PRO PLAYER ACADEMY of BASEBALL

Pro Player Academy of Baseball

Training Facility: 4551 Grissom Street, Unit-A

Bakersfield, California 93313

Administrative Office: 12211 Parkerhill Drive

Bakersfield, California 93311

Phone: 661.373.7880

Email: mlbscout44@aol.com

Web: www.proplayeracademy.com

PRO PLAYER ACADEMY ATTITUDE - Click on picture

Click on the book cover to order

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Bill Gentry-Pro Player Academy Director

The Pro Player Academy of Baseball is dedicated to providing quality baseball instruction through private lessons and camps. Using the best available instructors and the best facilities, helping young players reach their highest potential in the sport of baseball. The Pro Player Academy provides upfront and honest player evaluations and assists those capable of reaching the next level realize their dreams. Pro Player Academy Director Bill Gentry is currently scouting for the 2006 and 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals after leaving a NCAA D-1 coaching position at Cal State University Bakersfield. Gentry is the former Senior Director of Baseball and Ballpark Operations, Assistant to the General Manager for the Texas Rangers affiliate in the Cal League. Before joining the Cal State University Bakersfield coaching staff, Gentry spent the previous nine years as a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals, working Central and Southern California for Chuck Fick, West Coast Scouting Supervisor. Gentry, a Head Coach and Program Coordinator for the SoCal Cardinals Scout Team in the MLB Scout League in Southern California, has been a head coach at Bakersfield Christian High School where he was selected as a CIF Central Section Coach of the Year in 2005, and has coached at Liberty High School in Bakersfield, CA., Buena High School in Ventura, CA., and Taft College in Taft, CA. Gentry signed as a free agent infielder by the Pacific Suns of the Western Baseball League in their inaugural season, and was requested by the Macon Music as a pitching coach in the South Coast League of Professional Baseball. Coach Gentry is on the advisory board for Coast to Coast Baseball and works for Coast to Coast Baseball in Florida, Arizona, and Puerto Rico. Coach Gentry is a Life Member of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association as well as the Minor League Baseball Alumni Association, American Baseball Coaches Association, Professional Ball Players Association of America, and the National Pitching Association.

Jarret Martin LHP Dodgers and Bill Gentry

Bill Gentry working with pitchers at camp

Scott Pickens (DET) Bill Gentry (STL) Ethan Gentry (VU)

Bill Gentry on the field MLB Academy

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Youth Clinic Hitters at Pro Player Academy of Baseball

WHERE ARE THEY NOW !
Congratulations to the following players from Cardinal Scout Ball/PPA who have been drafted or selected to play in college:

Congratulations to the 2011 Draft! Listed below are players by: Round, Player Name, Organization
1 Chris Reed LAD
1 Sean Gilmatin ATL
2 James McCann DET
5 Tyler Glasnow PITT
6 Danny Keller MIL
6 Adam Ehrlich STL
7 Trevor Gretzky CHC
8 Danny Muno NYM
10 Jeff Johnson CLE
11 Alex Gillingham COL
12 Matt Koch MINN
16 Jack Marder SEA
16 Tanner Peters OAK
17 Jesus Valdez LAD
19 Jesse Meaux COL
19 Chris Joyce CINN
20 Martin Medina CWS
21 Austin Davidson BOS
21 Riley Moore PHI
27 Frankie Reed FLA
27 Brian Hernandez LAA
31 Jett Bandy LAA
32 Ryan Hawthorne SEA
33 Steve Selsy CINN
42 Casey Serna CLE
45 Matt Scioscia LAA

Congratulations to the 2009 Draft!
Round 2 / Marlins / Bryan Berglund / RHP / Royal H.S.
Round 4 / Dodgers / Angie Songco / OF / LMU
Round 5 / Angels / Casey Haerther / 1B / UCLA
Round 6 / Blue Jays / K.C. Hobson / OF / Stockdale H.S.
Round 9 / Dodgers / Bryant Hernandez / SS / Oklahoma
Round 17 / Marlins / Brent Keys / OF / Simi H.S.
Round 18 / Orioles / Jarret Martin / LHP / Bakersfield JC
Round 23 / Cubs / Jeff Pruitt / OF / CSUN
Round 29 / Rays / Gabe Cohen / OF / UCLA
Round 29 / Marlins / Jared Eskew / LHP / Cal Poly SLO
Round 30 / Diamondbacks / Jack Marder / 2B / Newburty Park H.S.
Round 32 / Reds / Shane Carlson / SS / UCSB
Round 39 / Royals / Art Charles / 1B / Bakersfield JC
Round 47 / White Sox / Jordan Yallen / OF / Golden Valley H.S.
Round 48 / Cardinals / Jason Novak / RHP / UCLA

