Founded in 1983 as the Chicago Cubs High School Scout Team by veteran professional baseball scout, John J. Gracio, the scout team program has reached more than 1,500 high school baseball prospects and produced current and former major league baseball players.
In 2002, the program reached extraordinary heights, with more than 100 competing players. More than 200 others were declined by the program due to a stringent try-out process and budgetary constraints.
In late 2004, Mr. Gracio (now an Area Scout with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) carried on the original scout team mission by forming the Los Angeles Angels Pro Scout Team and in 2009 introduced the Angels Amateur Baseball Program. The Pro Scout Teams, consisting mainly of high school juniors and seniors, play the local Arizona Junior Colleges and compete in the state's most competitive tournaments, including the Arizona Fall Classics, which draws college recruiters and professional scouts.
Countless hours of consultation with current and former professional baseball players and scouts from different Major League affiliations, in addition to input from numerous college coaches has culminated in a program that offers aspiring collegiate and professional prospects one of the greatest development and exposure experiences in the United States. Led by LA Angels of Anaheim Area Scout John J. Gracio, the Angels Amateur Baseball Program has reached more than 1,500 aspiring baseball players in the southwest Also involved in the leadership is former college coach Jeff Fallon, (known nationwide for his college planning expertise) and currently Associate Scout for the LA Angels of Anaheim.
Since it's inception as the Chicago Cubs High School Scout Team in 1983, Mr. Gracio's program has produced several current and former major league players. The season begins in the September with the Fall Pro Scout Team that is selected each year from talented high school juniors and seniors. This team represents the LA Angels of Anaheim and the State of Arizona in games against junior colleges in the southwest and culminates with the AZ Fall Classics each October. The purpose of this team is to expose players to college level baseball and to provide an opportunity to be seen by college coaches and professional scouts. This is an elite team that has a rich tradition in putting together a highly talented group of top college and pro prospects in the state. The success rate speaks for itself! Combined with Jeff Fallon’s College Planning Center, the success rate since 1996 for placing students in college baseball programs is 97%. Since that time, over 100 players have been selected in Major League Baseball’s amateur baseball draft.
In the summer of 2009, Gracio and Fallon added the Angels Amateur Baseball Program to introduce the concept of organizational baseball to younger players, and create a pipeline of talent for the Pro Scout Team. It is important to recognize the difference between the two programs. “Over the past 15 years, Grac and I have seen very talented high school baseball players get misguided and wind up not playing baseball at the college level.” Fallon said. “We want to be able to help the right kids find the right colleges, so they can earn a college degree while playing this great game at the next level.” - Jeff Fallon.
Like the Fall Scout Program, the Angels Amateur Baseball Program also begins in the fall with one team in each graduating class but typically expands in the summer to offer additional opportunities to deserving students and provide our coaches with an opportunity to make proper evaluations on each player. These evaluations are critical in selecting the fall Pro Scout Teams. Our criteria is not always talent, but finding a player that has ability, competes, and takes his individual development seriously.
The coaching staff assembled is second to none. Please browse through our coaches bios and the remarkable baseball staff. Some of the coaches of note are former major league pitcher (Chicago Cubs) Rich Barker and former New York Yankees farmhand Kevin Henthorne. In addition, former professional pitchers Jeromie Spillman, Ryan McKinley and Scott Schneider, current Paradise Valley College Pitching Coach Manny Vega, ASU alum Randy Rector, and professional players, Mike Wolff, Dorian Speed, Orlando Rodriguez, Enrique Cotto and Brett Caradonna. In addition local high school coaches, Jimmy Shields (Verrado), Steve Schiber (Copper Canyon), John Duvall (North Canyon), Jamie Topping (Higley), Steve Schuck (Marcos de Niza), also serve as coaches within our organization.
Our summer schedule consists of AABC sanctioned league play, American Legion Baseball and Babe Ruth Baseball. In addition, we create Elite teams to compete on a national stage to gain additional exposure to college coaches.
2009:
Four Corner Classic Champions, Peoria, AZ
USABF Fourth of July Classic Tournament Champions, San Diego, CA
Don Mattingly Arizona State Champions
Don Mattingly National Champions
2010:
Four Corner Classic Champions, Peoria, AZ
Connie Mack State Champions, chose to offer opportunity to go to World Series to another club
Don Mattingly State Champions
Mickey Mantle League Tournament Runner Up
USABF Fourth of July Classic Tournament Champions, San Diego, CA
RBI Wood Bat Classic Tournament Champions, Phoenix, AZ
West Valley Babe Ruth League Champions
2011
Prospect Wire 18u West Coast Champions
In the fall, Mr. Gracio forms his Scout Teams, Red and White (seniors and juniors), to compete against the local junior college programs in Arizona at the Tempe Diablo complex and younger Angels Amateur teams to compete against other teams from around the state. The highlight of the fall season is the Arizona Fall Classic (senior, junior, and sophomore showcases) in Peoria, AZ. These are the biggest showcase events in the country and the Angels Scout team has Arizona spots secured each year in the tournament. This event is attended by more than 300 college coaches from around the country and has representation from every Major League team. Players are insured of maximum exposure at this event.
If you would like more information on the Angels Amateur Baseball Program, please contact us at info@angelsproscout.com with your contact information and a short statement of your qualifications.
College coaches that are interested in playing the scout teams, would like to inquire about a player or would like to learn more about our program should contact Jeff Fallon at 623-224-9187 or email at jfallon@angelsproscout.com.