Rising HS Sophomore Advice

I responded previously.  I'm a Domer.  Go Irish!

Three key things: 

1) You're at a time and stage in the recruiting process where you can get better.  Get better academically (e.g., standardized test scores, curriculum, etc.).  And get better athletically (e.g., baseball skills, faster, stronger, etc.).  Focus on this.  Regardless of where you end up in college, you will have put your best foot forward.  This Summer is a time to get better athletically.

2) Always cast a wide net regarding colleges.  You'll need to understand where you fit athletically and academically, and then you'll need to fish in that pond of colleges.  Colleges plural.  It can't be a focus on just one school.  You may be a perfect fit and they might not have a need for you.  Start developing a list of 25 - 50 schools where your baseball and your academic skills intersect.  Maybe it's Notre Dame and similar schools.  Or maybe it's Goshen College and similar schools.  Who knows yet. 

3) You have time to do 1 and 2.  Yes, some schools recruit earlier than others...like now.  Some D1 and most D3 recruit mostly in the Summer before your Senior year of high school.  

Let's revisit where you are next Summer as a rising Junior.  Are you bigger, faster, and stronger?  Do you throw harder?  Is your bat speed better?  Running speed?  What about your overall baseball skills and IQ?  How's that ACT or SAT score?  GPA?  If you're not quite ready for the recruiting battles then, well let's get to the winter of your Junior year or your rising Senior summer.  Lot's of time...to get to work!

Good luck! 

p.s.  And help us not lose to Clemson 21-4 like we did today.  Yikes!

Be the best student you can be? Train to be the best baseball player you can be. Wanting to play at Notre Dame is a great goal. But you should be developing first. Then figure out where you fit. If it’s major conference D1 then Notre Dame is an option. But if not, there are many places at various levels of college ball to get a great education and have a quality college baseball experience. Good luck.

"I am planning on starting a lawn mowing business to help alleviate the cost of exposure and travel baseball on my parents."

You will get lots of good advice on here from lots of experienced parents.  Above from your post to me as a huge plus for you.  Way to go and I hope your mowing business is a success!!   There is no other way for a kid your age to earn that kind of $$ per hour than mowing.  Do a good job and you will have lots of customers.  

Whatever workout plan you find and agree to do, make sure you stick to the schedule...and document your progess (lift/weight/sets/reps, distances, times whatever) regularly. Equally important is to get on a eating and hydration schedule and document it daily. Sleep too

Great advice by all above.  You are being resourceful with regards to earning some money to help cover costs and seeking out advice from a site like this.  Use that same resourcefulness to find great instruction and mentoring within a reasonable cost.  This time of year, there are lots of college players home for the summer that will be willing to work with you with mechanics of throwing and hitting, advice on conditioning programs, long toss programs, etc.  Much of your goals to throw harder and hit harder will come with your physical maturation but your full potential can only be reached if you are doing things correctly with regards to mechanics.  You may find that resource in other places as well.  Maybe one of your HS coaches is well qualified and willing to help you over the summer with extra time.

I strongly second the suggestion to do some research and starting to put together a list of schools across multiple playing levels.  You don't yet know what your baseball fit will be and there are far too many things out of your control that can prevent you from matching up to one or two specific schools.  So, go ahead and completely go for it with Notre Dame as your first choice but have some really good other choices as part of the plan.    

Jaeger Bands, Loss Toss Program, Weightlifting Program with lots of Deadlifts & Squats but only with a qualified instructor, and a qualified pitching/throwing coach to make sure your throwing mechanics are correct.....

As a position player you will also want to work on your sprinting speed and your swing.  

Plan your work then work your plan but moreover share the plan with someone... a team mate or friend.  It is important to have a someone familiar your goals and questioning the efforts you put forth, making sure you are sticking with your plan. If you can identify someone with the same or similar academic/athletic aspirations then the two of you can push each other to stay on track.

A. Build Strength:

      1. Running, followed by running, and don't forget the running.  Core strength is key to most baseball skills.  Find        a good hill, run the stadium steps at the football field, don't just run on flat ground.  Dodge as you run, go to             the left, go to the right. 

      2. Get a twitter account, follow Eric Cressey, he's always putting up drills that you can do.

      3. Youtube baseball workouts.  Many you can do in your house.

B. Get Seen:

     1. Pick Up Player is ideal.  If you aren't on a good team get to guest on one.  Can you pitch and hit? Third is usually a tough spot to field, are you near any major parks?

    2. Go to a college camp for the experience

    3. Go to a PBR showcase and let them tell you what you have.

C. Ways to make money:

  1. Grass mowing

   2. Dog walking

   3. Elderly neighbors helper...they need help doing things like fixing flower beds, taking out trash, etc.

If I could give any advice in regards to your training it would be to stick to your workout plan. And EAT! Maximize your time in the weight room and field by refueling your body. Gaining good weight (muscle) can be huge when trying to develope Velocity. 

Grades will get you in ND. They told a Gatorade POTY for our state and like 23rd pick overall to look elsewhere because of grades.