Tagged With "Verbal"
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Early Commitments at Son's Dream School
My son is a 2022 LHP/OF who has recently identified his dream school (D1 P5 program). I checked a popular website that tracks college baseball commitments, and the site shows that there are already EIGHT 2022 VERBAL COMMITMENTS for this school. That's 3/4 of the recruiting class! So, I have a few questions for the group... 1. Can this be true? How accurate are these sites and how do they get their information? 2. Has my son missed the boat (or at least 3/4 of the boat) on getting recruited...
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2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Would love anyone's thoughts on this. Here is where we're at: My son is a 6'2" 195 pound CF/RHP. Starter on his varsity team since Freshman year. Top-3 player on his travel team, been to IMG, PG (including Lake Pointe) and PBR showcases. Runs a 7.03 60, outfield velocity 92, bat exit velocity 95, top fastball on the mound 87. Plays football (which meant he had to miss a few fall travel tournaments last year) but has been working extremely hard in the off season and barring injury, should...
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Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
The subject truly is a question. My 2021 son did a winter indoor PG hitting league and met several kids from area schools, a few freshmen but mostly sophomores. And throughout this time several of the sophomores made announcements that they had "verbally committed" to school XYZ. Two of which verballed to two D1 schools. Now don't get me wrong the kids making these announcements are very solid hitters (can't speak to them as players overall) and would be an addition to any school. But my son...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
The number of kids that get "recruited" relative to the entire population of kids playing ball is small. I would be spending my time targeting schools where your son is an academic, social and financial fit where he might be able to play baseball. Start spending your time learning about schools where your son will get a good education, grow as a person and if all works out can play baseball. Until you get out and about, introduce your son to what opportunities exists (I would strongly...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
I may be reading this wrong, but it doesn't sound like your son has been very pro active in reaching out to schools, emailing coaches, sending out videos, basically marketing himself to schools. Those numbers sound really good, but if you are not getting that information to targeted coaches, then it doesn't matter. I would suggest that you both sit down and come up with a list of 30-50 schools of all levels that are a good fit baseball wise and academically as well and reach out to those...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
JohnnyBaseballog, Thanks for posting. So, I think your son's sights and your expectations maybe a little high based on your post. Most top 30 D1 programs have speedier centerfielders (sub 6.5) , so it may be that they did not look at him in that context. Your son may be a better fit somewhere other than a top 30 D1 program. Where, I don't know. But I think you and your son need to target some more appropriate schools as ILVBB suggests. I would not "chill out", I would get on this...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
I will take a bit of a different approach and talk about what it takes to be a CF at a top 30 program. If that is your son’s current and realistic 60 time that unfortunately will not make the footspeed grade at that level from what I have seen. All 3 OFs at son’s school are pretty solidly sub 7.0 and All American CF is sub 6.5. Son’s best friend played a lot of CF for UT last year. He is 6.4-6.5 guy. Their entire OF at UT is projected to be 6.5ish guys. Your son’s other metrics would all get...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Really appreciate all the feedback I've received. Should have mentioned we have done the NCSA recruiting site, my son's contacted a ton of coaches, even has some of their personal phone numbers. What I'm gathering from all of you so far is that yes we do need to act and narrow down a realistic list, and that unless the 60 time goes sub-7.00, the top schools won't be looking at him as a CF, right? Again, this has been so helpful so thanks for all of your time, and would love to hear more!
