What is the normal for being invited to play on a college summer league? Do all freshman get invited or all college players get invited?
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Depends on the program, but the coaching staff will usually arrange for placement on a team.
Not all players play for all kinds of reasons.
Not all players play for all kinds of reasons.
Placement on next year's summer team should already have happened for a current college player. Many leagues take only D1 or top Juco players. If your son has not had an assignment, have your son first talk to the coach to get an assignment then, if need be, contact the league or leagues and promote himself. Some colleges frown on summer play, depending upon how much a kid has played in the spring, so keep the college coach informed and updated.
A lot of leagues have permanent assignments and 10-day assignments. Find out which one is being offered. If a 10-day assignment, the player is usually replaced when the permanent players finish playoffs but sometimes, depending upon performance, the contract is extended.
A lot of leagues have permanent assignments and 10-day assignments. Find out which one is being offered. If a 10-day assignment, the player is usually replaced when the permanent players finish playoffs but sometimes, depending upon performance, the contract is extended.
Look in the "After High School" section, lots of threads about summer ball for college guys.
If your son is a player with realistic aspirations of playing beyond college be relentless in your pursuit of an opportunity on a true Collegiate Summer Baseball team. Valley League, Coastal Plains, Cal Ripkin, Northwoods, Great Lakes, Florida, Alaska, etc.
While many summer league teams' rosters would look pretty full on paper at this point, many factors can and do alter their composition between now and the beginning of the summer season. Rosters shift all the way up to and, in some cases, into the season due to factors such as the need for players to attend summer school, injury, and draft signings.
As a result, it's good advice to make certain that your college coaches are aware of your interest in playing in a summer league if you're not already committed to do so. Meanwhile, if you think there's a decent chance that you'll get picked up by a team at some point, try to make your current summer plans flexible enough that you can make the move to the summer league if called on short notice.
My son did exactly this sort of thing in his first season of summer league ball (between freshman and sophomore years). A month into the summer league's season, he got a call from a team when one of their pitchers signed his professional contract. Literally overnight, he went from his job of instructing in Southern California pitching clinics to pitching on Cape Cod.
As a result, it's good advice to make certain that your college coaches are aware of your interest in playing in a summer league if you're not already committed to do so. Meanwhile, if you think there's a decent chance that you'll get picked up by a team at some point, try to make your current summer plans flexible enough that you can make the move to the summer league if called on short notice.
My son did exactly this sort of thing in his first season of summer league ball (between freshman and sophomore years). A month into the summer league's season, he got a call from a team when one of their pitchers signed his professional contract. Literally overnight, he went from his job of instructing in Southern California pitching clinics to pitching on Cape Cod.
I'd be interested in knowing how college coaches handle their pitchers when it comes to summer college leagues. We noticed that our son's future juco didn't have any pitchers play summer ball this past season. Our son would love to play summer ball if the opportunity presented itself. Could the college coach limit your innings, appearances, etc. when they allow you to participate?
Do any college pitchers or parents have personal experience they wish to share?
Do any college pitchers or parents have personal experience they wish to share?
My son did sign a contract to play in the Ohio Valley League, depending on how much he pitches in the spring. He is a freshman at a DII. I was wondering what your chances to be picked up as a freshman. Some other parent was saying well that means your college does not except him to play in the Spring so they have you play in the summer. I am hoping she is incorrect. As the coach has mentioned he is excepted to be a starter in the spring and in the summer. But I have no clue what to except or how he will pitch it is College and very different from High School. I appreciate all the feed back.
Your son's coach secured a place for him to play.
Whether he plays or not (in summer) and in what role will be determined by his spring workload.
My son had an summer assignment but after 72 innings as a freshman it was determined that he would be shut down for summer.
Leave the process for your son and his coach to work out, your job should be to sit back and enjoy and not listen to what others who have no clue what they are talking about have to say!
Whether he plays or not (in summer) and in what role will be determined by his spring workload.
My son had an summer assignment but after 72 innings as a freshman it was determined that he would be shut down for summer.
Leave the process for your son and his coach to work out, your job should be to sit back and enjoy and not listen to what others who have no clue what they are talking about have to say!
quote:Originally posted by Bleacher Dad:
Could the college coach limit your innings, appearances, etc. when they allow you to participate?
Yes, the college coach usually indicates to the player or the manager what he would like him to work on and if he should play a role as starter, reliever.
Pitchers that throw a lot of spring innings don't throw much if at all in the summer, and college coaches do ask for, and get, innings limits. We have a couple 2 way players coming this summer that we feel are real studs, but if they throw a lot in the spring, they will have strict innings limits per their college coaches and could end up playing a position more than pitching.
Summer ball is great for pitchers that are talented but don't get too many spring innings for one reason or another-injury, redshirt, talented upperclassmen, etc. Summer teams carry a lot of arms as smart summer coaches are careful with arms, so a lot of pitchers are needed.
Freshmen pitchers are easier to place than freshmen position players-93 is 93, but with position players, it's hard to project success against top notch pitching every night, so some teams shy away from frosh position guys. A whole lot depends on a college coach's recommendation for young position players. Its' tough too for D II, D III position guys-they may have a lot of talent, but they won't have regularly seen the same level of pitching all spring that a D I player from a reputable conference sees.
BUT, there is plenty of talent in D II and DIII-a D II pitcher that we signed very late 2 years ago is now projected to be a top 5 round choice and a D III pitcher from last summer hit 93 regularly, dominated one of the best hitting teams in the league in the playoffs, and really put himself in a great spot to be drafted this year. He was pretty much unknown until the summer..being 5'10" didn't help, but he showed well in front of the right people. (An MLB Scouting Bureau rep thanked some teams at a recent board meeting for finding some gems, saying they just can't get to every school in the spring).In the summer most scouts have to scout the summer college leagues, and minor league teams, especially up until the trade deadline, so their time is stretched thin.
Summer ball is great for pitchers that are talented but don't get too many spring innings for one reason or another-injury, redshirt, talented upperclassmen, etc. Summer teams carry a lot of arms as smart summer coaches are careful with arms, so a lot of pitchers are needed.
Freshmen pitchers are easier to place than freshmen position players-93 is 93, but with position players, it's hard to project success against top notch pitching every night, so some teams shy away from frosh position guys. A whole lot depends on a college coach's recommendation for young position players. Its' tough too for D II, D III position guys-they may have a lot of talent, but they won't have regularly seen the same level of pitching all spring that a D I player from a reputable conference sees.
BUT, there is plenty of talent in D II and DIII-a D II pitcher that we signed very late 2 years ago is now projected to be a top 5 round choice and a D III pitcher from last summer hit 93 regularly, dominated one of the best hitting teams in the league in the playoffs, and really put himself in a great spot to be drafted this year. He was pretty much unknown until the summer..being 5'10" didn't help, but he showed well in front of the right people. (An MLB Scouting Bureau rep thanked some teams at a recent board meeting for finding some gems, saying they just can't get to every school in the spring).In the summer most scouts have to scout the summer college leagues, and minor league teams, especially up until the trade deadline, so their time is stretched thin.
quote:Originally posted by Bleacher Dad:
Could the college coach limit your innings, appearances, etc. when they allow you to participate?
As a Cape League pitching coach this past summer, my son spoke at length with all of his pitchers' college pitching coaches before the season. The goal was to make the summer a logical extension of each pitcher's college season. I'm sure he's not alone in having done so.
Great feedback. Thanks!