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Juco not working what next?

CM concerned mom 68Member
Hi, I have a son that chose to try the Juco route this year 2011 grad. The roster is huge and probably will never get a chance to play at the college he is at, so how do we go about being seen by other college coaches to see if they are interested?? Are there Showcase type of events for this purpose once you are no longer a H.S. student. My son has not officially played in any games yet so we are making sure he does not waste a year of eligibilty. Please help!! He is by no means fully matured and his best baseball is yet to come.
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Three BaggerThree Bagger1,000+ posts
Before switching, I would take a look at previous rosters at any Juco your son decides to switch to because most tend to carry very large rosters. I was looking at the roster of one that several of my son's former teammates are on and they had a fall roster of 58 with numbers like 19 RH pitchers and 6 catchers. Your son could be facing the same large roster problems again if you don't do the research.
Last edited by Three Bagger
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
Sometimes people get confused. Even on here I've read things like... Go to a Juco and get some immediate playing experience. This is actually true in some cases, but there are many Juco's that are extremely competitive. There are Juco's that will have 5 or 10 players drafted in any given year. So those thinking about Juco need to do their homework and adjust according to the players skill set. Sitting on the bench at a Juco is a bad experience.

I would look at another Juco, maybe a lower level Juco where your son will be able to develop. Definitely find a place to play during the summer. Is there a Legion team in your area and is he age eligible to play Legion. I'm not sure about Wisconsin, but there are many "town" type leagues in different areas of the upper Midwest. There is one in NE Iowa if that is close. There is nothing stopping Juco players from attending showcases, but they cost money and might not be real beneficial. I would look at Tryouts held by MLB scouts. They're free, but you might not gather any information.

If he qualifies, you might look at some small 4 year colleges. Once again, if playing time is an important issue, be careful to select a college that needs someone of his ability.

Best of luck
Last edited by PGStaff
CM concerned mom 68Member
quote:
Originally posted by PGStaff:
Sometimes people get confused. Even on here I've read things like... Go to a Juco and get some immediate playing experience. This is actually true in some cases, but there are many Juco's that are extremely competitive. There are Juco's that will have 5 or 10 players drafted in any given year. So those thinking about Juco need to do their homework and adjust according to the players skill set. Sitting on the bench at a Juco is a bad experience.

I would look at another Juco, maybe a lower level Juco where your son will be able to develop. Definitely find a place to play during the summer. Is there a Legion team in your area and is he age eligible to play Legion. I'm not sure about Wisconsin, but there are many "town" type leagues in different areas of the upper Midwest. There is one in NE Iowa if that is close. There is nothing stopping Juco players from attending showcases, but they cost money and might not be real beneficial. I would look at Tryouts held by MLB scouts. They're free, but you might not gather any information.

If he qualifies, you might look at some small 4 year colleges. Once again, if playing time is an important issue, be careful to select a college that needs someone of his ability.

Best of luck
CM concerned mom 68Member
quote:
Originally posted by concerned mom 68:
quote:
Originally posted by PGStaff:
Sometimes people get confused. Even on here I've read things like... Go to a Juco and get some immediate playing experience. This is actually true in some cases, but there are many Juco's that are extremely competitive. There are Juco's that will have 5 or 10 players drafted in any given year. So those thinking about Juco need to do their homework and adjust according to the players skill set. Sitting on the bench at a Juco is a bad experience.

I would look at another Juco, maybe a lower level Juco where your son will be able to develop. Definitely find a place to play during the summer. Is there a Legion team in your area and is he age eligible to play Legion. I'm not sure about Wisconsin, but there are many "town" type leagues in different areas of the upper Midwest. There is one in NE Iowa if that is close. There is nothing stopping Juco players from attending showcases, but they cost money and might not be real beneficial. I would look at Tryouts held by MLB scouts. They're free, but you might not gather any information.

