The Lure of the D-1

Fungo,
Great post.

Just to let you all know how far I have come, when my son was in his early HS years, I had no clue about different divisions in athletics! As I began trying to learn about it all, I realized there is sometimes NO difference between some D1 programs and larger D2,D3 programs except for scholarships. The term D1 does not always necessarily mean better program, better coaching, etc.
Often we see parents post "my son aspires to play D1 ball or to play for a top 25 D1 program".

I often think to myself, why, what are the reasons it must be D1? I would really appreciate if anyone could answer that question.
I get a lot of inquiries about Clemson and asking about the baseball program FIRST before asking about the school. Personally, I always tell them the school be the most important factor, because going to school may be easier than participating in the baseball program. I think that parents whose sons attend or have attended top 10-15 programs will agree and understand why I state that. Unfortunetly, there are a lot of players that set their sites on starting at the top schools for recruiting and eventually learning they have to adjust. First adjustment one must realize is that any division in college baseball is not high school ball, second, it's very hard being a great player out of HS becoming the small fish in the biggest pond you can imagine. Many players are quite taken a back by this, I can tell you by experience. That's where fit comes in. Your son may have the #1 school in the country on his back to come, the biggest scholarship you can imagine, that does not mean it's the best place for him. Also, the more money given, the more that is expected. That is not just on the field but in the classroom as well. Under the microscope as they say, always. Lots of fan criticism (and print) if you don't live up to expectations. Of course the positives outway the negatives, but players and parents have to understand, it's not EASY. I know of a player that is one of the best hitters in the country, but boy does he get blasted when he doesn't perform. I think it often hurts his game.

Every one of our players want to go to a school that is recognized as a winner. But that doesn't mean CWS. I can tell you, by looking back at the last year, what goes on trying to get to Omaha, it's nothing like you or your player can ever imagine. The end result has it's rewards, but along the way, lots of challenges that go with it. LOTS. For coaches and players.

Players wanting to play in better programs should have criteria. IMO. The first is the school. Big school vs. smaller school. Degrees offered. Will I be able to pursue a more difficult degree, or will the demands of the baseball program get in the way. The second is competition. Does the program play good competition outside of conference. You only get better playing better. The third is coaching staff. I would much rather my son play for a coach who is a leader, not always a winner. And not overuse my pitcher. Fourth is conference championship. Do they regularly go to conference championships or how do they do in their conference.

Notice I have not mentioned any division in the above.

Its another good morning on the HSBBW!!
( coffee anyone?)

quote:

I see a Lamborghini speeding down the interstate but my truck and my Jeep “fit” me just fine.

Couldn't agree with you more FUNGO!!!.....it truely is all about the kids finding " their fit " within a school and the schools athletic program.

Perspective is key I think. Big names dont always necessary mean best fit for your kid/player, although their glitz & shine
can get ones attention pretty quickly. Sometimes its hard to see around the glare. Again,..I'll mention the words perspective and fit here. Key elements I think.

Perception and reality. Talking to some you would think that at d3 they pitch underhand and play 60 foot bases etc etc. My son recently graduated from a d3 school. His baseball experience was good. conference championships and 3 trips to the regionals. The main thing is he enjoyed his experience graduated and gainfully employed.

Being someone who spent several years coaching at the small college level… it can be a great experience. The talent level in small college can range from very good (DI level), to the equivalent of recreational ball.

Our last year’s small NAIA school had two pitchers who ended up pitching in the Major Leagues and a centerfielder who got to Triple A. Also we had a commitment at the time from another two pitchers who would later pitch in the Major Leagues. The same team produced The Chicago Cubs MLB strength and conditioning coach…. Two present high level JUCO coaches, three DI coaches and four others who now coach in small college and/or high school. Yet another player on that team is now a full time MLB scout.

This team did win its conference, but never made it out of the regional. None of the pitchers were abused and the level of discipline was extremely high. We are all great friends to this day and one player from that team is a VP with PG.

I’d like to think that nearly every player who played at this school was very happy with their decision to go there. We were just one of hundreds of the small colleges that provided a great baseball experience and developed high level players. The year mentioned above, saw more scouts attending this team’s games than any of the DI’s in the state.

All that said, the reason good baseball players want to attend DI schools is the same reason good football, basketball, etc. players desire DI schools. It’s the same reason the very best prospects want to attend DI power house programs. Everything right and nothing wrong with wanting the best. However, I agree with all who say… Be ready to make adjustments rather than being demoralized if things don’t go your way.

