Cut from D1 team this week

First of all, I'm really sorry that your son's going through this. I wish that his initial experience with college baseball had gone better. My strong hope is that he lands in a better place; one where he gets the combination of more playing time and a great education (more about that aspect later).

Overall, college baseball is extremely Darwinian, and the pandemic has caused an already competitive environment to become even more so. Faced with tightening budgets and bloated rosters, coaches have been forced to make even more tough choices than they normally have to. In this hyper-competitive environment, an unfortunate set of events like your son's  raise the probability that he becomes one of the casualties.

In that program's situation, the elimination of 5 scholarships from the maximum of 11.7 will likely create repercussions for virtually every remaining player, as it will pressure the coaches to reduce a number of their athletic grants-in-aid, as well.

Where does this take me? Directly to the adage that the determination of "fit" needs to be as weighted in the direction of non-baseball considerations as the baseball-related ones. It's not uncommon that uncontrollable factors intervene to throw a player's playing career off track; and, while the portal exists to collect the casualties, the stark fact is that not all portal entrants are going to find a satisfactory landing spot on the other end...if they find one at all.

If a player finds himself in an untenable situation once he's in college, much better to be in a place that's well-suited to his development as a student and individual. After all, something like 90% of DI players aren't going to be able to play beyond college; and only a small fraction of minor league players make it to The Show. You'd better do the best you can on the front end to choose a place where you can receive a great education and have a pleasant college experience off the playing field.

I am very sorry that this has happened to your son.

Prepster is a very wise man. Very.

I seriously would reread the last paragraph he wrote. Finding the right college fit is so much more important than anything else. 

Even baseball.

Thanks guys. I'm a bit lost on what's next. Finding the right fit with only a few months time is going to be difficult. Should he find a juco for next year just get back on his feet and get on a field (still has 4 years eligibility left) or seek out a d2/d3. I agree on the fit part as the education is what matters. He just wants to play.

1738Dad,

Sorry to hear about your son's situation.   Prepster is 100% right.   You are now armed with experience and information as you have been through this before.   Don't underestimate what you've learned going through this process, and trust your instincts going forward.

Best of luck, and hit the board up if you have questions about specific programs.

@1738Dad posted:

Hey Guys

My freshman son was just cut from his D1 college team, along with 4 other players. 4 were freshman and 1 junior. University is reducing funding due to covid and Eliminating 5 scholarships. Coach said they also were reducing roster, also only 2 incoming freshman as that class was reduced as well. Unfortunately he had some bad luck with a late start to the season (mid October), had to quarantine 2 weeks because his roomate got covid in December, all athletes had to stay home for winter break, then he himself got covid the week before the season started and was out 6 weeks. He's super upset. He also has a friend cut from a different program.

Hes now in the transfer portal and will be working on some video when he comes home in a few days.  Unsure on what's next as d1 rosters are already locked and he had to find a college in 3 months.

Just trying to understanding this situation a little clearer...was your son and the others cut in the middle of the season (immediately) or is the season over and they were told their scholarships would not be extended for next season?

Sorry to hear about this tough news for your son. I don’t have direct experience, but I have heard positive stories in other cases where the current coach helps place the players in other leagues. I’m sure the coach knows all the regional coaches and should have an idea of what school would be thrilled to have him on a roster. Maybe not what your son wants to hear today, but is that help available?  Perhaps this is blessing in disguise —sounds like the team is in a tough spot if they are cutting funding and may not compete as strongly over the next three years.

It’s very common for D1 talent to play for 2-3 different schools over the course of their college career.  

Is your son playing summer ball somewhere?  It will help for coaches to see him.  If he had multiple offers going to his current school then maybe some of those coaches will still have interest and just want to see him play.  Dynamics of college are very uncertain right now so playing JUCO will provide a year to reset and play in games.  Academically it is for the parent/player team to figure out if that makes sense academically and financially.  I know some JUCOs align very well with their state schools so a player who is attending school for <>5 years or more can stay on track to work on a Graduate degree.  While frustrating and disheartening things can still work out in the long run. 

Sorry to hear about the cut. Prepster is spot on.

