2024 RHP from CA not playing much. Possible D1/P5 recruit. What to do?

What is his current height, weight and confirmed fastball velocity?

As a PO, time is on his side.  The best thing he can do is work on strength and athleticism.  Go play when it opens up and when he starts touching 90 regularly the P5 schools will be ready and willing to talk.  

If he is a P5 prospect, he will have no problem getting on a top travel team that has the contacts and credibility to call any college coach on your son’s  behalf.

***(Been spending lots of time in the gym and at lessons with occasional team practice, so not all is lost.)***

Keep doing what your doing!   One thing at a time.  If he really develops the velo needed for d1 pitching things will sort themselves out. No doubt Covid throws a wrinkle in the mix, but if Cali always HS baseball this spring I would recommend focusing on making the team. Depending on the talent level/depth, doing this as a freshman is not an easy accomplishment.

Get him to some showcases (if his FB veto is in the top percentage range).  Otherwise, get stronger, work on control and then go to showcases.

He's 6 ft, 165 or so. Tall and thin.

Honestly don't know his velo, and yes, we own a pocket radar. Stupid, I know. (We've been focused on getting his older siblings into college. Need some slack here!)

Coach consensus is low-mid 80s (last confirmed during a game from a year ago was 78mph), but the main thing is he has good command (FB, change, curve, slider) and it all seems effortless for him. In a recent local scrimmage he struck out nearly the entire JV team from his HS (7 Ks). But his HS mandates that freshman play only on the frosh team. So while we don't expect he'll have any problem making the team, short term goal is to be more than a PO the first year.

Thank you for the advice. It's very reassuring!

The lack of time on the mound in the last year might be a huge blessing for him going forwards.  The game is riddled with young pitchers who have Tommy John scars.

Give him time to develop.  He’s not truly a P5 guy until he’s throwing in the 90’s.  Have him work with a credible throwing/pitching coach to teach him not only proper mechanics but proper arm care, and get him with a strength coach who can help him build his lower half, which will help his velocity

Best of luck to him and you!

@DD 2024 posted:

Son is a 2024 RHP/CIF. Been told several times he is likely a high level D1 recruit as a PO.

Who told you?  Are they knowledgable about recruiting?  If so, ask them what you should do.  Ask them very specifically what his timetable is, and how they can help him.

I'm a bit cynical; "could be D1 if he develops" is a good way to keep you hooked on doing showcases and travel teams that might ultimately not be the most appropriate.  At least, go into those things with your eyes open.

P5s and other top D1s recruit from freshman year forward.  Most everyone else recruits summer after junior year of HS.

Got it. Thanks for the heads up.

The feedback came from 3 different coaches on 2 different clubs.

Former MiLB player, drafted in the 14th round: "He's a D1 pitcher."

Former MiLB player, drafted in the 2nd round: "He's a high level D1 pitcher."

Former MLB catcher and professional agent: "He's the real deal. Sky's the limit."

Was thinking of asking the agent what the next steps might be.

I would say, you can't control it.  The only thing you can control is development. Keep working hard.  There are a million variables.  We didn't know my son was a D1 pitcher until a lot of D1 schools started calling him.

Hesitated asking because we're changing clubs (going to a bigger, Nationally-known program), but haven't told the old club yet. So the timing is awkward...do we ask advice from people we know now, or wait a few months and ask the new coaches, who've placed dozens of players into college and the minor leagues.

https://community.hsbaseballwe...34#68176099168033334

Yes, this is similar to the mindset we have.

@22and25 posted:

.......................................

  The best thing he can do is work on strength and athleticism.

If he is a P5 prospect, he will have no problem getting on a top travel team that has the contacts and credibility to call any college coach on your son’s  behalf.

Bingo, yatzee!  You need to put this in the hands of the travel team organization whom you will be paying (probably through the nose) to do all the things you are worried about.   Sit down with the travel coach and map out a strategy for his target schools, exposure and development.  This is what they do, and this is what you are paying them to do.   

