Next steps to take in looking for a college team?

With only one year to offer them you need to target baseball programs where you can step right in and have an impact. Otherwise you're not worth the time investment to the coaching staff. So, step one is figuring out who are these programs. Step two is figuring out how you're going to sell your club baseball and summer ball history as a gotta have, instant impact player.

Have you been playing summer ball against other college players? If so, did you have good success against them. This is what you need to sell.  What kind of contacts do your summer coaches have? Or are they throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks?

To be honest I believe the best offer you're going to get is an attempt to walk on. In that tryout you better outshine every pitcher. I recommend you choose your grad school based on academics and not the long shot potential to play baseball. 

You may want to PM (dialog) JH on this site.  He will be very helpful in the steps you need to do this.  

And, go back through all JH's posts, I am guessing from about 3-4 years ago, and you will see that he had to send out 75+ letters, take many rejections, etc.  He is an excellent writer.

It will be worth your while to contact him. 

RJM, I appreciate the reply. And to answer your questions, yes, I am looking for a program that I could immediately make an impact on. I understand and it is pretty obvious that college programs would rather have a 4-year player rather than just a one-year. But unfortunately, my situation was where I couldn't be immediately involved with true college baseball after high school, and I really don't believe that I should be "punished" for it (if that is the case, so be it I guess...).

To answer your questions, I have been playing in the AZ Collegiate Wood Bat League which is all against other college players (mainly NJCAA, NAIA, DII & DIII players; D1 players few but not very many), and I have fared well against this competition. First of all, I am a very, very hard worker, and any coach I've ever had will tell you that. Second of all, I believe I can be that impact player. I can eat up innings, never had arm problems before in my life, and most importantly, throw strikes with ALL of my pitches. As a player that only has "club" experience in college, I have fared really well against true college competition, when our club team played the local area junior colleges, and in my summer league, which I was better in because I had an actual coach. My coaches here have told me that I have great stuff and they can see me pitching at a D2 level.

The other questions you asked, those are the ones I'm not quite so sure about. My coaches told me that hey have connections with D2 coaches and programs, and as much as I'd like to believe them, I am just unsure about what kind of connections they have and I'm not sure if they're just "throwing spaghetti against the wall." 

Trust me, I understand this is a long shot, but I am determined and will hopefully land a spot on a team. Quite a bit of coaches emailed me back saying my situation was unique and they would love to keep in contact with me (once again, I don't quite know if that's good or bad, or if that means anything at all, I know it probably doesn't). At the same time, I did get a lot of rejection letters back, and a lot didn't even respond. I will be very patient in this process, and if it comes down to me getting absolutely 0 offers, I will go and try for a walk-on, understanding that as a walk-on, I need to be 3 times as good as just the "average" player on that team. And also, yes, I am realistic about my abilities. I understand I most likely cannot play at a top tier D2 program like Colorado Mesa, Minnesota State, Tampa, etc. But I believe I still have the ability to play, and therefore, I would like to keep playing. In economic terms, playing baseball at a higher level, the competition, it maximizes my expected utility.

Hi Keewart, thanks for the reply. I understand he had a similar situation to me, where he went from D3 to D1 for graduate school for his last year of eligibility as well. I'll definitely take some time to go and ask for his advice as well. Thanks!

Your focus should be on the schools that responded in a positive manner that are at the level of players you're succeeding against in summer ball. Somehow you have to get in front of them. You should have sent a summer ball schedule early this summer. 

As far as being punished for the school you chose and the club baseball situation you're in you chose it. It's how coaches will see it. So I wouldn't play it as being punished. And unfortunately it's self coached by students rather than a real coach. You're losing a credible reference there.

You should get in touch with JH. At least he understands how to actually go through the process. But, he was a good pitcher on an NCAA team. Good luck.

