The opinions remind me of my Basin League teammate. Dick Howser. They named a trophy after him.
A most remarkable player and individual. "A quiet leader"!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Howser
Bob
With about 300 D1 programs there are going to be some exceptions to the rule. Especially at the 200-300 level. There’s always someone here who will list the exceptions. The reality is it’s a lot easier to be a D1 prospect if a kid weighs 175 or more.
What do college baseball scouts look for in a middle infielder?
Division 1
Height: 5’8” - 6’2”
Weight: 165-190
I’ll bet with the exception of some very talented players with at least two plus skills those at least 5’11” 175 are getting the first looks.
There are colleges that won’t look at pitchers under 6’2” unless they’re busting 95. I remember once reading the Mets (at the time) wouldn’t do nightly reports on minor league pitchers under 6’2” until they signed Sid Fernandez.
Just got done catching up on this thread. Lots of different and valid perspectives. So much so, that I think it's probably fair to say that there are no hard and fast rules/numbers/etc that apply to every player, every coach, or every program. I think the bottom line is this. The more boxes you check off both Silva's lists, the better your chances of playing the game longer. That's a boring conclusion and doesn't make for adding tension and keeping things interesting.
I will share this. My 2021 is one of those small kids. Last summer when he was hot n' heavy into his recruiting push, he was between 5'8" and 5'9" and struggled to maintain his 160 lbs with the summer heat and amount of work he was putting in outside. There is no question his size handcuffed him. His exit velo, INF velo, OF velo, 60, and Home to 1st times were all top 10 in the state. While he went away from pitching, he also had an 85 mph fastball and could contribute here and there on the mound. His OF velo and Home to 1st were 2nd best in the state. I don't say any of this to boast. Not at all. It's just for context. Sure, we're in a small state, but show me any state where a kid can have top 10 measurables across the board, but struggle to find a D1 home. You might find a few examples, but VERY few. To be clear, he has good grades and no off the field issues, attitude problems, etc. He's a good kid and a consummate teammate and competitor. Other than his size, he's an awfully complete player all around. He ended up getting solid interest from 3 D1 programs, but fell short of an offer and is going the JUCO route. I know what my kid is and most importantly, isn't. I don't feel my kid is entitled to a damn thing. He needs to make his own way in the world regardless of the hand he's dealt. So this isn't a pity party. But being short will always demand he outperform others who are 6'+.
One more thing to note. When he initially started filling out questionnaires and sending emails (metrics, height/weight, video, etc) to coaches, it was nothing but crickets. Very disappointing. His initial emails had subject lines that read largely like this - "2021 MIF/CF Name". He then changed them to something like "2021 MIF/CF with Top 10 NE Measurables Name" and all of a sudden he started getting responses. So when its recommended to have subject lines that attract attention, I think it's good advice. He found a way to frame himself up in a "sexier" way and it absolutely got some wheels turning that previously weren't.