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49 replies

Basic Question, How do you know if your kid has it?

B BaseballDadNH10+ posts
I would be interested in others perspective on whether or not my son is a D1 type College Baseball player. How does a parent know? The recruiting process can be distracting, if expectations are not managed right, no?

Perspective, feedback, ideas are welcomed.

Some information:

Our son is:

1) Sophomore, 6'3+ and 185LBS.
2) He has had a passion for the game since he was 4 or 5 years old.
3) A few years ago he invented a game/drill in our driveway. He found his younger bother's 1 1/2 inch bat and would hit fallen hard cherries (1/4 inch) from a cherry tree in our yard. He would do this for hours...
4) He bats right and throws right.
5) He throws in the mid to upper 80's.
6) He is the 3/4 hitter, generally bats for average and drives the ball well.
7) Good glove, plays 3B and some outfield
8) Runs a 4.54 forty
9)He has always played on the top AAU teams in the area.
10) For the last year he has been getting letter after letter from more than a dozen D1 schools.
11) Is a B/B+ student.

So back to the question, who do you know if he has "it"? Is the interest real or just computer generated mailing list? Some of the notes and letters seem personally signed.

The amount of mailing for clinics, schools, showcases, travel teams, etc is hard to weed through, is this stuff real or just money making deals?

Perspective from Parents that have been through this or coaches would be very helpful.

Thanks and Merry Christmas
Last edited {1}
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FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
Lot of different ways to look at this:
1. If in your opinion he "has it" then he has it.
2. If someone tells you he "has it" then he has it.
3. If he thinks he "has it" then he has it.
4. If someone else thinks he "has it" then he has it.

However having "it" is nothing more than an emotional perception and it's in the eyes of the beholder.

Being rated 143 just means you are rated a 143. A rating doesn't actually mean you "have" any thing other than a 143. Like throwing 99 mph. Doesn't mean you have "it" ---- it means you throw 99 mph.

Now if your son wants to play college baseball or professional baseball he has to "compete" against other players for that spot. Bottom line a coach determines if your son is the most talented player he can get with what he has to offer. A coach normally makes that determination based on information he gets from his own eyes, his own ears, etc. He also has a trusted group and methods he gets similar information from. This group/methods could be scouts, high school coaches, summer coaches, boosters, showcase promoters, letters, videos, emails, scouting services, newspapers, camps and the list goes on and on. You need to determine "what" your son has ----- and market his "what" and forget about the "it" in my opinion.
Fungo
Last edited by Fungo
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
I was surprised that number 14 wasn't listed - that he also helps little old ladies cross the street. #3 is an interesting one for sure! Welcome to the hsbbweb btw!

Seriously, I am curious what BaseballDadNH thinks? It seems to me that if you can generate a list like that, that you already have a good idea whether or not your son has it.
Last edited by ClevelandDad
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
Easy answer.

Your entire family will know he has "it" the 1st of July after his Junior year.

That's when D1 college coaches pick up the telephone, dial a certain phone number, and your son picks up on the other end and says "yes Coach, I accept your offer."

If that call doesn't come, then that "it" you are asking about will be playing at another competitive level, i.e. D2, D3, JUCO, or NAIA. Nothing wrong with any one of these levels.

Good luck.
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
“it” has many definitions depending on who you might ask. In most cases “it” is developed and proven over a long period of time. In your son’s situation… Sounds like he has what it takes to be very successful at baseball.

Having “it” to me is simply being a good human being. If someone has “that” he has “it”! If someone lacks “that” he will never have “it” IMO, because that is where “it” all starts and ends. Doesn’t have anything to do with athletics.

Mother Teresa had “IT”!
OJ Simpson didn’t!
gitnbygitnby100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by BaseballDadNH:
I would be interested in others perspective on whether or not my son is a D1 type College Baseball player. How does a parent know? The recruiting process can be distracting, if expectations are not managed right, no?

Perspective, feedback, ideas are welcomed.