You say coaches have said you can "pitch at the D2 level" and you want to have an "impact on the team you play for", these seem a bit in conflict. My son plays at the D3 level and all of the impact pitchers frankly are capable of playing and would likely have an impact at the D1 level, (granted it is one of the top teams, but still the point still holds) so like RJM pointed out you need to find someone really interested in you, since there is such a wide range of capabilities at the DII and DIII level. For this you have to be seen by them and he in touch with them. If you are still playing make sure you get some good in game video, and be aggressive reaching out and use your summer team coaches to help you.

Good Luck.

RJM, thank you and I'll be sure to do all the things you have suggested. I didn't mean to come across as kind of arrogant in my response, and I apologize if it seemed as such. I understand I have a different situation in which I'll really need to go the extra miles to impress coaches and such. Thank you for your advice. 

Hi BOF, thank you for the reply. I hope to be able to do all the things you have suggested I should do to reach out to coaches. I hope my summer coaches will help me and I will be aggressive and market myself into hopefully landing a spot on a roster. I know my situation really is unique and unusual, but I'm still willing to play against the odds and hope for success. Thanks!

Oh, and by the way, if I am able to play as a graduate student (2-year academic program), I would be happy to be a part of their program as a student coach, graduate assistant, etc. (if the let me) after my playing eligibility is up, if that would mean anything to them at all or if that matters...

I admire your tenacity in pursuing your baseball  career.

If you were my son I would make some gentle suggestions that usually get ignored by him.

1)      Your education takes priority at this point.

2)      You have one year of college left before getting your undergrad degree, Have you decided on what you want from a post graduate school yet? Can you get accepted into their program?  Have you met all of the requirements to be accepted?  For example my son wants to possibly pursue a physician’s assistant program, one of the requirements is having 200 hours of a medically related volunteer or work service.

3)      I would think you would start narrowing your choice of schools by academic based need instead of what team you can make. When does application have to be made to ensure enrollment?

4)      Can you juggle the time that baseball will require and your masters will require.

5)      Do you have the finances in place to pursue this, don’t count on any athletic money coming your way.

6)      If you do get a chance to walk on, likely that will happen after classes start. If you fail to make the team, all the more reason to pick the right academic fit.

7)      Geographic location may also play a factor, are you willing and able to relocate a thousand miles from home.

8)      You’re not able to pitch for your new school until the fall of 2015, what are you going to do to stay in shape and get some repetitions on the mound. Are you able to at least rejoin this year’s summer team next summer?

9)      If you have received an ounce of interest from any school, pursue it hard, starting with the application process. Don’t waste the baseball coach’s time if there is no chance of academic success there.

10)   You have stated you have received interest from programs you’re interested in, the door is open. Schedule the visit, send some videos, I have to think your list of viable options is short, start there.

11)   Be realistic about your roll on any D2 team, look at most rosters there is usually a minimum of 13-17 pitchers. Most teams designate 3-4 starters, 3-4 others get the majority of relief innings. There are Jr’s/Srs that bust their butts for 3-4 years and maybe get a handful of innings in their career. Realistically landing a roster spot will be an accomplishment, getting onto the field will be applauded by everyone on this site.

Dad talk over, best of luck to you…. Now I’d slap him on the butt and say go get em!

Hi mmm1531, I thank you very much for taking the time to write this out for me and offering me your advice. I understand education is most important at this point, so I am indeed looking for schools that would best fit my educational interest. I am scheduled to take the GMAT exam next month, and I also plan on taking the GRE later on this year, just to better my prospects into gaining admission to a graduate program. 

I plan on just taking this year just to get stronger physically and mentally. There is this sports training facility that I'm going to work out at all year, and I will get my bullpens and reps in. My goal for the year is to just get stronger physically, mentally, and increase my velocity. I will be able to play on the summer team I played for the past two years next summer as well, if that is needed.

I am realistic, but I still would like to give this a shot, because this is my last opportunity to play true college baseball, something I've always wanted to do growing up, but now realizing and believing in myself that I have the ability to play at this level.