How does a kid go, say from, d3 to d2, or d2 to d1? If a kid is at a quality d2, do they get “recruited” by d1s? Meaning do those schools reach out to that kid? Son’s team who graduated last year is doing really well at a d2, does he have a shot at d1? Does it matter?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
D1 programs don’t recruit players from D2 schools. D2 programs don’t recruit players from D3 schools. It doesn’t work like that at all. Recruiting players from another school’s roster is bad form and is frowned upon in coaching circles - although it does go on occasionally. Any movement from one level to another (either up or down) is almost always initiated by the player - and it’s usually accomplished by entering the transfer portal. The exception would be that sometimes D1 coaches will help facilitate a bounce down of one of their players to a D2 school that they are friendly with. Being successful at D2 isn’t necessarily an indication that the success will transfer to D1 and being unsuccessful at D1 doesn’t mean success is a sure thing at D2. The goal IMO is to find the level where you can have success on the field and in the classroom - and stay there. The exception to that statement would be a grad transfer that wants to take a one year flier on bumping up a level. Unless you have pro ball aspirations it makes no difference whether you play D1, D2, D3, or NAIA.
@Dadof3 posted:How does a kid go, say from, d3 to d2, or d2 to d1? If a kid is at a quality d2, do they get “recruited” by d1s? Meaning do those schools reach out to that kid? Son’s team who graduated last year is doing really well at a d2, does he have a shot at d1? Does it matter?
adbono has the wisest response/advice, above. I wanted to add that in most cases of a player going from D2 to D1 or D3 to D2 it has been when they went JUCO for a year, had an amazing season at a JUCO and then transferred to a 4 year school at a higher level.
That will become increasingly rare in the next few years due to the pandemic’s effect on roster logjams as well as the decrease in MLB draft rounds. The supply of players is much higher than the demand.
At the D3 level, several of the teams who consistently contend for national titles have 2-3 players on their roster who are D1 bounce downs
There’s overlap in divisions. Why would a player go from a successful D2 to a mediocre or worse D1? Unless a player is a pro prospect he should be looking for a quality education and baseball experience regardless of level. If it’s important to attempt to move up I suggest playing summer ball with D1 players first and see how it goes. And have a second strong D2 season.
While it’s a long time ago I played college summer ball with and against a handful of D2 and D3 players. Most of them struggled against D1 competition. One teammate played D3. He was an awesome hitter. When in the field and on the bases it was apparent why he played D3.
My friend's kid played at a D3 a couple of years ago, transferred to JUCO back home where he proceeded to have a really great season, and is now at an in-state D1 mid-major. Here's the best part: he is a "soft-tossing" lefty who was not in the starting rotation at his HS (had a "mop-up" role) which won state in Illinois and played for a solid travel team. Kid is having a fun and and getting a great education! I played summer ball with his dad back in the mid-80's, and he, too, was a grinder: undersized but very skilled, great baseball IQ and heck of a teammate!
There is a place in the world for a soft tossing lefty. At times they can be very effective. I just don’t like them.
@CubsFanInSTL posted:My friend's kid played at a D3 a couple of years ago, transferred to JUCO back home where he proceeded to have a really great season, and is now at an in-state D1 mid-major. Here's the best part: he is a "soft-tossing" lefty who was not in the starting rotation at his HS (had a "mop-up" role) which won state in Illinois and played for a solid travel team. Kid is having a fun and and getting a great education! I played summer ball with his dad back in the mid-80's, and he, too, was a grinder: undersized but very skilled, great baseball IQ and heck of a teammate!
FAU has a very successful lefty pitcher who is 6'5", 85-86 as his FB velo with a devastating CB that just drops off the shelf. Friday night starter. Ignored by the P5s in our state, FAU would not be where they are without him. He also is having fun and hopes to get into coaching. Great kid, great family and great story.
@adbono posted:There is a place in the world for a soft tossing lefty. At times they can be very effective. I just don’t like them.
Glad my son does not play for you. Tennessee has a guy throwing 104 but he is not their closer. The left handed guy who throws 82 with great changeup and curve is their closer and LHP son who is 86-89 with 5 pitches is normally the second option.
Side question: Why do you not like them?
@PitchingFan posted:Glad my son does not play for you. Tennessee has a guy throwing 104 but he is not their closer. The left handed guy who throws 82 with great changeup and curve is their closer and LHP son who is 86-89 with 5 pitches is normally the second option.
Side question: Why do you not like them?
Can’t give you a good reason. It’s just my own personal bias. I don’t like submarine guys either. I’m a fan of the traditional power pitcher - in theory. But in reality it’s all about getting outs and it really doesn’t matter how you do it. I just think power arms are more fun to coach and more fun to watch.
Oregon has a kid hitting over .400 who transferred from a D2. He was one of the best hitters in the California league last year. There are a couple of pitchers out there that transferred up. I know Texas Tech had one last year that was a weekend starter. It is still very rare and you better be a stud for it to happen.