Some information:

Our son is:

1) Sophomore, 6'3+ and 185LBS.
2) He has had a passion for the game since he was 4 or 5 years old.
3) A few years ago he invented a game/drill in our driveway. He found his younger bother's 1 1/2 inch bat and would hit fallen hard cherries (1/4 inch) from a cherry tree in our yard. He would do this for hours...
4) He bats right and throws right.
5) He throws in the mid to upper 80's, was clocked at 87 last year.
6) He is the 3/4 hitter, generally bats 400-500 avg and drives the ball well. He has always hit well for power and average.
7) Good glove, plays 3B and some outfield
8) Runs a 4.54 forty
9) He was ranked 86 to 150 on various perfectgame ratings
10) Plays for the top under 19 team in Cape Cod MA. He has always played on the top AAU teams in the area and played down in Marrieta Georgia (PerfectGame).
11) For the last year he has been getting letter after letter from LSU, Clemeson, UNC, UV, Dartmouth, Stanford, UConn, UVM,(to many others to recall) and Detroit Tigers.
12) Is a B/B+ student.
13) Plays Varsity basketball and Varsity football (first year) playing football.

He generally stands out in a crowd of players because of his size and strength of his arm. One scout once said to me that he had an effortless release and dream build.

So back to the question, who do you know if he has "it"? Is the interest real or just computer generated mailing list? Some of the notes and letters seem personally signed.

The amount of mailing for clinics, schools, showcases, travel teams TeamOne (Nike), etc is hard to weed through, is this stuff real or just money making deals?

Perspective from Parents that have been through this or coaches would be very helpful.

Thanks and Merry Christmas


Some will perceive your post as naive and genuine.
Others will perceive it as an attempt to garner accolades for having a talented son.

Either way, here's some advice:

1. Tell your Son to keep up on his schoolwork, and do everything he can to raise his GPA.

2.Don't worry about whether he has "it" yet! Focus on being a supportive Parent, and encourage him to be the best he can at what he loves to do!

3. Letters from Colleges are a dime a dozen. Wait to get phone calls and visits before you get too excited.

4.Make sure that this whole process is about what's best for your Son, not what's best for you or your ego.

Good Luck!
B BaseballDadNH10+ posts
Thank you all.

In particularly I like the advice from Gitnby. I think it is spot on. The point about not over reacting to the letters is important. The phone hasn't rung yet. So, there is a long way between here and college, which is what I wanted to know.

No desire for accolades, it's hard to get an objective read from people that know you or your kid without spin.

My conclusion: He might be a D1 player, but there is much work to do in school, his sport and growing up. We have time, enjoy the ride.
Last edited by BaseballDadNH
shortstopmomshortstopmom1,000+ posts
BaseballDadNH,

I was just getting ready to respond to your post when I noticed you had just responded again.
On paper, your son sounds like he has alot competitive qualities and you mentioned he has had a passion for the game for a long time. Those are pluses!

The recruiting process can indeed be distracting and it can be hard to gain a true balanced perspective of where your player " fits ".

You mentioned that he is a sophomore & that he plays Varsity football and basketball, does he play Varsity baseball too?

The letters he is receiving from DI's shows you that he is being noticed, so it doesnt look like you have an exposure problem on your hands. Another plus.

My best advice at this point would be to:

- Ensure he keeps his grades up.
- Start working on the ACT/ACT prep.
- Ensure the well-being of his arm.
- Make sure he is as good of a baseball player on the field as he is off the field.
- He sounds busy,....remember to have fun & just enjoy the game,....the both of you!

Watch him this Spring and see how things develope. With time, I think your perspective will get clearer and your son's will, as well.
Listen carefully to what he says and really " hear " him. Smile
The players themselves, usually have a good idea as to where they " fit " amongst their competitors.

It sounds like your son is experimenting with many sports. ( Mine did too. )
He may choose baseball as his #1 sport of interest and then again, he may not.
He may not choose sports at all.
Time will tell.

If he begins to get " offers " then that is when you both will have to really do a gutt check to see what your son wants his future to entail.

I hope you will keep us informed.
As for now,...the best with basketball season!!
Last edited by shortstopmom
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
I have been posting here for almost 6 years and reading for 2, I have read more post tripled than I have posted.
Pretty good at recognizing new posts by first time posters and those that may have posted here under another name.
Buzz words familiar here makes me beleive that the new poster has never read a post before they came.

How can anyone give an unbiased opinion based on the info given. On paper, your son is definetly D1 material, I think that you already knew that. You just needed to settle in your own mind that he has the "it" you think he has. That could have been accomplished in two sentences. Or better yet, if you need more convincing, attend a showcase where your son will recieve a rating from a reliable company. It sure beats trying to get an unbiased opinion here without knowing who your player is.

The letters one recieves is not hogwash. Receiving letters from D1 schools indicates that your son has been identified as a D1 player. That doesn't mean that he will get as many offers as letters, that comes later in the weeding out process for coaches and players. It does give one a basis for indication how coaches may feel he may fit into the scheme of things. Of course we all know that just having the talent doesn't mean a D1 scholarship.

