup guys I've ever been around weren't the loudest.

Sometimes they were quiet.
But teammates gravitated toward them.

The game sped up and they slowed down.

Professional baseball eventually punches everybody in the mouth.
Everybody.

Talent shows up in workouts.
Makeup shows up when the game punches back.

That’s where scouts learn the truth.

#BehindTheRadarGun 🔎

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@JB17191966 @_p_t_g_22 Roll on, Big O

[Medina Bees Baseball @MHSBaseballBees]

Senior Day! 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Today we celebrate our seniors — thank you for your leadership, toughness, and the impact you’ve made on this program. The wins, memories, and standard you helped build!

Proud of this group and everything they’ve poured into Bees baseball! 🐝🐝

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@RodzIsBackVII

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@wingsfan23 @3pointpod @BBGreatMoments

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

Giving up 70+ in a half won’t win you shit #letemknow

Defense needs to show up at some point, don’t they?

[Scott Sopata @ssopata36]

@JB17191966

[Medina Bees Baseball @MHSBaseballBees]

Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with Maddox Graser, fellow baseball player at @Woo_Baseball

We lift Maddox, his parents, family, friends and teammates in prayer. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

#prayers4maddox

https://t.co/9nM1oGU4Yu