Recruitment Process - realistic expectations

Nice Post!

As a parent it sounds like you did what many parents don't do; find out what is real and what is an illusion.

If you can expand on your post and talk about what it took for you to help your son focus on the level of ball and the type of school. In my book, this is where most parents "miss the boat."

Good Job!

Welcome to the hsbaseballweb rlhsouth. Nice first post!

Welcome, great first post, being realistic is the key to recruiting success.

We always tried to develop realistic opinion of his talent and not discourage him but be real. I met alot of parents that their son is a big fish in a small bowl. I think a great perspective is developed when you go to showcases and perfect game events. I did a lot of research on my son's position (he plays 1st base) and what college and pro scouts look for. I found out that they want a high school kid in the 6'2" - 6'4" height 200 - 230 lbs physical frame. Right or left handed did not seem to matter much. High school batting average in the .400s elite summer team participation with a similar batting average. They also wanted a athletic, solid kid not chubby or thin but solid. We also found out that most colleges only recruit first base on a every other year bases. So they have a senior and sophmore or a freshman and junior at the depth for 1st base position.

My son had one of his best games at a summer D1 college sponsored tournament. During one game a D1 coach was sitting right beside me in the stands. My son went 3 for 3 with a monster home run shot and 2 solid doubles. The coach told me yes your son is D1 material but I have an all conference freshman first baseman coming back next year and will not recruit for 1st till next season. Go figure?

rlhsouth,

Welcome. It sounds like your son has a lot of postives, and you are very level headed about the situation. Your son is skilled and is fortunate enough to have a frame that will get attention. In terms of realistic expectations, I think you have everything covered except maybe quantity of programs that you are "marketing" to. I'm a firm believer in this formula:

Recruited = Skill + Passion + Exposure + Persistence + Luck.

It would appear that your son just hasn't found the right program (fit and need) yet. I would think about broadening your search to find that program that really wants him (this will help with the "Luck" part of the formula ;-)). Everyboday starts their search with certain requirements. I remember my son would only consider playing D1 baseball in Virginia. Time passed, and reality stepped in for us. He found that changing his requirements gave him many more and better opportunities for his situation if he wanted to play baseball in college. Currently, he is 8 hours away, and couldn't be happier. That was our realistic expectation life lesson....if he wanted to play college baseball he had to broaden the search substantially because of baseball and his major. To my son's credit he remained flexible, but kept his desire to play baseball and major a constant. I would not expect your situation to be exactly the same, but hopefully this gives you some ideas on what to do next.

Also, we found that travel baseball and showcases are a great thing for exposure. However, going to specific college camps are a great way to close the deal for both the school and prospect. It is a much more intimate situation, and you are on their campus so you can talk about anything. I only mention this because I didn't see it in either or your posts.

Best of luck to you and your son!

If a D1 coach really wants a player he will make it happen, whether the position is filled or not, if he can hit, there is always a place for him.

Go figure? Go figure that most likely the coach was being polite.

Make sure that you target the programs that are the right fit for your player. Then it won't matter whether the guy in front of him is all conference or not.

In my son's program there were 3 players there at one time who played first base in HS. One got the 1b job, one in the outfield, one a pitcher, in other words, they all hit so they all found their way into the lineup.

That's how it works beyond HS.

In response to TPM's comments. My son has already signed, I was just giving my experience to assist anyone else working with their son's. Of course, our experience does not necessarily fit everyone elses.

I found that most the programs interested in my son were position specific with their needs. The ones that recruited him but had a large depth at his position we felt were not a good fit. I know everyone has their own perspective.

Everyone's preferences are different but if one limits themselves to a specific position that limits choices. IMO, most position players should be able to adapt to any position.

I have had two sons and a stepson play college bal. two at division 1and oneatone at divison threeeach took a different route to the end--there is no specific route other than making sure the player gets maximum exposure to all levels of college ball.

TRhit is right. Exposure is the key. Over-Exposure is not existent. Kind of like "there are no bad questions" Routes are not written in some baseball roadmap book. there is NO SUCH THING. each kid will do HIS OWN THING. you can be sure. I hope your kid finds success in his college pursuits whether on the field or on the "field-of-study". Make sure he is successful, that way he can pay cash for his daughters wedding someday and not have to get a loan.

quote:

IMO, most position players should be able to adapt to any position.

A very idealistic thought, but not really feasible TPM. The one skill that all position players do need to highly develop to ensure a continued opportunity at higher levels is HITTING the baseball with authority!!

quote:

Originally posted by Prime9:

quote:

IMO, most position players should be able to adapt to any position.