2009 Colleges: WHO'S NEXT (Early Signings)
Jacob Valenzuela - Cal State Bakersfield
Brandon Van Dam - Cal State Bakersfield
Stuart Smith - Cal State Bakersfield
Martin Medina - Cal State Bakersfield
Jett Bandy - Univ. of Arizona
Edgar Olmos - Univ. of Arizona
Shon Roe - Loyola Marymount Univ.
Jenzen Torres - Cal Poly Pamona
Matt Dunbar - Cal Poly Pamona
Casey Serna - Univ of Oregon
Steve Selsky - Univ. of Arizona
Mason Morioka - Univ. of San Franciso
Ryan Hawthorne - Loyola Marymont Univ.
Jarret Martin - Cal State Fullerton
Chris Joyce - Univ. of California Santa Barbara
Chris Reed - Stanford Univ.
Garrett Branske - Cal State Bakersfield
Matt Magill - Cal Poly SLO
JoJo Sharrar - Univ. of Utah
Bryan Willson - Chico State
Tanner Peters - Univ. of Nevada Las Vegas
Jeff Johnson - Cal Poly SLO
Derek Shutt - Brigham Young University
James McCann - University of Arkansas
Robbie Mousselli - Cal State Bakersfield
Wes Wright - Cal State Northridge
Sean Gillmartin - Florida State
Tyler Johnson - Stoneybrook University
Mitchell Porwoll - Christian Brothers University
Paul Rodriguez - Taft College

2008 Colleges:
Tyler Gentry - Vanguard University
Matt Langenfeld - Univ. of Nevada Reno
Matt Scioscia - Univ. of Notre Dame
Matt Bywater - Pepperdine Univ.
Matthew Koch - Loyola Marymount Univ.
Bryce Tafelski - UC Santa Barbara
Jesse Meaux - UC Santa Barbara
Ryan Plum - Cal State Los Angeles
Alex Kurland - USC
Danny Muno - Fresno State
Devin Lohman - Long Beach State
Bobby Coyle - Univ. of Arizona
Danny Duffy - Cal Poly San Luis
Andrew Irvine - Loyola Maymount Univ.
Justin DeMarco - Cal State Northridge
Jason Brooks - Dartmouth
Bryan Suarez - Univ. of Nevada Reno
Dominic D'Anna - Cal State Northridge
Todd Eskelin - Cal State Northridge
Eric Hong - Cal State Los Angeles
Mickey Brodsky - Cornell Univ.
Mitchell Maseredjian - Cal Poly SLO
Nick Locke - San Diego Christian College
R.J. Bellegue - Cypress College
Justin Shutt – Brigham Young University
Justin Layne - Vanguard University

2007 Colleges:
Cory Jones - Cal State Fullerton
Jordan Lowe - Cal Baptist
Ryne Intlekofer - Norte Dame
Kevin Muno - Univ. of San Diego
Luke Yoder - Cal Poly SLO.
Brett Fick - UC, Santa Barbara
Frankie Reed - Cal Poly SLO.
Jeff Rapoport - UCLA
Jose Vargas - Ventura J.C.
KC Haerther - UCLA
Cole Kahle - Chapman Univ.
Gabe Cohen - UCLA
Brian Hernandez - Cal State L.A.
John Birds - UNLV
Evan Fields - Allen Hancock J.C.
Paul Klingsberg - Pepperdine
Bryant Hernandez - Univ. of Oklahoma
Jeff Pruitt - Cal State Northridge
Angelo Songco - Loyola
Matt Withem - Oxnard J.C.
Matt Phillips - Allen Hancock J.C.
Sean Bonesteele - Fresno State
Danny Gallinot - Univ. of Arizona
Zach Thornton - Ventura J.C.
Chad Gross - Questa College
Devin Shepherd - Univ. of Oklahoma
Gregg Bond - Questa College
Ian Lightsey - Cal Poly SLO.
Andrew Pevsner - Johns Hopkins Univ.
Alex Hinshaw - San Diego State
Clayton Edwards - UCSB Santa Barbara
Steven Notaro - Pierce J.C.
Kyle Thompson - Stanford
Dan Richardson - Air Force Academy