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Do some research on the Patriot league and see if there would be interest from your son, from what you posted they may be a very nice fit.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
The two-way notion (CF/P) is extremely unlikely with top 30 programs, even if he has all the desirable qualifications for each. Top 30 programs are able to attract plenty of those types of 2-ways but almost always, they ultimately choose one or the other best direction for the player based on how they see him best helping the program. If he really feels strongly about being a 2-way, he should aim at lower levels who would be more welcoming of a drop-down that wants to do both.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Yes forgot to address this. Agree with Cabbagedad. Two ways at that level are pretty rare. Son’s school will have one this year and had one recently that was very successful. Interesting that they were both juco transfers and had shown they could two way at strong juco programs. Son entered as a freshman with one who even made a few starts in the field last year as well as being our Friday night guy. He gave up hitting halfway through season. Told me it was just too hard to be good at both...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Agree with getting in front of Patriot League. If I was in your area I'd also try to get in front of Atlantic 10 coaches. Some really good schools in that conference. Good luck! At the risk of thread drift -- aren't there more 2-way guys of late? Just looking at D1 preseason AA team and there are 3 guys that I know of on that list who played a position and pitched last year, 2 of the 3 pitched a lot.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Great feedback for you thus far. SAT score and footspeed: You said your son had a 1210 SAT on his first try? That's equivalent to a 26-27 on the ACT, decent start, don't give up, I'd suggest getting a tutor to help yield more points. Reference: Duke requires a 26 ACT so he's fine for top D1's, but extra points will help, especially, if he reroutes toward the Patriot or Ivy Leagues. You never know. Concur with the footspeed, get in a speed program and get that down. Even at Ivy D1's, their...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
7+ 60 time and an 87 mph RHP would fit will at my son's mid-major. Most of the guys are closer to 90 by the time they get to college, but he seems to be on his way to that. As others have said...not a lot of 2 ways guys, and unfortunately at this point, your son's numbers likely aren't Top 30 at either position....but again, should be enough to get him some D1 noticed. Keep putting him in front of as many coaches as you can by email/video now (college season has started)....and get him to...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Agree with all of the above. If I were in your shoes I would pursue A10, Patriot League and Colonial Athletic Conference schools. I would also develop a plan for high academic D3 schools. Look into a company called Play to Win if you decide to focus on D3 academic schools. Try to get an invite to Area Code tryouts in your area. This will require the endorsement of a MLB scout so figure out how to make that connection. Above all you need someone with credibility in the baseball world to...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
First time I've heard of "Play to Win"...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Me too....just checked it out....no fee listing....which tells me it's going to be pricey. There's nothing that any recruiting/scouting service can do for you that you can't do for ALOT less money and get just as much or better results.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Your son needs to get way below a 6.9 sixty to play centerfield at a D1. The top thirty program boat has probably sailed. Except for coming up with an open roster spot due to the draft (recruit signing rather than going to college) there probably won’t be any spots. He also needs to decide if he’s an outfielder or a pitcher. Few players do both in college. It’s a lot of work. 87 is an adequate velocity for a mid major. 6.8 could probably put him in a corner outfield position. Don’t rule out...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
I would normally agree with that statement, but in this case I don’t. Play to Win is a little pricey, but they can do things that you can’t. Or maybe I should say, they are more effective with the things they do than you will be. I have seen the results myself. If high academic D3 is your target, and spending a few grand is not a problem, they are a good bet to get you where you want to go. Assuming you can play, and have the requisite academic track record.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
If a kid with the OP's measurables and grades attends a Headfirst Camp and plays really well, he'll have a whole bunch of D3 opportunities, for less money, especially if he can up those test scores a bit. ... tho it doesn't sound like this family is ready to look at D3 quite yet.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
What are your son's career goals? (Recognizing it will change. ) What is your financial ability to pay for college? (How are you looking to leverage baseball?) What type of college setting (e.g., urban, rural, big, little, warm cool, etc.) suits him? Can he hit?
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Good advice so far. Reality check - he is not going to two way at a top 30 program and as others have pointed out he should expand the net he is casting. That said don't give up on the two/way if he wants as you never know. This was was 6 years ago but my son had similar stats to yours except his academics were higher and he ended up a national champ D3 and did actually play two way his freshmen year, went hitter only in Soph, and the start of Jr yr, got injured and switched to pitching the...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
You've mentioned he's had a few nibbles, unofficial visits, etc. What type of feedback is he getting from coache's that he has spoken to? Did they indicate they see him as a potential 2way and did you get a sense as to where/how they think he would fit in their program. Are your travel coaches in a position to give you feedback on where they see your son. I would try to get as much candid feedback from folks who have seen him play as possible. What you hear may ultimatley help you determine...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Wow! From scanning this board I knew I would get at least decent replies, never expected the overwhelming encouragement and outstanding advice I've seen in this thread. To all of you, thank you so much, you truly helped clarify the next direction we should take with our son and his hopes to play college baseball. I wish all of you luck, and from the bottom of this dad's heart, thanks!
