Logan White has scouted ballplayers for four organizations over the past three decades. During that time, he has learned to prize accuracy and come to the realization that “sometimes discretion is good.” Teams prefer to be secretive about which players they are pursuing, and often evaluating a player who he doesn’t know he’s being watched can give a better assessment of his true ability.
White is currently the Padres’ director of player personnel and a senior adviser to the team’s general manager. In that role, he is the franchise’s chief evaluator for players at all levels, from high school prospects to current big leaguers. He has found that the four-ounce Pocket Radar suits the balance between accuracy and discretion better than devices made by legacy radar gun manufacturers.
With the annual MLB draft approaching on Monday, June 3, the frequency of White’s field trips has accelerated in recent months. Several years ago, he met Steve Goody, co-founder of Pocket Radar, at the winter meetings, and since then the device has been a regular tool he has carried with him.
“It’s really good when you’re in a venue like a high school ballgame or a bullpen,” he said. “You can just put it in your back pocket, and everybody thinks it’s like a little cellphone. They don’t even know you’ve got a radar gun.”
Pocket Radar’s biggest limitation is that its maximum range is 120 feet, restricting its use to smaller stadiums and practice settings. Larger radars made by companies such as Stalker, Jugs, and Ray Gun have better range (around 300 feet), and are more suitable for use in big league, minor league, and college parks. But they are also bulky and more visible. Though Pocket Radar is capable of capturing batted ball velocities, White uses it strictly for throws, either by pitchers or infielders.
Social media posts show that a number of professional players have also incorporated the device into their training. Among them are Cardinals top prospect Nolan Gorman and Yankees minor league pitcher Danny Farquhar, a former Mariners closer now making a comeback after sustaining a brain hemorrhage last year.
White added that Pocket Radar can be used effectively in coaching situations. For example, pitching coaches can get instant feedback in the bullpen.
“They can have it right there and tell the differential between a fastball and a changeup and don’t have to have the big radar gun,” White said. “It’s been a really cool tool, and with the expense of it, it’s been great for high schools and coaches that can’t afford a big radar gun.”