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Are Walkon Spots really there?

S sandlotmom100+ posts
Sandlotson has been told that his best chance is to get into a school and try and walk on. He hasn't seriously been looked at by any of the schools he is interested in attending and has been accepted at(5 local U's). All five of the schools would be a good match for him outside of baseball. They are lower level Div 1 schools. At their camps, he's been rated as a "3" which they describe as "average college skill" but none are seriously recruiting him. He's having a great Senior year so far with three saves under his belt already. With the limited number of roster spots, how likely is it that there will even be walk on spots? How does one determine which school is likely to have walk on spots? If he hasn't been approached as a "recruited walkon" (not even sure what that is) should he even bother?
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ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
There are two types of walk-on and both are risky. Every D1 school holds a one day walk-on tryout in the fall and it is open to any member of the student body. The odds of making it from one of these is zero, frankly imho.

With the second type, there is more hope. Here the coach has recruited the player and is basically offering a roster spot yet with no financial comittment involved. It takes a determined young man to rise above these circumstances and find playing time. It happens occasionally, but not often.

In the circumstances you have described, I think your son would find a better fit outside the D1 level. It is better to play at D2 or D3 than sit the bench or worse be cut at the D1 level. At the end of the day it is still college baseball and can provide next level opportunites for those who may be late bloomers. Often times, the campus life and academics are second to none at these institutions.

If D1 is really important to your son, perhaps juco would be better to develop and then look for a D1 opportunity down the road.
Last edited by ClevelandDad
G Goosegg10,000+ posts
Walk-on policies vary widely from school to school.

In some, there is an open campus wide invitation. On tryout day (or week) there may literally be 150 students vying for the coach’s attention. Other campus wide tryouts may net only 40 students. In others, no open tryouts at all – rosters are set totally through recruiting. In others, the recruited walk-ons and LOI’s come and compete; with a limited number of cuts. Still others have the same policy but instead of 38 players competing for 35 slots, there are 70 competing for 35 slots.

My point is there are no set policies and you should contact each individual coach and listen carefully to the response (remember, some coaches want the greatest number of players at tryouts without caring if your son has a legitimate shot at making the team; also remember that in some way transfer rules may be effected if your son tries out [3-finger will have the answer here]).
FM Former Member
Just so hope may not be lost it does happen.

A player that grew up with my son was not recruited except by a small JUCO. He chose to attend Georgia because that was where the best academic fit was for him. Pharmacy. He went to the walk on tryout and wound up making the teams JV roster. So it can happen but this was a very rare occurrence in my book. I know many that have tried and failed to make a team also
justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
GovernorTim - I am not familiar with "JV rosters" at D1. Can you expand on that?

sandlotmom - Its a tough road to make it purely as a walkon...most especially in today's 35-man roster world. When teams could carry 40-45...they were more likely to hang onto a pitcher they thought had a chance to develop. But today, good players who were on a team the year before are getting cut from the 35-man rosters and some are filling up the D2/D3/JC rosters.

A little later in the HS season, I guess I would suggest making contact with the school he wants to attend to find out their policy and if there is any chance at all.
CollegeParentNoMoreCollegeParentNoMore1,000+ posts
You never know, however the walkon path is very difficult even if your son makes the team. For many coaches a walkon is an afterthought who won't get as many opportunities as a scholarship player for playing time. I would have very low expectations if the coach at the prospective school hasn't come out to see your son play a game (camp doesn't count for measuring interest).


As he is a pitcher how hard does he throw?
B baseballguy100+ posts
I can only echo what has been said about the 2 types of walk-ons. The open 'cattle-call' tryout typically done in the Fall by D1's is not really a tryout, in most cases.

Son had summer team teammate tryout at one of these at Big 12 school....coaches weren't there, it was run by the players. Never say never....but the odds aren't real good if you trying to walk on thru this method.

Now, if you are a 'recruited' walk on, then things are a bit different, I believe. With the scholarship restrictions now, this might be a viable way to go. But, are you really being 'recruited' or are the coaches just saying, 'Sure, we're interested why don't you come to our tryout in the Fall?'. To me, that's not being recruited. If the coaches truly are interested, they will be contacting thru phone and mail, sending junior a summer workout packet, following up to see how the senior season is going, planning to have junior involved in their Fall program from the start, etc. Generally, showing junior some 'baseball love', if not a scholarship. Frankly, if its me, I ask the coaches straight out to determine their level of interest. No sense wasting their time or yours. Our experience is that most coaches understand and will give you honest feedback if asked in an appropriate way.

