Questions about pitching in college

as mentioned frequently on this site, there is a place for everyone somewhere.

keep working hard. If you can get hitters out some college will want you.

I would suggest you work on your velocity.
I see lots of low 80's pitchers in even D1 but they don't get the opportunities a 90+ guy does.
Getting people out is the main goal but you may not get the opportunity to do that.

How are your grades?

The academics can be key for you since you are not a high velocity power pitcher

A few things to consider.

If you are truly serious about pitching after high school, focus this summer preparing for your senior high school season.
Focus solely on pitching.

Consider giving up batting and a position other than the mound for your senior season.
Again, focus solely on pitching.

If a summer league is available, use it to pitch innings & work on control.
Focus soley on pitching.

Get your baseball friend & spend 2 or 3 days a week during the summner throwing long toss. You can look on the internet for set long-toss programs.
Develop your legs & arm strength.

If you can financially, attend a showcase this summer and be evaluated by a professional in the business. Don't be discouraged by the evaluation, but use it to meet your goal. My son did, and it was worth the time & $.
By knowing what others (scout or coach) thinks what you have to build on, will help you determine your level of commitment to develop your skills.
Focus solely on pitching.

Though most college teams have 10+ pitchers, look thru the internet at JUCO's, college's & universities' team websites within a few hundred miles of your home. Look at IP (Innings Pitched) for each pitcher. Getting on a college roster will be your first challenge. Earning innings on the mound is the biggest challenge.

Don't settle for a goal of just making a college roster, but work hard to earn the innings. The work you put in this summer & your senior year along with a un-biased evaluation will improve what you can offer a coach. Just like your high school report card shows if you work to maintain or improve your grades, the evaluation shows a committment and seeing your development since the evaluation will demonstate to a college coach that you are committed to continued development.
Focus on pitching.

Good Luck & keep us posted during the next few years.

DPHSbasbllplyer,

Hi, neighbor! My son is an RHP at a D3 college in Minnesota. Keep working hard for the next few years, and you should be able to find a college in our area that is a match for you.

In my son's D3 conference, the average FB velocity is probably low 80s, but they actually range from mid-70s to 90 mph. There are some small D3 and community colleges here in the frozen Midwest where you can make the roster just by being a pitcher - especially a LHP. Being on the roster won't get you innings, of course (there is a freshman LHP on my son's team who has not yet set foot on the field in a game), but it will get you a chance to practice with the team, improve and try to earn innings.

However, as a HS junior, you still have time to increase your velocity and your pitching skills. Have you received any private pitching lessons?

DPHS -
One thing that is not being touched on is this, how good of right fielder are you? This of course may need evaluation by someone who can be honest and has the knowledge to do this. Also if you are throwing low 70's, then is this the velocity from right field? How much do you "throw with your legs"? And if you play right field, can you hit mid 80's to low 90's pitching? And what kind of hitting? Spray bloopers, hard hit through the middle, line drives into the outfield? Many people think (I was there once too) that being a good defensive player is what is important and then wonder why their kid is not playing and the kid just can't hit, or can't hit good enough when hitting is half the game. I assume you are playing varsity and if your hitting is good, I would think that you would be hitting .300 or better depending on your situation. And your hitting would be hard hits, not weak infield singles. I don't know for sure, but I would think that college coaches go for the hard hitters since their defense moves faster as a whole than HS teams. Also what kind of speed do you have? Should be at least low 7's for the 60 yd.
Back to the pitching. Can you consistently throw all these pitches for strikes? Can you hit spots, especially with the fastball and change-up. If your fastball is low 70's, is your change-up around 60? Do all your pitches move? Can you consistently hit corners with your moving pitches?
The only problem with just pitching is you are putting all your eggs in one basket and losing a whole year of hitting practice. You might not get the hitting back good enough if you need to fall back on it.
Also depending on those around you, you need to compare yourself with others in college not on your HS team. If your teams are weak in your area, you may be the ace on your HS team and summer team only to find you are at the bottom rung in college.
Like other said here, keep keeping on and don't give up. Do the best you can and then you can be pleased that you did your best no matter what the final outcome is.
Also TR is right, how are your grades?

Tim Robertson

From watching D3 baseball in our region, I would have to agree with Tim Robertson:

Hitting will get you into the college lineup before strong defense. This might not be as true for larger colleges with deeper rosters, but since you are wondering whether you can play in college I'm assuming you might not be targeting a big DI school.

At the level my son plays, the best hitters are in the lineup. It is not easy to hit in college when the FB velocities you face in a given week can range from the 70s to 90 mph! The coach tried several defensive assignments in the pre-season, with some players at positions they were not used to playing. Their current 1B does not look like a 1B-man and probably never played it in high school, but he is leading the conference in HRs and near the top in batting average, so wherever the coach can find a spot for him, that's where he will play. The best hitters are on the field, unless they really struggle defensively.

DPHS, If you're an LHP/OF who can hit (and assuming decent grades) you've got the best of all worlds. That will open a lot of doors at smaller D3's.

My son used to be a RHP/3B/OF during his AAU years, and last year, as a HS freshman he started every game either on the mound or at 3rd. This year his coaches (one a four year college pitcher and the other a 4 year college catcher) told him he was a pitcher. Period. His job is to throw and that's it. During practices he bullpens or works on situational plays or takes bp with the other pitchers. During games, if he's not on the mound, he's on the bench.

That was a really tough adjustment for someone who's used to being on the field all the time but we ran it by his pitching coach (the pitching coach for a pretty good D3 here in NH) and he said that he prefers that his college pitchers be only pitchers, and the head coach usually DH's them BUT... there are exceptions. They have one pitcher who hits so well he's allowed to bat for himself and they have a couple of pitchers that are also outfielders because they're really good at their secondary positions.

So your options are open right now. If you just want to pitch then forget about hitting and right field and focus on pitching, but if you're a decent pitcher and good outfielder, keep your options open and a door will open for you.

I don't want to appear to be the one who sours the milk but, 17/18 year-old and only throwing low 70s. I think it will be a long road. Maybe I've just been around top of the line ball players, but I know very few 15/16 year-olds who throw much under 80. My son, a lefty, 5'9", around 150 lbs soaking wet, throws consistantly 78/79 and bumps 82/83.

I know many small school are looking for pitchers who can throw strikes and get people out but you need to work on that speed.

Are you working with a professional pitching coach? If not, seek one out. My son picked up 5 mph when his coach corrected some small faults. Other than that, long toss, long toss, long toss. I used to tell the kids I coached that they needed to be able to pitch from second base and that means pitch, throw it on a line.

I lean towards Southpaws advice. There are 12-14 pitchers on a college team. Your chances are better if you are a dedicated pitcher. D1 has lots of low 80's pitchers and some in the high 70;s. If you listen to boadcasts you will see some of the tpp teams have soft throwers who are very effective.
As a freshman you are usually not going to see a lot of innings unless you throw hard.. It is even harder for a position player to get playing time. Unless you aue an outstanding hitter stick to pitching.