IMO – College baseball at any level is great! At any level, it is better than any baseball before college. In some ways, it is even a better experience than professional baseball. Yet there are some who just hang up the spikes if they don’t get that DI scholarship. Too bad! They’re missing the experience of a life time! And the chance to keep their dreams alive!

quote:

IMO – College baseball at any level is great! At any level, it is better than any baseball before college. In some ways, it is even a better experience than professional baseball. Yet there are some who just hang up the spikes if they don’t get that DI scholarship. Too bad! They’re missing the experience of a life time! And the chance to keep their dreams alive!

PG - I loved your post and particularly that part.

My son and I worked on his goal together and that was a chance to play at the most competitive baseball program possible - regardless of the level. There are some risks in that strategy but that is what we chose to do.

Thus, again quoting from PG:

quote:

All that said, the reason good baseball players want to attend DI schools is the same reason good football, basketball, etc. players desire DI schools. It’s the same reason the very best prospects want to attend DI power house programs. Everything right and nothing wrong with wanting the best.

I'll agree with everyone else here. To make D1 the sole/primary focus may cause one to possibly miss better baseball and/or educational opportunities somewhere else. In our case, it was a factor in the decision making process but not a blinding factor.

Everyone's experience is different I am sure.

My eldest son got the D1 scholly to a Top 40 team.
Hated every single second of it.

Transferred to a D-2 - all wood bat.
Loves every second of it.

And in the summer - he still gets to play with players from all levels.

Who knows? - just play hard and run like a wild dog. IMO.

Given that only around 6% of graduating senior baseball players will play at an NCAA Division I, II or III school, playing baseball at ALL beyond high school is an admirable goal, regardless of level. It's all about finding the school that makes your son smile as he walks around, and a school where he would go even if his baseball career ended the day he set foot on campus. Find that school, and baseball is just an added bonus!

266 NCAA/NAIA Institutions were represented in the 2006 MLB Draft. Add all the JUCO's in, and you can conclude many things, one of them being........
If you are a top player, they will find you. And talent is dispersed throughout the USA

Abilene Christian
Akron
Alabama
Alcorn State
Arizona
Arizona State
Arkansas
Arkansas Little Rock
Arkansas State
Arkansas Tech
Army
Auburn
Babson
Ball State
Barry
Baylor
Biola
Birmingham-Southern
Boston College
Bowling Green State
Bradley
Brigham Young
British Columbia
Bucknell
Cal Poly
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Cal State East Bay
Cal State Fullerton
Cal State Los Angeles
Cal State Northridge
Cal State San Bernardino
California
California Baptist
Centenary (NJ)
Central Arkansas
Central Florida
Central Missouri State
Chapman
Cincinnati
Clemson
Coast Guard
Coastal Carolina
College of Charleston
Connecticut
Corban
Cornell
Creighton
Cumberland
Dakota Wesleyan
Dallas Baptist
Dartmouth
Davidson
Davis and Elkins
Dayton
Delaware
Dowling
East Carolina
East Tennessee State
Eastern Kentucky
Emporia State
Erskine
Evansville
Florida
Florida Atlantic
Florida Gulf Coast
Florida International
Florida Southern
Florida State
Florida Tech
Fordham
Francis Marion
Franklin and Marshall
Franklin Pierce
Fresno Pacific
Fresno State
Furman
George Mason
George Washington
Georgia
Georgia College and State University
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Georgia Tech
Gonzaga
Grand Canyon
Grove City
Guilford
Harvard
Hawaii
High Point
Hofstra
Houston
Illinois State
Illinois-Chicago
Indiana State
Iona
Jacksonville
James Madison
Kansas
Kansas State
Kent State
Kentucky
Lamar
Le Moyne
Lee
Lehigh
Lewis-Clark State
Liberty
Lipscomb
Long Beach State
Louisiana Monroe
Louisiana State
Louisiana-Lafayette
Loyola Marymount
Lubbock Christian
Manhattan
Mankato State
Marietta
Maryland
McKendree
Mercer
Mesa State
Messiah
Miami (FL)
Miami (OH)
Michigan
Michigan State
Middle Tennessee State
Midland Lutheran
Millsaps
Minnesota
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Mississippi Valley State
Missouri
Missouri Baptist
Missouri St. Louis
Missouri State
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
New Mexico State
New Orleans
Niagara
Nicholls State
North Alabama
North Carolina
North Carolina A&T
North Carolina State
North Florida
Northeastern
Northeastern State
Northern Colorado
Northern Iowa
Northern Kentucky
Northwestern
Northwestern State
Notre Dame
Nova Southeastern
Ohio
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Old Dominion
**** Roberts
Oregon State
Pace
Pacific
Pepperdine
Pikeville
Pittsburgh
Point Loma Nazarene
Portland
Purdue
Quincy
Quinnipiac
Randolph-Macon
Regis
Rhode Island
Rice
Richmond
Rider
Rollins
Rowan
Rutgers
Saint Leo
Sam Houston State
San Diego
San Diego State
San Francisco
San Jose State
Santa Clara
SIU Edwardsville
South Alabama
South Carolina
South Carolina Aiken
South Carolina Upstate
South Florida
Southeastern Louisiana
Southern Arkansas
Southern California
Southern Illinois
Southern Mississippi
Springfield
St. Bonaventure
St. Edward's
St. Mary's
St. Mary's
St. Xavier
Stanford
Stephen F. Austin
Stetson
SUNY Cortland
SUNY Oneonta
Tampa
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas A&M Kingsville
Texas Christian
Texas Southern
Texas State
Texas Tech
The Citadel
Toledo
Troy
Tulane
UC Irvine
UC Riverside
UC Santa Barbara
UCLA
UNC Charlotte
UNC Greensboro
UNC Wilmington
UNLV
UT Arlington
UT Pan American
UT Permian Basin
UT San Antonio
Utah
Utah Valley State
Vanderbilt
Villanova
Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
Virginia Military Institute
Wagner
Wake Forest
Washington
Washington State
West Alabama
West Virginia
West Virginia State
Western Carolina
Western Kentucky
Western Michigan
Western Oregon
Whittier
Wichita State
William and Mary
Winthrop
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Worcester State
Wright State
Yale
Youngstown State