If he qualifies, you might look at some small 4 year colleges. Once again, if playing time is an important issue, be careful to select a college that needs someone of his ability.

Best of luck
CM concerned mom 68Member
First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to sincerely answer our questions! We have always participated and enjoyed PG events, this type of advice confirms the respect I have for your organization. We chose probably THE most competative JUCO school not because we thought our son was a STUD, but we were hoping that he would get the attention and coaching he needs and so badly longs for. We also chose to go JUCO based on the semester by semester option. We have heard so many collegiate players being miserable with the distance, coach, location etc. that we figured this would be a great option. Well, our son has proved to excell in the classroom 3.9 in pre-med, hold his first job, and manage extremely well on his own and be able to handle the responsibilities of college life. He is extremely focused and is very coachable. It is hard though to compete for a roster spot with well over 70 kids starting in the fall. We just want to find a good fit for him, I thought we did, but I guess we did make a mistake.
He is the type of kid that has all of the natural ability, but just needs someone to believe in him. He has never had the advantage of having his Dad or Uncle be the coach, and is used to fighting for a spot. But I truly think given the right coach he could really contribute to a team. I just wanted to know where to start looking and if there were other types of showcases for college age kids. He is already playing in the Land O' Lakes League here in WI but scouts are not lining up behind home plate every weekend. I am insulted with the comment that someone else made in regards to NOT doing our homework. I guess that getting married and divorced could be called not doing your homework, but just because I am a women does mean I do not do my homework. I certainly hope that the other poster does not get divorced simply because he did not do his homework. What I am trying to say is YES people make mistakes and that is one reason we chose the JUCO route, is that it was EZ to change if need be.

Thank you for the MLB scout tryouts.... no his is not a draft pick guy.... but as is always said "You never know who is watching".

Thanks again PG, always a class act!!!!
T tradosaurus100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by concerned mom 68:
First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to sincerely answer our questions! We have always participated and enjoyed PG events, this type of advice confirms the respect I have for your organization. We chose probably THE most competative JUCO school not because we thought our son was a STUD, but we were hoping that he would get the attention and coaching he needs and so badly longs for. We also chose to go JUCO based on the semester by semester option. We have heard so many collegiate players being miserable with the distance, coach, location etc. that we figured this would be a great option. Well, our son has proved to excell in the classroom 3.9 in pre-med, hold his first job, and manage extremely well on his own and be able to handle the responsibilities of college life. He is extremely focused and is very coachable. It is hard though to compete for a roster spot with well over 70 kids starting in the fall. We just want to find a good fit for him, I thought we did, but I guess we did make a mistake.
He is the type of kid that has all of the natural ability, but just needs someone to believe in him. He has never had the advantage of having his Dad or Uncle be the coach, and is used to fighting for a spot. But I truly think given the right coach he could really contribute to a team. I just wanted to know where to start looking and if there were other types of showcases for college age kids. He is already playing in the Land O' Lakes League here in WI but scouts are not lining up behind home plate every weekend. I am insulted with the comment that someone else made in regards to NOT doing our homework. I guess that getting married and divorced could be called not doing your homework, but just because I am a women does mean I do not do my homework. I certainly hope that the other poster does not get divorced simply because he did not do his homework. What I am trying to say is YES people make mistakes and that is one reason we chose the JUCO route, is that it was EZ to change if need be.

Thank you for the MLB scout tryouts.... no his is not a draft pick guy.... but as is always said "You never know who is watching".

Thanks again PG, always a class act!!!!


Well depriving a boy of his father is never a good thing.

What does his father have to say about the matter? That is why really counts.
M 02^04MomHSBBWeb Old Timer
Many Juco's have large rosters, my youngest was a pitcher and was even told he would probably be redshirted. He hung in there, injuries, eligibilities, girlfriends etc happened.

Then, midseason the big game happened, you know the one that you don't want to burn your "real" starting pitcher so they started my son. He proved himself that day, his team won and the rest is history.

