Let's Have a Good Discussion

You may want to contact Coach 27. I believe he can direct you

 

Does he have to have an outstanding statistical year in high school to get noticed?


No, your son does not need the added pressure of having a stellar statistical season in order to get looks from college coaches. College coaches do not care about stats, they look at the tools. They rate arm, bat speed, speed,etc

For example... a player may go 3-3 with 2 bloops and a seeing eye single opposed to the player who goes 0-3 with 3 line outs. Scouts are gonna be lookin at the 0-3 player.

 

Questions

First - My son is a junior and receives several letters and emails each week from many different colleges (D1, D2, D3) asking for anything from prospect sheets to "come to our camp" information. How do you determine if these are mass mailings or do these colleges truly have some interest? Should he contact each coach and ask if they have seen him?

Second - My son may pitch some innings this spring and next year as well. He will gladly do whatever is needed to help his team, although his passion is catching. Does this create any arm concerns if he pitches a game a week and catches two games? Does this also create questions with possible college coaches that see him play at a position which he is not as skilled?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

catcher10:

Two excellent questions. Because I'm a parent and not a coach, I'll leave your second question to the "baseball heads" on this site.

The fact is that your son is simply part of the database to a majority of the schools who write you. However, the fact that you're in their database is a significant step forward.

Critical to the process is determining which among them seem to offer the best overall fit for your son and LETTING THEM KNOW of his interest. This can be done as simply as attaching a letter to the questionnaire you return. If you do that, by all means, make your correspondence to them personal; that is, indicate in your letter WHY their program and university are of special interest. Additionally, make sure that they know when and where they can see your son by sending a team schedule and/or indicating a showcase that you think they might attend. Be careful not to overwhelm them, stick to the facts; but make sure that they're aware that your son is interested in them. Otherwise, chances are, his name will continue to languish as one of many (Some major programs have as many 800 names per class in their database.).

In the meantime, complete and return all questionnaires, even if your son may not currently be interested. You never know. A particular school or schools might develop a special interest in him; one that you might not have seriously considered until they approached you with a special show of interest.

Best of luck to your son!

(Great topic, Braves!)

 

This is a great thread.

First of all each and every kid is different. You do not have to follow the same path as everyone else to reach the same destination. In fact every kid should follow the path that is best for them. Now how do you determine what is the best path for you?

In every class there are going to be certain kids that are going to stand out. They are going to be heavily recruited and they are going to have many options. Last year for example guys like Madison Bumgardner , Trent Rothlin , Patrick Johnson , Justin Jackson , Chris Luck etc etc. Then you have the kids that have the tools to play at the next level and are very good players. But they need to be exposed to college coaches over a period of time in order for them to gain an appreciation for what they bring to the table. Then you have the next group of guys that are not going to stand out in a setting with alot of outstanding players but they are very good and can play at the next level.

The first thing a player has to do that falls in this last category is gain a true understanding of where his tools will allow him to play. What he needs to do to get better. They need a game plan for success. "How do I know what level my son can play at?" "What schools should we focus on?" "How do you go about getting our son noticed by these schools?" The questions are always the same. Playing on a showcase team in front of the major college coaches if you do not have the tools they are looking for is a waist of time. You need to be seen by the people that you can play for.

You need an honest evaluation of your ability. You need an understanding of what you need to do to improve. You need someone to assist you in the search for a school and program that is a good FIT for you. What works for one kid may not be the best avenue for success for your kid. Sometimes its just a couple of tenths of a second on the 60 yard dash. Sometimes its just a few mph on the fastball. Sometimes the kid is just not phyically developed and needs some more time to grow into his body. There is a place for every kid that has a great work ethic and strong desire to play at the next level.

What really gets me is people pay literally thousands of dollars each year trying to get someone to say "We want you" but they market their kid in all the wrong places. The bottom line is people need someone to be in their corner that understands what the player brings to the table. What level of baseball the player can actually play at. And what is the best fit for the player both academically and athletically.

Great stats might get someones interest level up. But the bottom line is they are going to want to see you play. And when they do they are going to be looking for the tools that they believe will play at their level. Stats alone will never get you an opportunity to play at the next level.

