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I have a class of 2025 RHP who is on the radar (I hate that term, but it’s the easiest way to sum up where he stands). As a hypothetical, let’s say he’s sitting 87, maxing out at 90. His off speed stuff is very good. Solid d1 schools began noticing him last summer, attended games, followed on social media, etc. What should he expect if the summer goes well?

A) He’ll hear from nobody, get tons of camp invites we have to pay for, but on 9/1 there is a good chance more than 1 school reaches out.

B) Coaches will let his club coaches know of interest after seeing him play this summer (if  all goes well).

C) Some other more likely option.

We are planning to ask his club coaches before the season. I’m wondering how it’s working for others in his position. Thanks.

Last edited by Northeastmom
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Instead of waiting around to find out - the best approach would be to have a sit down with his club coaches and gauge the level(s) he can play at. The next phase would be to make a list of schools your son would be interested in and can play at. You then have the club coaches reach out to the schools he is interested in/have shown interest in him - they reach out or the club puts you in touch.

9/1 is just a date. Let the coaches worry about how they want to handle things before and after 9/1 - do what you have to do on your end.

@PABaseball posted:

Instead of waiting around to find out - the best approach would be to have a sit down with his club coaches and gauge the level(s) he can play at. The next phase would be to make a list of schools your son would be interested in and can play at. You then have the club coaches reach out to the schools he is interested in/have shown interest in him - they reach out or the club puts you in touch.

9/1 is just a date. Let the coaches worry about how they want to handle things before and after 9/1 - do what you have to do on your end.

Thanks. We have scheduled a sit down. We’re the type that would like to see what he’s doing this spring prior to making that college list. I know where he is currently projected, but that’s all based on presumed growth. His list will be different if he’s hitting 91 than it would be if he’s the same as last summer. He says he is throwing harder, but no gun on him for a couple months yet. This is the winter work period and the payoff remains to be seen. This question was more for my curiosity. By April we’ll sit with the club.

Have your son make a list of schools he is interested in after the 'sit down' with the travel coach.  Make sure you have updated emails for the coaches at each school.  They can change  right after the season so make sure to keep it up to date.

After son gets his schedule for the summer, have your son do an 'intro email' to each school.  Name, school, position, team he plays for, and the summer schedule.  Maybe attach a short video clip.   Also, any accolades or recent measures.  Do one email per coach/school.  *Make sure he sends the email to the correct coaches.  Can't stress this enough.  I know of a player who sent an email to Coach X at Coach Y's school....I know the interest dropped from both schools,  and he wound up attending a rival school in the same conference.

The week before each summer tournament, send each coach the times your son will be playing, where/location, which field, etc.  If there is a change, update the email.  Son sent each email attached to the initial intro email so the coach would have ALL the info if he wanted it.

The next week, repeat.  Add schools and stop emails as needed.

Do not expect a reply.

Most of the work will be done through the travel coach...but your son needs to do some work as well, at least to show interest in the school.

Worked for my son.  Committed the summer before Junior year.

Last edited by keewart
@keewart posted:

Have your son make a list of schools he is interested in after the 'sit down' with the travel coach.  Make sure you have updated emails for the coaches at each school.  They can change  right after the season so make sure to keep it up to date.

After son gets his schedule for the summer, have your son do an 'intro email' to each school.  Name, school, position, team he plays for, and the summer schedule.  Maybe attach a short video clip.   Also, any accolades or recent measures.  Do one email per coach/school.  *Make sure he sends the email to the correct coaches.  Can't stress this enough.  I know of a player who sent an email to Coach X at Coach Y's school....I know the interest dropped from both schools,  and he wound up attending a rival school in the same conference.

The week before each summer tournament, send each coach the times your son will be playing, where/location, which field, etc.  If there is a change, update the email.  Son sent each email attached to the initial intro email so the coach would have ALL the info if he wanted it.

The next week, repeat.  Add schools and stop emails as needed.

Do not expect a reply.

Most of the work will be done through the travel coach...but your son needs to do some work as well, at least to show interest in the school.

Worked for my son.  Committed the summer before Junior year.

Thank you. Once he has some video and measurable stats in a couple of months I’ll have him begin doing that.

Thanks. We have scheduled a sit down. We’re the type that would like to see what he’s doing this spring prior to making that college list. I know where he is currently projected, but that’s all based on presumed growth. His list will be different if he’s hitting 91 than it would be if he’s the same as last summer. He says he is throwing harder, but no gun on him for a couple months yet. This is the winter work period and the payoff remains to be seen. This question was more for my curiosity. By April we’ll sit with the club.

So, I agree with the majority of the guidance that has been provided (really great advice).  However, I disagree with waiting until the summer if he has already been noticed by "solid D1 schools."

