Difference Between High School and College Pitching

From what I've seen, hitters at every level of college can hit lows 90s. What most would call high velo. At all levels of D1 a pitcher needs to have secondary pitches, and a secondary pitch you can land for a strike in any count. As a hitter, just like a pitcher teams will have a scouting report on you by the time conference play starts (D1).

It's hard to convey and I didn't really understand it until my kid hit a wall as a college freshman and then again in AA. For all but the most elite of the elite, every level requires the player to find another gear (pitching and hitting). I think HS to college is one of the biggest adjustments, pitchers need to be effective in getting outs with hitters that have much better hitting tools.

An elite pitch ends up somewhere other than where the minds projected physics thinks it will be. The further up the skill set chain, the quicker hitters are at pitch recognition, faster at making adjustments and the smaller their swing holes are. A pitcher finds new ways to keep good hitters off balance, or they stagnate - it's the same for hitters.

The biggest mistake I’ve seen are kids who hit well in travel ball thinking they will destroy D3 pitching

Playing college ball is a huge adjustment.  Facing 20-23 year old D3 pitchers who can spin it and locate, as well as coaching staffs who have scouting reports on your weaknesses, not to mention a much higher caliber of defense, is much much more difficult than facing even high level commits in some random travel ball tournament

FWIW, I've seen a lot of kids who raked in HS, especially as a senior, really struggle as a freshman hitter in college (if they got a chance to play). I can see why college coaches don't want to play freshmen. But, it's not a golden rule. There are some freshman players who hit well. Not sure what's the magic there and why some excel where many (or most) struggle? But, there's definitely a reality check for most freshman hitters in college.

@Francis7 posted:

FWIW, I've seen a lot of kids who raked in HS, especially as a senior, really struggle as a freshman hitter in college (if they got a chance to play). I can see why college coaches don't want to play freshmen. But, it's not a golden rule. There are some freshman players who hit well. Not sure what's the magic there and why some excel where many (or most) struggle? But, there's definitely a reality check for most freshman hitters in college.

Another side of this. My 2022 plays college ball with a kid he also played HS ball with. In HS the player was very good, good enough to go D1 as an IF, but once he got into college he got to another level and ended up winning the conference FOY this past year and was near the top of the conference in most offensive categories.

My thought is that while in HS he had other distractions, and the training wasn't as good, but once in college, the training was better, and outside of classes, there were no distractions.

There is definitely an adjustment, seeing nearly every pitcher who can spin the ball for strikes is much tougher than being able to spit on HS breaking balls, watch that looper come tumbling in or only sit fastball.  but I do think it's somewhat about being exposed as maybe not as good a hitter as they think they are.  Not a complete hitter yet vs it just being about better pitching.

I think college bound HS hitters can feast on bad or sub quality pitching in HS, but I also think good college bound hitters, who understand how to have an approach at the plate, will hit at the next level.  By college bound hitters I mean the kids who are perceived as good hitters because they hit the bomb now and again but maybe hit .300 (in High School), vs the good college bound hitters who hit for average, power and in clutch situations because they know how to read a pitcher, the situation, pay attention and make adjustments. They might not rake like in HS right away, but they can have success.  I have two examples of this at the DIII level, one a player my son played with in HS, who started in Center in college as a College Freshman and was awarded multiple conference player of the week awards this year, the kid could just plain hit.  The other is a teammate of my sons who as a College Freshman won the DH job and first PH off the bench because of an exceptional approach, he spent the majority of the year hitting well over .300 with multiple clutch and game winning hits.  You could see him making at bat or next at bat adjustments and was an exceptional situational hitter (plus he has power).

I feel that first thresholds are shifting and you also need more diverse skills .

For example in HS you have the guy who throws 80 and can pitch or the bad control guy who can blow it by guys at 88-90.

In college the same applies, you have the guy who throws 88-90 with an at least  OK secondary pitch and some fastball control or a guy with mediocre command who throws upper 90s.

Then in pro ball you have the guy who throws low to mid 90s with at least 2 secondaries and command or the triple digits guy with at least one really good secondary pitch. If you are that guy your FB command can be spotty but only if your secondary is plus.

Francis;

Of course there is a "difference

" The question is "How does the hitter adjust"?

Read the "Pursuit of Perfection" Ted Williams by Bill Nowlin.

Bob

PS: When I watch Juco Dad's son pitch for the Cleveland, my observation is what adjustment would I make.

@nycdad posted:

Another side of this. My 2022 plays college ball with a kid he also played HS ball with. In HS the player was very good, good enough to go D1 as an IF, but once he got into college he got to another level and ended up winning the conference FOY this past year and was near the top of the conference in most offensive categories.

My thought is that while in HS he had other distractions, and the training wasn't as good, but once in college, the training was better, and outside of classes, there were no distractions.

I think kids see what it's going to take to be successful and decide — again — if they're willing to work that hard. Yes, they get better tools in college and maybe less distraction, plus they mature, but they also have to dig within themselves and decide if they're willing to put in what it takes to get to that next level. Some won't have the skills to make that leap, some will decide they don't care enough.

It never dawned on me to compare high school to college ball. I was one of the top players in my high school conference. I almost never struck out. I started college ball 0-16 with 7 whiffs.

The coaches must have seen something. They worked with me instead of moving on. I hit over .400 the rest of the season. It was stats in small numbers in only 60 something at bats.  The coaching staff was careful not to put me in over my head. I never faced lefties. I only started on Sunday or weekday non conference games. I was also pitching out of the pen.

The two way lasted one season. It’s too much work. I was a starting outfielder soph year.

Sometimes pitchers have command but lack confidence. This affects their command. They pick at the corners, fall behind in the count then get their 2-0, 3-1 fastball wacked.

I played with a guy who got scared at 2-0 he was going to walk the hitter. He would pipe a fastball hoping to blow it by the hitter. The number of 2-0 count homers he gave up was mind boggling.