Evenwith a recruited walk on, of course, nothing is guaranteed, but it seems like someone who is in their plans may have a better chance than someone just showing up at an open tryout. Keep in mind, that colleges make cuts, too.

If baseball is a decision maker, I would explore other opportunities at the D2, D3, JUCO, and NAIA levels. Expect that those will be very comeptitive also, but you might get more of a look there.

Finally, if big D1 school is definitely where junior wants to go (academics, social), you might consider the walk-on, with the schools club baseball team as a fall back. Some of my son's hs teammates are going that route and having a pretty great time. Level of play is pretty competitive, as well.

Good luck.
FM Former Member
justbaseball

I am not that familiar with it either as it was 3rd hand info. My limited understanding on it is you will not find the players on the roster. They practiced along side everyone else in the fall. Were not recruited by the school unless an invited walk on. No scholorship monies involved.
But in the spring play games against other teams like JUCO's, d-2, d-3's and private universities. Some of which have actual JV teams like the University of Tampa D-ll that offers a junior varsity baseball team that competes in a full schedule during the Spring. The team is led by head coach Mark Johnson. All home games are played at The University of Tampa Baseball Field. They had to car pool to away games.

So it appears it is just a way for some schools to maybe find a player that just wasnt going to go anywhere but that school even if it meant not playing any longer. As was the case of my son's freind.

Hey and they had uniforms and everything !
S sandlotmom100+ posts
Lefty that throws 84-86. He's not going to be recruited for his velocity nor his size. He's a situational pitcher that can hit his spots and gets guys out. Very low ERAs. Usually brought in as a closer. I'm guessing there isn't any room on a college roster these days for a situational pitcher.

It's been very helpful to hear the realities of the walk on situation. We've heard of "recruited walkon" but didn't really know what it meant.
Last edited by sandlotmom
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
Based on that description I'd guess he's got a decent shot at getting at least a roster spot at a smaller D1. There's still time. Hang in there and have backup options, such as JC or D2, D3. The thing to remember is that these days a roster spot is an investment by the school because they don't have as many to give as they used to.
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
sandlotmom,
I watched 5'9" lefty just last night. He was brought in to start the 9th when a pinch hitting lefty was inserted to lead off the inning. My guess is that he was maybe 86, good curve and change. He is a JC transfer at a program that relies on JC players to a considerable extent.
Did his job just fine.
There are spots in some programs for that type of situational pitcher.
I think you would need a pretty wide net of colleges.
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
I have already seen several lefties work in the low to mid 80's this season. They could pitch and had three pitches they could throw for strikes. They were very effective. This was at the major D1 level.

When a guy can pitch and can throw his offspeed for strikes in any count that 84 from the LS looks like 88-90 to a hitter.

Good luck to your son. If he can pitch and truly can pitch at 84-86 from the LS he will have options.
FM Former Member
OK a follow up... I tried to get a hold of the family I mentioned to get some clairifacation and answers. Bad phone and changed e-mail it has been about 6 years ago that we last spoke.

So I did a little online research and learned that NCAA rules do allow JV squads. But since the basketball teams had eligibly concerns about freashman players fixed to allow them on varsity squads. Today only a handful of Division I teams even have jayvee programs in any sport, all non scholarship, most of them military academies or Ivy League schools. Penn & UNC still have basketball teams but to be honest I could not find a listing for JV baseball at a D-1 school. They may be out there and like stated above be religated to the Ivy's and Military schools.