If I was in you and your son's position I would make sure the academic fit takes priority right now. Given the COVID issues I would drop down from D1 and focus on some top D3 programs. (depending on the level of team your son was cut from) So much depends on academics, financing, location, what level he is coming from, etc, but D1 rosters are going to jammed with talent so I doubt he will find a home. Even the top 20 D3 programs are going to be jammed up but at least he would have a chance to get on the field, and have a positive experience and there is less roster pressure at those programs.

Good luck!

Very sorry to hear the news.

Your son has 3 years left. Odds are against him being a major league player- which is not meant as an insult but, more so, just the reality of the probability. Most of our sons are not going to play professionally.

That said, for the next school, find the college that he likes and which will set him up to graduate with a degree in what he wants to do in the real world. Doesn't have to be D1, D2, D3, Juco, etc - it can be any one.  Baseball is Baseball.

Don't pick the next school on Baseball only and ignore academic offerings and campus comfort.

Just my 2 cents, but with time so short, I think finding a JUCO to spend a year or 2 at might be something to seriously consider.  Keep grinding, play some and have plenty of time to find the perfect (as perfect as one can get) fit for his last 2-3 years.  What's happened to your son is awful to even think about it, but it may well be the best opportunity to reset/recalibrate.  My advice would be to seize it as just that - an opportunity.  I wouldn't rush into anything.  Most all players at all levels are finding themselves in situations due to Covid that require finesse from here on out.  Deeper thinking.  More data.  A longer view of everything.  The possibility still exists for your son to get to do something that very few get to - continue to play the game and get a college education.  Zoom out some and let a much broader perspective help guide (and change) your trajectory.  Your son's next chapter will not go as initially written.  Write the new chapter focusing on only the most important pieces.  Lock down the NEEDS first and foremost.  The WANTS can sit this one out if need be.  They're frosting.

All great advice. Thank you. I'm picking him up from school Thursday, since it's all online classes he doesn't want stay at the school. Being around his ex teammates is painful for him.

We have a 7 hour drive home so lots of time to listen And offer support. We live in New England and the program he was in was mid Atlantic. In NE there's lots of great colleges and plenty  of solid D3s so that's likely the direction he'll take and get back on the playing field to hopefully set him self up for the last 3 years. Being closer to home will also go him some good.

My freshman son at a D1 also received similar news this week. Entered the portal, but no idea how transferring to a new school works, baseball or no baseball. As I understand it, all the application deadlines for the fall have expired. I would guess that a baseball program would help him with the admissions for fall, but not sure how that would work as a normal student. Anyone with experience there? Son has nearly 60 credit hours thanks to AP and dual credits already, so time at junior college isn't really an option.

Also worried about his summer ball commitment. Without his prior college affiliation, there is not any guarantee of innings (he is a pitcher), and he hasn't really pitched any games on video since high school.

Sorry to hear that.

Obviously the privacy is your choice, but I would be interested to hear which school this was, or at least which conference.

A lot of people come this board with HS aged kids (myself included) looking for information on scholarships in programs. I would want to know if this type of school is recruiting my own.  I understand that goes against the grain, but when it become a funding/roster size issue and there is no negativity I think it's valid.

@PABaseball posted:

Sorry to hear that.

Obviously the privacy is your choice, but I would be interested to hear which school this was, or at least which conference.

A lot of people come this board with HS aged kids (myself included) looking for information on scholarships in programs. I would want to know if this type of school is recruiting my own.  I understand that goes against the grain, but when it become a funding/roster size issue and there is no negativity I think it's valid.

I think there are going to be a lot of schools that don't normally do this, but given extra years of eligibility and potential budget cuts, are going to have to cut ties with players they typically wouldn't.  But yes, as a 2022 parent I'm very curious and also very worried we'll unknowingly put Lefty in this position.  But I would feel bad "outing" coaches for over recruiting when it's not their standard operating.

This does happen.  A lot.  Even non Covid years.  All you have to do is look at how many guys aren't there from one recruiting class from year to year and how many guys leave a D1 for a Juco.  The recruiting class above my son started with 18 and had 10 after Christmas break.

@TheRightScuff posted:

My freshman son at a D1 also received similar news this week. Entered the portal, but no idea how transferring to a new school works, baseball or no baseball. As I understand it, all the application deadlines for the fall have expired. I would guess that a baseball program would help him with the admissions for fall, but not sure how that would work as a normal student. Anyone with experience there? Son has nearly 60 credit hours thanks to AP and dual credits already, so time at junior college isn't really an option.

