Senior Year Contribution

What year is he? You don't want to be waiting until after spring of senior year to be noticed. He will have been accepted to college and you're making a deposit by then. However, anything is possible. After two serious injuries and surgery my son got his walk on offer in August two weeks before the fall semester opened. I know a kid who didn't get on the mound until senior year. He made all conference and received two walk on offers in late May. In my son's case his travel coach made a phone call to a previously interested college where he was accepted on his academics. The other kid was discovered by local D1s.

2014

It's getting late. Most players have their offers or at least very strong interest by the end of August. If he has an awesome spring and becomes overpowering he could probably succeed as a walk on at a D3. They don't have roster limits. But usually even top D3s know who their top prospects are going into the fall.

 

3rdGen, who used to post here told me one year 27 pitchers tried to walk on one fall at his son's just outside the Top 25 D3. 

It is so dependent on the situation. My son did not get any NLI offers but was being followed by a number of programs. The interest peaked after the Ariz Fall classic and he had several visits in the Nov/Dec time frame. He was still not sure/satisfied with his offers and some of the programs that were interested wanted to see him play during the HS season. Three of them eventually came out during his HS season but in the mean time he was considering some DIII opportunities. He ended up having Mono which delayed the process so he ended up committing on the May 1st deadline for college commitments. He had some programs saying that they would have no problems seeing him after May 1st but he did not want to wait.

 

So the answer is yes kids do and are followed into the HS season but in my sons case it was all from programs who were following him and had insterest. I will also say that he was a skinny tall kid who they all knew would fill out and get a lot stronger, and had an ideal baseball body so this may have had something to do with it, I don't really know. His friend who was an injured pitcher, but had solid D1 skills and signed late also, but he was a 90MPH pitcher.

 

So yes it happens but I would think this would be from programs that were following a player. I would lock up a JC as a back up and keep working it. 

 

Good luck! 

Monkey, of course he could get a late offer if he has tools.  How hard does he throw?  Does he have a solid breaking pitch or change?

He hit 92 during this past season. Probably average above 85-88. Throws cutter and sinker I believe. I should say that he is in the pros radar and several colleges right now...just trying to understand if after a strong hs season if he could improve his lot...specifically with colleges.

When I see a dad post he is 85-88 touches 92 tells me he is 85-87 touches 88/89 consistently which means he is borderline D1 which is why he is getting borderline interest. I would find a good JC and keep working it. Consistent 88/89 is where D1's get interested IMO. (and that was a couple of years ago) Don't underestimate a solid D2 or D3 offer if he has decent grades there can be more academic money.  

 

Keep working it Dad! 

There's a lot of question marks there, I agree BOF.  85-87 touching 92 is quite a disparity.  I've always told the truth about by own kid's velocity and sometimes reading these posts I wonder how he ever made it throwing "just" 89 in h.s. 

 

Forgive us, Monkey, but I had countless dads tell me in h.s. their kid threw 85 and it was 75 at best.  Because of this, my recommendation to you and your son is get this 92 documented.  Go to a PG showcase this winter.  If he's really throwing 92 I doubt he would have to worry about college. 

Over the last three years, I have been to more junior college games in the State Of Texas than I care to remember.  I would estimate the average pitcher pitching at a D1 Juco in the State works between 85 and 90mph with his fastball.  Occasionally you will see someone who consistently works above 90 but not often.  Lukas Schiraldi comes to mind from this past season at Navarro.  On the same Navarro team this past year, a very tall left hander (can't recall the name) was probably low to mid-80's and almost as effective as Mr. Schiraldi.  

 

The point being, if your son is consistently above 85 and right handed, he should be able to find an opportunity to pitch at a good junior college program.  Success at a D1 juco program would then afford him opportunities to advance to a NCAA D1 program that might not be available today.  

 

If your son comes out in the spring and is sitting above 90, with a good secondary pitch, it is possible he may still get a D1 opportunity.  However, at this point I would not be waiting for that to happen.  

 

One question, what class school does your son play for....5A, 4A, etc?  The reason I ask is that my boys played at the 2A level and you really had to get deep in the playoffs before any colleges would show up at their high school games.  Why drive to the middle of nowhere to see one prospect when a college coach can go to one 5A game in Houston and see more prospects in a single game than they could see in a years worth of games at the 2A level. With my older boy, we had to hit the road during the fall and winter of his senior year in high school.  He tried out at any junior college that would give him an opportunity to throw for them.  He kissed a lot of frogs but finally found one that offered him a scholarship.  Three years later he is pitching in the SEC.  The process was not easy but paid off in the end. 

