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Allow me to preface this with the "not a snowball's chance in hell" caveat. Now that we have that out of the way...

My 2020 RHP (PO) has decided to put his college preference over baseball, and will be attending a D1 P5 school. He's happy to play club baseball but wants to take a chance and try to walk on to the baseball team, and is looking to improve his chances.

I'm not really sure how they do things these days. I know generally about "invited walk ons" (he isn't) and the (maybe) NCAA mandated(?) one day try out open to the general school population. Not sure when the open try out is, but as I seem to recall in the mid 80s it was maybe in October. We don't want him to go that route because: 1) it seems, IN GENERAL, the teams don't take these very seriously; and 2) even if, as a pitcher, you throw like Greg Maddux, it does no good if the coach is looking at one of the other guys, or down at his clipboard, as you are throwing. He needs to maximize his exposure to the pitching coach.

From your collective personal experiences and anecdotal knowledge, would it be worthwhile to reach out to the coach, maybe send some video and some Rapsodo numbers, and see if he can arrive at school early, with the rest of the team, and start his tryout in August and have it last for two months, instead of waiting until October and having it last two hours? (That is possibly the longest run on sentence I have ever written.) Is that, in essence, how to become an "invited walk on"? Can the teams carry more in the Fall than the Spring? Still keeping the "it won't never happen" caveat in mind, my thinking is that if the coach sees him pitch every day, works with him, sees his work ethic, in the weight room, at the training table, how he interacts with the other players, and how hard he works academically, his chances of being considered have to be increased, even if by some immeasurable amount.

If we try this, is there a chance that he'll be permitted to work out early, or will it be "wait until October for the general try out"?

Thank you!

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The general tryouts are usually nothing but a formality where the coaches say no.  If he wants to walk on at most P5's, he needs to be recruited as a walk on.  I would send them video and let them know that you want to walk on.  If you have a Summer coach, have him reach out for you.  If the school is having a camp before the start of next season, attend it and let them know you want to walk on.  A lot of schools bring in 45-50 for the Fall, so there will be more players than spots.  

There is only one way that I know of to even get a legitimate look based on the scenario you described. You need to find someone with baseball cred that the HC at this D1 P5 school will listen to. Your son will have to workout for this “someone” and impress him enough to where he will call the HC and lobby for your son. Short of that you are wasting your time IMO. 

Tough pull here.  However, if the school cancels its season because of the virus, perhaps you'll have a little more time to convince the coach to see your son.  As noted above, you really need someone that has the coach's ear and has the reputation to recommend your son as a walk on player.  Otherwise, have him attend the general tryout so he has no regrets.  JMO.

Mail the HC the Ace of diamonds playing card by itself in an envelope (no return address-no nothing else).

Following week: mail him the Ace of clubs.

Following week: mail him the Ace of hearts.

Following week: visit his office (in person) and tell his secretary (when she asks who you are) the the Ace of Spades is here to see him.

 

Guarantee it will get you a workout (assuming you aren't 5'6" 150lb RH puss thrower )!

Last edited by DesertDuck
DesertDuck posted:

Mail the HC the Ace of diamonds playing card by itself in an envelope (no return address-no nothing else).

Following week: mail him the Ace of clubs.

Following week: mail him the Ace of hearts.

Following week: visit his office (in person) and tell his secretary (when she asks who you are) the the Ace of Spades is here to see him.

 

Guarantee it will get you a workout (assuming you aren't 5'6" 150lb RH puss thrower )!

I have no idea if this will work but it sure as hell made me smile😁

 

OP, what are your son's measurables?  That will have a big impact on the advice you get here.

 

Height 

Weight 

FB Velo

Lefty or righty 

 

You said he is putting college choice first over baseball, did he get offers to play somewhere?  D1 offers?

Your son might also look at related opportunities to be involved in baseball. Son's P5 program has 22 student managers who do a variety of jobs throughout the program, from data analysis to field set up to catching for pitchers during bullpens (I wouldn't want that job). Some of those kids are going on to get jobs at various levels of baseball, but at the very least they're getting to be part of a team, and they're learning some marketable skills.

Might be something to explore if playing the game doesn't work out.

adbono posted:

There is only one way that I know of to even get a legitimate look based on the scenario you described. You need to find someone with baseball cred that the HC at this D1 P5 school will listen to. Your son will have to workout for this “someone” and impress him enough to where he will call the HC and lobby for your son. Short of that you are wasting your time IMO. 

This^^^.   Bingo.  Yahtzee.   

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