Getting cut after you make the college team

Most college programs will keep a recruit for his entire college career if he does well in the classroom, stays out of trouble, and works hard at whatever role the coach decides is in the team's best interest.

His scholarship could be reduced or he might not make the travel roster each season, but he will probably be allowed to work with the team as long as he's happy with his role...and the head coach doesn't leave.

I don't think that many recruits are actually "cut." They usually leave because either they've become disatisfied with their role on the team or their scholarship is reduced/eliminated due to poor grades, behavior, or lack of performance on the field.

Like you say, colleges are probably all over the place on this...at my son's college, (SEC), I only know of two players that were "cut" in three years. I'm not privy to information but the rumor was for failure to attend mandatory workouts. These players were on the roster but saw little if any playing time. A few players did transfer over the years and I’m not sure of why they transferred. If they were “asked” to transfer, I would consider this a form of being cut. I never got the impression that players are cut based on talent. I have seen some players being starters and lose that starting position but they remain on the roster. We had one senior player that had 1 at bat in four years. He was a hard worker and a super young man. His parents came to most of the games. He fit right in and was a part of the team just like the starters. On a different note: A player may get caught up in a coaching change that could find his future in jeopardy but this is a different situation.
Fungo

College ball requires an extensive time committment. Many hours are spent on the field for practise and games, not to mention the hours spent traveling.

Some fresh/soph who don't see many innings/at bats decide it is not worth the time they are devoting to it, for what they get in return (bench time only).

The don't get cut so much as they choose to make a change. This may be to transfer to another school, or give up baseball completely.

quote:

We had one senior player that had 1 at bat in four years. He was a hard worker and a super young man. His parents came to most of the games.

This situation sounds like a monumental waste of everyones time. Surely the coach can give him a few at-bats on his 21st birthday LOL

quote:

This situation sounds like a monumental waste of everyones time. Surely the coach can give him a few at-bats on his 21st birthday LOL

You would be surprised - I know a young man who was in a similar situation - don't know just how many at bats he got, if any. He once told me his role was pretty much to help the players warm up.

He was the kind of young man who would NEVER have considered it a waste of time at all. He had a role on the team, and he took it quite serious. More important he LOVED being a part of the team.

He has graduated now (with a very high gpa) and has moved on to the work force. Quite the kind of guy a lot of employers would LOVE to have on their team.

Each situation is unique - each player is unique.

AParent,
One of the players who was also team captain this year very rarely played at Clemson. He tried so hard, thy called him Dirt because he was just one of those players, worked hard but sat. He was a great inspiration to the team. He knew where he stood, never wanted to leave because he just enjoyed helping out whenever he could.

Players can also be "ignored" into leaving. If a kid wants to play, and is not getting a chance, for whatever reason, valid or not, sitting and watching for 4 years isn't much fun. When they tire of it, they either quit baseball, or transfer. Not much else in the way of options.