Smart, Wrong, and Lucky: Scouting Baseball’s Unexpected Stars

A fascinating look at how Major League Baseball searches for diamonds in the rough

In the plainest of terms, baseball scouts are tasked with seeing the future-a distant future, at that. Baseball’s long developmental arc leaves room for plenty of twists and turns on the way to The Show.

Some prospects shoot like arrows toward their projected potential, while others fizzle out or chart an unexpected course. Batting champion Charlie Blackmon was once coveted for his left arm more than his offensive potential. Catcher Buster Posey was first scouted as a pitcher and shortstop.

Smart, Wrong, and Lucky explores how first impressions measure up to their aftermaths: the draft, years of progression, and for a talented few, major-league success.

MLB.com writer Jonathan Mayo profiles a diverse range of modern stars and looks at them through the eyes of those who noticed them first as prospects.

Featuring exclusive interviews with scouts, players, coaches, and more, this fascinating collection of origin stories is an ode to baseball’s endless possibilities.