First Baseman in recruiting

The key is to hit and hit with power.

Every college team needs first basemen.

As for 1B's being the "fat kids", I know what you mean, but if you're on a college scout's RADAR, they're going to look at you individually and not just assume you fit a stereotype. If you're in shape and you show a dedication to the whole game (including defense), it can work out fine.

The bigger problem with playing 1B is that lots of big guys do play there, so you really have to be an offensive force to win that position. So it wouldn't hurt if you were versatile, e.g., able to play 3B or OF or even C.

That way if you end up at a school with a stud ahead of you at 1B, you could still hope to crack the lineup.

Ben, any chance that you could play 3B or catcher on your summer team? That way, college coaches would be able to see your versatility.

Ben

I am assuming that if you also catch that you throw right handed. If you hit and hit for power left handed you probably have a better chance to get recruitied as a 1st baseman then if you hit righthanded as well.

You have a much better chance to get recruitied as a catcher. In my experience RH 1st baseman are not nearly as high on the recruiting chain unless they can run well and then they will end up as outfielders in many cases.

If you "mash" and play first base it doesn't matter what side of the dish you hit from---hitters play !!!

I bat left and throw right.
Also I'm about 6'1/2" 185lbs.

TV

You sound like a prospect

Visit our site and fill out the nomination form

www.collegeselect.org

One of my sons was a 1B; it's the Maytag repairman of baseball. Many schools don't recruit a 1B, they convert an outfielder or 3b that might not field so great but that can hit.

At 1B, hitting is everything. I know the value of a slick fielding 1B can be huge, but at recruiting time, the question is hitting, preferably with good power. 1B's are expected to pick everything in the dirt, and get attention only when they don't. Sad but true.

Playing only 1B will limit your options as some schools don't much look for first basemen. If you can play 3B as well, or OF, as others have suggested, you'll increase your appeal.

Good luck...and mash it!

What everyone has said is accurate. However, I will throw in my 2-cents.

My son was a LH1b out of HS. At 6'3"/220lbs, he played exclusively at 1b.

That is not to say that he could not play the OF (being LH there are limitations). He did get an opportunity to play the OF at the Stanford camp, where he made a great diving catch, which was seen and commented on in his evaluation. In the end, I think this "exposure" helped with his recruiting.

When we set out looking for a place for my son, we did a great deal of "roster research." We specifically looked for schools where their 1b was big, LH and either a junior or senior. Effectively, we looked for schools that "accepted" big kids and respected 1b players as a "recruitable position."

Trust my you will find many a coach that will take an athletic pitcher or OF and make them a 1b, you will be on the bench and there will be nothing you can do to change the situation.

With that as background, our sense of what they are looking for are (in order):

Hit for power
Hit for average
Make contact and mover runners
Ability to move runners
Baseball smarts
Speed on the basis
Defensive ability (can you handle the bag)
Arm stength

If you have the ability to play more positions, you have far greater value to a coach. If you are a 1b only (like my son) then focus on the items listed above. If you "make the grade" you can find a place to play.

There is some good advice here but the fact remains that scouts look at things they can see and measure. As always it comes back to the basic 5 tools:

1. Hit for Ave
2. Hit for Power
3. Speed
4. Arm (throwing)
5. Fielding

The more tools you have the better. As a corner player you must have 1&2, the better you are at 3-4 the better your chances. You can improve your speed some - but in general you eiither have it or you don't. You can dramitically improve your arm and your fielding through work and effort.

BOF

Look at this stuff which I get every weeekend in talking with coaches at events

01-- I like the way the ball come sout of his hand ( talking about a pitcher)\\
02- I like the way he gets a jump on the ball (outfielder)
03-- wow he is quick on his feet ( Catcher)
04-- I like the way he reads the ptichers (Runners)


Perhaps we play a different game here in the Notheast?