I'm 35! Time To Reclass?

Interesting ideas. I looked over the 3 years around my guy. 2020 the state had maybe 4 D1's.

His year 2021 approx 17. 2022 maybe 4-5.

So theoretically you could have been the best kid in the state most years but not in 2021!

You would most likely have been 10th.

Hi Josh - first, my kid is not reclassified. But, I find it interesting that kids the same exact age as him with the same exact metrics: Height, Weight, EV, throwing velo, 60-time, POP, etc., are touted as STUDS by many because they reclassified whereas the player who remained in his grade doesn't get the same level of accolades.

In my state, they used to have a thing where you could have your kid repeat kindergarten if you felt that they weren't ready for 1st grade. As a result of it, your kid would be the oldest in his grade once out of kindergarten. We know one kid who was like this who then reclassified as well after the 8th grade. They switched to private school and repeated the 8th grade. Kid is now two full years older than everyone in his grade. He's also ranked in the top 10 by PG, PBR and a P5 D1 commit.

Why? Everyone wants the older kid. Travel teams want him because he dominates. Ditto the HS. And, colleges now get an older freshman who might be able to contribute on Day 1 as opposed to having someone who may not be 100% ready to be an impact contributor as a freshman.

Reclassification will never stop until the food chain loses it's appetite for it.

Again, not my kid. But, I see it ALL THE TIME.  We know some 2022s who were ranked top 5 in their state for their position and they have reclassified in the last year. Why? I guess being Top 5 wasn't good enough for them?

Thanks for jumping in! The food chain definitely won't stop, but hopefully the families will make decisions based on much more than just baseball. Repeating a grade as a youngster is completely understandable. The rest of it, though, is where I begin to question the motives.

As for PG rankings... no coach cares about that! haha! So don't worry about that.

@JoshRudd wrote, “ As for PG rankings...no coach cares about that! haha! So don’t worry about that.

That is correct. A few of us have been saying that on this board for years.  

From my College Tour last winter --> https://youtu.be/tihH7t9XJpg

Any suggestions for next blog?

@Josh Rudd (@JRudd_Scout) posted:

Any suggestions for next blog?

First suggestion: How schools decide who to offer when there are hundreds in a graduation class all with similar and great measurables at a particular position. Is it grades that separate the players Something else? Is it a gut feel where something intangible about the player just resonates with the coach?

Second suggestion: College rosters this fall are brimming beyond capacity like never before at every level. Some schools are cutting baseball programs. Several schools are not funding all of their scholarships. At least one school has already canceled their spring season for 2021. The transfer portal is jammed up and bursting. How does this now impact the somewhat "business as usual" transfer after freshman year that has happened in the past in college baseball? How does it specifically impact the 2020s? And, what's the downstream for the 2021s and 2022s? How important is it now for the 2021s and 2022s to do their homework and make an honest evaluation of their talent and choose a level, school, program where they are very confident that they can succeed and stick for their entire college experience?

Hi Josh, 

To the reclass ?....My son has seen countless classmates' parents lured in by the private high schools and coaches to reclass, just to find themselves sitting on the bench behind better players that were recruited to those same High Schools and they PAID them to do it.   Son was asked at a church event to consider it at our local church school.  I just laughed until I realized that the Coach was 100% serious.  I don't think it would have included any $$, but I can see how it works for the most elite athletes but not for 80% of them.  Some may actually need to repeat the grade academically just to stay caught up and in those cases, it may be good for them.  A lot of travel ball parents take their kids out of school on Friday afternoons and they end up missing a lot of coursework in middle school.  I stood behind a parent being lectured at our local MS, by an Asst. Principal on this practice.  The next year, the kid was enrolled in an online school, which he hates.  So

Next topics...

1. Have you considered talking to AD's?  I think they may have some insight on budgets which I know everyone is interested in. 

2. ABCA, maybe they can give some insight into the Jan. Virtual Show and new info on what they are seeing collectively.

3.  Strength and Conditioning Trainers/Centers...seems to be a plethora, but in our case, it was the best money spent in baseball.  He has enjoyed hanging with friends in a lower pressure environment while getting stronger and faster. 