But I am still a firm believer that if a kid can get outs size,velocity matter very little.
hitithardhitithard10+ posts
I think you have to distinguish between the kid who is told that he is free to give it a shot with no promises as opposed to the kid who is guaranteed a spot on the 35 man roster albeit with no money. The kid who is guaranteed a spot on the spring 35 man roster is on the team and, if he performs, is going to play. I would agree that if a coach tells a kid "sure, come on out but I can't promise you anything", that kid is going to have a tough road. The kid who is guaranteed a spot on the 35 is in a much different position. When the coach has his 35, he is going to play the kids who are performing, money or no money.
sgvbaseballsgvbaseball100+ posts
The walk on...Depends on the school. Fullerton is known for walk ons turning into big time guys. We have players from our program that are technically walk ons. They recieved more in financial aide or academic money then they would have in scholarship money. They would have got scholarships but it was more beneficial for them to be a "walk on". One is these walk ons had two starts for Long Beach State this year.

We have a lefty as Bakersfield which in their second year of D1. He is 5-7 and 155. He is a weekend started for them. He has nasty curve ball and sits around 86/86. He can run it more if he needs to. He proved the little guy can get it done.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
Two kids I know were walk on situations. One was a late bloomer who had a great senior year. Two coaches told him there weren't any scholarships left. They also told him he would have to get accepted to the college without help from the baseball program. They both promised a roster spot if he was accepted. He's now a junior pitcher at the college he got accepted.

The other was told nothing but he could attempt to walk on. When tryouts were held the head coach wasn't there. After less than an hour the assistants called the players in to tell them they wouldn't be taking any walk ons from the tryout. Talk about dishonesty from the head coach. He knew all along.
observer44observer441,000+ posts
.
Have one of those...crafty, velocity challenged lefty who got no "love" out of HS, ended up as a "non guaranteed roster spot" recruited walk on at a high end JC...was successful...then went through the same thing all over again, and ended up as a recruited walk on at DI as a "situational" pitcher...had to earn that spot, it was lightly "recruited" not guaranteed.

Things to be aware of...

We say this again and again...Do your research...get as much history of recruited walk on's at those schools as you can. Do they keep their word? What is the history? Do these kids stick? Do they play? What exactly is the process? How many kids come as "recruited walk on's"? Do any have guaranteed roster spots? How may as straight walk on's? What is reputation of the caoch and the program? Research through the HSBBW, look for current player parents, or parents at degrees of separation. PM them. More on this below.

Roster read...how many players are leaving...seniors? Drafted? How many LHP's are there on the roster? Did they get innings? Who is likley returning? Who is the competition? Are they bringing in 10 LHP's? Frankly, look at height if you think that is an issue. Check their recuits announcements, know the internal competition. Chcek last years games. Do they insert LHP's mid innngs? Know what opportunities might exist.

Go visit and request a meeting...look in the HC's eyes and ask where your son fits into their plans and why. Ask about the recruited walk on process. If your son is projected to play a role, or even make the team they should be able to give you a very, very clear picture of why and where. We need LHP, is not enough. When we met met we got a very detailed and very honest rundown of my son's stregnths and weaknesses and why they thught he fit. And you should feel good about the "impression" that the HC gives you. While this is not perfect information, it can tell you a lot if you can sense such things. And it can make it harder (not hard) for them to mess with your son if you have made that personal connection. Ask for some examples of Recruited walk on's who suceeded. Flat out ask face to face if this is a guaranteed roster spot.

NO napping...Make no mistake, no matter what they tell you there is an element of risk...any player in this position is always at risk, you are never safe. There are no guarantees when you arrive, during the process, after you "make" the team, during the season, or going forward with the team a secodn yeao. You are likley always the last in and the first out, there is no resting or napping. You son will likley get no benefit of the doubt. You may get one year the next year the process is likley the same.

Have plan B, and plan C...No matter how good you feel going in there are no guarantees, this is still a very tenuious situation. What if this doesn't work? What next? Be happy wth the school irregardless and/or keep your options open.

Look deep...Know the program, but also know Your son, and you, have to go in ready to deal with the hard realities of such a situation, which may include being "puffed", possible cuts, possible transfer issues, the stress of not knowing, the stress of never being safe, the clear likeyhood of working very very hard and then having a very limited role on the team, and for many HS kids who were sucessful, they are simply not set up to handle the reality of what this entails. And frankly no matter what they tell you there in many programs there is often a difference of coaches perception between baseball $ guys and the "free" guys. They money guys often have benefit of the doubt, the non $ guys do not. Your chances are limited the rope very short. Some players are fine with this others are not. You have to know your son and he has to know himself. Is he willing to grow with a difficult sutuation. Some are.