One thing you left out, is he a team player? That should have been #14.

BTW, #3 is no indication that your son may be a D1 player. I am not sure he invented it or just used another form of the concept many young players do to fill idle time. Mine used to collect rocks when he was young and go hit them into the lake for hours, he even had a special bat used to hit rocks. Big Grin I also spent lots of $$ on repairing windows for the neighbors, no indication at all he would ever one day be a D1 pitcher.
Last edited by TPM
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
quote:
10) For the last year he has been getting letter after letter from more than a dozen D1 schools


Of course "letter after letter" is misleading. Prospective athletes cannot receive recruiting letters until after his sophomore year and this is only December of his sophomore year. Camp invites and questionnaires are the only letter that's permitted prior to this. (Sept 1 of his Junior year I think) --- (and they can be a dime a dozen) I also think BaseballDad has said his son had attend Perfect Game event(s) in his post before he modified it --- most know that exposure events such as showcases create a mailing list with his son's name on it allowing colleges to solicit campers and their $$. "Letters" are not a good indicator of interest at this point.
Fungo
Last edited by Fungo
OLDSLUGGER8OLDSLUGGER81,000+ posts
"our staff has identified you"

The minority of high school baseball players receive letters from college baseball programs. I would call these letters symbolic, at the least" as an acknowledgement of some baseball ability.

By the way. The very first Fall letter of junior year received by our player from a nice southern program did make an offer the following summer.
Last edited by OLDSLUGGER8
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
Tell you a funny "letter story". I've told this before so ignoe it if you've heard it before. My son attended a camp at the Mississippi State University while he was in high school. Mississippi State recruited him but never got to the "offer" stage. My son selected Auburn University which is in the SEC West along with MSU. My son even received a congratulatory letter from Ron Polk when he signed an NLI with AU. Even after my son had played 6 games (two years) AGAINST MSU he was still getting their camp invites. Big Grin
Fungo
PU Pop Up Hitter dad1,000+ posts
My son (2009)received flyers and questionnaires from several D1 schools. He was evaluated by a couple of commercial programs, said he was D1. However, he was not D1 academicly, that is the area your son needs to focus on, take the PSAT right away. There is nothing preventing him from contacting these coaches to get a feel for what they are looking at him for. My son failed to respond to any colleges other than fill out prospect profile, never once contacted coach to ask about their program. Needless to say, they moved on. Many programs have a 1st, 2nd choice candidate, if they sign number one, they'll drop number 2 like a hot spud. Come July 1 of this year, phone was quiet. From our experience, the letters are only good for his scrapbook.
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
Curious as to why the original post was changed?

If the player was ranked among the top 100-150 in the country, he will absolutely be contacted by colleges. It may only be an invitation for a camp, but that's only because of the legalities. Colleges really do want to get those types on their campus and not just to get their $$$. This some times turns into those early commitments that are becoming more and more common these days.
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
I agree. Why would he come here with a "genuine" interest about his son, give us some pre-qualifications about him, then only to come back and change/delete some of his original post?

His original post made mention of a Scout observing his son, had positive things to say as a matter of fact. Why delete that? Was it because it actually wasn't true?

I like to believe (or maybe I'm naive enough) that every new poster who comes to hsbbw is genuine and real. But I have to admit, this one made me kinda throw up in my mouth from the get-go. yuck.

FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
In defense of baseballDadNH. He indicated to me he may have included too much information in his first post and some readers didn't think his post was appropriate. He did receive some negative replies so he revised his original post. Of course it resides in its entirety where it was "cut and pasted" by ClevelandDad if you're wondering what was deleted. PGStaff, What exactly does the PG rating of 87-150 he received as a freshman last year mean? And do you think he should pursue and early commitment?
Fungo
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
quote:
PGStaff, What exactly does the PG rating of 87-150 he received as a freshman last year mean? And do you think he should pursue and early commitment?
Fungo

Well, I'd have to check and see how deep we ranked players in that class last year, but the only thing it could mean is that PG ranked him 87-150 among freshman in the country. In other words very high!

I never would give any thought or advice as to whether someone should decide to pursue an early committment. That is very much a personal decision if it presents itself.

However, if everything stated is true, I think an early offer could be made at some point, if under the right circumstances.

Whether that is good or bad, who really knows until much later?
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