If he is doing well academically as you say he is, needs maturity, maybe staying where he is, learning and practicing is just where he needs to be.
MF mood for baseball100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by tradosaurus:Well depriving a boy of his father is never a good thing.

What does his father have to say about the matter? That is why really counts.


WOW !

It's mind boggling how someone can come here seeking some solid advice and end up getting ridiculed for trying to help her son out.

Rather than offering some advice the all knowing TR basically tells her it's her own fault for not doing her homework. When mom makes an analogy about divorced folks must not do their homework either. She's basically told by Tradosaurus that the boy is screwed because it's the mans job to handle these things.

Mom, between the ignorant responses it sounds like you got some good advice. Good luck finding the right fit.
coach2709coach270910,000+ posts
Please forgive me if I seem like I'm jumping on the pick on you bandwagon but that is not my intention. I don't understand why your son doesn't stay and compete for a starting job or significant playing time? I understand you said he's a raw talent but what does that mean? Was he offered a scholarship by this school or other schools?

Maybe you made a mistake in choosing this place by not realizing they had so many on roster. But in all honesty no matter where you go you're not going to find things much better. Most teams will have 25 - 30 on the roster so there is going to be competition wherever he goes. If he's on a roster of about 70 I would say at least half are way over their head in playing ability. Most will be gone by next year but there will be another large group coming in and he will be in the same situation.

You said something along the lines that your son needs the right coach to make him better? What's wrong with the coach he has right now? What specifically are you looking for to make your son better?

I'm afraid you might be looking for something you may not find. I hope I'm wrong but I can't see shopping for schools as an overall solution. Sometimes you need to stay at the place you're at and make the best of it.
fillsfanfillsfan1,000+ posts
Very good post coach. I was thinking along the same lines.

I understand the concept of a coach taking interest in a player, but that will usually happen if the coach notices something he likes in the player, and if the coach is inclined to doing such a thing. This is difficult with so many players on the roster. Although the roster size will dwindle this spring.

Some jucos have JV teams, maybe they have one here. If that's the case, do all he can to get noticed if playing JV.

I hope the father comments were if a joke. If not, WOW!
C calisportsfan100+ posts
Also with good grades like his, a D3 is an option. But if he is pre med and indeed wants to become a doctor, his two goals may be in direct conflict with one another! It's nearly impossible to play college ball and succeed in pre med.
Back to D3's though,it seems they also carry larger rosters so you really won't get away from competing for time but there are options and some D3's have JV programs too. He sounds like he is doing a great job succeeding in life, great grades and holding a job etc.

Don't worry about a certain response, you won't be alone in wishing that man had a filter (or fewer fingers) and didn't need to type every offensive thing that comes to his narrow mind. I think your son is lucky you support his aspirations regardless if he calls you mom or dad!
Last edited by calisportsfan
ILVBBILVBB1,000+ posts
The reality is baseball is a pyramid; the further up the fewer the opportunity. Large rosters and competitition aside, coachs want good players and generally play the best. From my experience; the vast majority of "teaching" occurs before you player gets to college; those that need the extra help are behind those players that move forward at the college level.

That being said; there are thousands of colleges. If playing baseball is important it is time to expand your horizons. I talk to young people all the time about playing ball in college; yet when I ask them where they want to go to school and they say anywhere as long as I can play, that is usually not the truth.

It is time that you and your son start really evaluating what is important for him at this point in his life. The fact that he has good grades in a pre-med program while holding a job tells me that he has his head screwed on straight. Yet if baseball is the number one priority he may need to make some adjustments.

I guarantee you can find a school, especially if he has great grades, where he can play baseball. My son had a friend that wanted to play baseball in college, he had great grades was smart and motivated, the young man went to Vasser (historically a women's college) played for four years and got a great education.

The point the vision that the two of you have may need to be adjusted to get the baseball experience that he is not getting now.

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