How to Get Recruited to College Baseball

These Recruiting Guidelines have been compiled using direct feedback from college coaches, and analyzing college rosters at all levels of competition. Please keep in mind that there are many factors used while evaluating student-athletes. Also, keep in mind that each level of college baseball (Division One through Junior College) includes high levels of competition.

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.)

Here are additional factors evaluated by college coaches and NCSA throughout the recruiting process:

Athletically:
-Accolades and Awards
-Athletic Data (60 Time, Velocity, Pop Times, etc.)
-Athletic History in High School and College (if applicable)
-Feedback/Interest from coaches and contact thus far with college coaches
-Height and Weight
-Recruiting Guidelines (See Below per Division)
-Statistics
-Travel Team
-Video (mainly area in which your five tools are evaluated)

Academically:
-Actual Grades in Individual Classes (Transcript Overview)
-Class Load (AP and Honors courses)
-Class Rank
-Extracurriculars
-GPA
-SAT/ACT scores
-Subject Test Scores

Here is additional information broken down by division level to read through to help understand the evaluation process and additional guidelines to how each level recruits student-athletes:

Division I:

The typical Division I baseball player is ‘polished’ and seems to already have all the tools necessary to be successful as a freshman. As opposed to the Division II baseball player, the typical DI player needs far less development, if any. The position players possess at least 4 of the 5 measurable tools. The pitchers display a command of at least 3 pitches with high velocities. On average, they have the ability to throw many innings, and most often they are only used on the mound and rarely as position players. Most DI players come from large high schools. Many of these programs are considered the best in their area or in the state. In addition, most DI players have been awarded accolades such as All-Area, All-County, or All-State early in their high school career. Lastly, most DI programs identify prospects their freshman and sophomore years, many of these recruits verbally commit junior year, and these programs mainly wrap up recruiting by the early signing period senior year.

Pitchers:
-Over 1 strikeout per Inning Pitched
-ERA below 2.50
-Velocity: As low at 84 MPH consistently and ranging to 95+ (Verified by a neutral source)
-2 Additional pitches thrown to spots consistently

Catchers:
-Height: 6'1”
-Weight: 200 lbs.
-Pop Time: 1.95 and below consistently (Verified by a neutral source)

Middle Infielders:
-Height: 6'1”
-Weight: 190 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.8 or below (Verified by a neutral source)
-Home to 1st:
Right-Handed Hitter: 4.2 or below
Left-Handed Hitter: 4.1
-Velocity from the INF: 85+ MPH (Verified by a neutral source)

Corner Infielders:
-Height: 6’2”
-Weight: 200 lbs.
-Power Numbers: 8+ HR, 30+RBI

Outfielders:
-Height: 6'1"
-Weight: 190 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.6 (Verified by a neutral source)
-Home to 1st:
Right-Handed Hitter: 4.1 or below
Left-Handed Hitter: 4.0
-Velocity from the OF: 87+ MPH (Verified by a neutral source)

Statistic to Keep in Mind:

There are over 500,000 student-athletes across the country that play high school baseball and less than 2% of them will play at the Division I level.

If a student-athlete has not been in communication back and forth with division one level programs at the start of junior year, they must be open to attending a college at the Division II, Division III, NAIA, or Junior College levels.

Division II:

For some colleges, especially those in the southern states and out on the west coast, DII Baseball is an extension of DI. There are very few differences between the typical west coast or southern DII player and the average DI player. For the DII schools up north, the athletes may be a notch below the average DI and perhaps a little less polished. They may not throw as hard, play for the top high schools programs, or possess at least 4 of the 5 measurable tools. This is not always the case, as there are some very solid DII baseball programs up north. However, it is no secret that overall, the better baseball schools are those located in warmer climates. Student-athletes should be meeting the guidelines below by the summer before their senior year as many division two programs recruit student-athletes who may not have been picked up by division one programs after the early signing period.