Kid hit 92 as told to me by a local scout.  Hovers above 85.  Hit 88 the other day. My main point of my initial post is should we have any hope essentially for colleges scouting his high school games...I know pro scouts will be there.  Luke-warmish attention, mainly due to his bat, really hasnt got attention with the arm.  No worries.

 

Appreciate everyone's help!

 

My son plays for a 5a school south of the metroplex...received district pitching accolades.  Didn't hit as well as he should have. :-)

 

Probably main point of all this is unfamiliarity\frustration with process. But old timers on here would tell me and likely other parents of my vain that we are impatient or expecting too much...I understand this.  I along with several others I guess didn't expect it to drag on.  I guess if junior finds the right fit regardless of level, as long as he is challenged and getting a solid eduction, that is all that matters.

Monkeyboy you have a PM

Monkeyboy - Has your son called coaches and asked for input on his abilities, why they aren't offering, if they may still be considering him, etc?  What does he have to lose?  Get in their ear?  Also, if you think there is a D-1 that is on the fence, send him to their Christmas Camp.

He has called one D1 and left a message for another...good advice.

Was this a pro scout that clocked him at 92?  If so, have this pro scout recommend him to one of the top PG showcases.  Bum, Jr. did the World Showcase in January just prior to his senior year.  There were national crosscheckers there.  (Also, it was the pros that were there, not colleges.)  Not sure if your son can get into that one but if can't there are others.  As for colleges, go whereever multiple schools congregate to see talent.

Organization scout.  I am sure when the pros are there in the spring they will clock him pitching...guess i was just interested in whether there would be opportunities to be seen by colleges in the spring...sounds doubtful.  Will just have to ensure as he gets looks now for his bat that he makes it aware by vocalization and performance during tryouts that he wants to pitch too if possible.

Why not play in MSL? You have pros and small colleges present? You are local and MSL is local. Also there is that complete showcase that puts you in front of several scouts. You cannot hope the college coaches will come to Midleothian and watch Jr. If no D1 offer after summer circuit you have to hit PG showcases to show your talent. I know of several seniors that got late offers from PG showcases. Go to Jupiter, go to PG showcase in January. Captive audience watching BP and bullpen. Just saying.

Did MSL last season and it was a good experience.  That league, in my opinion, is definitely more fruitful for pitchers than hitters.  Just didnt work out this year with org ball.  May have to look into PG down the line.  Good recomendation.  Wasnt expecting folks to make trek for nothing...kid is high on scouts(pros) lists for hitting...just didn know if that would drag colleges out for his hitting or pitching.

 

Will take a gander at PG though.

This is all the product of the HUGE problem with early recruiting.  The coaches don't like it, but have to do it to keep up with the Jones.  You can not tell me that you can project a kid to be a D1 hitter when he is 16 or 17 unless he is Bryce Harper and there are not many of them.  The NCAA has allowed this and it is not good for anyone.  It creates anxiety for kids that are going to be really good college players and it has schools miss on kids that were Barry Bonds when they were 16 and turned out to be Barry Manilow when they are 20.  Early recruiting allow Dads to hang around the water cooler and tell everyone how many Division 1 schools want his son as a sophomore.  It's ridiculous.  I can see projecting an arm at a younger age, but not a hitter.  Why do you think schools like Stoney Brook, Kent State and Indiana are making it to the college world series? It's because the big boys are out chasing poster children for what a baseball player should look like, and many of the small schools are waiting and getting BASEBALL PLAYERS.  Don't know this for a fact, but I bet if you look at all 8 teams at the College World Series last year, they each had 4-5 walk ons that contributed to them being there.

 

I hear that top programs are making offers to 2016's and 2017's.  That's a joke.  It will be interesting to see if it is still there when the kid graduates.  But, it allows mommy and daddy to wear the Stud State University sweatshirts to their sons games his sophomore year so EVERYONE knows that Barry Manilow is a playa!!! BTW, don't get me started on wearing college gear to a high school baseball game.  Wear the gear of the team you play for now!!!  Only do it if you care about the TEAM!!  Sorry, I'm off track.

 

Monkey Boy, let me try to put your mind at ease.  Garrett Buechelle was unrecruited after his Senior Year at Arlington Lamar.  The son of a big leaguer unrecruited.  Oklahoma fell under a lucky star and he went to Norman, was an All Big 12 3rd Baseman and led the Sooners to the College World Series.  2 years ago, Matt Custred from Keller was going to a JC when his Senior Season started.  He started throwing 90-92 and Keller games became a who's who of scouts and college recruiters.  He signed with a Big 12 school and pitched as a Freshman.  It's early.

