Do players from DIII schools get opportunities to play in Summer Collegiate baseball leagues? Also, how seriously do pro scouts take DIII statistics when they consider drafting a player?
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Absolutely. You won't find many in the Cape.... maybe 1 or 2. But there are plenty of opportunities elsewhere. My son and 3 of his DIII teammates played in the Coastal Plains League this summer, including 2 on the Forest City Owls, the team that finished #1 in the PG Summer Baseball Rankings. Two of the guys had been signed early the prior fall to play in Martinsville. My son was offered a conditional spot in the last week of school in May. He went to Forest City expecting to be there for 2 weeks. But he performed well, made the all-star team, had a college teammate join him mid season and generally had the time of his life. He was seen by lots of people and now has quite a bit of interest. It's up to him to follow up the summer of his dreams with a strong spring. Have you son talk with his coach about summer opportunities. And if something doesn't open up now, be avaialbe and flexible come spring. Players get hurt, or teams head to the CWS and summer teams need temporarly players...and those spots often turn permanent.
Ny,
Opportunities exist in almost all Summer Leagues for DIII players, if their DIII coach believes in those placements and works very hard to have his players placed.
As a recruit, the Summer league placement was a major aspect for our son and what turned out to be his DIII coach. At that time in 2002/2003, Coach Scannell of Trinity, Tx, was part of a small number of DIII coaches who believed in Summer leagues and worked extremely hard at getting his kids placed.
Since, then, more and more coaches have adopted a similar view and you will find numerous DIII players in nearly all the Summer leagues, even the Cape(but not many as Just Yesterday stated). The Cape thing is not because they cannot play at that level.
On your other question, pro scouts by and large could care less about DIII stats. To them, they are meaningless. What they try to do is project that players skills to the next levels. Summer leagues can make a difference in a scouts opinions, one way or the other.
For our son, his Summer league exposure and competition made him a better player.
His DIII location on I35 in Texas, and the efforts of his coach, gave him exposure to more scouts than any area in the US.
Both combined for a great baseball experience and positive outcome for him, in terms of becoming a better player, his team in terms of conference and NCAA success, and for the draft and his success in Milb.
Opportunities exist in almost all Summer Leagues for DIII players, if their DIII coach believes in those placements and works very hard to have his players placed.
As a recruit, the Summer league placement was a major aspect for our son and what turned out to be his DIII coach. At that time in 2002/2003, Coach Scannell of Trinity, Tx, was part of a small number of DIII coaches who believed in Summer leagues and worked extremely hard at getting his kids placed.
Since, then, more and more coaches have adopted a similar view and you will find numerous DIII players in nearly all the Summer leagues, even the Cape(but not many as Just Yesterday stated). The Cape thing is not because they cannot play at that level.
On your other question, pro scouts by and large could care less about DIII stats. To them, they are meaningless. What they try to do is project that players skills to the next levels. Summer leagues can make a difference in a scouts opinions, one way or the other.
For our son, his Summer league exposure and competition made him a better player.
His DIII location on I35 in Texas, and the efforts of his coach, gave him exposure to more scouts than any area in the US.
Both combined for a great baseball experience and positive outcome for him, in terms of becoming a better player, his team in terms of conference and NCAA success, and for the draft and his success in Milb.
Justyesterday and Infield Dad, Are these player that you know who played in summer leagues only pitchers or position players? I have noticed that there seem to be more pitchers than position players at the DIII level who are drafted than postion players. Also, what skills do the scouts look for that will carry over to the minors, and are there certain DIII programs that have a reputation for having a lot of players drafted?
Well, there aren't any DIII's that have a lot of players drafted. 
With that said, schools having probably the most success over the last several years include Trinity College, JHU, Emory, Marietta, Chapman, Pomona-Pitzer, Cortland St., Montclair St., TCNJ,players from the Wisconsin and Minnesota schools, UT-Tyler and Trinity U(Tx.).
You are absolutely correct about most DIII draftees being pitchers.
Our son was a position player in college..shortstop.
He ended up playing 2b, short and 3b and his versatility was a major factor in his getting playing time and earning his spot and innings.
What I remember about his scouting report included a plus arm, soft hands,good speed, contact hitter and the MLB report made a point of including comments on him being a player who loves the game, loves to play, plays hard and loves to compete.
From what we learned, the scouts who didn't think our son projected did so on the hitting part.
