Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you’re either on the cusp of beginning your recruiting journey, or in the midst of it. A lot goes into the recruiting process, especially in college baseball, and there is a lot to learn when it comes to figuring out what is good, what is bad, what is helpful and what is nonsense.
Having been fortunate enough to work with hundreds of players who have gone on to play college baseball, I can tell you the recruiting process is rarely what players expect. I also played Division I baseball, was drafted twice, served as an associate scout for an MLB club, so I have personally gone through both the recruiting and draft processes myself. I’m here to help educate players and parents on what to expect and understand as they start this new chapter.
Every journey is different, and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Players develop at different ages, mature earlier/later, and while it can be frustrating, getting frustrated won’t make the process any better.
I have compiled a list of things that are important to know regarding the recruiting process, but before we get too in-depth here’s some simple truths:
The #1 Recruited Tool in College Baseball is Hitting. Real hitting. Guys who can barrel up high and low velocities, hit breaking balls, and hit balls with authority are coveted. Ever wonder why Player A got picked over Player B, even though Player B might have seemed better all-around? Or why all the coaches seem to be all over one certain player, and you don’t really get why? Usually it’s because they believe he’ll hit. Most truly special high school hitters get drafted, the rest who are close to that level go to D1 schools, and the ones who can’t take care of school or off the field issues will likely end up at Jucos.
Size helps. It does not count for everything. This isn’t basketball or football. College World Series teams have players of all shapes and sizes, all that matters is if you can play.
Ability to PLAY, Stats Mean NOTHING: This is where many people get lost because they don’t understand what this actually means. As a position player, in order to have this ability, throw the stats out the window. No one cares that you hit .444 for your legion team, or .390 for your fall team, because what matters is the level of competition you were successful against. Hitters have to be able to barrel up velocity and breaking balls. A seeing eye single up the middle is not the same as a seed through the infield. A flared double is not the same as a gap shot. This is particularly important for hitters in the midwest and up north who don’t see velocity consistently. You have to get out there and show you can hit quality pitching, or hit quality pitching well when you face it.
Pitchers, same deal. Carving up the bottom feeders is fine, but if you don’t have velo and size, you need to dominate quality lineups with your stuff.
Last thing, I’ll classify a few positions/attributes that will get a lot of recruiting attention. These are not absolutes, but guidelines, there will always be exceptions:
Catchers: 6’0”+ tall, with a sub 2.0 Pop-Time, who can really catch, and hit adequately.
RH Pitchers: 6’0”+ who can either locate, mix off-speed, and really pitch. OR 6’2”+ whose velocity SITS anywhere in a range that includes 91+. Will get interest.
LH Pitchers: - 5’11”+ touch upper 80’s with effective off-speed, and an ability to pitch.
Outfielders: Run a sub 6.7 60-yard dash, with a good arm, and good power, or very good hitting ability.
Second Baseman: Run a sub 6.9, with good hands, very good arm and moderate to exceptional hitting ability.
Shortstop: Toughest position to recruit in college baseball. 6.8 runners, very strong arms, good hands, very good hitting ability, power is a plus. You’re talking about the best baseball players on the field in most cases, that’s the competition at this position.
First Baseman: A lot of players also have experience at 1B and can be moved there from other positions. If you only play 1B, you need to hit the ball very hard, very far, and very often. Size also helps here. 6’2” - 6’5” with strength, running speed must be playable, anything above a 7.4 starts clogging the bases in college.
Third Baseman: Need to hit the ball hard very often, be athletic (Run around a 6.9) with a strong arm able to throw from different angles.
I’m sure many people will want to dissect the above regarding the height and speed characteristics. I wouldn’t waste much energy on that right now, and you’ll see why. There’s more important things to go over, like these important things to keep in mind during the recruiting process:
Comparison is the Thief of Joy - Comparing another player’s recruiting process to you, or your child’s, will only take focus away from improving your game and finding the right school for YOU. There are advantages to being recruited early, but there are also many advantages to being recruited and committing later. If I had to give an ideal timeframe, I would say committing anytime after your sophomore year before your senior spring is ideal.
Start Discussing School Possibilities Early - All of the showcases, the emails, contacting schools, etc will be part of the process, but none of it matters if you have no idea where you want to go.
You Will Get Recruited by the Level Your Performance/Play Dictates - A good way to think about this one is that your price(level offered) may be different than what others are willing to pay. You can either adjust the level you are seeking, or you must increase your value in terms of your skillset on the field. Remember, coaches don’t get paid to lose.
If You Want to Play Out of State - You Need to Be Better than the In-State Options: - Neither you, nor I, nor anyone is going to take a player from 800 miles away, who might get homesick or flee at the first sign of adversity, over a kid down the road if they have the same skillset. Local players will have hometown loyalty, they grew up rooting for the school, you will need to be better than they are to get their spots.
Tools will Get You Attention, Production will Get You Playing Time: - Be careful selling out for the highest end max exit velos, top end velocities, and the like. A 100 mph exit velo doesn’t do a coach any good if you’re striking out 50% of the time, or you can’t throw strikes but hit 90 one time. Get stronger, faster and better, but understand baseball/softball are games of skill as much as they are physically demanding. The #1 recruited tool in college baseball is someone who can truly hit.
Now I have fortunately, and sometimes unfortunately, seen the vast majority of possible scenarios play out when it comes to the recruitment process. A couple examples to learn from:
Taking the big school walk-on offer instead of the mid-major scholarship.
Taking the small scholarship at the big school over the large scholarship at the smaller school.
Refusing to accept the level that is recruiting you, not responding to calls or messages, only to later try and go back to those schools later. It doesn’t work that way.