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Those numbers you posted at .220 and a ERA of 4.3 are one thing. At .435 w/10 hr's and a 1.2 ERA are another. Your sons numbers with the later averages were close to what my son had in HS and he's at a power 5 as a two way (at least for the moment). Now that's at 1st base, not OF. If he does play OF next year as a sophomore it will be a corner. I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned juco. It seems my kid has found a home but at times I've regretted not giving that route a closer look.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
6'2" 195 pounds and top fastball is 87 . Based on that, I'd say he has the size and projects to pitch at the next level. I'd focus dedicated training and all efforts in that direction as every team is interested in pitching versus another outfielder. If he can get to 89-90 by the summer with FB command and a couple of other pitches he should be in real good shape. Does he have a pitching coach?
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
top 30 programs have a bunch of 87 guys, I know they have 95 guys also. But I see a lot of guys committed to big 12 and SEC schools whose top velocity is listed as 87-88 right now. and if he's 2019 I could see that pushing up to 90 with some work
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
BOF has it correctly above, when he says that it takes coaching support. Some PC's are not down with their ace pitchers playing both ways, and it requires a lot of support from the staff. Generally the pitchers are having their practice at the same time as the position players. The staff needs to be flexible to make sure the kid is able to get his work in on both sides. Not to mention, school is WAY harder than you can imagine, if he takes a real degree. It has been an eye opener for Ryno...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
To answer a few additional questions, yes he is an excellent hitter, set his high school record for hits in a single season last year. He is definitely a power hitter and is looking to load up on HRs, 2Bs and 3Bs this season. He is also an exceptional base runner, which protects him somewhat from being walked too much. As for pitching, he's always had great velocity but some control problems that he resolved about a year ago. While he has always had a love/hate relationship with pitching,...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Don’t think about 2B, 3B and HR’s. It’s an avenue to a slump. Only think in terms of driving the ball from gap to gap and let the chips fall where they may. College coaches see potential. Players usually get stronger in a college workout program. It’s not uncommon for a college player to develop more power soph year of college. Being an excellent base runner doesn’t cover up his sixty time. In high school college prospects are often playing against a lot players they just don’t fear. In...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
While the general "rule" is not to have two way players, there are individual exceptions and even coaches who love two way players. On S's college team over the years there were three two way players; two are now playing at the MLB level - one as a SP, the other as a 1B. (The league was in the bottom half of D1.) The SP was touching mid-90s and was also the starting college SS; the 1B touched 90 and also started at 1B. Both were first team league players; one was POY (and probably the best...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
7.03 is pretty good, has he spent anytime with a track coach working on his form, start etc. I just saw a track guru with my son and he shaved .20 off his time in the first session. Just fixing his start and the way he was using his arms.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
if I had to do it over again for my 1st one, JUCO would have been the route right away. His numbers were almost identical to your son's. (87/88 of the mound) He had sniffs from mid-level D1 and some IVY, but in the end "settled" for a D2 without doing his homework on fit as a student. He hated it and went to JUCO for year 2 where he matured physically and mentally. He is now a D1 that should do well in the regionals this year. As far as 2 way, it is unbelievably hard. Best kid here in AZ my...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
JohhnyBaseball, one thing you might want to do is spend a couple hours on the PG site, looking at the recruited outfielders at your son's target schools. There will be wide variation within D1. When you look at the data, you will see some schools who recruit outfielders who run 6.8 or 6.9 or even 7.0 as juniors in high school (which doesn't mean that they aren't 6.7 or 6.6 in college, but at this point you are focused on getting recruited). I have done this kind of legwork for pitching, but...
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
JohnnyBaseball, and for the pitching velocity data, here is a thread, focused on velocity posted as a high school rising senior or senior fall: http://community.hsbaseballweb...r-at-certain-schools Velocity isn't the only variable (size/projectability, offspeed, command, mound presence, etc., etc.) but it is important and it is easily quantifiable.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
https://www.google.com/amp/s/w...players/%3famphtml=1 The kid plays for Darin.