All that being said...recruited walk on's combining the right player, the right family, the right program, into the right team can offer some outstanding opportunities for young men as athletes and as people. They are well worth the bother.

44
.
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
Is there anyone who has a 1st party success with a walk on situation at a D1 ?
Haven't heard one that I can recall in the 5 years I have been posting. I am talking about reasonable playing time. What about those who have been promised money in their second year.
I know there is more pressure for walkons but D1s have 27 players they can give a portion of the scholarship money.
Nothing I have seen or heard convinces me that WO is a way to go. When all is said and done, the scholarship money is the thing I remember most. Having a degree that is mostly paid for by BB and academic money gives you a huge leg up.
S sandlotmom100+ posts
Bobblehead: Scholarship money has never been the driving factor for Sandlotson. It's always been about playing. Scholarship money would be gravy.

The one area in which scholarship money(academic or athletic) would come into play is if a D3 or D2 school is interested because without that, we could not afford for him to attend those schools.
S sandlotmom100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by observer44:
.
Have one of those...crafty, velocity challenged lefty who got no "love" out of HS, ended up as a "non guaranteed roster spot" recruited walk on at a high end JC...was successful...then went through the same thing all over again, and ended up as a recruited walk on at DI as a "situational" pitcher...had to earn that spot, it was lightly "recruited" not guaranteed.

Things to be aware of...

We say this again and again...Do your research...get as much history of recruited walk on's at those schools as you can. Do they keep their word? What is the history? Do these kids stick? Do they play? What exactly is the process? How many kids come as "recruited walk on's"? Do any have guaranteed roster spots? How may as straight walk on's? What is reputation of the caoch and the program? Research through the HSBBW, look for current player parents, or parents at degrees of separation. PM them. More on this below.

Roster read...how many players are leaving...seniors? Drafted? How many LHP's are there on the roster? Did they get innings? Who is likley returning? Who is the competition? Are they bringing in 10 LHP's? Frankly, look at height if you think that is an issue. Check their recuits announcements, know the internal competition. Chcek last years games. Do they insert LHP's mid innngs? Know what opportunities might exist.

Go visit and request a meeting...look in the HC's eyes and ask where your son fits into their plans and why. Ask about the recruited walk on process. If your son is projected to play a role, or even make the team they should be able to give you a very, very clear picture of why and where. We need LHP, is not enough. When we met met we got a very detailed and very honest rundown of my son's stregnths and weaknesses and why they thught he fit. And you should feel good about the "impression" that the HC gives you. While this is not perfect information, it can tell you a lot if you can sense such things. And it can make it harder (not hard) for them to mess with your son if you have made that personal connection. Ask for some examples of Recruited walk on's who suceeded. Flat out ask face to face if this is a guaranteed roster spot.

NO napping...Make no mistake, no matter what they tell you there is an element of risk...any player in this position is always at risk, you are never safe. There are no guarantees when you arrive, during the process, after you "make" the team, during the season, or going forward with the team a secodn yeao. You are likley always the last in and the first out, there is no resting or napping. You son will likley get no benefit of the doubt. You may get one year the next year the process is likley the same.

Have plan B, and plan C...No matter how good you feel going in there are no guarantees, this is still a very tenuious situation. What if this doesn't work? What next? Be happy wth the school irregardless and/or keep your options open.

Look deep...Know the program, but also know Your son, and you, have to go in ready to deal with the hard realities of such a situation, which may include being "puffed", possible cuts, possible transfer issues, the stress of not knowing, the stress of never being safe, the clear likeyhood of working very very hard and then having a very limited role on the team, and for many HS kids who were sucessful, they are simply not set up to handle the reality of what this entails. And frankly no matter what they tell you there in many programs there is often a difference of coaches perception between baseball $ guys and the "free" guys. They money guys often have benefit of the doubt, the non $ guys do not. Your chances are limited the rope very short. Some players are fine with this others are not. You have to know your son and he has to know himself. Is he willing to grow with a difficult sutuation. Some are.

All that being said...recruited walk on's combining the right player, the right family, the right program, into the right team can offer some outstanding opportunities for young men as athletes and as people. They are well worth the bother.

