Looking at College Rosters

Checking class year of players by position is just one of many variables in making school choice. Would you want to be a catcher one year behind a top pro prospect, All-American catcher? The reality is competition for starting positions will be challenging regardless. There will be 18-20 positions players either starting or believing they can start. Each year a team brings in quality recruits. Why compound the challenge by being on a team with a lot of young starters? Every year a player sits another recruited class comes in behind him creating more of a challenge.

RJM is right, it's just one way to look at it. But a good one. Also consider JC transfers, how many do they bring in each year. Do they RS freshman. You want set yourself up in the best possible situation to get play time. You don't get better sitting the bench. You don't want to go to great program and never have shot to play. It is said all the time on this site "go where they love you". 

I know of a kid 6'5" 88-91 RHP, went to a great baseball program and sat the bench his freshman year because they had 18 pitchers. This year they have 20 and he's still not not sure where he fits in. I know a lot of schools where he would be a starter. 

If you're pretty sure that you're looking at the right schools talent-wise, I think it's a factor that's worth noting, but nothing to get too excited about. Transfers and classes ahead of your kid can change that landscape quickly.

 

I look for the anomalies. My son started out with one school high on his list until he spoke to one of the ACs who's expression dropped noticeably when my son told him he was a 2015. We checked their roster and counted 3 juniors... none at his position. Another school was much lower on the list until son found they were carrying 16 juniors (+ RS-juniors) on their roster.

 

Factoring in position just makes it more of a crap shoot. So many unknowns like injuries, transfers (out), academic issues, guys changing positions, etc.

 

My kid has received the best information by simply talking to coaches. All the ones he's spoken with have been very forthcoming about their rosters and their recruiting classes. (At least they appear to be.)

Great advice. Certainly sounds like a place to dig once you've made a list of schools or are getting some interest. Thank you.

A lot to look at. Finding the right fit is the key. Definitely pays to do some homework.

Don't look at just one year; look at the last 3-years. While looking at the roster, pull up the stats and take a look at who is getting playing time.

 

This exercise is fundamental. If you haven't done it you have no clue how coaches operate and their general expectations and how they change over a players career.

That's a really good approach. Thanks. Never realized how much analysis went into this. Great advice by everyone and invaluable.

I'd also point out that coaches can change their mind about what they need.  My son was told by an Ivy coach that they'd be recruiting two players at his position - that was in the winter of his junior year.  By August (right before his senior year) they changed their mind and decided to bring in no one at that position.  Things can be fluid ...

 

Seems like there's a good piece of advice in here, but I can't quite see it - can you explain?

The way I interpreted it was that the coaches really liked what they saw, but then realized he wouldn't fit their plan because of his graduation year and their obvious needs at other positions. That must be quite common. It's a need based business.

 

Nothing profound, I would just say to learn everything you can about the schools that you're really serious about. My son would still have pursued this particular school, but he would have adjusted his expectations accordingly had he known they had an unusually small recruiting class.

 

kevkev29, this was just a campus tour, pop-in meeting with the coach. He's a big kid, and that's really the only think the coach knew about him. They were still looking for 2014s at the time.

I agree with what has been shared.  Reviewing roster history is essential to getting a feel for a program IMHO.  A team is only as good as its players and coaches.   In addition, reviewing rosters can also provide:

 

1) Where do the players come from/where to programs recruit (local, regional, national)?

2) How many players make it from freshmen year to senior?

3) What are the players majors?  Do their majors change after freshmen year?

4) Is coaching turnover frequent?  Where do they go?  Are they promoted?

5) Do they recruit mostly infielders then train them to play outfield if they can hit freshmen/soph year....then bring them back to the infield junior/senior year?

6) Understand transfers in and transfers out

7) How many players actually start?  How many actually play?

8) Two way players?  Reality or myth? 

9) If you are considering professional baseball....do many get drafted junior or senior year?

10) Is there an abundance of freshmen every year?  If so, why?

11) Do many seniors who are not starters return for their senior year?

 

Just a few thoughts when looking at a program. 

 

 

Great insight and a great checklist to use when looking at a roster. Sounds like a great exercise for my son to do over holiday break.

Great list Fenway! Pretty much sums it up!

Checking on the team statistics as well, can provide some insight into how many players actually play in a given program.

 

I remember during my sons freshman year that the head coach pointed out that in most years about 12 players get majority of the AB's and only about 14 would receive 30 AB's or more. The number for the pitchers was only about 10 would pitch the bulk innings. That leaves a bunch of guys on the roster that either hardly play or not don't play at all. 

 

 

There's some good advice on here regarding roster review, stats, etc...fenwaysouth has a nice list.  With that said, the most intelligent advice I can give you is to go watch their games live.  I can't tell you how many college games & universities my son and I went to his sophomore & junior year of HS?  We'd get to the ballpark early to watch batting practice & infield/outfield.  My son was being recruited as an OF/RHP so we wanted to see the outfielders arms and watch them take BP.  Getting there early also gave him an opportunity to visit with the coaches. 

If the college your son is interested in is not within driving distance, I would advise that you find a similar program that plays in the same division (D1, D2, D3) in your area and attend a game or two.  Be honest with your evaluations and comparisons with your son's ability with the collegiate players.  Watching a game Live is a better gauge IMO, because you never know what's going to occur with a roster and/or coaching staff year to year.

Great advice. We live in SE PA so there are a lot of quality D1, 2 & 3 programs to do that.

I agree with everything that's been said except for the part about positions.  There are a preponderance of former HS shortstops at the college level.  Positions get changed, often with the best intentions of the player in mind.  My own son was a HS shortstop, converted to 3B then 2Band even a little catcher.  By sophomore year he was a pitcher and has been the closer for a couple of years.  Look more for roster turnover than position.  Track their HS school careers to see what kind of player they were before college.  Many kids get better in college but some kids get worse so don't put too much stock in roster reading. JMHO