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Re: 2019 prospect getting anxious without solid offers yet
Agree with all the above. Will add some stuff to ponder. My son only desire was to play D1. In hs he received numerous accolades by the time he graduated. His fit was mid D1 schools. He didn't even consider (nor they consider him) top 30 schools. He ended up at a very good academic D1 school with a good baseball program (they made it to WS a few years earlier but were eliminated). It was at this mid D1 school he had the opportunity to play every day and show his talent. If your son's desires...
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Re: Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
They committed to play for that program, but not " official" until they sign their NLI, National Letter of Intent. An unofficial visit is when a recruit pays for his expenses while on a visit. An official is where the recruits expenses are paid for by the program, usually, these days not until after he signs this NLI.
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Re: Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
Coach_TV, Tip.....Grab a tablet and read this NCAA document cover to cover while you are watching the start of the MLB season with your favorite team on your favorite large screen TV. Everything you need to know to get started is here. http://www.ncaapublications.co...downloads/CBSA18.pdf This college bound parent 101 document will answer your questions from an NCAA perspective including all the lingo and jargon on page 30 . There is a lot to know and this is an easy read. The tough stuff...
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Re: Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
In laments terms, it means the coach at XYZ has given an offer to a kid to come play baseball at their college. Nothing is in writing and nothing is official until they sign the NLI as TPM said. In this 1-4 year gap the player may not improve like the coach thought, the coach might leave and the new guy doesn't honor the agreement, the kid can just give up baseball without a penalty, etc...in other words a million things could happen. The further out from graduation the kid is, the more...
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Re: Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
One thing to keep in mind about verbal commitments is that it is seldom known outside the kid and parent what the “offer” they were given by the school was prior to committing. It’s easy for me to say now, with a 2018 that has his NLI signed for a great school with a good financial package, but don’t get hung up on freshman and sophomores with verbal commitments. You aren’t being left behind. Enjoy watching the boy play ball and support and help him where you can and where appropriate. These...
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Re: Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
Coach, this subject has come up frequently. I'd suggest a message board search would bring you the info (risks, rewards, minefields) you need to develop your understanding.
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Re: Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
Official visits (paid by school) can only happen after first day of senior year begins. Unofficial visit (unpaid) can happen anytime. NLI early signing is in early part of November senior year of HS. A NLI is only signed when athletic $$ are offered via a financial agreement.
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Re: Verbal Commitment...what does that mean?
This was spot on... Thank you for sharing and it was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!!
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Re: Early Commitments at Son's Dream School
1. All commitments are self-reported. That said, there are often classes that show kids as committed who never show up on their rosters. Some get drafted, some don’t pan out before fall of freshman year...lots of reasons. 2. My opinion, yes and no. If they are that deep into their 2022 class the these are guys they wanted to lock up. Most schools will be looking at players (especially pitchers) until summer after their Junior year. 3. See #2 above 4. There are ways around everything and a...
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Re: Early Commitments at Son's Dream School
I agree wholeheartedly with the above. My son had many dream schools throughout the process. For various reasons, they fell off at various times throughout the process. 1. Mostly, he was never going to be "good" enough to be chosen and even if he was, probably wouldn't play. And these are usually the schools with a nearly full class by the time your kid is a sophomore. Sometimes, the coach just turned out to be an ass, someone he couldn't see playing for. 2. A school/coach will find your son...
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Re: Early Commitments at Son's Dream School
Is he even good enough to play at this school? None of those questions matter right now if he isn't good enough to play there. Will he need to rely on decommits/draft, will he have to commit his sophomore year... those questions imply that he is somebody that can definitely play there. I would assume if he were good enough to play at a school of this caliber, people would be telling you already and he would be getting approached by top travel programs to come play with them. I would guess...
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Re: Early Commitments at Son's Dream School
As for questions... 1. Yes it's true, or very close to being true at least. The commitments are self reported but are probably closer to 100% than 90% accurate. Since they are self reported, there are plenty of kids who never bother to add the commitment meaning there are probably another one or two commits not listed. At 2019s P5, there are 10 listed on PG when 13 signed. 2. No he hasn't missed the boat but the coaches have what they expect to be the meat of their class - the studs. They're...