Best to you and keep up the great work!

@Francis7 posted:

Hi Josh - first, my kid is not reclassified. But, I find it interesting that kids the same exact age as him with the same exact metrics: Height, Weight, EV, throwing velo, 60-time, POP, etc., are touted as STUDS by many because they reclassified whereas the player who remained in his grade doesn't get the same level of accolades.

In my state, they used to have a thing where you could have your kid repeat kindergarten if you felt that they weren't ready for 1st grade. As a result of it, your kid would be the oldest in his grade once out of kindergarten. We know one kid who was like this who then reclassified as well after the 8th grade. They switched to private school and repeated the 8th grade. Kid is now two full years older than everyone in his grade. He's also ranked in the top 10 by PG, PBR and a P5 D1 commit.

Why? Everyone wants the older kid. Travel teams want him because he dominates. Ditto the HS. And, colleges now get an older freshman who might be able to contribute on Day 1 as opposed to having someone who may not be 100% ready to be an impact contributor as a freshman.

Reclassification will never stop until the food chain loses it's appetite for it.

Again, not my kid. But, I see it ALL THE TIME.  We know some 2022s who were ranked top 5 in their state for their position and they have reclassified in the last year. Why? I guess being Top 5 wasn't good enough for them?

There are tons of current HS kids reclassing in FL. And a bunch who were already reclassed either in elementary or repeated 8th grade. They all know they won't finish playing for their HS because the state only allows 4 years. Most I've talked to plan on jumping over to one of those baseball academies/schools for their senior year.

I'm honestly a little surprised by the trend. A lot of these kids don't have measurables right now at 16 that are even close to what coaches will be looking for. Talked to the dad of a PO this weekend and his kid was sitting 70-71.... 16yo. Dad was maybe 5'9 and mom much shorter.

TerribleBPthrower - I think some parents just don't care about that senior year of HS baseball and are willing to punt it in the HS reclassification move. Really a shame. That's a special time to miss.

we've seen a handful in our area.  usually they go to IMG or some other private out of the area and comeback a grade lower.  

the ones that leave me scratching my head are the early developers who were studs at a young age but who have fallen back to the pack a little.  mom is often 5' nothing and dad is around 5'8". kid looks like a man at 12.  not sure what the extra year is going to buy them except some early interest (everyone wants an 8th grader throwing 80 but who's looking at a jr throwing 81?).

funny thing is, one of my son's best friends would be a prime candidate to reclass. kid is a very mechanically sound catcher but, as a sophomore, is just starting to hit puberty. dad is around 6'1, older brother is around 6'1. both were late developers (brother grew about 6" in sophomore year and packed on a ton of muscle). my son's friend looks to be on the same track and will be a monster for his last couple of years of HS (I think this will be a baby giraffe year for him as he's grown 3 inches since last spring and is starting to show signs of gaining some man strength). All that said, he and his parents say no f'n way did they think about reclassing. he's a good kid.  smart.  very well mannered and has a ton of friends in his grade. He is about third or fourth in line for the catcher's spot in the program because he doesn't "look the part" (coaches are not the greatest eyes for talent, imo) but I think he's the best catcher hands down.  my prediction is he will go from "who's that???" to "you know who that is, right?" very soon.

I've always found the reclass of strong and talented high school kids interesting - to each their own. I will say this - I've seen several "holdbacks" in my area at strong west coast D1 programs mysteriously disappear from the team roster prior to or during the season and/or end up transferring to a JC. The less physically mature kid that had to "fight" to keep up with older kids during his high school years has a unique built-in toughness that serves them very well when they show up to college as a freshman. For the hold-backs, showing up to a ballfield where everyone is older and mostly bigger is a new phenomenon for them. As is the lack of playing time and being stuck behind other players (juniors and seniors on the depth chart). Something that they never experienced in high school or travel ball.