You have a reasonable basis for starting to reach out to schools based off his metrics from last summer and the level of schools that have already shown a level of interest.  These coaches are in the business of projecting talent, they will have a good idea of a range for where he will be this coming summer.  As others have mentioned, brief progress updates are welcome.  If one school in a conference has noticed/interested in your RHP, then it is fair to assume every school in the conference has some level of interest.  That was certainly the case for my son.  For my son, in the initial email phase the hurdle for sending the email introduction was fairly low, essentially "do I have any level of interest in potentially attending this school and playing baseball here?"  You can narrow the list over time as he determines geographic, size, academic study, conference, etc preferences.  In the end, you maybe surprised with some schools showing little/no interest, and some showing much more interest than expected.  Just know that the coaches are starting off with a very big funnel in sourcing players, and I think it is fair for the players to do the same for college programs. 

You may also find it helpful to look through the Perfect Game college recruiting class sizes (focus less on the actual rankings).  You can get a sense for the historical size of recruiting classes for the schools you might have interest, along with how much is lined up for 2025.   It really is "go time" for solid D1 programs.

Like you, I am from the northeast and there is a tendency to fall into a trap in thinking baseball season starts in April (as it does for us).  Just be aware that solid D1 programs are recruiting nationally and 2025s down south are not waiting until late spring/early summer to make intros.

To answer your original question, if the summer goes well he will offers in hand before 9/1.  Good luck!

@25Dad posted:

So, I agree with the majority of the guidance that has been provided (really great advice).  However, I disagree with waiting until the summer if he has already been noticed by "solid D1 schools."

You have a reasonable basis for starting to reach out to schools based off his metrics from last summer and the level of schools that have already shown a level of interest.  These coaches are in the business of projecting talent, they will have a good idea of a range for where he will be this coming summer.  As others have mentioned, brief progress updates are welcome.  If one school in a conference has noticed/interested in your RHP, then it is fair to assume every school in the conference has some level of interest.  That was certainly the case for my son.  For my son, in the initial email phase the hurdle for sending the email introduction was fairly low, essentially "do I have any level of interest in potentially attending this school and playing baseball here?"  You can narrow the list over time as he determines geographic, size, academic study, conference, etc preferences.  In the end, you maybe surprised with some schools showing little/no interest, and some showing much more interest than expected.  Just know that the coaches are starting off with a very big funnel in sourcing players, and I think it is fair for the players to do the same for college programs.

You may also find it helpful to look through the Perfect Game college recruiting class sizes (focus less on the actual rankings).  You can get a sense for the historical size of recruiting classes for the schools you might have interest, along with how much is lined up for 2025.   It really is "go time" for solid D1 programs.

Like you, I am from the northeast and there is a tendency to fall into a trap in thinking baseball season starts in April (as it does for us).  Just be aware that solid D1 programs are recruiting nationally and 2025s down south are not waiting until late spring/early summer to make intros.

To answer your original question, if the summer goes well he will offers in hand before 9/1.  Good luck!

Thank you. I guess we are just waiting to get an updated velo reading. It feels like there’s a big difference between a sophomore in the mid high 80’s and a sophomore nearing or at 90. I really appreciate your thoughts. I had the same thought about kids from down South being on a different schedule.

I have a class of 2025 RHP who is on the radar (I hate that term, but it’s the easiest way to sum up where he stands). As a hypothetical, let’s say he’s sitting 87, maxing out at 90. His off speed stuff is very good. Solid d1 schools began noticing him last summer, attended games, followed on social media, etc. What should he expect if the summer goes well?

A) He’ll hear from nobody, get tons of camp invites we have to pay for, but on 9/1 there is a good chance more than 1 school reaches out.

B) Coaches will let his club coaches know of interest after seeing him play this summer (if  all goes well).

C) Some other more likely option.

We are planning to ask his club coaches before the season. I’m wondering how it’s working for others in his position. Thanks.

Just commenting based upon what I have noticed with my son's recruitment.  Not only his recruitment, but baseball is a small world, and you get to know parents and players in your son's graduation year.  So, I have also observed some things from following and talking to them.

First, the most important thing for you 2025 RHP is to make sure you have verified data that he is hitting 90+.   I have seen plenty of kids this past year that can't control pitches at all, and then get power five offers.   I first hand watched a kid this summer throw 15 consecutive pitches without a strike, and then that same day get an offer from an SEC school simply because he hit 91 on the radar gun.  I also witnessed a kid that by the end of the summer the travel ball coaches wouldn't even put him on the mound, but then in August committed to a power five program  So, when it comes to pitching recruiting.  Velocity appears to be the only thing that matters. 

Second, I would sit down with your son and map out a plan.   What schools are at the top of his wish list?  What schools are in that second tier of schools that he has interest in?   Once you ID those schools reach out to the recruiting coordinators at those programs and give them a very brief idea of what your son can do (2025 RHP 6'5" FB 91) and then give them a run down of where you will be playing this summer.  List the Showcases that you are going to attend, and tournaments that your son will be playing with his travel team.

Third, I think that it is important to be on a travel team that has some influence.   Your son needs to work his way up to playing their "Scout" team, and the be available to perform when they are playing in regional and national tournaments.   I would suggest your son have a conversation with the Travel Team director about what school you are serious about considering, and ask them to reach out to those coaching staffs to give them an impression of your ability and value. 

