Getting to know Freddy Ray Suggs

Freddy is head of the CCProspects organization, Central Carolina Baseball, which operates the Anglers showcase teams. If there is a game going on somewhere in the state he will most likely be in attendance and if he is not there it is because he is coaching his team in a tournament.

Q—What is your earliest memories about the game of baseball?

A---My earliest memories have to be making my first little league team. I had to attend tryouts dirty after working on a farm to make it on time. Could not believe I made the team because even then I thought this was a rich kids sport. Also, tryouts seemed like 140 kids were there. I was very proud of myself that day my name was on the list. Hang my jersey up and looked at it everyday for a week. I could not wait until our first game. That day was the start of making some of my lifetime friends that holds to be true for most of us.

Q—Who is Freddy Suggs?

A---Honest, firm but fair. If a player or parent ask me what I think of their son’s ability I will give them my opinion without sugar coating it. A lot of players today have been told how great they are from the time they first started playing travel ball (AAU, etc) byy their coach or parent. So when I tell them, the truth hurts sometime. Some people do not like what I have to say but they asked me for my opinion and I give it to them. I am about 90 to 95% right on players abilities. Sure I am wrong on some, it is only MY opinion. But what is interesting is to watch these individuals work extra hard to prove me wrong and when they do I am very excited for them. I never want to see anybody fail.

Q---How did you get started in showcase ball?

A---I started coaching Legion Baseball and had an idea to play in the fall asking my athletic officer to fund it. Reply was no! He told me that nobody plays in the fall; he was right, at that time on one did. Yes, I got mad and told him we did not need him to do this. I first called Greg Starbuck (now Elon’s Assistant Coach) to tell him what I was going to do; got some of his players with my players and had the money’s and schedule within ten days. Greg, back then had a the power house legion team. Our first schedule was made up of playing all the D-2 varsity teams in the area. To make this happen we had to be put on their NCAA schedule that counted against them for the season. Coach Starbuck first came up with all the ideas back then that Perfect Game is doing today (Showcases and player databases). If only we persued it???

Fall baseball exploded the next season. When the colleges would not put all the teams on their schedule that is when Fall Showcase Tournaments started. After playing our first fall season I decided to play in the summer and travel to other states. I will never forget this summer. We played 93 games in 8 states our first summer. Every game we played that summer the stands were packed with college and pro scouts. Had to give up fishing and called my team the Anglers.



Q---How did you get started with MLB Scouting Bureau?

A---I was asked…Gary Randall seemed to follow us around (Anglers). Almost every state we played there was Gary. I could not even turn the corner in town somewhere in TN, NC, or SC without bumping into that man. We become friends and one day after a game he ask me to work for him. This has been very rewarding for me to have picked up another very good friend but, this has not been easy I worked 10 years before getting accepted in scout school.

Q---What is a baseball week in your life like?

A---Busy, Busy, Busy…So busy that I threw (skipped) a cell phone across the river this summer. I got only one day off decided to go fishing and could not even get bait on my hook. Don’t take this the wrong way I do return all calls and emails. Just not on my cell anymore. I did go fishing this past Wednesday and took my cell phone but now only about 5 people have the number. This may not answer your question but, as much as you see me travel and at games that is the least amount of time put in. Most of my time goes toward reports, phone, e-mails and player development. A lot of working with players is in the parking lot of tournaments.

I receive a lot of calls and e-mails from parents and players from other showcase organizations in NC and the surrounding states asking for help and advise. They don’t have to play for me or attend any ccprospect events for me to help them. I will help anybody the best I can if they really love the game of baseball.

 

Part two

Q---What do you enjoy the most in the game.

A---Seeing a prospect!!! Or even a suspect. Somebody you just can’t wait to get back to write about and then tell everybody in scouting.

Q---What do you like or dislike about the showcase world?

A--- I like that we have spoiled our kids to give them the opportunity to play on very nice parks. I like that it gives opportunity for college coaches to have a few good players on campus. I like that all college coaches are nice when a dad or coach approaches him to ask what he thinks of his kid or kids or when he is told what this kid can do that the coach just watched. I love knowing that people are so blessed with the money it takes to play the schedules we put together for them. I like that it has gotten so competitive that showcase coaches have to make home visits to recruit players. I like that players now can play for three different teams in one season. And I also like how Showcase has gotten so watered down. I like that everything is going so well now in showcase baseball that Myself, Ken Shuey, & Bill Capps can maybe step down.

Q---What is the most important thing a player can do to impress scouts?

A---Players need to relax more when being watched. Most of the time the player knows we are there to see him. Play hard to show his skills and quit trying too hard to perform. I have to tell kids that hit .400 for the season they can’t hit. Can you believe that? If one of your skills is running then run out every ball at top speed. Steal bases, stretch doubles into triples. Use the skills that GOD gave you and you will perform. Scouts know what they are looking for, many pro scouts have turned in players for the first five rounds in the draft that did not perform the day they went to see him. Sometimes players with skills are not lucky.

Q---Why are you retiring?

