sophmore year

Starting on varsity your soph year playing with and against eighteen year olds can be used as a bench mark you're headed in the right direction. However, making varsity as a soph may depend on the size of the school and/or the level of competitiveness for roster spots. A successful soph year of high school ball gives the player something to sell when he starts sending letters/emails to college coaches and filling out online recruiting forms. Playing in a very competitive 16U travel environment can be just as much of an indicator of heading in the right direction.

Chances are you're not going to be discovered at a high school game. It's more likely to happen at some kind of a showcase or premier tournament. These will be 17U/18U events played mostly after junior year. However, there's nothing wrong with playing in a 17U event when you're sixteen if you have an avenue into the event.

Some players are discovered in middle school, some are discovered senior year in HS.

It's not important to play varsity as a soph. It could help get a leg up, but it won't hold up your prospects of playing at a higher level if you don't.

quote:

Originally posted by baseball1227:
How important is the sophmore sophomore year of high school for playing at a higher level?

But remember, first and foremost is the classroom.

Good luck!

As the others have said, it's not thst important but it can give a player a leg up to playing at the next level if they're any good. Some schools, it may be rare that even sophomores make varsity and start. Junior year is the pivotal year for players looking to play at the next level By that time, they should have some varsity experience and attending those showcases are the way to go to get noticed these days.

quote:

remember, first and foremost is the classroom

spoken like the true dad of a valedictorian!