Tagged With "Walk on"

Allow me to preface this with the "not a snowball's chance in hell" caveat. Now that we have that out of the way... My 2020 RHP (PO) has decided to put his college preference over baseball, and will be attending a D1 P5 school. He's happy to play club baseball but wants to take a chance and try to walk on to the baseball team, and is looking to improve his chances. I'm not really sure how they do things these days. I know generally about "invited walk ons" (he isn't) and the (maybe) NCAA...

The general tryouts are usually nothing but a formality where the coaches say no. If he wants to walk on at most P5's, he needs to be recruited as a walk on. I would send them video and let them know that you want to walk on. If you have a Summer coach, have him reach out for you. If the school is having a camp before the start of next season, attend it and let them know you want to walk on. A lot of schools bring in 45-50 for the Fall, so there will be more players than spots.

There is only one way that I know of to even get a legitimate look based on the scenario you described. You need to find someone with baseball cred that the HC at this D1 P5 school will listen to. Your son will have to workout for this “someone” and impress him enough to where he will call the HC and lobby for your son. Short of that you are wasting your time IMO.

Tough pull here. However, if the school cancels its season because of the virus, perhaps you'll have a little more time to convince the coach to see your son. As noted above, you really need someone that has the coach's ear and has the reputation to recommend your son as a walk on player. Otherwise, have him attend the general tryout so he has no regrets. JMO.

Mail the HC the Ace of diamonds playing card by itself in an envelope (no return address-no nothing else). Following week: mail him the Ace of clubs. Following week: mail him the Ace of hearts. Following week: visit his office (in person) and tell his secretary (when she asks who you are) the the Ace of Spades is here to see him. Guarantee it will get you a workout (assuming you aren't 5'6" 150lb RH puss thrower )!

I have no idea if this will work but it sure as hell made me smile😁 OP, what are your son's measurables? That will have a big impact on the advice you get here. Height Weight FB Velo Lefty or righty You said he is putting college choice first over baseball, did he get offers to play somewhere? D1 offers?

Tryouts are usually announced, go for it. Who knows you may make the D squad or the team at some point. I think the odds are typically slim but what does he have to lose?

Your son might also look at related opportunities to be involved in baseball. Son's P5 program has 22 student managers who do a variety of jobs throughout the program, from data analysis to field set up to catching for pitchers during bullpens (I wouldn't want that job). Some of those kids are going on to get jobs at various levels of baseball, but at the very least they're getting to be part of a team, and they're learning some marketable skills. Might be something to explore if playing the...

This^^^. Bingo. Yahtzee.

In light of what has happened in the days since your original post I hope your son is reconsidering his options.

Given how eligibility has unfolded in the last weeks walking on has gone from next to impossible to even less likely. I would think the only way to walk on next year would be to look like an undetected MLB prospect in tryouts.