In baseball, coaches generally have only a few opportunities per year to help players get admitted, and the degree of assistance is only a light thumb on the scale.
If the grades and test scores are where they belong, baseball can smooth the way through admissions. For example, my son didn't bother write two optional essays on his application because he figured (correctly, as it turns out) that the admission committee's whole person assessment of him would begin with his academic measurables and end with the coach's scholarship offer.
However, any baseball player who expects his baseball skill to earn him a free pass from admissions is likely to find diminished college options.
In the case of an early commitment by a student who may not be academically qualified, the risk is borne entirely by the student. From the coach's perspective, the early verbal commitment means the player won't go to another school. If the player fails to develop, the coach can get out of the offer simply by not helping him get admitted.
And you'd better believe the coach has a better back up plan than the student.
Sounds reasonable to me. It also let's the coach have an easy out. "I would really like to have you, but unfortunately, you didn't pass admissions. It is out of my hands."