@d-mac posted:Oregon has a kid hitting over .400 who transferred from a D2. He was one of the best hitters in the California league last year. There are a couple of pitchers out there that transferred up. I know Texas Tech had one last year that was a weekend starter. It is still very rare and you better be a stud for it to happen.
You can name just about any school and Texas Tech has had a guy transfer in from there. At least it seems that way. They don’t all stick though. Tech churns their roster year to year more than any program I know of. It’s been bad for years but since Covid (and transfer portal) it’s even worse.
I will give you that it is interesting watching a kid throw 104 but I must say watching my son and Redmond make a ball move 18-24 inches from side to side is pretty impressive also. I can understand the ball going 104 in a somewhat straight line but I can't understand making it move like the lefties do is another thing all together.
@Dadof3 I may be misreading you, but your post immediately made me think of a buddy of mine whose 2022 is heading to a Juco this fall. My fear is that you might view things the way he and his son does. They both believe that D2, D3 and NAIA ball are "dead ends" and "death sentences." Their words, not mine. Why? Because a kid can't get to D1 from any of them. Yes, there are exceptions, but effectively once you commit to a D2, D3 and NAIA, that's your path. And there is ZERO wrong with those paths. But these days, just about every player and parent cannot resist the lure of saying they made a D1 roster and the bragging rights associated with it. Most would have little problem bouncing around from 1, 2, and even 3 schools first if it eventually means they get to tell people they played D1 ball.
My buddy's kid got a couple of NAIA offers but turned them down because they were "death sentences." Waited and got a late offer to play for a Juco program. They're an okay Juco program, but one of the very few Jucos I've seen that doesn't list on their site what programs their kids move on to. Most Jucos are VERY interested in using that list to market themselves, so when I don't see one, I get suspicious. In this particular case, the vast majority of their kids end up at NAIAs. And they're not powerhouse NAIA programs. They're programs that I'll bet most of these kids could have gone to straight from high school, played for 4 years and had a great experience. But so few players (and parents) want that. What they want most, is a chance to prove everyone wrong. Mostly the people who told them that D2/D3/NAIA was the right level for them. My buddy's son is not D1 material and never will be. Not unless you can show me a D1 1B/DH that runs an 8.3 60. But they have it in their heads that playing Juco keeps the D1 dream alive. Their thought process is that NAIA will always be there waiting should the D1 miracle not happen.
At any rate, my advice is to not chase a destination. Instead, choose a journey and look to enjoy every minute of it. If you spend all 4 years of your eligibility chasing a division, you likely won't have any years of feeling satisfied/fulfilled.
@DanJ, so many people spend all their time chasing the brass ring and miss out on enjoying the journey!
Chances are along the recruiting journey a baseball person or people will tell you what is the right path for you. My son was told by the 17u travel teams who pursued him. Or you will be told by the silence from baseball people you’re waiting to hear from.
Unless a top pro prospect the number one reason to be at college is an education to prepare for life after college. The best scenario is a quality education with the most enjoyable baseball experience regardless of level.
@RJM posted:Chances are along the recruiting journey a baseball person or people will tell you what is the right path for you. My son was told by the 17u travel teams who pursued him. Or you will be told by the silence from baseball people you’re waiting to hear from.
Unless a top pro prospect the number one reason to be at college is an education to prepare for life after college. The best scenario is a quality education with the most enjoyable baseball experience regardless of level.
Say it louder for the people in the back!!!
Now, read it again people. If you think your kid is the magical unicorn exception, you might be the problem
19 years of coaching travel softball, I agree 100% about the journey and not the destination. I have seen plenty of kids who had the talent “settle” for an opportunity at pursuing additional passions, both on and off the field. D1 success generally requires a commitment that precludes additional opportunities, not always but mostly. Any time I brought a new kid on the team, the first question I asked was “why are you playing travel ball?” The answers were varied but largely revolved around D1 or scholarships. My response was always the same. “Play the game because it’s fun and because you want to be the best you can be at it. The schools and the scholarships will find you if you put in the work.” I have former players that are doctors, college coaches and stay at home moms. They all have fond memories of their glory days whether it ended with their last high school or travel ball game or at the CWS. I’m just glad I was able to persuade a few parents along the way that their kids were special regardless of what level they played.
@adbono posted:Can’t give you a good reason. It’s just my own personal bias. I don’t like submarine guys either. I’m a fan of the traditional power pitcher - in theory. But in reality it’s all about getting outs and it really doesn’t matter how you do it. I just think power arms are more fun to coach and more fun to watch.
this and I feel like the miss zone for power pitching is larger. if you are a soft tossing lefty and make small miss it leaves the park...but oh boy they can be devastating when they are on.
@old_school posted:this and I feel like the miss zone for power pitching is larger. if you are a soft tossing lefty and make small miss it leaves the park...but oh boy they can be devastating when they are on.
Talk about devastating: kid's high school team took their first lost this season to a "soft tossing lefty".... Commanded 3 pitches and shut us down. Had everyone up there guessing, and just kept missing barrels. Honestly, that's what I love about baseball. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat and move on.
Outs just got recruited by a d3! He’s doing a heck of a job