2006 Colleges:
Jared Eskew - Piont Loma University
David Harris - U. of San Diego
Jason Novak - UCLA
Tyler Fick - Northridge
Shane Carlson - UCSB
Tommy Palica - Golden west J.C.
Robert Dickmann - UCLA
Brett Beller - Columbia University
Daniel Rose - St. Johns University
Alex Hinshaw - San Diego State
Ethan Gentry - Vanguard University
Eric Kamatsu - Vanguard University

2005 Colleges:
Brett Scyphers - U of AZ.
Ben Orneles - Cal State Fullerton
Randy Molina - Stanford
Todd Sandell - Fresno State
Chuckie Fick - Cal State Nothridge
Kris Kasarjian - Cal State Northridge
Stephen Susdorf - Fresno State
Mark Robinson - Cal State Northridge
Eric Sweeney - Cal State Northridge
Tyler Waddell - Cal Berkley
Brian Stevens - Cal State Fullerton
Dylan Gaughen - UNLV
Michael Notaro - Fresno State
Ozzie Lewis - Fresno State
Jamie Arneson - Fresno State
Jose Hernandez - Long Beach State
Logan Gilbrich - U of San Diego
Drew Saberhagen - Pepperdine
Garrett Ozar - U of San Francisco

2004 Colleges:
Eric Guillen - Univ. of South Carolina
Cory Phelps - Stanford

College Recruiting
(Bill Gentry)

Every college coach has his own philosophy on recruiting, and there is no book out there on how to find a college prospect. The typical coach will bring the all important radar gun and stop watch to every game they watch. These are the only tools that college coaches have to get factual data. The real science to recruiting is the ability to find that diamond in the rough or the athlete that hasn't hit his highest potential. Anyone can go out and put the radar gun to a kid and see that he is throwing hard or time a hitter running to 1st and see he has speed. The true test is watching a young man without those instruments and seeing talent too. That is what makes recruiting a challenge. Unfortunately, all that athletic ability doesn't matter if you don't take care of your academics.

The very first question to ask a prospect isn't how hard they throw, how fast they run, how many homeruns they have hit, or how many bases they have stolen. The first two questions to ask are, ‘What is your GPA?’ and ‘What are your test scores?’ (ACT or SAT). On top of needing to know your overall GPA we also need to know your core GPA. The core GPA and the number of core credits you have are the most important factors. These consist of your main classes such as English, Math, and Social and Physical Sciences. The number of core classes you are required to have when you graduate to be a qualifier out of high school varies depending on what year you graduate. If you have questions or don't know what those requirements are, you can find them at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

Now back to the recruiting issue. How good do your GPA and test scores have to be? The lower your GPA the higher your test scores must be. To make life simple strive for a 3.0 GPA or higher. The bottom line when it comes to academics is if you don't have the grades it doesn't matter if you are the next Nolan Ryan, you can't play baseball at a 4 year institution!

Baseball at the Division I level, if fully funded, will have a total of 11.7 scholarships to fill a roster. When you consider most rosters carry minimum of 35 athletes that isn't much money to spread around. College baseball programs must use every possible type of scholarship available.

Academic scholarships are the easiest to give to incoming students. Additionally, that helps the team Academic Progress Report, or APR. APR is a program that the NCAA developed a few years ago that deals with retention and graduation rates for student-athletes. Basically, it gives each student-athlete a point system each athlete can earn a possible 4 possible points for the year. The team also has a total percentage they must attain each year. If they go below that percentage they risk losing scholarships for the following year and possibly losing their NCAA Division I status. The one thing an athlete can control is in the recruiting process is his grades. Don't let grades be the reason you can't fulfill a dream of playing in Division I baseball!

The next questions a coach has are about your ability to be coached, your mental outlook, and what kind of teammate you are. When looking for prospects, I ask these types of questions of the coaching staff, teammates, and prospect. Coaches should always like to talk to teammates of the prospect to find out the type of person you are. Coaches should also speak to teachers of the athlete. These are things that you also can control by your actions on and off the field.

There are particular things coaches look for when watching a student-athlete. If things are/aren't going well for that individual how do they handle themselves? How do they handle themselves in adverse situations? Do they have the desire to get better and learn new things or do you believe you are good enough already? How do they carry themselves on and off the field? All these things are controllable by the athlete. These can turn a coach on or off instantly!

