My son's experience is that baseball can help a player get into a school which the player might not ordinarily get into on grades alone. But, there will be no merit aid. (However, financial aid is a different story. Many elite LAC say they will meet 100% "demonstrated need" - whatever that is.) But grades can get players merit aid. For schools where my son fell within the top 25% (test scores and gpa), he received very nice merit packages. One coach told my son, "The higher your scores, the more I can do for you." I wasn't there so I don't know what he meant. But my son thought it meant help with admissions and scholarships.