Wow you typed that entire list without a single typo! Although the auto-editor doesn't like Mr. Roberts' first name!

Excellent thread, and I also have to repeat and emphasize a few of the comments above:

By Fungo:

"Just as a hitter needs to make adjustments in his approach to being a successful hitter, so should each player be open to adjustments in their search for a college baseball program."

By PG:

"IMO – College baseball at any level is great! At any level, it is better than any baseball before college. In some ways, it is even a better experience than professional baseball. Yet there are some who just hang up the spikes if they don’t get that DI scholarship. Too bad! They’re missing the experience of a life time! And the chance to keep their dreams alive!"

By JohnLex7:

"Given that only around 6% of graduating senior baseball players will play at an NCAA Division I, II or III school, playing baseball at ALL beyond high school is an admirable goal, regardless of level. It's all about finding the school that makes your son smile as he walks around, and a school where he would go even if his baseball career ended the day he set foot on campus. Find that school, and baseball is just an added bonus!"

My son started his HS years dreaming of playing at our local DI - not a top national power, but historically strong in the Big 10. He adjusted his goals as he attended various college camps and saw where his velocity and development fit in. He ended up at an in-state DIII where he loves the school, loves his team, and is truly having the time of his life playing college baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
Wow you typed that entire list without a single typo! Although the auto-editor doesn't like Mr. Roberts' first name!

cut/paste from NCAA to Excel to this site, sorted, and edited.

Excel is a big part of my job.

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
Yes I might salivate when I see a Lamborghini speeding down the interstate but my truck and my Jeep “fit” me just fine.

No, I want that Lamborghini...I want it bad!

quote:

California

They play D1 baseball?

OK, in all seriousness, this is a very timely and good topic. Lots of players out there thinking about this right now.

We began our process not knowing for sure where our son fit. We were open to all "Division" options...but not open to all schools. Sure, D1 was the "dream," but I really don't think we would have felt like our son was "settling" for less if he had chosen a D3 with a good program and good academics.

If the only D1 options had not been good fits otherwise (location, academics, campus life, etc...), we would have happily guided our son to a D2 or D3 that did fit in those respects. We would have also guided/advised our son to move on with his life if there were no good options otherwise...which may have included signing a pro contract.

I am a BIG believer in college athletics. I did not play college-anything, but I have a lot of friends who did in various sports and they value that experience tremendously...even at our now advancing age.

But I am not a believer in college-athletics-at-all-costs nor am I a proponent of D1-at-any-cost. In other words...we have 3 very athletic children and 3 who are more recreational...I would not want the athletic ones to attend just any old college just so they can play sports. In my view of the world, there's a point where its time to move on with your life. Playing HS sports was always the goal, an important goal...all of our kids have done that so far...including two who struggled to make the team. Anything after that,for us, was gravy.

