College Baseball Recruiting Tips

It's very important to start contacting coaches early if you are thinking about playing baseball in college. 

Attend college games and camps to get exposure to college baseball. Top baseball players are selected by colleges during their junior year of high school or earlier. Focus on academics, developing skills, training hard and being a good teammate. 

College coaches are looking for talented players with passion, energy, character, and good grades.

How to Make a Baseball Recruiting Video Coaches Will Actually Watch

There is only one way to make a recruiting video for baseball pitchers: give recruiters and pitching coaches all the information they need to make a decision in that video. (drivelinebaseball.com)

Learn more

College Coaches Consider Parents When Selecting Recruits
One key element that soccer head coach Erin Chastain considers is how much the parents let their young athletes self-advocate. That indicates a parent who is less likely to interfere, and a player who is more empowered. Erin also watches parents' sideline behavior to see whether parents are respectful of all players and coaches. Watch the video


What is the No. 1 Factor when Recruiting a Pitcher >>
  Find out what coaches are looking for in a pitcher ...

What It Takes to Play College Baseball

Interview with KU coach Rich Price


Information you need to play at the collegiate level.

College Recruiting Tip No.1: NCAA Eligibility

Whether you're all-state or just all-potential, following your college dream means following NCAA rules. Here's how to get the recruiting process started right.

College Recruiting Tip No.2: Choosing a College

College Recruiting Tip No.3: Marketing Yourself

College Recruiting Tip No.4: Importance of Video

College Recruiting Tip No. 5: Creating Your Video

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More Baseball Recruiting Tips >>
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Actively Communicate with Coaches

College coaches emphasize that the prospective player needs to be proactive and communicate with them via email. This is the responsibility of the player, not the parents.

Prospective student-athletes should send their resume, game schedule, and a link to a short video. Players should send emails to keep the coaches updated during the season. College coaches are very busy during the season, so they prefer short email notes.

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A college coach gave my son this advice:

My best advice would be to reach out to coaches periodically (don't annoy them with 1000 emails/letters but make sure to check in with updates). Also, a YouTube video can be helpful since it gives a coach a first look before they decide whether to see a player in person. (D1 Assistant Coach)

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A baseball prospect must be proactive in communicating with coaches.

Focus on Academics

College coaches emphasize that academics (grades) are very important, along with personal character and a strong work ethic. 

Play Summer Ball

One assistant coach advises student-athletes to find the best summer team to play on in order to get experience against top players in the area. Many 18U teams are coached by college assistant coaches. Email updates on your progress and game highlights to coaches.

Advice from College Coaches
Be realistic with your expectations. Get an honest evaluation from a coach to see what level of baseball you could be successful at in college. It's better to get a lot of playing time at a Junior College than sit on the bench at a D1 school.

Michigan State Baseball Coach Jake Boss Interview

Interviews with College Coaches around the country >>

(Every interview includes recruiting questions)

Dan O’Brien, Head Coach of DII powerhouse UC San Diego answers the following question.
(Note: Dan O'Brien is now the head coach at Santa Clara, a D1 school)

What advice would you give a HS ballplayer looking to get the attention of UCSD?

First, you must be a good student to attend UCSD.  If you have a HS GPA around 3.5 or higher simply send us an email to baseball@ucsd.edu and we’ll help you decide if it’s a fit.  Showcases and camps obviously help.  Many players interested in UCSD take advantage of our HS Showcase camps that we offer throughout the year.

Read More >>

nextlevelballplayer.com
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By the Numbers

How to Get Recruited for College Baseball

Baseball players are evaluated by five tools: 

1) Arm Strength / Throwing Ability
   (Arm Speed, Exchange, Release, Throwing Accuracy, etc.)  

2) Range / Fielding Ability 
   (Body Control, Double Play Skills, Footwork, Quickness, etc.) 

3) Speed / Base Running Ability
   (Footwork, Overall Speed, Quickness, etc.)  

4) Hitting for Power and 

5) Hitting for Average
   (Balance, Bat Speed, Explosion, Hitting to All Fields, Length of Swing, Power, etc.) 

On the mound here are common fundamentals evaluated: 
(Arm Speed, Balance, Each Pitch thrown for Consistent Strikes, Movement of Pitches, Overall Mechanics, Velocity, etc.)  

This NSCA guide gives basic information on what college coaches are looking for in a baseball player. Find out what coaches are looking for in a pitcher, including strikeout ratio, ERA, velocity, and pitches throw for strikes. 

The guide covers information on Division 1, D2, D3 and JC schools. Did you know that there are close to 90 junior college programs in California alone?

Read more

(source: ncsasports.org)


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What Colleges Look For 
Player size, velocity, pitch-ability and ability to compete ..
Read more ...

Do ambidextrous pitchers actually get recruited to play in college?

Yes, a few ambidextrous pitchers played at the Division I level. Two switch pitchers played for Harvard.

See a list of switch pitchers who played in college.

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