Route to take for a player that was cut from HS team?

Why would you email coaches when you are not playing HS ball?

JMO, work on your stuff so that you can be the best you can this summer, and don't assume that adding 3-4 mph would make you more recruitable. That will be determined by who contacts you after seeing you play this summer.

Best of luck.

7Steps,

Think I would probably wait until later to contact any DI coaches.

Kind of neat reading an honest post from a very intelligent and classy young man, both in the class room and in baseball. I think you will find a way to succeed.

You are a great example for other young players. No blasting the coaches, No problem with others who did make the team. No complaints about someone not seeing your talent. No excuses!!! Just a real determination to do what it takes to accomplish your goals.

I will be one of many who will be pulling for you.

Sorry for the lack of advice. Do I know who you are? If not, could you PM that info?

I agree with PG, good job, instead of blaming others you are willing to take personal responsibility for working harder.

That is what this game is all about!

My son was cut earlier in his HS career and is also a RHP. He took the time to condition and work on his pitching and continued playing ball (senior league vs. HS) and he continued to improve. He did not contact colleges until he knew he was ready to be seen which was the summer of his junior year just like you. You are in the game for some of the D3 academic schools already. This summer let them know where you are playing and by all means his an academic showcase. It can really pay off to have 25-40 coaches in one place at one time. I'm glad to hear you are not giving up. Good luck!

Work on overhand technique with an instructor. Use a radar gun when you make a technique change. Use what works, ignore what doesn't. Good luck.

Thank you for all of the kind words.

TPM,

I agree that it would be premature to contact coaches at the moment. I will make sure to control what I can for the next few months and leave no stone unturned. As far as the velocity increase helping recruitability, I simply chose it because it is one of the few objective pitching qualities I can control (the other being size, which is somewhat beyond my influence.) It would be hard for me to quantify my "pitchability" but I assure you that I am a "student of the game" and strive to learn and grow as a pitcher every day.

PGStaff,

Although I am in the Perfect Game database, I have never contacted you personally. Hopefully I will be able to have a good performance at the WWBA tournaments this summer and you will get to know my name!

LauraZA,

It seems your son and I are parallel images. I will definately try to get in front of some academic D3's this summer to show what I have. Does he play currently?

Once again, thank you for all of the advice thus far.

7Steps,

My son will be committing in the next couple of weeks. He is down to three schools and we are just waiting on all of the financial info to come back. Good luck!

7 steps,

I will be wishing the best for you. You seem to be genuine. I think you're going to make lemonade! Keep working hard.

There are a few high-academic showcases on this coast if that would interest you:

Headfirst in Florida and Long Island:

http://www.headfirsthonorroll.com/

D1Draftable in Virginia:

http://www.d1draftablebaseball.com/baseball_showcase

Both sites list colleges and universities that are attending.

This was a refreshing post. Good luck!

You have the right attitude and a great plan. Work the plan! Contact the Coaches when you are ready to be seen. There are no short cuts for mere mortals, you must do the work. Once you've done that you have the next most important ingredient, belief in yourself!

Best of Luck!

I agree with everyone that you're taking a phenomenal attitude / approach to your obstacle. I'm pulling for you to overcome it and achieve your dream.

That being said I'm going to slightly disagree with everyone about contacting coaches. I do agree to just contact right now without a real plan is not a good idea but look at what you said. You find academics important and want to attend a school that is strong academically. I think you need to get an idea of what you want to major in and find schools that fit your criteria academically and athletically.

Like you said you have the next few months off to concentrate on working out and getting better. But you also need to take this time and start targeting schools you want to attend for academics and ones you should be able to play on.

Once you figure out a list of places you would like to go then start the communication. Tell them your interested and ask them about camps / showcases they will be attending. Get into these camps / showcases so they can see you perform and hopefully generate interest.

As for getting cut from the high school team I wouldn't offer that up right now and wouldn't contact anybody until the end of high school season. While it's not really that important to play HS it does send up a red flag if a coach hears a kid gets cut. But looking at what you offer - 6'2, 200 LB who throws 84 will make the vast majority of high school teams. I know I would find a spot for you. Once interest is created and they ask about high school then you can explain to them how good your school is - they will understand.

Colleges want guys who can play and as long as it's not character issues won't lose much sweat if you didn't make your high school team.

Good luck

Your attitude may just give you a better chance to succeed in the long run than those guys who made varsity ahead of you...keep it up!

Yep you would have made our HS team. Love your attitude. Best of luck! Keep us posted. You should be able to find a fit for your athletics/academics.

Thank you all for the emphatically positive responses. I will continue to work hard and provide updates on how my progress is going.

LauraZA, I'm sending a PM.

