Accept no imitations-We have the ability to sign & place you the same day you try out.
"He knows talent," Al Avila (V.P. of the Detroit Tigers) said of Belmonte. "I can trust him. If he calls me up and says, 'This is a guy you need to look at,' then I'll look into it."
Avila acted quickly. By the end of that day, LaLuna was a Tiger. -Detroit Free Press
The Indy Pro Showcase in June is our annual “post draft” event in Detroit, 2009 was a great success.(See players signed)
"We always look forward to getting jobs for those players overlooked in the draft”, said Dave Marcon IPS Pitching Coordinator.
Discoverd at IPS-
Signed by the Chicago Cubs!
#4 ranked Prospect by Baseball America in ’08
Shawn McGill, C Discovered at the
IndyProShowcase
in Jacksonville, Florida 2008
"Nick Belmonte and Dave Marcon can give players the privilege and opportunity to play professional baseball. This chance can allow players to take their game to the next level and hopefully reach their goal of the major leagues."
-Shawn McGill
#1 ranked Prospect by Baseball America in ’08
Mike LaLuna, RHP Discovered at the IndyProShowcase in Detroit, Michigan 2008 "The Indy Pro Showcase is the best way to earn an opportunity into professional baseball. As a college shortstop I never would have had the opportunity to move on and play professionally. Therefore, I quickly made the transition to the mound and was able to earn an opportunity while performing in front of Nick Belmonte and Dave Marcon. They immediately said I will be playing for the Sussex Skyhawks. I would have never thought that I could be placed on a team so quickly in professional baseball. It was only 1 day after I returned home that I was to be packed and ready to play for the Sussex Skyhawks in New Jersey. Nick Belmonte and Dave Marcon helped me aboard a Champioship team in only my first year of Pro Ball. After the season, Nick was then able to help further my career by landing me a contract with the Detroit Tigers Organization. This was the opportunity of a lifetime for me and I must thank Nick and Dave for all their help since I could not have done it without them."
-Mike LaLuna,
Detroit Tigers Organization
“35 players out of 96” that attended the Indy Pro Showcase in Jacksonville got offered a contract from 6 different Independent Leagues. 31 offers were made on site with 4 more in the days after the Showcase.
“It was a talented group of players as we expected”, said Showcase director Nick Belmonte, “We will always work to get even more contracts for deserving players after the Showcase ends. We’ve been able to do that for players at the Jacksonville Showcase.”
Some of these leagues are NOT going to be holding league tryouts this year. They have asked us to bring our Showcase to Texas to find them players for their vacancies. Each team in those leagues will have coaches/managers at the Houston Showcase. This will be the best oppurtunity to find jobs with those teams.
“We are excited to host our first Indy Pro Showcase in the talent rich, state of Texas. We are using a great facility in Baseball USA, which is well known in Houston. As always, our goal is to get as many jobs possible for those players that attend. That’s what we do and what we’re known for.”
-Nick Belmonte.
Remember this important fact, the Indy Pro Showcase showcase has the power and ability to sign players the same day you tryout.Due to the recent news that some independent leagues are not hosting league wide tryouts for the 2009 season, this may be your only opportunity to be seen and signed before the Major League Spring Training releases and the new crop of '09 college seniors fill up the independent league rosters. This showcase is not a "cattle call" that happens at many league wide tryout camps, where using only one field and very little time, you can easily get overlooked after you've traveled a long distance. This showcase will let you get ample "at bats" and innings to show your talents. To ensure this, the Indy Pro Showcase will by design, keep the number of participants to a workable number. Therefore it is a first come, first serve scenario with a limited availability. So do not delay!
Why do you have the best chance at a contract by attending the Indy Pro Showcase?
It is being run by Nick Belmonte and Dave Marcon.
In the two Indy Pro Showcases that took place last year in Jacksonville and Detroit, 70 players out of the 145 that attended were offered contracts in 6 different Indy Leagues for the ’08 season. A truly amazing ratio! Nick Belmonte is the premier talent scout of Independent League baseball who has signed over 950 players to 7 different Independent Leagues. In 2007 & 2008, Nick signed over 230 players to independent league contracts. Nick has run over 70 league wide tryouts for 6 different Independent leagues. There's no doubt if you impress him, you will get a job that day or soon after. He alone represents many teams in over 6 leagues.
Dave Marcon who along with Nick, started the Indy Pro Showcase in 2007, is responsible for an amazing, 1 contract for every 2 players that attended the camps in '08. Many of those players still have jobs in pro ball. Dave is considered one of the top evaluators of pitching talent in all of Independent baseball. In just the last two years Dave has over 45 pitchers still playing professionally that he had a hand in signing to Independent League contracts.
"If it wasn't for Nick Belmonte signing me to an Independent League contract at his tryout, I wouldn't have made it to the Major Leagues" - Luis Lopez
1b-3b, Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos
"Nick Belmonte can flat out open doors. And he has a heart for players. When no one else believed in my game, he did and gave me a chance. I can't thank him enough for putting me on the road to the big leagues." - Andy Barkett
ex-Major Leaguer Pittsburgh Pirates
Head Scout
Nick Belmonte "I've heard for years that the Detroit region is a fertile ground for talent. This a great opportunity to have players come to a showcase and walk away with a pro contract that day", said Belmonte. "I expect to tap into this talent rich area and give these kids in the midwest their professional start", Belmonte added.
Nick Belmonte, widely considered independent baseball's premier talent scout, has been appointed the Midwest Pro Showcase Head Scout and will be on hand looking for college seniors that have just finished their eligibility. Nick is also the NYSL's first director of player personnel. As Director of Baseball Operations of the Northern League Belmonte signed over 400 players including future major leaguers Rey Ordonez and Kevin Millar. Belmonte will be responsible for finding the NYSL's players through tryout camps and his extensive network of college coaches. He will also be the League's primary liaison to other independent and affiliated clubs. Nick Belmonte has signed over one thousand free agent players since 1990.
Head Pitching Coordinator Dave Marcon "I've been waiting a long time to get our part of the
country recognized..."
* Pitching Coordinator for the New York State League NYSL
* Played 6 years of professional ball: Toronto, Texas, California and Detroit
* Handled batting practice for the Detroit Tigers 7 years and assistant to Hitting Coaches
* Pitching Coordinator for most Independent League Tryout Camps 4 years
"Dave has sent many top pitchers to professional teams, as well as others, just based on his word alone. He knows pitching and what it takes to get to the next level.
-Jeff Jones
-American League Champions Detroit Tigers current Bullpen Coach and long time AAA pitching coach for the Toledo Mudhens
The Indy Pro Showcase is unique in that it offers great potential for signs for the right talent by the end of a two-day showcase. The NYSL is only open to players that have never played Pro Baseball before.