In the end, he proved them wrong. In his 1st full Milb season, he had the 2nd most hits in his entire organization. However, when you recognize what I posted earlier about DIII stats, I fully understand how tough a projection it could be for scouts to look at AB's at DIII and project those into what they mean in Milb.
With that said, schools having probably the most success over the last several years include Trinity College, JHU, Emory, Marietta, Chapman, Pomona-Pitzer, Cortland St., Montclair St., TCNJ,players from the Wisconsin and Minnesota schools, UT-Tyler and Trinity U(Tx.).
You are absolutely correct about most DIII draftees being pitchers.
Our son was a position player in college..shortstop.
He ended up playing 2b, short and 3b and his versatility was a major factor in his getting playing time and earning his spot and innings.
What I remember about his scouting report included a plus arm, soft hands,good speed, contact hitter and the MLB report made a point of including comments on him being a player who loves the game, loves to play, plays hard and loves to compete.
From what we learned, the scouts who didn't think our son projected did so on the hitting part.
In the end, he proved them wrong. In his 1st full Milb season, he had the 2nd most hits in his entire organization. However, when you recognize what I posted earlier about DIII stats, I fully understand how tough a projection it could be for scouts to look at AB's at DIII and project those into what they mean in Milb.
I think the number of drafted players each year for the D3 level is about 20. I think I read that stat here on the hsbbweb but I am not sure where. The number sounds about right to me.
My son had a pitcher from UW-Whitewater drafted on his team in the Tampa organization last year. UW-Whitewater produced a pretty good major leaguer in Bob Wickman. There was another D3 pitcher Evan Crawford who made the NY-Penn all-star team last year. In some cases, D3 players are snubbed by MLB for no good reason. Kenny Moreland from Christopher Newport went undrafted as a D3 All-American, tore up the NY-Penn league last year and wound up in high A ball by mid-summer.
For position players, what you'll often see is dominant statistics from potential draftees. Ronnie LaBrie who was drafted from Lynchburg College hit about .450 as a senior. infielddad's son had a career average in that neigborhood. Obviously, stats alone is not enough to get you drafted but you'll very likely see dominant stats being produced by potential draftees. Sometimes, like in the Moreland example above, a player has to believe in themselves when no one else believes in them. I believe Moreland used the snub of not getting drafted as fuel for the fire. I could see a "bulldog" player like that pitching in the big leagues someday.
My son had a pitcher from UW-Whitewater drafted on his team in the Tampa organization last year. UW-Whitewater produced a pretty good major leaguer in Bob Wickman. There was another D3 pitcher Evan Crawford who made the NY-Penn all-star team last year. In some cases, D3 players are snubbed by MLB for no good reason. Kenny Moreland from Christopher Newport went undrafted as a D3 All-American, tore up the NY-Penn league last year and wound up in high A ball by mid-summer.
For position players, what you'll often see is dominant statistics from potential draftees. Ronnie LaBrie who was drafted from Lynchburg College hit about .450 as a senior. infielddad's son had a career average in that neigborhood. Obviously, stats alone is not enough to get you drafted but you'll very likely see dominant stats being produced by potential draftees. Sometimes, like in the Moreland example above, a player has to believe in themselves when no one else believes in them. I believe Moreland used the snub of not getting drafted as fuel for the fire. I could see a "bulldog" player like that pitching in the big leagues someday.
Infielddad, what school did your son play at?
NY,
here is a link to an article about our son, his teammate, Coach Scannell and Trinity, Tx.
http://www.trinity.edu/departm...all/NV_JA_Minors.htm
I agree with CD about DIII players getting to Milb.
They have an attitude and a mindset that, in my opinion, has some unique aspects.
I hope this discussion is helpful for you to judge what can happen at the DIII level, the odds of it happening, how hard you have to work, how good you need to be, the importance of great coaching and support, and the value of great teammates and DIII programs that do it the right way.
here is a link to an article about our son, his teammate, Coach Scannell and Trinity, Tx.
http://www.trinity.edu/departm...all/NV_JA_Minors.htm
I agree with CD about DIII players getting to Milb.
They have an attitude and a mindset that, in my opinion, has some unique aspects.
I hope this discussion is helpful for you to judge what can happen at the DIII level, the odds of it happening, how hard you have to work, how good you need to be, the importance of great coaching and support, and the value of great teammates and DIII programs that do it the right way.