Pitchers:
-Averaging about 1K per inning pitched
-ERA below 3.00
-Velocity: As low at 82 MPH consistently
-1 Additional pitch thrown to spots consistently

Catchers:
-Height: 6'0’’
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-Pop Time: 2.0 or below

Middle Infielders:
-Height: 6’0’’
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.9 or below
-Home to 1st:
Right-Handed Hitter: 4.3 or below
Left-Handed Hitter: 4.2
-Velocity from the INF: Low 80’s MPH from SS

Corner Infielders:
-Height: 6’0”
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-Power Numbers: 4+ HR, 20+RBI

Outfielders:
-Height: 5'11’’
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.8 or below
-Home to 1st:
Right-Handed Hitter: 4.2 or below
Left-Handed Hitter: 4.1
-Velocity from the OF: 82-86 MPH

Statistics to Keep in Mind:

There are only 16 Division II colleges in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Student-athletes who want to compete at this level on the West Coast have a very limited number of opportunities to consider

Many junior college student-athletes transfer to the Division II programs creating even less opportunities at this level. (There are close to 90 junior college programs in California alone.)

Division III:

Some DIII programs are stronger than others, but there seems to be more continuity with the physical characteristics of DIII players than there are for DII or NAIA. Certain DIII programs, such as Wisconsin Whitewater or George Fox recruit student-athletes who miss out on opportunities with the least selective DI programs. Student-athletes should be meeting the criteria below by the beginning of senior year when most division three programs start heavily recruiting players.

Pitchers:
-1 or less than 1 K per Inning Pitched
-ERA below 4.00
-Velocity: As low at 80 MPH consistently
-1 Additional pitch thrown for strikes consistently

Catchers:
-Height: 5’10”
-Weight: 170 lbs.
-Pop Time: 2.1 or below

Middle Infielders:
-Height: 5’10”
-Weight: 165 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 7.1 or below
-Home to 1st:
Right-Handed Hitter: 4.4 or below
Left-Handed Hitter: 4.3
-Velocity from the INF: Upper 70’s MPH from SS

Corner Infielders:
-Height: 5’11”
-Weight: 170 lbs.
-Power Numbers: 2+ HR, 20+RBI

Outfielders:
-Height: 5’10”
-Weight: 170 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 7.0 or below
-Home to 1st:
Right-Handed Hitter: 4.3 or below
Left-Handed Hitter: 4.2
-Velocity from the OF: 78+ MPH

Statistic to Keep in Mind:

There are no Division III colleges that offer baseball in Florida and only eight in the Southeast states of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. This is one of the most saturated areas of baseball talent and this means there is even more competition for programs at other division levels.

NAIA:

The discrepancies in characteristics are very severe when it comes to NAIA baseball. Most compete at a division two level. The most selective NAIA programs are best compared to a low DI level program. The least selective are competing at a low DIII level.

Statistic to Keep in Mind:

There are only five NAIA programs located in the Northeast and New England area

Junior College Baseball:

Similar to the NAIA level there are many discrepancies in characteristics between the top level programs and the least selective programs. The most selective junior colleges in the country recruit mid to upper level DI student-athletes. Lower level JUCO programs recruit low level DIII players.

Also, unlike the NAIA, junior colleges do have 3 divisions for the purpose of separating stronger JUCO programs from the weaker ones. While there may be somewhat of a drop off in talent between Division III junior college and Division I and Division II junior colleges, there is little difference between DI and DII junior colleges. Many of the junior college players lack the ‘polish’ to be considered DI players coming out of HS, but they already possess the necessary physical tools to be successful at high levels. Many times, these recruits need to harness and polish those tools. At times, the GPA’s of some junior college athletes are lower than those attending four year schools, suggesting that these athletes need to two years to mature academically.

Statistics to Keep in Mind:

There are 88 junior colleges located in California alone

175 players were selected from the NJCAA in the MLB Draft in June, 2010

-Here is a general guideline to what "Most Selective Colleges" look for in student-athletes academically:

-Mainly AP and Honors Courses
-All A's and B's on the Transcript
-GPA above a 3.5 GPA
-Top 10% and some want Top 5% of your Class
-At least (minimum scores) a 25 on the ACT or 1250 on the two-part SAT (1800 on the three part)
-At least two subject tests with a score of 600 on each of them
-Extracurricular Activities