@Francis7 posted:
1. Go somewhere that gives you a chance to compete for playing time as soon as possible.
I think "a chance" is the key part here. The coach can tell you all you want to hear when you are being recruited. See who's ahead of you, and be ready to COMPETE. You can a great deal of insight by looking at the year to year roster and stats.
2. Choose a successful program. Playing for a team who is lucky to win 15 games a year gets old in a hurry. Baseball is more fun when you are winning or at least have a chance to win most of the time.
I really disagree here. Son committed and played to a "15 win program or less". They competed for league title freshman year and went to NCAA's (school record win total) son's sophomore year. A good recruiting class(es) can turn a program around and change the culture.
3. Play for a coach that you respect and admire. Don't go to a school where you are not sure if you will get along with the coach. Worst thing to do is have a job where you don't like your boss.
The coach who recruited you may be different once you are there, but yes admiration from players is good. We learned much watching games when son was still in HS being recruited. How did the coach interact with players? How were his on field decisions? Talk to a few of the current players (starters and non-starters).
The "non baseball" reasons can't be neglected (as others indicated). Those played heavily on son's selection of college program.
