How do non-playing freshmen in collge get practice?

Just...I was just at a very large S Cal school...they just made 10-12 more cuts the week prior to our visit. I think the larger programs cut at anytime, mostly the non-scholarship players which there are alot of at the bigger schools...pac 10, wccc, big ten, big 12 etc. This school actually didn't show their top players until the last few groups @ BP..some didn't even take infield, and definitely didn't shag. INTERESTING??

Hope the boy is doing well.

My son is unofficially red-shirted this season, (meaning he has not played but was kept on the roster as active in case a returing infielder was injured they could insert him, if he doesn't play this season, the school will classify his season as a redshirt)..Anyway.. He has attended every practice and takes part in all infield work, BP and cage work.. He is on the field for all infield warmups and BP as well before every game. He tells me, and the coaches told us last weekend that his skills continue to increase daily and they are excited with his progress and future with the team.. Our other 3 freshman who haven't played are also doing the same things.

We know other redshirted players who have done little this season, I think its really up to each program and how the coaches look at a non-playing season and how they choose to handle it.

My son has not gotten the practice reps he'd like, which in part contributed to the back strain he has had for the last week or so. We just hope he's right for summer ball.

He has tried to stay sharp by working with others in his situation. But that is not an easy thing to do.

That said, there is only so much you can do in practice during the season. Fall is really the important time that way. During the spring, you make the most of what you can get and go on.

My son is red-shirting and has practiced and thrown pretty much like any other pitcher, with regular bullpens. He's thrown in inter-squad scrimmages all during the spring, although those scrimmages have decreased greatly as the season progressed. He has travelled to some away contests and dressed in uniform for games. All three red-shirts travelled to, and dressed out for, the Conference tournament, and are travelling with the team for the final few games being played after school ends (today!). The red-shirts seem to do everything but play in the games-team breakfasts, running, pre-game warmups, etc.

The red-shirt has gotten "tight" and he's very anxious to pitch in real games during summer ball. The coach indicated to me when the red-shirt decision was made that he'd pitch plenty in the spring to be ready for summer ball and that seems to be the case, although certainly summer ball "real" games will be different from inter-squad scrimmages.

My son red shirted in his freshman year and practiced as if he were a regular part of the team--they prepared him for his first
true" college action to the point that he started for the following 4 years--

If you have the talent they will make sure you get your reps.