This is the story of one kid but there are hundreds just like him.
Kid is a middle infielder and as gifted defensively as one can be. He's also a polished hitter.
Freshman year of college, he's got 2 juniors ahead of him up the middle and other upper classmen on depth chart and he gets a redshirt.
Sophomore year, he's still got some of the same kids ahead of him and now a hotshot junior MI also comes in as a transfer. Kid gets a dozen garbage time ABs as a sophomore.
Junior year. The transfer comes back and is head of him. And, thanks to COVID-19 and the NCAA, another kid stays on for a 5th year as a graduate student. Once again, kid gets about just a dozen at bats all season.
Now, the kid is entering his senior year of college, although he has two years of eligibility left, and maybe he gets a chance at more playing time. And, for sure, he's spent the last 3 years, and his first 3 years of college, sitting on a bench watching others play.
I'm willing to bet, as the kid was getting recruited, he was never told "You'll probably never see the field for your first 3 years here."
Anyway, look at rosters and see if you can find kids like this...and, if you do, factor that in when considering where you want to go play baseball.
Sure, it's easy to say "He should have outplayed the others and earned more time." But, be honest...what coach is going to give an 18 year old an equal opportunity to beat out a 21 year old when the 21 year old is playing really well?