44
.


observer: this is so helpful! I've bookmarked this whole thread and will show it to son tonight. I had been thinking that it would take some work and research in order to make the right choice. Now we know what to ask and where to look. Smile

We keep hearing "He'll be able to walk-on" and we didn't think it would that easy. Kind of like "if you are good they will find you".
Last edited by sandlotmom
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
quote:
It's always been about playing.


To me it was about getting your education while playing. Yes the money is gravy.
At the end of 4 years most players will be done with BB. Many of my son's teammates owed 70-100 thousand dollars. I find that shocking for a young man and his family to have to face.
To me it is always about the money. That is why I went to work everyday.
I know that I have an unpopular view but when my son calls he isn't asking for money. He is paying his bills just like he paid for college.
Last edited by BobbleheadDoll
S sandlotmom100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
quote:
It's always been about playing.


To me it was about getting your education while playing. Yes the money is gravy.
At the end of 4 years most players will be done with BB. Many of my son's teammates owed 70-100 thousand dollars. I find that shocking for a young man and his family to have to face.
To me it is always about the money. That is why I went to work everyday.
I know that I have an unpopular view but when me son calls he isn't asking for money. He is paying his bills just like he paid for college.



In some states(and if you are not a stud) you have to make the decision between playing baseball and going to a more affordable university. From the choices he's made, he's told us he wants to play baseball but not if it means going into debt.

Oh and my son doesn't ask me for money today as an 18 year old. He has a job and earns his own spending money. I have no concern whatsoever about him being independent once he graduates.
Last edited by sandlotmom
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
So a reasonable tuition is usually around 20 grand plus 10 grand for room and board. So in order to reduce that you have to go in state and if possible live at home.
Most of the schools we got offers from were at least 35 grand if you add in all the expenses. It is interesting that during the 4 years at my son's college there were several players drop out do to lack of money..
S stepupandplay10+ posts
quote:
The one area in which scholarship money(academic or athletic) would come into play is if a D3 or D2 school is interested because without that, we could not afford for him to attend those schools.


Not necessarily true. In Virginia, you have 2 DIII schools (off the top of my head) that are State Schools--CNU and Mary Washington. Both take a lot of VA kids, and of course don't have "athletic" scholarships. You can research them a little bit right on these boards, and PM folks that have kids there for more info.

Private Schools are tougher ( and a ton of them in VA and NC--relatively close to home?), because its hard to find out what kind of academic $$$ might be there, depending on your kid's GPA, etc. Some have TONS of money to award, getting you closer to State tuition levels. Others have much less, and the debt thing rears its ugly head.
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
A very good friend of ours walked on as a junior transfer at a good DI program in CA.
He had spent 2 years at a DIII program. Clearly, his walk on in 2007 would be an issue with the new NCAA rules.
In any event, despite several efforts to email and phone the coaches at the DI, he received no responses. He found out when the tryouts would occur and showed up.
They kept him through Fall ball along with 2 others.
He was the only one who earned a roster spot and was told they would look to use him as a reliever.
By Mid Spring, he was their Sunday starter and ended up getting drafted.
He chose not to sign, returned for his senior year and was the Friday guy for most of the season and got drafted again.
He ended last season in High A ball.
Left handed pitcher who was 86-89 when he tried out.
Now is 89-92.
It happens but it does not happen much.
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
That is comparable to a Canadian U.
For a foreigner the lowest tuition we found was $18,000 and most were well over $30,000. One D11 that made us an offer was $32,000.
I think you can see why we held out for a large scholarship.
Even at $13,000 that still adds up over 4 years. I remember asking my son where so and so was as his name was no longer on the roster. He told me several ran out of money. All the anticipated costs caught up to them. It seemed like every time you turned around there were new costs.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
RJM what I am referring to is that I have never had a poster who has had reasonable success as a WO. I think it would be helpful to hear from them on this subject. 1st hand is better than 3rd hand info.
While it's still second hand, read my "you never know" post in the main area.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
West Chester University (PA)

Total cost, on campus - $17,890

Bloomsburg State (PA) - $17,100

East Stroudsburg University (PA) - $15,800

These are PSAC schools. They are part of the Pennsylvania state university system, not to be confused with the Penn State University system.

Penn State University (main campus) - $25,208
Last edited by RJM
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