“Five-Plus Tools” is a scouting term that refers to a rare and elite type of amateur baseball prospect. A player with five-plus tools grades out well above average in all five skill areas, known as tools: hitting, power, running, throwing, and fielding.

While most baseball fans critique players who are already on the professional level, a scout needs to find raw talent and figure out if they’re the “future.” In Five-Plus Tools, Dave Perkin, who was a professional scout and is currently the Major League Baseball Draft correspondent for Sports Illustrated, breaks down not only what all scouts are looking for, but also how amateur players are evaluated and recognized.

Broken up into three sections, Perkin teaches the inner details of amateur scouting, using field reports on athletes he’s scouted over the years. Once the understanding of what a scout looks for is understood, Perkin delves into the current major leaguers and gives scouting insight on their game, skills, and influence on the sport. Finally, the hot-button issues in baseball are covered, including such points as Sabermetrics, baseball analysis, and an explanation of why few of yesterday’s heroes could succeed in modern baseball.

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Dave Perkin was a correspondent for Baseball America. He scouted for the New York Mets and worked in the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has written for USA Today and ESPN and is currently the Major League Baseball Draft correspondent for Sports Illustrated.