Baseball Tryout Evaluation Form

Need a free baseball tryout evaluation form? Download our printable PDF or copy to Excel for digital scoring. Whether you need a simple 3-category form for rec leagues or comprehensive evaluation for travel ball, this guide has you covered.

Inside: evaluation criteria for every age group, specialized pitcher and catcher forms, and a complete tryout station schedule you can use immediately.

Looking for softball-specific criteria? See our softball tryout evaluation form guide.

Free Printable Baseball Evaluation Form

Here is a ready-to-use evaluation form you can print or copy to a spreadsheet. Rate each player 1-5 on six skill categories, then use the rating scale definitions below for consistent scoring across all evaluators.

Skill Evaluation Table

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Hitting	○	○	○	○	○
Throwing	○	○	○	○	○
Fielding	○	○	○	○	○
Base Running	○	○	○	○	○
Baseball IQ	○	○	○	○	○
Character/Attitude	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 30

Rating Scale Definitions

Focus on what you actually see on the field. These specific behaviors help evaluators give consistent scores.

Skill	1 (Needs Work)	2 (Below Avg)	3 (Average)	4 (Above Avg)	5 (Excellent)
Hitting	Steps away from pitch. Head pulls out. Swings late or early.	Off-balance swing. Weak contact to pull side. Chases bad pitches.	Level swing. Stays balanced. Makes solid contact on strikes.	Quick hands. Drives ball to all fields. Doesn't chase.	Barrels the ball. Adjusts to different pitches. Hits well with 2 strikes.
Throwing	Ball dies before target. Throws way off line. Arm-only throw.	Gets it there but weak. Accurate short, wild long.	Reaches target on one hop from outfield. Accurate on routine plays.	Strong throws with carry. Quick release. Accurate under pressure.	Ball explodes out of hand. On-line from anywhere. Throws out runners.
Fielding	Waits for ball to come. Stiff legs. Traps ball against body.	Fields balls hit at them. Bobbles transfers. Won't charge slow rollers.	Gets to balls 2-3 steps away. Catches out front. Clean on routine plays.	Good first step. Ranges both directions. Soft hands on bad hops.	Makes plays others can't reach. Reads hops perfectly. Smooth on every ball.
Base Running	Hesitates out of box. Runs through bases. Watches ball, not coaches.	Slow start. Same lead every time. Rounds wide. Gets picked off.	Runs hard to first. Rounds properly. Looks to coaches for help.	Quick out of box. Reads pitcher. Takes extra bases when possible.	Creates pressure. Steals bases. Scores from 2nd on outfield singles.
Baseball IQ	Doesn't know count or outs. Throws to wrong base. Misses cutoffs.	Knows basics but forgets sometimes. Late on backups.	Knows the situation. Hits cutoffs. Backs up plays.	Anticipates before it happens. Communicates with teammates.	Thinks ahead. Directs teammates. Makes smart plays under pressure.
Character	Blames others. Sulks after mistakes. Doesn't hustle.	Inconsistent effort. Gets frustrated easily. Needs reminders to focus.	Hustles on and off field. Supports teammates. Stays composed.	Asks questions. Applies coaching right away. Encourages others.	Natural leader. Elevates teammates. Owns mistakes and learns.

Simple Baseball Evaluation Form

Not every program needs a six-category evaluation form. Match your form complexity to your program level and tryout constraints.

When to Use a Simple Form (3 Categories)

Recreational leagues, large tryout groups, and limited time all favor simple forms. A three-category form covering Hitting, Fielding, and Attitude can effectively sort players when you have 60 kids and two hours.

Simple forms also work well for draft-style tryouts where the goal is balanced teams rather than competitive selection. You need enough information to create fair teams, not detailed scouting reports.

When to Use a Comprehensive Form (6+ Categories)

Travel ball, select teams, and high school programs benefit from comprehensive evaluation. When roster spots are competitive and player development is the focus, detailed assessment pays off.

Comprehensive forms also help with player feedback. When you can tell a player specifically that they scored high on hitting and character but need work on base running instincts, you give them a clear development path.

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Hitting	○	○	○	○	○
Fielding	○	○	○	○	○
Attitude	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 15

Youth Baseball Tryout Evaluation Form

Youth baseball tryouts require age-appropriate evaluation criteria. Little League emphasizes(opens in new tab) that "a player's willingness to have fun and be a good teammate will far exceed physical talent" at younger ages. Adjust your evaluation focus based on the age group you are evaluating.

