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When committing to a school, what is a reasonable expectation regarding your son's position and the number of other recruits that play the same position? I know my son will have to compete and work his butt off just to see the field at all no matter what...but how many of each position is considered "normal" when looking at the list of commits?

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Your roster depends on the coaches philosophy, the number of games for the week, conference or whether they often make the post season, injuries, etc.

Most of those type of programs will always have more pitchers. D2 programs may have more offense than defense or 2 way guys that D1 programs.

Looking at past rosters can give you a good idea of how they structure each roster year to year.

However, as conferences  change, so will rosters.

Position doesn’t matter unless a player is hell bent on one position. There are four kinds of players … pitchers, catchers, middle of the field players, corner field mashers. Middle of the field players can play seven positions. Corner mashers typically play, first, third and left. Hit and you play somewhere.

One year Vanderbilt moved a recruited center fielder to catcher and played recruited catchers at first, left and DH. The centerfielder switched to catcher was so good he was drafted. So were the other three. Two as catchers. One as a left fielder.

Add: Buster Posey was a shortstop at FSU. An All SEC shortstop transferred in. FSU needed a catcher. Posey volunteered. The rest is history.

Last edited by RJM

During our Area Code games in 2000, the pro scouts placed a SS in Center field for the 5 games with 400 pro scouts evaluating.

He told his teammates that he would look "bad" on purpose to be placed again as a SS.

His name B,J, who would never played SS again in the MLB.He played CF.

"Ask the pro scouts" they have the experience. Remember the College Coach is the "employer" and the player is the "employee".

Bob

Last edited by Consultant

Really depends on the school, but for the most part half the class will be P's and then a bunch of ss and cf with a couple C's. To determine "normal", I'd look at the past few classes and average them out.

To double click on this, keep in mind these recruited SS and CFs are now competing against players in the program that were also SSs and CFs in high school or college.  The calculus changes every year.  My son's program tried to find the 8 best hitters (including DH)  and put them in the field with the Ps and Cs.  Former HS SSs had to learn how to play OF if they wanted to get in the starting lineup and eventually move to the infield in future years.  This seemed to be a strategy used by many HA programs years ago that had lower turnover.

In the  current "transfer portal" era, I think the Coach is going to put out the 8 best hitters (teach them defense) and not really think about next year.   Coach for today.

JMO.

Last edited by fenwaysouth

I'm going to be blunt, using PG will be a serious blind spot as for it only refers to HS, secondly it is not the single source of HS recruits, there is a disclaimer the information may not be accurate.



As you are aware coaches are recruiting from Transfer Portal, JUCO, Post Grad and HS.



Here is a good article from PBR

Recruiting Essentials: After a month, how are the new NCAA recruiting rules changing the landscape?

With that being said, you will need to look at the school's roster

For example, Notre Dame

This is Coach Shawn Stiffler 2nd year

Notre Dame_2024_roster-insights



Here is Notre Dame's 2023 Fall Roster, by primary position and graduation class



Notre Dame_2024_distribution-by-position

Here is the incoming recruiting class for 2023-24 season

Notre Dame_2024_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players

Here is the incoming recruiting class by position



Notre Dame_2024_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players_by_position





Here is there 2022-23 recruiting class that made the spring roster.

Note, in the fall there could have been more players that either transferred or redshirts

Coach Stifler he was hired July 11, 2022, thus the incoming HS recruiting class was set by Link Jarrett and whereas Stifler brought in the transfers



Notre Dame_2023_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players

Here is the incoming recruiting class by position

Notre Dame_2023_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players_by_position

Attachments

Images (6)
  • Notre Dame_2024_distribution-by-position
  • Notre Dame_2024_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players
  • Notre Dame_2023_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players
  • Notre Dame_2024_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players_by_position
  • Notre Dame_2024_roster-insights
  • Notre Dame_2023_Player_attrition_Incoming_Players_by_position

Thank you all for the info! I’ve seen the pg lists and I’ve poked around for transfer news. Just overthinking and over analyzing coaching decisions, I guess. Meeting with (his) #1 choice this weekend and I’m hoping the decision will be clear after that.

Update- after meeting with them on Saturday, asking our questions, expressing concerns, etc.... son decided to accept the offer sign with them next month. If you need me, I'll be in the fetal position in the corner of my closet. Thank you everyone again for the information.

Last edited by BaseballGhostMom

Update- after meeting with them on Saturday, asking our questions, expressing concerns, etc.... son decided to accept the offer sign with them next month. If you need me, I'll be in the fetal position in the corner of my closet. Thank you everyone again for the information.

Well, you know the old saying. You can lead a horse to water, but good luck getting an 18 yr old to make a mature decision!

@adbono posted:

Well, you know the old saying. You can lead a horse to water, but good luck getting an 18 yr old to make a mature decision!

At some point in high school I realized my son was a mental gymnast. He had mastered falling out of metaphorical trees while landing on his feet scoring a perfect ten. He mastered turning WTF into “well done.”

Love the way you described your son- mine is similar. We had a long talk last night. He is feeling a lot of pressure and hearing a lot of strong opinions about absolutely everything. He's wanting to show respect to those offering help and advice but also has strong ideas of his own. He's a senior and really busy- our paths don't cross much anymore so as an almost empty nester it warmed my heart to be able to sit and bounce ideas and listen to him verbally navigate through this very unique time.

Last edited by BaseballGhostMom

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