A---Not retiring; just will not fund or coach teams anymore. TBR had this subject going awhile back and I read a lot of interesting comments about TEAM and individual. Everybody can see where all this is going if they pay attention to all the comments posted. I’m tired, worn out, and broke. A lot has been said in the question regarding my thoughts on showcase on what I see and not see changing for the better. So, I am not giving up on the kids, I’m just going where I am needed the most. I need to be in the stands more to be able to help more kids. With my role with MLB bureau we had 113 players drafted in 2008 in my area (NC, SC, and eastern TN) and the players don’t even know my name and that is the way it should be even for players going to play college.

We will be taking teams under our umbrella with ccprospects to host more affordable tournaments. Someone else besides me will have to deal with trying to get the parents and players to bring the TEAMS together.
Maybe after seeing 10 teams I can approach all coaches and ask what will it take to put the 12 best players from 10 teams on one. Then see another 10 teams etc...Maybe this way we can call these teams showcase again. We can also suggest that all players sign up for a player report before their high school season and use that report to send out to college coaches, then stay at home to play Legion. I have had more players recruited recently from player reports than I have playing in showcase tournaments. Good players will not need to do anymore than that but also try to make you region state games team (very high visibility) but don’t start me on that. Then go to a college showcase camp of there choice.
More and more we hear about showcase coaches canceling to attend a tournament in the fall because they no longer have enough players. More often we see there is always one parent that no one else wants to be near. Team support also has to be in the stands. Enough said, I just want people to know that I will always help kids in this game of baseball and now I will be able to help more of them.




Q---What do you think of TBR?

A---You guys are really putting me out on a limb. I don’t like that people are so opinionated and you don’t know who they are. I really like that people will take their time to write some great stories that are posted on TBR. I like knowing that people can ask for help and always have someone to give help. I don’t like that people will try promoting a player by stretching the truth about his abilities. Going on this site and doing this to a kid that we all have seen play. On a heated topic it can get one sided or be taking off. Sometimes we don’t get to here the other opinion. I do not know how this site is ran or how many people are involved but, my hat is off to all of you. I have found myself checking the topics everyday so, it’s all GOOD.

 

This has to be the most honest interview ever posted. Freddy do not change. You are an original.

 

Appreciation for Freddy

My son has had the privilege of playing for Freddy this year. I can't tell you how much I appreciate Freddy's dedication to the game of baseball in general and his players in particular. He is clearly not in this for the money or for his ego.

In a world where it is hard to know people's motives or true thoughts, you never have to wonder about Freddy. He is honest and direct, but isn't that what our kids need at this stage? The first time Freddy saw my son play he was uncompromisingly honest about his weaknesses, and because of that, I knew I could trust him the day he said "your son has a chance to be a good hitter."

I'll always be grateful that my son's introduction to showcase baseball was playing for Freddy.

 

Freddy

is a great person. And he just happens to know a heck of a lot about the game of baseball. Freddy does not sugar coat it because he wants to help players be the best they can be. Telling kids what they want to hear is not what Freddy is about. He is about telling them what they need to hear. Freddy has devoted many years and alot of time and money to helping players all across our state. I think he has some great ideas about the future of high school summer / fall baseball.

Good luck Freddy in your future ventures to assist and help baseball players. Your truly one of the good guys out there.

 

I've known Freddy much longer than he has known me. I recall, many years ago now, attending a Ragsdale vs West Rowan game. This was when WR had a dynamite team and I wanted to see my buddy, Ryan Wilson, play. Well, my oldest son met Freddy and was offered an opportunity to play for him. He was already committed to On Deck, but I wanted to know more about Coach Suggs. I asked around some guys that I knew and they said, "Are you crazy. Get your boy with Freddy right now."

Since then I have had two coaches that I respect enormously that have worked with Freddy, Mark Tarleton and Steve Evans. They each have said how much they enjoyed coaching with him and how his motivation is always towards the players he coaches; and players from other teams asking his advice.

Freddy Suggs is a Coach's coach. He has the respect from everybody. I wish our members knew how fortunate we are to have him here. If anybody has any questions for Freddy, post them in here. I'm sure he would be happy to address them all.

 

Current Players

Freddy is a first class guy and is super at working with young men. What is going to happen with the current Anglers team and the players?

 

A great interview from a great baseball man. Freddy not only knows the game, he gives so much of himself to the game he loves and the players he coaches, and even the ones he doesn't coach. I learned a great deal about coaching in my year with him, Coach Evans, and Coach Tarleton. And his hitting instruction is incredible, from both the mechanical and mental angles.

 

Braves,
I wish we had met up with Freddy early last year when you first suggested it. Just from the recent association we have been lucky enough be a part of, Freddy is the hardest working coach/agent I know. If we had met Freddy sooner, I can only imagine where we would be now. I hate to hear of his retirement. Sad news for the boys to come.

Freddy, if you read this, thank you for everything you've done for our son. We hate football got in the way, he was crushed he couldn't make Cary last weekend. I can't thank you enough for all your time and effort. We are struggling now with all the decisions to come. But we know that's a good problem to have.

ps.
MRI results were good!! He'll heal, and soon I hope!!

 

Why thank you anotherspartanfan. How is Cody doing?