The Major League Scouting Bureau (MLSB) is a centralized scouting resource that operates under the auspices of the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. Headquartered in Ontario, California. MLSB efforts supplement the independent, proprietary amateur and professional scouting operations of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs.

In 2012, the MLSB employed 34 full-time and 13 part-time scouts in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. In 2010, it announced plans to expand its activities beyond Puerto Rico to other countries in Latin America.

MLSB's scouts provide information on amateur prospects as a part of its mission to support the efforts of MLB clubs in the first-year player draft. The MLSB also provides professional scouting services, including the collection of video footage of players throughout the professional ranks, both domestically and internationally. It maintains an eligibility file on amateur players, many of them teenagers and holds 35 tryout camps each June in its countries of operation.

There are many different things that play a factor in scouting players. Each scout or organization is different in what they are looking for. Some things that all scouts and organizations are looking for are strength, speed, agility, attitude, size, and character. Some organizations use a scale called the 20/80 scale.

The twenty-eighty scale, the twenty is the low end of the scale and 80 is the high end. The scouts will rate the player on the 20/80 as they are now and how they project in the future.

Therefore, there will be two numbers. For example if a scout thinks you have a 60 out of 80 arm strength but you are young and projects you to be a 70 out of 80 in the future, then you would have a 60/70 out of 80 for arm strength. The second number shows what you are projected to rate on the scale. You may have heard someone say "oh, he's a 5 tool player". That means he rates high, if not highest, in all 5 areas.

Consistency plays a part, as well as, the mental game, attitude, composure, and character. These are not physical tools so they are a little harder for a scout to grade or judge. Scouts do their homework and will find out what kind of person you are before they even think about signing you. They will ask your coaches or people in the stands. A lot of teams now-a-days have psychology tests that they give to the players just to see what kind of person they are. Scouts also talk to current coaches, friends, family, other scouts, agents, or pretty much anybody who will tell them a little bit about you as a person.

They can tell some of this by just watching you on the field; by the way you carry yourself and interact with teammates. There is always someone watching so be your best. You don't want to blow any opportunities that could present opportunity.