NJCAA DIII Top pitcher

Baseball Dad 46- It's impossible to predict your son's future potential based on statistics. Without knowing his talent and seeing it first hand, projecting becomes moot.

 

I do, however, want to point out that saying "if he does well in post season there's a possibility he may want to continue" insinuates that he hasn't completely bought into the idea, and this entire discussion becomes rather counterproductive if he doesn't want to play.

 

Spot on JH

 

Understand about him being iffy about time commitment.  He loves to pitch and be part of team. What is the difference in a kid like my son and a DI pitcher? I've watched so many and don't see what coaches do....accuracy --check 14 walks 64inning. ...velocity 88-89mph should be enough.. good size 6' 1" 196 lbs smart 28 ACT. Been successful at every level.
Seems everywhere we went they wanted a 6'4 220pounds throwing 90 miles an hour plus.when I watch d1 pitching I rarely see a kid throwing over 90 .
All My Sons coaches love him.They don't understand either.

There are a lot on "intangibles" that need to be factored in.  Desire, fight, passion for the game, just to mention a few.  It sounds like he has a good make-up, but also sounds like he may be lacking a little on the passion/fire side.....not trying to be mean, obviously can't tell because I've never seen him play.  But, if he really wants to play at the next level, HE needs to go after it and get it...it won't just be handed to him

 

Depends on what D1 you're watching. if you watch the SEC you will rarely see a pitcher who DOESN'T throw 90+. But, it appears as if he's got the right look. They won't just walk up to your door, though.

Not to hijack a thread but I would challange your last statement.  I was at the LSU A&M game on Sunday.  A&M's starter was occassionally 91 and LSU had a reliever that touched 92 a few times.  Everyone else (10 total pitchers according to the box score) didn't touch 90 once.  Lots of 86,87,88 but no one else touched 90 that day.  A&M's last pitcher retired all 6 batters he faced sitting 86-87, good slider and devastating changeup.

 

I watch a lot of college baseball.  I have seen many more pitchers both right handed and left handed that are sub 90 than consistently sit above 90.  That is from all conferences Southland, SEC, Big 12, Mo Valley, etc.

I guess really there is no answer
.......every 4yr JV team we face we run rule and don't even use our top pitchers.I guess you need to catch a coaches eye.
I guess that's what my son struggles with is the intangibles.

Baseball Dad 46- I don't mean to sound harsh here, but has your son been proactive at all? Sitting back and waiting for attention to come your way is not how to "separate yourself from the pack" in recruiting. If he wants to play, he should show coaches he wants to play.

Hey JH. ...when he was in high school we went to a lot of different showcasesSome kids he played summer ball with or against are d1.he got kind of disenchanted by lack of interest at that point. Last year he had plantar flexion and his foot nothing to do with baseball but did not play. He missed it so he went back and played this year has put on 25 pounds and picked up five to six miles an hour on his fastball.he's a dedicated student who knows what he wants to do and where he wants to go to school next year he already has a townhouse picked out with his buddy by Illinois State. His education obviously comes first but hed like to play till he shown on the field he's not good enough. so far that has not happenedhe appears to be one of the best pitcher's in NJCAA D3......which I know is a long way from division 1 but they play Division 1 NJCAA schools and he's dominated those teams

So, what type of dialog has he had with the staff at Illinois State?

None. He thinks its to late.illinois state baseball wise has been a bugaboo for us. He went to a camp there when he was a sophomore had an excellent camp where we both thought he was probably the most talented kid there and they ranked him 2 out of 5......very disappointing he struck out four of the five kids they had him face the other one hitta comebacker to him.. in high school she fits in the sectional championship at a college campus near Illinois State. The Illinois State coach was there for the first two innings and got up and left my son ended up pitchting a perfect game for his school in the sectional championship. They gave a scholarship to a kid from his school that is good but my son has better stats and coaches have said is a better pitcher (obviously ISU felt differently ).

This is sounding a bit self-inflicted, especially if someone from ISU reads this board.  If your son wants to play at the school, it will never happen if he never talks to the coaches.  I am not saying your son should call and say "remember me, the guy you didn't make an offer to in High School." I would suggest that your son ask his JC coach to make the call to sell him to the coach.  If that doesn't work,  JC players can also go to their prospect camp.... Maybe a heart to heart with the JC coach about his 4 year prospects wouldn't hurt either. 