Also worried about his summer ball commitment. Without his prior college affiliation, there is not any guarantee of innings (he is a pitcher), and he hasn't really pitched any games on video since high school.

Admissions for transfers is different.  Usually the deadline is around August 1st or so depending on the school.  This is for state type schools, I don't know about high academic schools. 

Thanks to those already replied. This site is truly wonderful.

Son was at a low D1 school, and I'm not really comfortable sharing the name at this time. When he signed his NLI, he had a handful of good D3s tell him to stay in touch should anything turn like this, so hopefully two years later that will still be the case at one of those schools.

Was just worried about transfer admissions timing because I thought I had heard a few schools (for non-athletes) had like a April 1 deadline for the fall. Waiting on spring finals, but his first year GPA is likely over 3.5, so hoping that will help with admissions, too.

Wow...is college baseball this ruthless to the point that players are cut based on circumstances out of their control during the middle of a season???  Down right disgraceful!!! NCAA needs to fix this ASAP!!!!

I think that coaches are letting players know now so they can start the transfer process asap.

I agree with you, unfortunetly covid put the screws on everyone in every sport.

Then the NCAA passes a one time transfer...now?

Your players can go to the HC for assistance in who to see for transferring, or they can contact the compliance person for their sport.

Your son should contact anyone who had spoken to him  before he committed. I am sorry, I wish everyone will find a new home or move on.

@fly996 posted:

Wow...is college baseball this ruthless to the point that players are cut based on circumstances out of their control during the middle of a season???  Down right disgraceful!!! NCAA needs to fix this ASAP!!!!

What’s the difference between being cut and being player 36 on the roster, not playing and likely never get a shot as better recruits enter each year? At least being cut forces the player to make a decision in his best personal interest. What the coach is doing is telling the player he doesn’t have a future in the program. Baseball has always worked this way. It happens to players between 20-35 on the roster if they don’t make the decision on their own to leave due to lack of playing time.

The kid may be “playing” ball. The coach is feeding his family and paying his mortgage by winning baseball games. If he gets fired his income is zero until he finds another job.

Yes, it can be ruthless. It’s Darwinism at its finest. Only the strong survive. For some players a second opportunity someplace else is the best thing that can happen to them.

@RJM posted:

What’s the difference between being cut and being player 36 on the roster, not playing and likely never get a shot as better recruits enter each year? At least being cut forces the player to make a decision in his best personal interest. What the coach is doing is telling the player he doesn’t have a future in the program. Baseball has always worked this way. It happens to players between 20-35 on the roster if they don’t make the decision on their own to leave due to lack of playing time.

The kid may be “playing” ball. The coach is feeding his family and paying his mortgage by winning baseball games. If he gets fired his income is zero until he finds another job.

Yes, it can be ruthless. It’s Darwinism at its finest. Only the strong survive. For some players a second opportunity someplace else is the best thing that can happen to them.

Read that 10 times.  Then read it again.

Welcome to reality.

@RJM posted:

What’s the difference between being cut and being player 36 on the roster, not playing and likely never get a shot as better recruits enter each year? At least being cut forces the player to make a decision in his best personal interest. What the coach is doing is telling the player he doesn’t have a future in the program. Baseball has always worked this way. It happens to players between 20-35 on the roster if they don’t make the decision on their own to leave due to lack of playing time.

The kid may be “playing” ball. The coach is feeding his family and paying his mortgage by winning baseball games. If he gets fired his income is zero until he finds another job.

Yes, it can be ruthless. It’s Darwinism at its finest. Only the strong survive. For some players a second opportunity someplace else is the best thing that can happen to them.

Even though he's low on the roster, he would still have access to practice, weightlifting, conditioning, team nutrition etc. If the commitment is for one year that should be upheld. The way this sounds is a team could be 1 or 2 games into a season and then cut a player for whatever reason? That's absurd! This is college, not the pro's.

I understand the coach needs to win, but I also assume they are not cutting players during the season and adding replacements to the roster during the season. This just sounds like a way the save the expense of carrying players that the coach now feels cannot help him win...it has nothing to do with improving his chances of winning.