 

The worst thing that can happen is to panic and place undue pressure on any kid because Augie is not calling.  These kids change so much physically and mentally day to day at this age.  There is no telling what a kid can be 6 months from now.

 

Just my humble, unbiased opinion.

 

Yours Truly,

 

Retired Coach

Thanks Lynn.  Words of wisdom.

 

Definitely not trying to put pressure on son...I dont think. :-)

 

Just want him to play the highest level ball he is capable of all while earning a quality education. 

 

My unfamiliarity with the process and his late blooming have probably caused more ulcers for me than him.  As long as he plays ball and works hard I am confident good things will happen now and down the line.

Another thing to keep in mind is how college recruiting has changed since the bats changed.  D1 schools used to try to get to 6 runs to win games.  Now they need to get to 4.  That has directed a focus to getting arms more so than position guys.  I have seen this through the process of watching my 2007 group vs my 2014 group.  If you look at the 2014 class in this area, there are really only a handfull of position guys that have committed.  The focus has been on arms.  I know it is impossible to attain this data, but if you could learn what percentage of the 11.7 is going to arms today, I would bet that it is much higher than even 3 years ago.  I respect that the money is important to some by necessity, but overall, the most important thing is finding the right spot for the kid.  He needs to be some place where he has a chance to get a quality education, compete for a job and develop as a player.  Being able to tell Aunt Sally that I got 80% from Ego Tech is not important. The 2 biggest lies told in baseball are the following:

 

1. Former players batting averages.  They go up 3 points per year.  I have been out of the game 25 years and I am now hitting .315. (Do the Math)

 

2. What % scholarship Johnny Baseball got.  There are only 11.7 for 28 scholarship spots on a D1 35 man roster.  Not everyone can get 80%, but that sure seems to be what everybody is getting.

 

The point to the story is to seek the right situation, whether its 80%, 25% or a preferred walk on.  Most importantly, realize that all of these kids will probably not make a living playing baseball. Therefore, the education piece should carry the most weight.

 

BTW, if my kid threw 88 and touched 92, we would not own a bat in our house.

 

Unretired Philosopher

As much as it seems to be a life long commitment...it is only for 1 year...(actually only a semester)....I know that everyone has an opinion, so I will share mine with you...Find a place that E can play from Day 1...If he still wants to pitch and hit in college I would look at the JUCO route.  Don't get hung up on D1, D2, D3...Kids go to TOP Major 4 year D1 schools from D3 JUCO's...They get drafted from those schools as well. If he makes waves they will be noticed...If that chance doesn't come because his waves were blocked by someone he was stuck behind...no one wins. 

 

I think that my son (and I) were in a similar situation as you this time last year.  As a matter of fact, we were still in that position well after the first of this year.  Maybe sharing our situation with you, will help put you at ease and eliminate some of that extra pressure from your son.

 

My son was a 2013 catcher.  Good ball player, district defensive MVP, all district honors, blah, blah, blah.  Regardless of those things, he was still uncommitted as of Christmas. While Mason received a number of accolades throughout his HS career, he wasn't the type of kid that scouts immediately fell in love with.  He had a great arm and fantastic catching skills, but didn't always thrill at the plate.  He played his summer ball for Sam Carpenter and was involved in workouts with Sam beginning in the winter.  We asked Sam for advice as to how we should handle the whole situation, simply looking for words to ease our nerves.  Sam gave us what turned out to be the best advice we had and would get throughout the recruiting process.  In short, Sam told us that Mason was basically one of those 'tweener' type guys.  Not big and strong enough to wow the d1 guys, but attractive enough to make it worth someone's time to give him a shot.  He told us that Mason would have an opportunity in the spring for schools to see him and again in the summer, if we could have that patience.  Turns out that he got some really good D1 Juco interest and signed around spring break.  However, Sam was right.  In a 2 week time frame beginning around mid-June, Mason fielded 2 D1 offers that he rejected to keep his original commitment.  Moral of the story is this:  Be patient, but don't sit idle and not take advantage of situations and opportunities available.  Even if you're pretty good, they don't always come knocking down your door.  Go to Juco camps, Total Showcase camps, Uncommitted Senior camps.  In my own experience, Perfect Game can be a valuable tool, but doesn't always give you the cost vs benefit that some of the others like Total Showcase can.  Best of luck to your son.  

Thanks Catcherz_Dad!...appreciate the words of wisdom.