D1? D2? D3? NAIA? JC? Any and all would be terrific if it fit the kid. Thats the way I see it.

quote:

I often think to myself, why, what are the reasons it must be D1? I would really appreciate if anyone could answer that question.

I really think alot of it has to do with ego and bragging rights. Puffed out chest - and getting to name drop - my son got an offer from "topname college". I think it goes to some peoples heads and they forget about reality.

A kid who currently plays on my travel team has a brother who is in his first year at a NAIA school and received a full ride due to the school being mostly a "black" college - he has minority status as a student in the school because he is "white". They will have a pretty good team and his college education is being paid for - seems like a pretty good deal to me.

quote:

they forget about reality

sooner or later reality sets in. The sooner you deal with it the better for everybody

One question on the "list" produced above.
Why would an MLB team draft someone from Army?
I have to confess I don't know all of the rules behind the service academies, but once they graduate, don't they have to fulfill service requirements in the armed forces (5 years)? If an MLB team made that pick, would they still hold that player's signing rights?
Just curious.....

My son was told last year (by US Naval Academy) that his mandatory service would be delayed if he was drafted pro.

quote:

Originally posted by jbbaseball:
One question on the "list" produced above.
Why would an MLB team draft someone from Army?
I have to confess I don't know all of the rules behind the service academies, but once they graduate, don't they have to fulfill service requirements in the armed forces (5 years)? If an MLB team made that pick, would they still hold that player's signing rights?

Don't know the Army answer, but could only recall the D. Robinson Navy basketball era, and if I am not mistaken, he served in conjunction, and afterward??

The list I presented shows that the best players will play regardless of what school they attended, be it Georgia Tech or St. Copious of the Northern Region.

But I suppose the "lure" might have something to do with 5000 fans versus 50.........there is an energy of the crowd many premier players feed off of.......

quote:

Originally posted by Hoovmom15:

quote:

I often think to myself, why, what are the reasons it must be D1? I would really appreciate if anyone could answer that question.

I really think alot of it has to do with ego and bragging rights. Puffed out chest - and getting to name drop - my son got an offer from "topname college". I think it goes to some peoples heads and they forget about reality.

Ok some of the reasons are for sure
-peer pressure and perception
-"bragging"
-status
-and a number of other poor reasons for selecting a education.

Selecting a lower level D-1 can/will also give some of the same benefits above.

IMO some reasons that kids do select "D-1" including prestege is also the resources that a large program has and the money they put into the program. Besides the Football recruiting weekend in front of 60,000 people which can sway a kid... the facilities, the clubhouse, the training and conditioning staff, and medical resources they have, the money they put into the program. The academic assistance, the alumni support, playing in front of 1000's of supporters. Being on a bigger stage. Our sons are competitors thats why they strive to win; and right or wrong, good fit or not the above is just some of the reasons kids want D-1.

There are I'm sure 1000's of other reasons but heck I can't figure why in my Son's eyes I get dumber every year...of course I hear that this condition does have a cure it is when my Son becomes an adult and I regain my intellegence.

quote:

There are I'm sure 1000's of other reasons but heck I can't figure why in my Son's eyes I get dumber every year...of course I hear that this condition does have a cure it is when my Son becomes an adult and I regain my intellegence.

Novice Dad,

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I'm not sure the cure works quite like that in every case.

I'll always remember when my oldest came home from his first yeat at the Academy, and was surprised at how much I had learned in the year he was gone...

The key, though you'll never know 'til it's over, is that baseball (from a playing standpoint) will someday be over. At that point in time, hopefully you will look back and say thank goodness he got such a good education.

College sports are a lifetime memory, but it's only one small part of the package that gets you ready for the rest of the deal.

What's the NCAA ad say... 99.9% are training for a spot in the Pros, just not necessarily in the sport they're currently playing?

Carpe diem!!!

AcademyDad:

quote:

College sports are a lifetime memory, but it's only one small part of the package that gets you ready for the rest of the deal.

I believe your oldest learned something more then that at the Academy.
A winner never quit's, a quiter never's win's.
Only the strong survive.
Leadership thru adverse time's.
He's a surviver. And that can't be Taught.
EH

Thought this is a good time to bring this topic back up. Great discussion.

My son wanted to go D-1 till we started visiting schools. After several visits he decided he wanted to go to a small school because that is were he felt most comfortable. He had a chance to try out for the big school in our area but declined because of this. Would not have been a schcolarship, but a walk on opportunity.