Sorry to hear for both @TheRightScuff & @1738Dad. Way back, My LHP was released from a DI after a successful Fresh year. They waited until 2 weeks before his soph year to let know. He hadn't played all year. I think they were trying to get him to leave on his own so they could get out of the financial agreement of 4 years. At a successful DI, you are only as good as the next guys in that throw harder. Long story short, he transferred to a local DII and had a very good run with 35+ starts and over 200 innings. Something he would have never had at the DI. He now has his MBA and is working in the tech industry making bank. Would he have loved to stay at the DI and be a reliver, sure, but he had to pivot and move on. It was very painful for a young man, but also a great life lesson.

Best to both your sons, hopefully, this will have a happy ending.

@fly996 posted:

Even though he's low on the roster, he would still have access to practice, weightlifting, conditioning, team nutrition etc. If the commitment is for one year that should be upheld. The way this sounds is a team could be 1 or 2 games into a season and then cut a player for whatever reason? That's absurd! This is college, not the pro's.

I understand the coach needs to win, but I also assume they are not cutting players during the season and adding replacements to the roster during the season. This just sounds like a way the save the expense of carrying players that the coach now feels cannot help him win...it has nothing to do with improving his chances of winning.

My son graduated pre Covid. One thing that’s different now is rosters of more than thirty-five. The coach probably decided he needed a workable number in practice.

I’m guessing if he wasn’t told now he would be told at the end of the season. As far as knowing, the sooner the better. It allows for planning.

The thing to do now is look back on all the previously interested programs and make contact. Or what are the best programs to make contact at a lower level? Maybe his former travel coach could help.

@fly996 posted:

Even though he's low on the roster, he would still have access to practice, weightlifting, conditioning, team nutrition etc. If the commitment is for one year that should be upheld. The way this sounds is a team could be 1 or 2 games into a season and then cut a player for whatever reason? That's absurd! This is college, not the pro's.

I understand the coach needs to win, but I also assume they are not cutting players during the season and adding replacements to the roster during the season. This just sounds like a way the save the expense of carrying players that the coach now feels cannot help him win...it has nothing to do with improving his chances of winning.

School is ending this week for a lot of kids.  For the players who didn't get any playing time and don't figure into the team's future plans, I think it is the most humane way of ending things.  It gives the player time for a fresh start elsewhere. 

I agree that telling them sooner gives them more time to prepare.  However, it would be nice if coaches at least pretended that they were part of an educational institution; telling them before final exams are over is pretty distracting, I would think.

In previous years what was the norm? Were players told after the season ends?

@nycdad posted:

In previous years what was the norm? Were players told after the season ends?

In previous years players were told at end of season. In a few weeks there are conference playoffs, then regionals. I am assuming coaches have had end of season meetings with those they will not ask to come back.

Many schools are done already for the year.

Once again this a reminder that NCAA sports are a business that ruthlessly uses (unpaid) young individuals for their own business interest. Boarders on criminal.

@fly996 posted:

Once again this a reminder that NCAA sports are a business that ruthlessly uses (unpaid) young individuals for their own business interest. Boarders on criminal.

My son got 75% of college paid for. He got two degrees in five years. He used being an athlete, his competitiveness and desire to win as a sales pitch in his interviews. He walked into a great paying job in a company he still works four and a half years later. It was horrible!

Are there issues with the NCAA. Some of their decisions are crazy. They have too much control. But I would do it all over again. So, would both of my kids (daughter played softball).

No one is forced to play.

@RJM posted:

My son got 75% of college paid for. He got two degrees in five years. He used being an athlete, his competitiveness and desire to win as a sales pitch in his interviews. He walked into a great paying job in a company he still works four and a half years later. It was horrible!

Are there issues with the NCAA. Some of their decisions are crazy. They have too much control. But I would do it all over again. So, would both of my kids (daughter played softball).

No one is forced to play.

Good for you but that still does not prevent the NCAA from doing the right thing...

@fly996 posted:

Even though he's low on the roster, he would still have access to practice, weightlifting, conditioning, team nutrition etc. If the commitment is for one year that should be upheld. The way this sounds is a team could be 1 or 2 games into a season and then cut a player for whatever reason? That's absurd! This is college, not the pro's.