 

The "trick" is for your son to get the ISU coach to want him, you can talk all day long but until someone gets the coach to come watch your kid play the chances of any type of opportunity from the school are pretty much 0.  I would not discuss the stats or comparisions to other players as the college coaches don't really care about them, (and they might think the world of the player you are comparing your son to). Coaches only care about what they see in your son's ability.

 

Good luck.

Thank you all for your input. Don't mean to come across negative about I SU we love the school and baseball program. Just been tough trying to figure out...by no means any type of expert in the recruiting process or evaluation of how college coaches select who they like or why.
I really appreciate the time all of you have taken to help us. Thanks

Are you talking sophomore in HS?  That was a very long time ago in baseball years.  To answer your question, he would have a chance as walk-on (usually very slim) but a far greater chance if there was preliminary dialog.  Agree with CollegeParent that a referral from his JC coach would be a no-brainer (assuming he appreciates what your kid has done).  Even since finishing HS, you say he has put on significant weight, added significant velo and proven himself as a successful college pitcher and student who can balance the rigors of baseball with his academic responsibilities.  Don't you think that may be something the ISU coach would want to know about?  Seems like something doesn't add up here.  I just can't imagine this not having taken place already.  Why would he have to wait to see if he does well in JC playoffs?   He already has proven himself at that level.  I can understand if there are some hard feelings from lack of love from ISU during HS years but if that is the only school he is focused on academically and he wants to play until told he can't any more, this seems like an easy thing to get past.  He is not the same player he was in HS.

 

If HE wants it and would get a referral from JC coach, he should GO FOR IT!!! 

 

But he should do it with dialog ASAP to give himself the best chance.  Why let this opportunity go by without putting his best effort forward?

I will have him ask college coach to talk to ISU coach. Ill keep you all updated.

The son of Baseball Dad 46 who started this thread threw a great game last Friday night in the NJCAA Region Championships.  He threw 12 innings, allowed 1 run on 6 hits only 1 BB and 5 K's.  Threw 131 pitches with 97 strikes and looked and pitched great.  Yes normally 131 is a bit much to watch but this might be it for this pitcher if he doesn't decide to continue on after this year.  We offered him, but he has his plans set.  If he decides to try and walk on at ISU I promise you all he will be giving the coaches something to think about.  Great Job Friday by your Boy Baseball Dad 46.

Thanks shortnick I appreciate all you've done thru the years for him. How you've been with his mechanics thru the years is a main reason why he's never had arm problems and why he could throw 131 pitches.
  Unearned run by the way :-).
The opposing pitcher also going 12 innings threw over 150 pitches....one of the greatest pitching battles I've ever seen.
Neither figured in the decision...which we lost .....but opposing pitcher got Region MVP.....I suppose if we won my son would have gotten it :-(.

Baseball Dad 46, how's it going?  Been a while since we talked.  Sounds like your son has changed A LOT since high school.  Much bigger and throwing much harder.  I remember watching him pitch a few years ago.  Bottom line is, getting done with JUCO is like getting done with HS in terms of recruiting.  Unless you are a total stud in a baseball rich area, you gotta go looking and showing yourself.  Now, having decided on a school for academic reasons, your options are certainly limited.  You can always have him go to tryouts in the fall and there is a chance he will be picked up.  As a 6'1" pitcher throwing 90, or close to it, and not needing any baseball money, I don't see why they wouldn't want him.  However, you just never know.  Their roster may be full and they may not be able to take him then.

 

However, as others have said, your chances are MUCH better with a recommendation from his current college coach.  Not sure any coach will listen to a parent's assessment of their kid without some corroborating input.  I would definitely have the JC coach give the ISU coach a call.  Then have your son get touch with him and maybe go by and talk to him at the school.  If your son is playing summer ball, provide the ISU coach with his schedule and try to get him to come out and see him.  Same as when he was trying to get recruited out of HS.  I don't know about ISU, but my son's school recruits and takes on a lot of JC players.  And your son has changed so much since HS, that they should look at him with different eyes now.

 

Good luck, let us know what happens.

I thought your son seemed familiar to me.  He faced off against my boy the first weekend of your season.  My boy took the loss, yours the win.  Good luck to him in whatever he decides to pursue.  

Thank you Mizzo. ..Good luck to your boy also. He had such a great season and last game ( 12 innings 1walk 0 earned runs agianst 4th ranked team in Nation). I guess if he goes out not a bad way would have been better if we could have pulled off the win.