Typical number of true walk-on applicants at quality programs

Catchers often make it through a walk on.

My son plays for a small D1 school in the north and I believe in 5 years there's only been 1 invited walk-on make the team that I've heard of. They have tryouts every year I think but it sounds like it's really tough to make it as a walk-on. You're probably better off talking to the coaches first to see if they have any interest in you. Sounds discouraging but it can be done I'm sure.

I'm defining "invited walk-on" to mean an excellent player who has another type of scholarship...say, academic. (I may not be correct in that regard).

To me, a true walk-on is a kid who's unknown to the coach before school starts.

It's not common for a walkon to make it ... I can think of about 10-12 D1 schools that I have knowledge of from last year, and only 2 walkons actually "stuck" ... 1: a catcher, who didn't make it to the 2nd season. 2: A pitcher who didn't log any innings, but is still around for year 2 (lefty).

NCAA progams are required to have a tryout open to all students -

usually are required to attend a meeting

your tryout could last several days, several hours, or several minutes

occasionaly players earn roster spots from a tryout

re: bullpen catcher is often not a roster position, but a staff position, like student mgr etc

hope that helps


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At the school I work at, they have a one-day open tryout, usually the first Saturday of the fall. Perhaps one or two make the fall roster, then, the players have all fall to prove themselves worthy of a spring slot. I can't recall anyone making it out of the fall.

How many attend the open tryouts? Sounds pretty grim, even worse than I imagined.

At the local JUCO, tryouts for walk ons usually bring out about thirty kids. Once in a great while (every few years), a kid gets invited to continue for the fall season. Even rarer does that player continue past the fall.

At the local D1, catchers sometimes get on as bullpen catchers for the fall only to be cut loose once January comes around. These players are there for one reason only: ease the burden on the regular catchers as the pitchers work out.