A very idealistic thought, but not really feasible TPM. The one skill that all position players do need to highly develop to ensure a continued opportunity at higher levels is HITTING the baseball with authority!!

While I do admit that some positions require certain skills, one has to be able to adapt in situations.
So you are a catcher and you get to college and there are 2-3 in front of you? You played ss in HS and the other guy is better at it than you? The 1b guy didn't get drafted like you expected.
I stated this because the OP made it seem like his son was only interested in schools that had a position his son could play at. Yes, your bat will get you into the lineup, but if you don't show the athleticism and the desire to try new things, you aren't going to be very attractive to many coaches to use your bat. Also a lot of players (except pitchers) very rarely end up playing the position they played as a LL, or in HS.

JMO.

There is only one shortstop, one first baseman. There are THREE outfielders. Every player should know how to play OF.

quote:

one has to be able to adapt in situations.

TPM, I agree with your premise. A position player enhances his opportunities by learning to play multiple positions. What Coach doesn't like flexibility? There are some options that make sense, I like to see corner infielders that can play both sides, same can be said for corner outfielders. Likewise, middle-infielder should be able to play either spot.

As you say, as they move up that can all change. My son, a corner infielder, was moved to the Outfield in College to take advantage of his particular arm action, body-type and what they feel will be his best position for possible continued advancement. What doesn't change though is the desire of Coaches at any level to find a spot for a player that rakes!

I never know what to think about this topic, so often you hear of a player recruited as a Shortstop or drafted as a 3rd baseman...because of this we have made every effort to try to keep my son in the middle of the infield.

He is now a Junior in a quality D-2 program and continues to play multiple positions. I despise the term "Utility" because that infers a non-starter.

Since entering college and playing Collegiate Summerball my son has started at 2B, SS, 3B, 1B and on the mound. At one point it was thought he might need to try CF to fill a need after coach saw him tracking down fly balls to the warning track during BP.

We have always held to the idea as Prime9 indicates, if you can hit you will play. But at the same time we view the defensive portion of the game as an area that requires constant refinement as well. I want to see my son diving for hot shots down the line and come up with the ball to make the play.

The only position my son has never played is behind the dish. Unfortunately scouts have asked if he has ever put time in there, and told us that if he is asked if he would be willing to try it out he should say yes...

I agree with TPM, versatility is valuable. I believe the further up the food chain our players advance, the more important that versatility becomes. As Antzdad says, there are 3 outfielders, but I would counter there are 9 positions on the field, and the more of them that you can play the better the chance that you will get the opportunity to show your stuff at the plate.

This thread makes me wonder how Buster Posey's path might have differed if he'd refused to change positions in college. If my memory serves me correctly, he was Florida State's shortstop as a Freshman and made the move to catcher after that season. The uncorroborated story is that Head Coach Mike Martin made the change at the recommendation of a professional scout.

Our son played Milb with a 10th round pick from Stanford, who might have been the most versatile player at Stanford in many, many years.
In 4 years, he played every position except catcher, 2B and pitcher.
He was drafted as...a 2B. He became probably the top prospect from that draft, before injuries quickly cut short a very promising career.
In Milb, the idea that if you can hit, they will find a place for you in the field is totally variable by organization and depth of draft level talent.
If you are a 15th to 20th round pick, and those above you fill each position, they are going to get playing time and nearly all the ABs. Not only does a player drafted from round 15 on have to be a very good hitter, he has to be extremely versatile so he gets into the line up for as many positions as possible.
Ours was drafted as a shortstop in 2004. His ability to play 2B, short and 3B got him innings and ABs and a chance.
By 2005, that versatility got him the chance, and coupled with his ability to hit when the chance arrived, got him as many games and AB's as any player in his draft class, and more than most.
Versatility above HS is a huge skill and plus for a coaching staff and player. Rather than viewing it as anything negative, versatility is one of the best things a player can offer, in our experience. It takes tons of work and skill to be at 3B one day, short the next, and 2B the next, but if that is what gets you 12 AB's over 3 games, and into 125 or so games in a MILB season, I don't see how it is anything but great.
If we need any further examples, CD's son Tyler is surely another to emulate.
You can be a wonderful hitter, but nearly all position players who are drafted can hit. If there is a player drafted earlier at your position, you won't get many chances to prove much because he will be given nearly all the chances.
Whether we "name" it utility or versatility, it is a wonderful skill and talent the higher you get when the competition is filled with players all having wonderful skill and talent.

Check out player Aaron Miles, he can play multiple positions and still in the game at age 34.

May not be a mega star to some, but his versatility obviously made him attractive.