D3 Academic Roster

That seems to be a logical reason.  I think it very likely that by the time they are upperclassmen, the players know if they have any chance of playing professionally - and those who don't leave the team in order to focus on their academic careers.

 

Also, the division III kids aren't tied to athletic scholarships - so leaving the team doesn't have the same financial consequences.

 

 

I doubt that is typical, but you should probably look at a few more rosters. The first one I looked at with high academics + high baseball ranking (Hopkins) has 9 JRs and 10 SRs listed on the 44 man roster.

Rob T and MidAtlanticDad  Thanks for those responses. I guess it could be for a variety of reasons. 

kevkev29,

 

I think you really have to be on the inside to know exactly what is going in.  Internships, years abroad, draft or time spend doing something else all come into play.  But the biggest reason will be playing time, the individual's sense of team, and his overall enjoyment of the team.  Last year, my son's team had one senior starter, and another senior who finally won a starting position and eventually got hurt.  There were 8 other seniors (in addition to the two I just mentioned) who were not starters and wanted to be there because they loved the game and liked being part of the team.   I think it is a case by case situation.  This year my son's team is dominated by senior and junior starters who've earned their time and place.  I know them well, and none of them would have left for any reason. 

The roster seems atypical even for a D3. Is the coach new? Is he cleaning house? Was the writing on the wall for a bunch of upper class men?

 

I was once watching a mid major D1 game and chatting with a scout. I knew nothing about the visiting team. The scout showed me the roster and asked what I thought. I said it looks like a new coach who is cleaning house and clearing the decks for his own players.

 

The team had one senior, two juniors, twenty freshmen, twenty eight total players and a history of poor performance over the previous few years with the prior coach.

This year may have few seniors, What did last years team look like, maybe it was senior heavy. Many times after a coach recruits a large class the following classes might not be as large, or quickly shrink due to competition for playing time. 

Looking at one years roster is usually just a small part of the picture. Look at several years, and look for patterns. Are the classes usually big and whittle down until few are left senior year? Are there peaks and valleys? Do players come back or leave for greener pastures.

 

 

I think you are right on the money. The previous years were more balanced. Thanks for that advice. Makes a lot of sense.