My advice for the HS baseball player who reads this: There are so many variables in finding the right college fit, from program, coaches, academic majors, environment, community, etc., that you want to have as many choices as possible to dial that in and not have to make compromises you're uncomfortable with. That means focus on getting good grades, even if you don't like school that much. Just know that for every 'C' that you get, that's the sound of a door to an opportunity slamming shut ... at the end of the day ask yourself was hanging out with your friends and not studying for that test worth it in the bigger picture? The only person whose future gets hurt is yours, so make choices that help you. Some of you may hate school work, but if baseball is your true passion understand that the path is paved by good grades ... that's just the reality of how it works in our ultra-competitive world, so either embrace it or find yourself kicking your own arse when you're 30 and wake up to realize your own casual attitude towards grades when you were 16 only hurt yourself and set you down a path you wished you hadn't travelled.
Which future do you want to wake up in?