7steps,
If you have been accepted to the Stanford Camp, there will be upwards of 15 to 20 top academic DIII programs there looking for players/pitchers who can be admitted and who can compete.
Before the end of school, you might email the coaching staff at a number of the SCAC schools including Rhodes, Hendrix, Millsaps and Trinity. Those programs along with Austin College usually attend. Some of the SCIAC's including Pomona Pitzer and some New Englands like Williams and Amherst can often be found there looking for players.
If you want an example, the shortstop who followed our son at a nationally ranked D3 was discovered in a similar way to your situation. He made the roster, but rarely played, at a nationally ranked program in Az.
He was recruited from a top academic Summer showcase and started for 3 years and played in 2 Regionals, as I recall.
With your academics and attitude, and the Summer you have planned, you may find D3 to be a solid option, but if you improve the way you have in mind, it might not be your only option.
Good Luck to you.
It might take a lot of work and a little luck,but there are terrific D3 coaches looking for guys with upside who fall through the cracks. Some are amazing the way they evaluate talent and find those gems.
With your attitude and work ethic, you keep increasing the odds one of more will find you this Summer.

7Steps, very sorry to hear about your situation. Don't know if you remember, but I met you out at Windward taking a pitching lesson. I really wish you the best of luck. Your attitude is great and you should get yourself seen over the summer.

For those of you who don't know, 7Steps goes to a big High School with a stacked pitching staff. Their current roster lists 15 pitchers some of whom, that I know of, are flat out studs ranked very highly by PG. It has a very strong history of good baseball. I would not say that it is a lack of ability that put him in this situation, but the situation he faces at his school. He would certainly make the team at our school.

Once again 7, hang in there. Keep pursuing your dream and keep the positive attitude. This is a setback that can be overcome.

infielddad,

I agree that D3 will most likely present the most opportunities for me. While I have been accepted to the Stanford camp, I have not made the official decision to go and might end up withdrawing to put my money towards the Headfirst Academic showcase. From what I've read, the Headfirst event might present a better opportunity for me for recruiting vs. the schools attending at Stanford. Does anybody care to weigh in with an opinion on this?

bballman,

I do remember meeting you at Windward. Thank you for leading me to Mike in the first place, he was definately a good resource for me. I appreciate the kind words; good luck to your son and Centennial for the rest of the season.

7 Steps,

Love your desire and attitude. Perhaps transfer to school that will be the right "fit". Seems some HS programs are like college programs in that a player needs to find the right "fit".

You appear to have the right tools, just need to find the right school. If moving to a another school is out ($$$), good summer/fall teams will fit the bill. Bottom line, coaches have to see you walking the walk on the field. WWBA will facilitate that!!!

#7

Maybe you are interested in joining our SSK America team in the USA Baseball Labor Day tournament.

This is our 3rd year [we finished 2nd last year].

Pro scouts coach our team.The players are from all areas of the USA.

Please complete a profile on our web site
<www.goodwillseries.org>

Bob

quote:

From what I've read, the Headfirst event might present a better opportunity for me for recruiting vs. the schools attending at Stanford. Does anybody care to weigh in with an opinion on this?

7 Steps,

Background.....It has been 2 years since we went to HeadFirst. I've heard that it has changed just a little. My son did not go to Stanford Camp, as we had enough exposure with east coast tourneys and showcases.

Our target schools were mid to low D1 and high D3 with high academics (engineering) and competitive baseball. Head First was a great fit for us and those target schools. We gained interest from another 20+ schools in addition to the schools that were already interested. HeadFirst provided us the opportunity to narrow down some schools and really focus on those schools that were genuinely interested and made my son feel wanted. So after HeadFirst camp, we went to some select camps and met with some coaches on campus. That allowed us to pick and choose the best situation for us. From what I've read about Stanford camp on this site and others is that it is much more D1 focused, and you will not find a lot of east coast D3s there for a variety of reasons. Also, West coast was not really an option we considered. I suggest you double check the schools and coaches attending to make sure it hits those schools you are most interested in.

BTW - I love your attitude. Keep after it, and I'll be pulling for you. PLease let me know if I can help.

13LHPdad,

Transfering isn't really an option for me, but I'm not that worried as I'm still getting a lot of good work in this spring. Thanks for the tip though.

Bob Williams,

That is an attractive offer, but I'm afraid all of my money may be gone by Labor Day. However, I'll keep an open mind and see how things end up. Thank you for the offer.

fenwaysouth,

Thanks for the insight. I'll be sure to reach out to you if I have any questions.

I would make my son quit if he didnt make his team

Sammy, tolerance is wearing thin of your ridiculous posts. Consider this a warning.

im scared

quote:

Originally posted by sammylover:
im scared

Shortly it will be, "I'm banned."

Thanks for letting me know about sammylover's mischief-making.

Julie