We have never had a player not play at the next level that had the work ethic and desire to do so. Not one in over 12 years. Why? We are honest with them and we get them in front of the right people. And they are honest with themselves.

 

Very good information Coach 27,

thanks,it all makes sense.Your posts are always very informing.

 

different routes

Great information Coach 27.. A lot of kids dismiss JUCO schools out. Because of 2 very big misconceptions: 1: JUCO baseball is for players who are not very good. 2: JUCO baseball is very athletes who could not get into a 4 year school. BOTH are simply not true. If you are player who wants to go to a certain school(s) that do not recruit you or do not have room for you right now then a JUCO route might be an option. If you think JUCO baseball is weak go watch some Region X games in the next few weeks!

The key is to find a JUCO school that best fits you. The academics are not a concern as the articulation agreement was signed 6 or 7 years ago (means that all college level courses at a junior college/community college in the general college/college transfer program transfers to a 4 year school).

Financially, the difference between a "junior college" and "community college" are/ can be alot. Junior colleges are private and offer usually more in the way of scholarships and community colleges are state funded and very inexpensive.

JUCO athletics can offer a lot of options for very many different players. And do not think that D-1 players out of high school do not go to JUCOs. Region X sends numerous kids to D-I, D-II, D-III, & NAIA schools every year. Again as many have stated each kid is different just like HS players.

I cannot stress enough. Keep all your options open and do not be narrow-minded. Do not burn any bridges.

 

I guess that leads me to my ultimate question. How do you get your kid in front of these guys? State games...legion ball...showcase events...etc... We have one of the best, most highly respected coaches in the state. Is he our best resource? The problem with that is our coach has a policy of just one parent-coach conference per season. I said hey to him last night and he said that was it. I'm done until his senior year. I have to remind my wife to not say anything to him. It may carry over to next season.

 

my answer to a question as a parent......

Do less talented players receive offers?

Yes! The great thing about showcase/summer/fall baseball is that players are seen by a myriad of college coaches, thus increasing their opportunities. The drawback of these same types of events for some players is that alot of these college coaches are seeing you for the first and possibly last time. Everyone wants the 90+ guys, or the 6'3 200 lb mammoths hitting pea rods out of parks, not everyone is that guy.

My son is that other guy. Not highly recruited by anyone, but going to play for a D1 because he went to this coaches camps and he is developing like that coach had hoped. When my son began pitching 3 years ago, this coach told him, learn to throw strikes before you do anything else. Velocity will come! Throw 3 pitches for strikes because a strike is the best pitch you have. After 3 years of learning and lessons, he fills up the strike zone with 3 pitches. Now this coach is banking that velocity will come!

I guess my point would be, if you like a coach and want to play in his program, attend their camps, work on the things they tell you are weak at and show improvement at every camp. Work ethic, dedication, and grit can overcome less athletic ability. If a coach knows you have worked hard and want to continue to work hard, there are always opportunities.

 

Regarding The Recruiting Process

Do all D1 talent players play D1?
Do all talented players receive scholarship offers?
Can less talented players receive offers?

Not all D1 talent players play D1 baseball. With the new NCAA scholarship rules, a lot of D1 players are opting for smaller schools. The smaller schools offer these players the chance to play rather than wait 2 -3 years for an opportunity. As I tell potential recruits when selling our program - "would you like the chance to play for us or wait for a chance to play at a larger school". I never disparage another program because I am all about giving the kids the opportunity to get a great education AND PLAY baseball. Some kids would rather be on the bench at a "name" school - and that's okay. We typically sign our kids in late spring and during the summer. While the "blue chippers" have already committed, there are a LOT of quality ball players still available. We typically do not know how much scholarship $$$ we have available until AFTER football signing day - which is today. The pecking order is football, basketball, then......all the rest.

My advice to ANY baseball player interested in pursuing baseball as a college option is simple - GRADES, GRADES, GRADES. Given a choice between a great player with marginal grades and a decent player with great grades - I'll take the decent player with the great grades? Why? Because I can typically depend on that player being eligible and can build a team.

Bottom line - until the Spring semester begins, unsigned players still have a chance.