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If you choose the correct Juco program and do not feel like it would be in your best interest to possibly sit on the bench until you get a chance to play or if you know that you really need more playing time to refine your skills then Juco is the place to go. If you decide D1 is your option be realistic about playing time and be willing to compete for a spot with several others. A competitive Juco program may also have several kids to compete for PT as well. Most all kids that go to Juco get some playing time as they play so many games.
If you need to work on grades and test scores then Juco is probably the better choice.
Baseball is a very difficult sport because you miss so much school. Be sure you have the academic ability to stay on top of things.
Playing in a large D1 program is quite exciting due to crowds, TV, perks you get from sponsors etc.. Just remember not all D1's are the same . There are some smaller D1's that have great programs but they don't have the glamour that some are looking for. Good Luck .
Last edited by Play hard
If you are good enough to have some D-1 interest but want to insure playing time then the JUCO route may be a good one for you. I believe that a JUCO program has 24 Scholarships to give out if they are a member of NJCAA. Here in Florida the scholarship includes Tuition, Books, Room and Board (usually in a 2 bedroom condo 4 players to a condo) a "food plan" (usually not very good, this is a JUCO) that does not include dinner. You may get a stipend for a dinner allowance. Manatee Junior College (Fl) has the best food plan that I have seen.

We have enjoyed having our son play at this level since he has experienced ample playing time. We have one player from Ontario on our team now. I know of a pitcher from Ontario also, that plays at Hillsborough (Fl) also.
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
People keeping intimating that JUCO means you play right off the bat or at the very least get more playing time----Not really true---the best players play and they bring in many more "studs" that D-1 programs


You still have to win your spot in the lineup, regardless of where you play


This is good advice.....no matter what they tell you in recruiting, no matter how well you did against the HS competition, and no matter what your opinion of yourself is....

You got to win a spot by performing....
As said before, you have to win a spot on the roster. At many California Jucos you compete against 70-100 players in the fall. About a third drop out in the first few weeks. Mid way though the fall, you realize about a third of the starters are studs that have dropped down from D1's for some reason or HS studs looking to move up in the MLB draft. Another third of the starters redshirted and spent the first year or two getting bigger/stronger and improving their game. Its a very competitive environment, but the reward is being seen by 4-6 college coaches and 4-6 MLB scouts each game if you can crack the starting line up (they usually leave by they 6th inning). In the fall our team played 20 inning games twice a week. Almost everyone got some playing time. You know where you stand based upon which inning you go in, the best start, the worst finish. At our school about 6-7 players will advance to a four year program and its a very highly highly ranked program in California.
DG,

I am curious what league your son plays in. My son is at a CA. JC and what you described is exactly what goes on to the exact word. My son cracked the line up as a true fresh. and started every game.Almost 200 at bats this season, not counting fall.
Previous posters are right, it isnt a easy place to play either.Lots of people assume JC they can play right away. It is work no matter what level it is.
Many of my sons teams Sophmores are moving on to 4 year schools as well.
And the scouts both college and MLB are there as you stated. Talk about exposure.
Another issue is if the juco you are looking at carries a huge roster. Some carry way more that others. Some teams carry too many and there is very likely a chance you could never see the field. It would be somewhat like a tryout camp.
I know of coaches that do not want to have a huge roster because it causes more trouble that it is worth.
The #1 ranked Juco in the country has 31 of their 35 players that were ranked (by us) while in high school. 26 had attended a Perfect Game event and the lowest grade given to any of them was an 8. That means there are several DI caliber players sitting on the bench at this JC.

Not really the normal JC team, of course. They were 57-0 last time I checked. There are many JC's in the country that are loaded with DI talent. A player really needs to stand out in order to see the playing field at those schools. So thinking a player can simply attend one of these schools and get playing time could be a big mistake.
After 1 year of JUCO we are very happy that this is the route my son chose to go. Although the season ended a little early for our team it was a great experience and one that we as a family were able to share since the field was about 2 hours away.

Everyone did not play and there were few substitutions. The line-up pretty much stayed the same all season.
floridafan,

pretty much the same at my sons JC. My sons team is still in playoffs, he just left this morning, we will go tomorrow for their first game.We won our first series by a lot of luck. We lost our first game, won the second in the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs and a walk off 2 run HR, and then won the third.
We also enjoyed watching the team.My son and I had a great discussion at the dinner table last night, I asked him if he had any regrets not going to a 4 year, he said no that he had made the right decision.
I think for the original poster, it is a very individual thing.I do agree with previous posters, do not go into a JUCO situation thinking its a easy place to play. On my sons team we had 5 D1 guys, that had come back. Three pitchers, two position players. And 2 D2 guys, either hardly played.2 of the pitchers hardly pitched.
Many kids go to JC becasue maybe they didn't have grades, or are returning from programs that did't work out.Look at all your options, be realistic when looking at rosters, and make the best decision thats a good fit for your son. Actually your son should be making the decision, its his life in the end.

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