I know many, many kids who are cut in the fall of freshman year and spend the spring at a local JC.  It's how coaches got their roster down to 35 in the old days (pre-covid).

@Smitty28 posted:

I know many, many kids who are cut in the fall of freshman year and spend the spring at a local JC.  It's how coaches got their roster down to 35 in the old days (pre-covid).

Fall cuts are a well known possibility, I'm surprised to find out based on this thread that college teams cut players for any reason during the season.

A friend’s son was told Wednesday, the day before the flight to get to opening day of his junior year his services were no longer needed. He didn’t see it coming. He had hit .400 over two years as a very part time player. What does a kid do when he’s already into his junior year spring semester? He bags baseball and graduates the next year.

I walked into the office one Friday to find out the corporation I was working for had been purchased. I was about 150% of quota YTD. They didn’t want any of us.

Stuff happens in life. Life isn’t always fair. It’s what you do next that makes a difference. Do you fold? Or do you figure out your next opportunity?

There’s a cliched saying, “You don’t lose when you fall down. You lose when you choose not to get up.”

When it doesn’t work out at one college baseball program it’s choosing time. Staying for the academics is an acceptable choice.

Covid has out coaches in a difficult situation. Teams have too many players right now with new recruits coming in every year. Even in normal years it’s hard for a coach to know how many of his current players he will lose in the draft. Or how many commits will never show up because the signed out of high school.

Covid or not a team only needs 18-20 players to be successful. If you’re not one of those players it’s time to start looking elsewhere or be prepared for the worst (getting cut).

So of the 5 kids cut ALL we're out of state. My kids 60% scholarship can fund 3 50% in state kids or 6 25% kids. I bet a lots in schools are looking at the math this way as the money tightens due to covid based budget cuts.

Also learned that they brought in 3 P5 (Virginia, NC) transfers under the new NCAA transfer rules. 2 juniors left the team on there own, 1 was a 2 year starter. Coach has had 3 losing seasons in a row so he's prob in job saving mode. The incoming 2021 class only has 2 kids...so when you combine 2021 And wants now left of 2020 after the cuts only 7kids on the roster will come from 2020/2021.

IMO NCAA really screwed this up between the extra year and transfer rule, and everything exacerbated by MLB draft reduction. College baseball is bursting with talent right now and younger kids paying the price.

He's home now but really crushed. He feels like he never even had a chance.

RJM, you are right about business, and if this were professional sports, no-one would blink an eye.  But this is about educational institutions.  If a professor said, "You didn't do well on your last test, you're out of my class," I wonder how many parents would accept that?  Yes, a college can "cut" you if you fail too many classes, but that's on the student.  Colleges are supposed to be about educating young people.

1738Dad I am sorry.  If he had 60%, you did everything you could.  When he finds a new school, one of their players will bump down.  Just be glad he wasn't a covid freshman/sophomore, they are getting cut, too, perhaps even worse for them.  For sure the NCAA screwed this up.

Fly996, I think right now they are mostly cutting players who were redshirted this year (i.e. hadn't played and weren't going to play).  With such large rosters, many schools have a lot of those.

I’m hearing of a lot of redshirts this year being told now that their services are not needed.  I first thought how horrible with season not even over but then I realized with some conversations with coaches that many are doing it to help their players get in transfer portal before the end of the year and every disgruntled player puts themselves in it.  
Also heard of a player that put himself in the portal without telling his head coach and could not understand why the head coach immediately packed up all his stuff and he was not allowed in the facility.  He was not getting the playing time that he thought he should get, but was getting playing time. Cannot imagine doing that without having a conversation with the head coach or waiting till the season ends.  I reckon he was silly enough to think that Coach would not find out.  I am sure that every recruiting coordinator in the nation is checking daily on the portal.  

Finals were this week at many colleges.  While the season isn't over for a lot of those teams, the season is over for most of the guys who weren't traveling and not playing. Summer ball will be starting up very soon so this gives those kids a chance to go home and recharge before Summer ball and plan their next move.  Rosters will be at 40 next year so there will not be as much room as there was this year. 

1738dad, you made a good point about the coach being in job saving mode and it is something every player/family needs to be aware.  If you attend a school with a coach on the hot seat, expect him to do everything he can to win now.  He will hit the Juco and transfer market hard and many times that means the current players are out of luck.