Monitor your son's progress and the travel teams action items.  Follow up as needed, and begin learning as much as you possibly can about college baseball recruiting.   In the mean time, your son needs to focus on athleticism, strength and (drum roll....please) academics.

Also, don't believe the hype that these former MiLB/MLB players are throwing his way.  He is a high school freshmen.   If you are hearing that fine, but don't pass it on to him.   You don't want him thinking at a very young age that he can get by on his baseball talent alone.  There is so much more to it.  Talented players gets outworked every day by hungrier less talented players.   Just my two cents....

Good luck!

@DD 2024 posted:

Hesitated asking because we're changing clubs (going to a bigger, Nationally-known program), but haven't told the old club yet. So the timing is awkward...do we ask advice from people we know now, or wait a few months and ask the new coaches, who've placed dozens of players into college and the minor leagues.

My opinion, don't worry about it. Keep doing what he is doing, hopefully he will be playing soon. Time is on his side for the moment.  Perhaps a PG showcase will open the door.  Forget about what others say, you want that rating, eventually.

Your son can begin to do research on where he may want to play and the cost of those universities. You can help him with this task. By next summer he should have sent coaches a letter of introduction (email) and his schedule. Don't forget to ask about camps.

A 6f RHP is not necessarily a P5 recruit to me, because you left out the velo part.

Awesome. Thank you. Appreciate all the input.

Our first concern was, and always will be, academics. He's a stellar student and a great test taker, so we have high expectations in that department, baseball or no baseball.

Our next concern, about this time last year, was: does he want it? After pounding through lessons and a year of 5 days/week in the gym with very little playing time (1 tournament since the shutdown last March), the answer is clearly yes.

Next concern was: is he getting good instruction? Took a while, but we found someone to teach him how to pitch: spin, pitch sequence, and arm care. One of his coaches offered input wrt to speed, which in his case translates to using his legs more. Have made significant progress on both of these.

Next, and most recent concern, is: how to market his abilities, esp given California and covid? Lack of playing time and even scrimmage time means we don't have any recent velo readings. Again, the coaches are saying low-mid 80s right now, but I really have no idea. It could be 80, could be 90. No one has gunned him.

Seems most of the positive/D1-type comments we've gotten to date reflect his projectability...pitching is just so easy for him. Throws are accurate and look effortless. His command is stellar.

Again, I will come back with a velo reading ASAP. Thanks all. So helpful.

2024;

since you live 15 miles from Stanford, why not enroll in one of the Stanford's camp at at San Mateo JC?

Do you watch the JC games?

Bob

@DD 2025

You don't have to rush with the  gun reading. Your son is young. Again he has time.  I dont believe in putting the gun on pitchers too soon. He  probably is projectable due to height. Velocity and 3,4 offerings (pitches) for P5 coaches will come.

FWIW, at your sons age, my pitcher was same height and the first time they put the radar gun on him he was low 80s. Three years later he was at 90. 

So sit back at relax and enjoy!

@Consultant posted:

2024;

since you live 15 miles from Stanford, why not enroll in one of the Stanford's camp at at San Mateo JC?

Do you watch the JC games?

Bob

Bob,

Great idea for next summer!

Low-mid 80's RHP = keep grinding.  by waiting you can pick from the schools that align best with his final ability.  A bubble guy that reaches up For a better school Sits on the bench for 4 years   if the velo climbs as your sources predict, there will still be spots made available.  And if those guys are wrong and he's stays in the low 80s He's gonna be miserable at the kind of schools that would offer him as a 2024.

Are you confusing “potential to be a D1 prospect” with “he’s a D1 prospect?” I’ve never heard of anyone throwing 80 being a D1 prospect.

There are also various levels of D1 prospect. A major conference/other top competitive programs are looking for a pitcher who will touch 90. A bottom 100 (there are 300 D1’s) D1 may be looking for 85 who can throw strikes.

Hitting 80 heading into freshman year is promising. But he has to improve his velocity consistently over the next two years. He also has room to fill out. How much more is he expected to grow?

The way to know a player is a D1 prospect is travel teams with reputations for placing most or all of their players in D1 ball are recruiting him. Other teams will ask him to guest when available.