Thinking you’ll get to collect offers over an indefinite period of time, compare all options and make a choice. If only it were that easy.
Committing really early in the process. Then the school commits 2 more high profile players at your same position, in your same class.
Sounds a little crazy right? Maybe not. Let’s try an example.
Here’s a quick way to experience what the recruiting process could be like: Let’s say you’re a talented SS, you run well, throw well, hit well, and the power is starting to come. Who wouldn’t want you right? So you start getting some recruiting letters, some phone calls after your sophomore spring. You can only imagine how much better it will get right? Get that picture organized in your mind. Got it? Good.
After a great summer playing in some big tournaments and making the all-tournament teams, you sit at the kitchen table with your parents. Here are your options:
Big State School (DI) is interested, but they already have 3 players at your position, including one big time recruit a year younger than you. It’s a really big program with awesome facilities, and has been very successful baseball wise recently. They currently offer you a Preferred-Walk On spot, but say you’ll have a chance to earn a scholarship in your second year. They’ll likely Redshirt you.
Private College (DI) in the state next to yours, that has a very good academic reputation, says they really like you, offer 50% scholarship, but their best player will be a junior your freshman year, so at best you’ll likely have to move positions to get on the field.
Mid-Major School (DI) happened to be at your last tournament and loved you. They want to offer you a 75% scholarship, plus you’ll get some academic money because you’re a good student, and academically the school is average at best. You would essentially be getting a full-ride. You’ll have a chance to compete for playing time as a freshman. They don’t have the best facilities, but they have a successful program. It’s in a northern state you’ve never been to, that gets pretty cold and you’d only be able to come home by flying 1-2 times a year.
Which would you pick? Sometimes you’ll get plenty of time, but by the soph-junior crunch don’t bank on more than 3 weeks because they are actively recruiting others at your position. The offers could be pulled at any time if those kids commit. After 3 weeks, they tell you they understand if you’re not interested but they need to move on. You have not had any significant interest from any schools you’d consider a better option.
So what do you choose?
This is a very real scenario. You won’t get all the time in the world to decide. Schools will continue to recruit other players, and that is the reality of your situation. At the end of the day, recruiting is a business and business isn’t always easy or seemingly fair. If you put yourself in the coaches shoes, however, it can be easier to understand.
I explain it to my players that it’s a lot like dating in high school. Imagine you ask 3 different girls to prom, separately of course, and these are your responses:
Yes, I would love to go!
That could be fun, I have to see what my friends are doing first.
I’m waiting to see if (insert name) asks me, but if not then sure.
Who would you want to take? Understanding that as much as you want it to be, the recruiting process is not all about you. For many players, they have yet to really look at the world that way. There are 100,000’s of high school baseball players who are working as hard, or harder, at getting recruited. Schools are going to try to find the best players that fit their program, and it’s never a personal attack if a school isn’t interested in you as a player. With all of the available information on the internet these days, you can know how many commits a school has in each class and their position, as well as where your skills compare to theirs in many aspects. At the end of the day, there will be schools that just like a player more than you, and there’s nothing you can do but move on and find a school that values you.
ANALYTICHIGH SCHOOLNCAA D3NCAA D1Fastball76-79MPH82-84MPH87-90MPHHeight5’7” - 5’10”5’10” - 6’1”5’11” - 6’2”Weight168 lbs182 lbs190 lbsExit Velocity70-73MPH81-83MPH88-92MPH60yd7.277Home-2-First4.3-4.54.2-4.34.2.-4.3Catcher POP2.2-2.32.0-2.11.9-2.0OF Throw78-80MPH83-85MPH85-88MPHINF Throw74-76MPH78-81MPH82-84MPH
Steps to Take to Help Control Your Own Recruiting:
Send personalized emails to schools with video of yourself playing. You will hear back from 1-2 for every 10 you send, so start knocking out 5 per night until you start hearing back. A short highlight reel of a few hits isn’t a great idea here. They want to see your swing, the ball flight, your pitching mechanics or video of you fielding and throwing. A few game clips is great, but make sure the competition you’re facing isn’t garbage or it’ll be easy to spot.
Follow up when schools do contact you. This is one of the biggest mistakes players make. Until a school offers you, you need to engage every bit of interest you get from colleges at all levels.
Attending colleges on-campus camps is also a good way to get to interact with the coaches and for them to get to know you. Understand that there are different types of college camps. Some are more of an invite-type, others are just to see and help a bunch of players. Both are good, but make sure you know what you’re getting into if possible.
If you don’t hear back from any schools at a certain level, be sure to vary the level you’re sending emails to, when you start hearing back, you’re finding out what level is interested. That’s a very important thing!
Include your coaches contact info. Most likely no one is calling your 10-14u coach, (although later on MLB scouts sometimes do) so ask your travel ball or HS coach if it’s OK to use them as a reference. Travel ball is most likely a yes, while I would hesitate to put your school’s varsity head coach’s name and number on there IF you have yet to play for him/her.
We have the College World Series here in Omaha, and a lot of my players deal with what I call the Omaha Curse. We see the Top 8 schools every year, and get hooked on schools like Texas, Vanderbilt, Florida and Louisville, as if it’s Top 25 or bust. With nearly 300 D1’s, and thousands of other college baseball programs out there, keeping perspective is half the battle. You’ll only have so much fun sitting the bench, no matter how cool the school might be. That’s like taking the homecoming queen to prom, but she leaves you in the corner to dance with everyone else the whole time. It was cool while it lasted, but then it sucks. The best school is a school that you like, that likes you back & values you.
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