Fourth, if you are going to attend a showcase, then it needs to be one of the major events.   It does you no good to go to some small time reginal showcase that no coaches are going to attend.   The two that come to mind that you need to consider are the Perfect Game Junior National Showcase that is held every year in Atlanta and the PBR event that is hosted at Lake Point.   Those are two national events that almost all colleges will have representation there.  If you are going to attend then you need to email the recruiting coordinators on your list of schools and tell them that you will be in attendance. 

I personally believe that you and your son need to start now being proactive in this process.   The summer before the Jr. Year is when the far majority of D1 programs are going to fill their classes.   You need to work to get your son's information in their hands.   And put him in a position to have an audience with the coaching staffs of the schools he has interest in.   Waiting around till the Fall of the Jr. Year to go to prospect camps etc.. only means that the schools have already filled their 2025 class with players that aren't your son.   

@Ster posted:

Just commenting based upon what I have noticed with my son's recruitment.  Not only his recruitment, but baseball is a small world, and you get to know parents and players in your son's graduation year.  So, I have also observed some things from following and talking to them.

First, the most important thing for you 2025 RHP is to make sure you have verified data that he is hitting 90+.   I have seen plenty of kids this past year that can't control pitches at all, and then get power five offers.   I first hand watched a kid this summer throw 15 consecutive pitches without a strike, and then that same day get an offer from an SEC school simply because he hit 91 on the radar gun.  I also witnessed a kid that by the end of the summer the travel ball coaches wouldn't even put him on the mound, but then in August committed to a power five program  So, when it comes to pitching recruiting.  Velocity appears to be the only thing that matters.

Second, I would sit down with your son and map out a plan.   What schools are at the top of his wish list?  What schools are in that second tier of schools that he has interest in?   Once you ID those schools reach out to the recruiting coordinators at those programs and give them a very brief idea of what your son can do (2025 RHP 6'5" FB 91) and then give them a run down of where you will be playing this summer.  List the Showcases that you are going to attend, and tournaments that your son will be playing with his travel team.

Third, I think that it is important to be on a travel team that has some influence.   Your son needs to work his way up to playing their "Scout" team, and the be available to perform when they are playing in regional and national tournaments.   I would suggest your son have a conversation with the Travel Team director about what school you are serious about considering, and ask them to reach out to those coaching staffs to give them an impression of your ability and value.

Fourth, if you are going to attend a showcase, then it needs to be one of the major events.   It does you no good to go to some small time reginal showcase that no coaches are going to attend.   The two that come to mind that you need to consider are the Perfect Game Junior National Showcase that is held every year in Atlanta and the PBR event that is hosted at Lake Point.   Those are two national events that almost all colleges will have representation there.  If you are going to attend then you need to email the recruiting coordinators on your list of schools and tell them that you will be in attendance.

I personally believe that you and your son need to start now being proactive in this process.   The summer before the Jr. Year is when the far majority of D1 programs are going to fill their classes.   You need to work to get your son's information in their hands.   And put him in a position to have an audience with the coaching staffs of the schools he has interest in.   Waiting around till the Fall of the Jr. Year to go to prospect camps etc.. only means that the schools have already filled their 2025 class with players that aren't your son.   

Thank you. A lot of this he has already done or has happened in some way. He’s on that type of team, coaches have had conversations with his club coaches, social media follows have happened, etc. He has had schools out watching him radar gun in hand. He just hasn’t initiated any of it. We were waiting to see his sophomore year development. If his winter work results in a few mph gain from last year he’ll be in a good place to reach out to schools I think. Just wanted to quantitatively see it on the radar gun. In the Northeast he takes the fall to rest his arm and is still working up to full velo. Rather than say he maxed out at 87 as a freshman, when some of these programs watched him throw 87 already, he’d prefer to say he tops out at 90 as a sophomore and has interest in their program.

Last edited by Northeastmom

Thank you. A lot of this he has already done or has happened in some way. He’s on that type of team, coaches have had conversations with his club coaches, social media follows have happened, etc. He has had schools out watching him radar gun in hand. He just hasn’t initiated any of it. We were waiting to see his sophomore year development. If his winter work results in a few mph gain from last year he’ll be in a good place to reach out to schools I think. Just wanted to quantitatively see it on the radar gun. In the Northeast he takes the fall to rest his arm and is still working up to full velo. Rather than say he maxed out at 87 as a freshman, when some of these programs watched him throw 87 already, he’d prefer to say he tops out at 90 as a sophomore and has interest in their program.

I would think that if he has verified 87 mph velo that he won't have any problems getting attention from D1 schools.   If by May he is consistently 90 mph or above then he will get multiple offers.   Just my opinion.

Players don’t pick schools. Schools pick players. His travel coaches should be selling him to his preferred schools so they come check him out. Otherwise, he might blend into a crowd of similar players. With his velocity someone should find him. But, he shouldn’t wait to be found.

Our 2024 was in the same place as a freshman and sophomore. I’d echo the advice above - don’t wait. Our experience was that many of the top programs use sophomore winter to build relationships through weekly phone calls and moved quickly once the season got underway and they could get eyes on kids.

How did he get coach phone calls when the communication date is 9/1 of junior year?

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