We know several players that stopped playing baseball because they wanted the big football school expierience but the big schools were not interested. In this case the big school was the best fit, even if baseball was not involved.

quote:

Originally posted by KCBaseball:
My son was told last year (by US Naval Academy) that his mandatory service would be delayed if he was drafted pro.

True statement. With the current state of the US Armed forces (downsizing) they have been known to let people go for such reasons. Plus, it makes the service academies look good to other “potential recruits”. I know of one individual who was released from their contract to train and participate in the Olympics for the USA.

quote:

Originally posted by bballdad2016:

quote:

Originally posted by KCBaseball:
My son was told last year (by US Naval Academy) that his mandatory service would be delayed if he was drafted pro.

True statement. With the current state of the US Armed forces (downsizing) they have been known to let people go for such reasons. Plus, it makes the service academies look good to other “potential recruits”. I know of one individual who was released from their contract to train and participate in the Olympics for the USA.

Might I just suggest that you dig a little deeper into those statements before making any commitments (i.e. don't take them as blanket statements)...when/where/how re: service commitments/releases tend to be "fickle" (know that policy at at least one academy has changed since 2006)

I remember when my son made his list of the schools he wanted to attend. It of course was the top 25 of D1 programs. As he got older, I over time tried convincing him that any school with good academics that he could play for would be acceptable. While he knows the odds of becoming a pro is statistically low, he still wanted that opportunity, and felt D1 was his best chance(assuming he performed well). Several people told him that if he developed he could be drafted from any school, i.e. if you can play, they will find you.
He had his doubts about that and asked me to do some research on which NCAA divisions had the most kids get drafted. So I naturally came here to investigate along with using a couple of other sources. While I hate to admit it, the stats show D1's have the lions share of drafted college kids, by a wide margin. The order as I recall was;

1) D1
2) JUCO
3) D2
4) NAIA
5) D3

So I think "the lure of D1" is understandable for those kids wanting to be drafted(realistic chance or not). Granted a stud will be noticed in any program, but then again being a stud in D1 will presumably get more attention than one in a D3. You have to wonder how many kids get missed in the smaller schools/divisions that could have at least been drafted.

D1 having the most drafted players makes sense otherewise that would mean the coaches had no eye for talent.

The fact that the JUCO's were second says something about the way college ball works becasue kids who might have the potential to be drafted out of high school might be making a bet (or have grade issues) they can improve their draft position without the three year D1 commitment.

D1 only means something when you play football.

Why don't you go a little further, investigate how many D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO players actually have success and make it to the bigs. It may open your eyes to what programs actually spend the time teaching the great game from the ones that attract talent just by name only.

Sometimes the best programs and best fit are not the high profile schools. Just sayin.

I played college ball at the NAIA level at Spring Arbor (MI) under the direction of legendary coach Hank Burbridge. I guarantee that I got better coaching than most D1 players did and being a part of a powerhouse program was fun. It didn't hurt my chances to play at the next level (which I did for 3 years) and it was four of the greatest years of my life (plus I got a pretty girl to marry me out of the deal....and she still puts up with me 15 years later!).
Don't let the perception of small college baseball get in the way of enjoying the experience. Find a great school where you fit....and love every minute of it!

Albert Pujols was a 13th round pick. Mike Piazza was something like a 60th round pick. Baseball has many all stars drafted after the 10th round while football and basketball do not. The late bloomer just doesn't exist in those sports to the degree they do in baseball.

quote:

It’s tough enough trying to determine fit during the recruiting of your son without allowing something as insignificant as a label like “D-1” clouding the whole process.

Fungo will always be one of my favorite posters. His insights into HS/college baseball, the recruiting process, and especially life within baseball, for the player and parent alike, almost always cause me to think and reflect in ways I had not before.
For those who are rapidly approaching either the NLI or decisions about college and college baseball beginning in the late Summer/early Fall of 2012, Fungo's conclusion referenced above remains solid guidance... more than 5 years after it was first posted.
One reason I enjoyed and continue to enjoy Summer Wood bat leagues is the labels of DI to DIII to Juco to NAIA are largely meaningless where it matters in baseball....on the field. To borrow from JH, the 9 best play to be the best 9 in Summer leagues.
NCAA Divisions are, to a very large extent, meaningless distinctions in the classroom and the quality of education.
They are meaningless during the Summer for anywhere from 40-70 games.
Often times, classification by Division is completely meaningless in terms of the quality of coaching which is available.
Don't get me wrong. Our son wanted to play in the Pac10 so bad he could taste it. Two years later, when opportunities arose in other conferences, including the ACC, the "Lure" was measured and judged based on those factors and experiences he learned, knew and felt were important.
My question is, measured by outcome after 4 years, whether there is anything truly unique about "Lure" of "DI," in the total baseball experience after HS, other than Omaha and the "illusions" which Fungo capably summarized many years back?