The last thing is his athletic ability. That is where it becomes an opinion of people and that is really out of your control. All you can do is work hard and play hard and let the chips fall where they may. There is no science to recruiting, but there are things the athlete can do to make a coach's job easier. Recruiting isn't about your athletic ability until you have taken care of the things that are in your control: academics, mental attitudes, interaction with others. Take care of the classroom work and you give yourself a chance to play college baseball!

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LESSONS:
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PITCHING

HITTING

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VIDEO ANALYSIS, CONDITIONING

Lessons and Packages

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What Others Are Saying:

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“In over 18 years in professional baseball I have yet to meet a coach with as much concern for his player’s success and true passion for the game of baseball than Bill Gentry.”
Gene Watson – Director of Professional Scouting, Kansas City Royals
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"When asked about top hitting coaches in the game today, Bill Gentry is one of the first that comes to mind."
Scott Pickens - Catcher, Detroit Tigers

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“Bill Gentry is a true players coach. He has been an encouragement and a mentor to me while involved in professional baseball as well as launching my business, Major League Strength.”
Dana Cavalea – New York Yankees, Head of Strength and Conditioning.
                          Owner and Founder of Major League Strength

"I have been friends with Bill for the last 4 or 5 years after working together at Coast to Coast Baseball. He is a good man, whom I have a great deal of respect for. He's done and seen almost everything when it comes to baseball, and the thing that sticks out to me the most about him is I don't believe I have ever seen Bill in a bad mood. He comes to the park every day with the same happy demeanor and simply takes care of business! He is a good baseball guy for sure, but he is an even better person."
     - Derek Johnson, Pitching Coach, Vanderbilt University

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"If you are looking for instruction in the Southern California area, check out Coach Gentry’s Pro Player Academy in Bakersfield, CA. In addition to his baseball knowledge, you’ll be impressed by his character, professionalism and how much he cares about the success of his players".
                        - Jeff Albert, Hitting Coach St. Louis Cardinals

Pro Player Academy

Justin Miller RHP Rangers - Interviews After Workout at Pro Player Academy

Click on picture for link to TCU Baseball video

Pujols and Molina Sprint Training 2011

CLICK ON PICTURE TO LINK WITH VIDEO

Evan Longoria Attacks Spring Training on STACK TV

Jeff Albert, Hitting Coach STL Cardinals

WWW.SWINGTRAINING.NET

Jeff Albert is a Hitting Coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, currently working with the Palm Beach Cardinals in Florida. Jeff and I worked together in Jupiter Florida in December 2010 and I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I am with this young professional. If I was asked to name a "Top Notch" hitting instructor in baseball today, it would be Jeff Albert. I watched as Jeff taught his craft and worked with over 65 players in the week we were together. Jeff was able to break down the basics of hitting, from the simplest aspects to the most complex. Jeff was able to present and demonstrate in a manner in which all those he worked with were able to learn, take the information into action on the field, and show immediate success. Jeff is always in the process of educating himself on the subject of hitting, and then making that knowledge available to all players through his instruction and training web site www.swingtraining.net If you want to be a hitter, www.swingtraining.net is the place to educate yourself, and if you are in the Southern Florida area and want one-on-one instruction, contact Jeff at www.swingtraining.net.

Jupiter, FL. December 2010

Jose "The Secret Weapon" Oquendo and Bill Gentry

ARIZONA 2010

L to R: Bill Gentry, Mike Nataro - Las Cruses Indy, Chuckie Fick - STL AAA, Jim Rapaport - STL AAA

CLICK ON PHOTO TO WATCH CAGE WORK

Pujols Family Foundation - Click on Picture

"Faith, Family, Others" Click on Picture to link to Pujols Family Foundation

Bill Gentry St. Louis Cardinals

Gentry Family Professional Baseball

L to R: Ethan Gentry, Bill Gentry Jr., Bill Gentry, Tyler Gentry (Bakersfield Blaze-TX Rangers)

NCAA D-1 BASEBALL

Coach Gentry talking with infielder Brandon Boren

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SoCal Cardinals Scout Team - MLB SCout League, Southern California

Pro Player Academy of Baseball Administration (off-site) Office, 12211 Parkerhill Drive, Bakersfield, California 93311

(661)373-7880 Email: basebalcps@aol.com