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HS season question

R rowandfan10+ posts
Lets say you are a D1 coach (any program) and you are at a showcase this and find this junior outfielder. Good hitting (hits opposite field well), good defensively, 6.7 60... etc

You are interested in this player.... from what you saw, you think this player would be good enough for your program.

Then you ask about his High School season. You find out he didn't play too much, therefore his stats from his highschool season aren't there. This athlete had solid summer and fall ball seasons hitting .412 and going 20-22 in sb. The level of play in the summer and fall was equivalent if not better than the High School league he was in. He has a pro scout reference (who says good things), and the summer/ fall ball coach gives a great recommendation. The thing is though, the high school coach does not really. The high school coach says some good things but he says different things. The scout and the summer coach say great hitter, fast, great defense in center, while the HS coach says the same, but says bad hitter.

Would you still recruit this player? How important is the high school junior season, if everywhere but with that coach the player plays really good?
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ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Would you still recruit this player?

Yes, if when I evaluated the player in person I felt he was talented. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Recruiting is based on what the recruiter sees with his own eyes. Get out and show these coaches your talent and you can overcome what your high school coach thinks. Stats and recomendations are not what gets you recruited. Playing well when a recruiter is watching is the most important factor.
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
rowandfan,

We have seen many players who are/were able to play at any college in the country despite not playing much or having good stats as a junior in high school.

Gerritt Cole pitched about 20 innings as a junior for his high school team. He was drafted in the first round but went to UCLA.

Cole Hamels was injured and didn't get to show his ability as a junior. He was a first round pick as a senior.

The thing about baseball is that it is a "now" and "future potential" game. If you're playing and someone is watching, the past isn't such a big deal. This has unpleasantly surprised many who think their past high school accomplishments and stats are enough.

That said, sometimes a player will show the right people what he has, and he creates lots of interest, "before" his junior year. When that happens those junior year injuries and other set backs aren't as big a problem.

What matters the most is if a scout or recruiter likes what they "see".
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Being from the area where you live and play, and meaning only to be honest and realistic, Northern CA. is not starting to be a hot bed.
It is and has been.
The reality is there are far more DI players in Northern CA than there will be openings on DI rosters in CA. When you look at the entire state including Orange County, San Diego, the Central Valley and the Bay Area, even if each DI program has 10 openings, which is not likely, there are close to 10 players in CA competing for them.
Your grades will make a difference at some schools in terms of expanding options or closing options.
If DI coaches have seen you, told you they like you and that you can play in their program, that carries the most weight.
Unless your HS coach is known and highly respected by college recruiters, the HS results may not change what college recruiters see.
It might change the minds of some, however, who truly do want to see players in critical game situations and don't see showcases as creating that type of pressure to perform
Last edited by infielddad
ILVBBILVBB1,000+ posts
I too am from the area (I can probably figure out which HS). The reality is numbers work against you. Unless the coaches that know your son will pick-up the phone and put their reputations on the line; he will need to show his talents to the coaches that have the need and athority to recruit your son.

As Infielddad points out the number of players in California. The reality is that there is closer to 45 senior ballplayers on HS rosters for every roster spot at a 4-year college in California. This means that only 1 kid out of every 5 high schools will find and opportunity at at California 4-year school. The number get worse at closer to 100 kids on HS rosters for every D1 roster spot.

Numbers Game

I have been down this road with my son. He did not play his Jr year at a high profile WCAL team. In spite of outstanding numbers his senior year; the California teams were not lining-up.

He had options but he had to hit the road and create them for himself. My suggestion is do everthing that you can to create options if playing at the college level is a priority. If playing for a California D1 is the only acceptable option you are clearly going to face tough odds.
R rowandfan10+ posts
thanks for the posts ILVBB and infielddad,

Grades are pretty good (amazing academic school)...

CA D1 baseball is not that important... D1 anywhere is the goal


"Unless your HS coach is known and highly respected by college recruiters, the HS results may not change what college recruiters see.
It might change the minds of some, however, who truly do want to see players in critical game situations and don't see showcases as creating that type of pressure to perform"

Fist year varsity coach, so I doubt he has any relation with any D1 coaches yet


"Being from the area where you live and play, and meaning only to be honest and realistic, Northern CA. is not starting to be a hot bed.
It is and has been."

I was trying to not over sell it, but I realize the type of players here. I know of many d1 bound seniors and a couple guys who will be first rounders.
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
There are many players that would have the same story as you. There are some programs here in NC where you will not play varsity until your Jr year. Period. Sometimes that can mean you are stuck behind a talented Sr your Jr year. Many times in these programs there will be very talented Sr's who are starting in hs for the first time. I see them at showcase events , tryouts etc and I have never heard of them. But that does not mean they are not talented players. These same kids in some other programs would be stars as Sophs.

A 6.7 is a 6.7 regardless of how many games you have started. Talent and ability is talent and ability regardless. There are guys riding the bench as some programs as Jr's who would be all state if they played in other hs programs that are simply less talented. I would not worry about what you can not control and focus on what you can. Good luck

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