alot dependson the player, many want to get a college education and play great bseball. not all are necessarily seeking to be drafted

BLD, nice bump. Great posts from several of my favorite posters.

quote:

he still wanted that opportunity, and felt D1 was his best chance(assuming he performed well)...... While I hate to admit it, the stats show D1's have the lions share of drafted college kids, by a wide margin. The order as I recall was;

1) D1
2) JUCO
3) D2
4) NAIA
5) D3

He's confusing cause and effect. D1's have more drafted players because they have more draftable players.

If you have MLB potential it doesn't matter where you play. D3 is at the bottom because they don't offer athletic money so top prospects usually sign elsewhere.

If Gerrit Cole had played down the road at Chapman he still would have been the #1 pick but his parents would be out about $100,000...

Hawk,
I agree completely about Cole and the point you are emphasizing.
While they don't have Cole,Chapman does have a Brian Rauh. While not at the level of Cole, he would likely be getting outs on most any college baseball field and absent anything unforeseen, sounds like another Chapman pitcher who will get his name called by MLB.
Having followed the draft, to an extent, for many years, my impression is some mistakes can be made in the DI to "other" comparison.
My impression is if one were to remove the top 60 or so DI programs from these calculations, and compared the rest of DI to the top DII and top DIIIs, the numbers drafted might be surprising.
Most of the DII and DIII drafted players come from the top of those divisions.
I think the "imbalance" is more in DI, where the top teams in the top power conferences end up with a very large population/percentage of the drafted players. It is pretty rare for a player from UNC, Vanderbilt, Fullerton, Stanford, Rice, LSU, USC(both of them) types of schools to not be drafted.
Never seen anyone take the time, but if the "lure" of the "draft" is a DI feature, I wonder how the numbers might look/compare, for those 250 DI schools outside the power group as contrasted with the draft numbers for the top 30 DIII's and top 40 DII's.

quote:

Albert Pujols was a 13th round pick. Mike Piazza was something like a 60th round pick. Baseball has many all stars drafted after the 10th round while football and basketball do not. The late bloomer just doesn't exist in those sports to the degree they do in baseball.

Thing is, those other sports don't even have a 10th round. There are "many" all stars in football that weren't even drafted. The Buffalo Bills running back (Fred Jackson) should be All Pro this year. He wasn't drafted and went to college DIII Coe College. Also, everyone knows the Kurt Warner story. It always amazes me to see how many NFL players went to smaller colleges.

Anyway, it is true that there are many late bloomers in baseball.

College baseball is a great experience at every level, but there's no doubt as to which is the highest level.

IMO... In nearly every case it's better to play at a lower level than sit on the bench at a higher level. The late bloomer is more likely to blossom if he is playing rather than watching.

Besides that, there are many reasons for choosing a college. For some baseball is the top priority, others might have different priorities. There will always be the lure of DI because that is the highest level. Just as there is the lure of Major League baseball.

I know of many young players that insisted on DI and their development and possible baseball future ended at DI. You have to be on the field... In the game. Not very many reach the next level without playing in the games.

To take an old basketball phrase... You can't score if you don't shoot!

Son is committed to Army. My understanding of the opportunities to play professional sports after graduation (and we asked many questiions about this)is below.

You cannot be drafted by MLB until after Sr. year. You may then play that first season. You return to service for 1 year (missing 1 season of baseball) and then return to baseball for 3 years. If, after the 3 years, your team wants you to continue, your team can "buy out" your service obligation. If your team does not wish to buy out your remaining 4 years of service obligation you return to the service and complete your service obligation. My son's analysis was that if professional baseball did not want you badly enough to buy out your service obligation after 4 seasons of play - you were not likely to "make it" in pro ball anyway. Certainly did not argue...

quote:

Chapman does have a Brian Rauh.

Yes. I've been following Rauh for a couple of years now( My son is a Freshman at Redlands)and met Coach Tereschuk during the recruiting process. Probably no better coach anywhere.

Last year there were four pitchers drafted out of the SCIAC and I'm sure Rauh will be another.

I just frustrated because D3 hasn't started any fall ball yet...I need my baseball fix...