8U-10U: Focus on Fundamentals and Attitude

At these ages, players are still developing basic motor skills. Prioritize coachability, attitude, and willingness to learn over current skill levels. A player who listens and tries hard will develop faster than a talented player who does not focus.

Weight your evaluation toward character and baseball IQ rather than pure athletic performance. Look for players who track the ball well, stay in the batter's box without shying away, and hustle on every play.

12U-14U: Add Position-Specific Skills

Players at this level show more differentiation in skills. You can start evaluating position-specific abilities like arm strength for outfielders, quick hands for middle infielders, and pitch recognition for hitters.

Balance current performance with development potential. A player with excellent mechanics but average results may outperform a player with poor mechanics who currently hits well.

Recommended Category Weighting by Age Group

Age Group	Physical Skills	Baseball IQ	Character
8U-10U	30%	30%	40%
12U-14U	40%	35%	25%
15U+	50%	30%	20%

Green highlights show the highest priority category for each age group. Adjust based on your program's specific needs.

Baseball Pitching Evaluation Form

Pitchers and catchers require specialized evaluation beyond the standard form. These positions carry significant responsibility and need specific skill assessment.

Pitcher Evaluation Criteria

Evaluate pitchers on velocity, control, mechanics, pitch variety, and composure. Velocity matters, but control matters more at youth levels. A pitcher who throws 55 mph with accuracy will outperform one who throws 65 mph with no control.

Watch mechanics carefully. Proper arm slot, balanced delivery, and consistent release point predict both performance and injury prevention. Note pitch variety if applicable (fastball, changeup, breaking balls) and how well they command each pitch.

Composure under pressure separates good pitchers from great ones. How do they react after giving up a hit? Can they focus with runners on base? Do they maintain mechanics when tired?

Catcher Evaluation Criteria

Catchers need receiving skills, blocking ability, throwing accuracy to bases, and game management. Receiving technique affects called strikes. Blocking keeps runners from advancing. Pop time to second base can shut down the running game.

Game management is harder to evaluate but equally important. Does the catcher communicate with the pitcher? Do they know the count and adjust positioning? Can they make quick decisions on bunt plays and passed balls?

Pitcher Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Velocity	○	○	○	○	○
Control	○	○	○	○	○
Mechanics	○	○	○	○	○
Pitch Variety	○	○	○	○	○
Composure	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Pitcher Total	_______ / 25

Catcher Skills

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Receiving	○	○	○	○	○
Blocking	○	○	○	○	○
Throwing	○	○	○	○	○
Game Management	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Catcher Total	_______ / 20

Baseball Tryout Plan

A well-planned tryout produces better evaluations than a chaotic one. Structure your tryout to test each skill area efficiently while keeping players moving.

Before Tryouts

Meet with your coaching staff to align on rating standards. What does a "5" look like in each category? When all evaluators share the same definitions, your ratings become consistent and comparable.

Set up stations that test each skill area: batting practice or soft toss for hitting, ground balls and fly balls for fielding, throws across the diamond for arm strength. Plan timing so players rotate smoothly without waiting.

During Tryouts

Assign specific evaluators to specific stations. This creates consistency since the same person rates all players on that skill. Score immediately after each drill while observations are fresh.

Add brief notes alongside numeric ratings. "Strong arm, needs work on accuracy" tells you more than just a "3" rating. These notes become valuable when comparing players with similar scores.

After Tryouts

Compile scores and look for patterns. Which players rated highly across multiple evaluators? Weight categories based on your team's needs. A team with strong pitching might prioritize hitting; a team with offensive depth might prioritize defense. Platforms like Striveon make this analysis faster by digitizing your evaluation process.

Use evaluation data for player feedback. Specific criteria give players clear improvement paths. "Work on your lateral range and transfer speed" helps more than "you need to get better at fielding." See how digital evaluation tools simplify this process.

Sample Tryout Station Schedule

Example schedule for evaluating 40 players in 2.5 hours with 4 evaluators.

Station	Duration	Players/Group	Skills Tested
Check-in & Warm-up	15 min	All	Registration, general athleticism
60-yard Dash	15 min	4 at a time	Speed, Base Running
Hitting Station	45 min	3 at a time	Hitting (10 swings each)
Infield Station	30 min	6 at a time	Fielding, Throwing
Outfield Station	30 min	4 at a time	Fielding, Arm strength
Pitching (optional)	15 min	1 at a time	Velocity, Control, Mechanics

Once tryouts are complete, the real work begins: turning raw scores into team decisions and development plans. Learn how Striveon helps coaches track athlete progress beyond tryouts.