17yr old RHP who locates better than most. Has four legit pitches with good movement and throws strikes. The problem is velocity is only mid 80s. Perfect game has him at 86 that was pre UCL repair surgery . He is eight months out and throwing low to mid eighties. Completing his junior year and about to start travel ball in Ga. from a recruiting stand point where does this pitcher fit in ?? All advice welcome....thank you
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and down the rabbit hole we go!!
@wanna b posted:17yr old RHP who locates better than most. Has four legit pitches with good movement and throws strikes. The problem is velocity is only mid 80s. Perfect game has him at 86 that was pre UCL repair surgery . He is eight months out and throwing low to mid eighties. Completing his junior year and about to start travel ball in Ga. from a recruiting stand point where does this pitcher fit in ?? All advice welcome....thank you
If he throws strikes and gets players out, that probably will determine where he fits in from interest of those watching, plus academic profile. Make sure coaches know he had UCL repair. Don't rule out JUCO interest.
Good luck and keep us posted.
3.8 gpa and definitely throws strikes and gets people out. My only concern currently is the emphasis placed on Velocity....
Ok, I'll bite. I'm going to refer back to my formula...recruited = passion + skill + exposure + persistence + luck.
In the back of my mind, I'm asking these questions: What is it that separates your son from others? Who will he be in front of this summer? Which colleges are currently interested? What kind of student is he? Who is helping him get to the next level? What does he want to do when he graduates high school or college?
I assume your son is interested in playing at the next level. Your son needs a plan, and needs it now. Sit down with your son and map out the next 5 years in terms of academics, athletics and finances. Discuss what he wants to do when he graduates, and the path you are going to take to get there. Then begin making a long list of colleges that have his major, location, baseball and all the things important to him. In general terms, as a rising senior there aren't going to be many scholarship options with D1 or D2, you're only option there would be to walk-on without a scholarship which is very risky. So, that leaves, D3, JUCO and NAIA schools. At a high level, that is where I'd spend my time if he wants to play baseball at the next level. So, this is something he should have been doing months ago, but I suspect the injury played a part in that. It wouldn't hurt to have a travel coach or high school coach reach out on his behalf as well.
So, my youngest son was in a very similar position as your son. He was throwing mid-80s and touching 87-88 as a high school junior, but he only had 2 plus pitches (two seam fastball and curve) and an okay 3rd pitch (change-up). There were a few ODAC (D3 in Virginia) schools and a couple others offering him roster spots. Then he tore his UCL in August before his high school senior year started. He was devastated. The recruiting phone stopped ringing. I know this injury was very disappointing for your son (and family) but he has an opportunity to recover and find a program if he gets the right exposure strategy in front of the right recruiters. He's going to have to separate himself with his performance and any other asset he brings to the table. I'd strongly consider travel baseball plus any individual showcases where he can stand out from the crowd.
Good luck!
I understand what you are saying. You don't have to hit 90 to pitch in college.
A coach often sees and likes a player and will have interest in developing the player.
Just tell him to keep working hard on development and getting outs.
I’m a year ahead of you. My $.02.
Spend the summer with a safe get-big program that includes a nutrition program. This does three things: He gets big, he gets to talk to coaches about his gains and commitment, and he grinds. Maybe learns stuff about what to eat. You didn’t mention his size — whether he is shorter or taller he can get bigger/stronger.
You didn’t mention if 3.8 is an unweighted GPA, the weighted GPA doesn’t necessarily matter to programs.
Juco might not be the right choice for him, but don’t overlook it. For someone who is prioritizing playing time+development, there are great Juco programs. Coaches are more accessible, too. Especially with the injury, you want a coach who gets your son’s situation.
He belongs at the best academic college he can get into regardless of level. His future past college won’t be in baseball. Given his GPA he should be looking for an academic opportunity most likely to open doors post graduation. Use baseball to get into a college that might otherwise not accept him.
This past week I sat through a graduation that was at his 2nd stop. I watched him go from a very unhappy freshman to young man in cap and gown (he actually steamed it and it didn't look terrible) with his buddies from the team and the others with huge hugs, drinks, and a few tears...just a find a school he will be happy at where he can play ball. Hell i would advise go down a level from what might be possible and be a rock star. The level is totally unimportant if is competitive.
I was concerned when he decided to transfer and it ended up being an outstanding choice for him, the only thing i would have changed is getting it right from the start. The stress levels felt by kids and parents over the level of play is amazing, not needed and is honestly dumb...but then again looking back it is always easy - I did it as well.
@RJM posted:He belongs at the best academic college he can get into regardless of level. His future past college won’t be in baseball. Given his GPA he should be looking for an academic opportunity most likely to open doors post graduation. Use baseball to get into a college that might otherwise not accept him.
Well said, i've seen plenty of D1 pitchers who live in the 80s and have multiple pitches and can throw strikes. That situation applies across all levels of baseball. HA or best academic school sounds like the best way to get a great education and play baseball.
Height and weight? Not a deciding factor, but 6'4+ throwing low-mid 80's will get a lot more looks than 5-10 to 6' throwing the same. As a HS junior my son was 5'10 (maybe) and about 150. He was hitting 90 pretty regularly. The summer after his junior year he was on one of the top 17U programs in Ohio. They would start a 6'6 lefty that was getting looks from all over the midwest/east coast. He was 90-91 at best....but he was 6'6. He regularly had 30-40 coaches watching him. Son would come in in relief to start the 5th. He was lucky if 10 of those coaches stayed even long enough to see him warm up...and again, he was 88-90 on most days. He ended up at a mid-major 45 miles from home that saw him throw exactly one time before having him in for a visit....then one more inning the day after the visit before getting an offer. If he had been 6'3 instead of 5'10 who knows where he would have ended up.
@Shoveit4Ks posted:Well said, i've seen plenty of D1 pitchers who live in the 80s and have multiple pitches and can throw strikes. That situation applies across all levels of baseball. HA or best academic school sounds like the best way to get a great education and play baseball.
How long ago was this? Lol. I’m all for it as I personally feel velo is wildly overrated today, but with the showcase, pg, etc craze...it’s all that ever is discussed. Even announcers are focused on it routinely. All I ever hear consistently in D1 is 90 and above for fastballs
There was an article about velocity in the Boston Globe today. Chaim Bloom (Red Sox GM) said it’s all about velocity now.
@Bballsavante posted:How long ago was this? Lol. I’m all for it as I personally feel velo is wildly overrated today, but with the showcase, pg, etc craze...it’s all that ever is discussed. Even announcers are focused on it routinely. All I ever hear consistently in D1 is 90 and above for fastballs
The first 3 years between '16 and '18 when son played P5 college ball, the starters primarily sat mid to high 80's and touched 90. You wanted to get through the lineup 3 times requiring a lot more pitching than just velo. BP guys were the 90 and up group. His team was ranked within the top ten at some point during the year, all 3 years. They averaged around 10th in the country in recruiting classes as well during his time there.
There were starters who were 90 and up on the FB and if they were LHP, it was more rare. This isn't a blanket statement of course, as we faced several top programs that ran guys out who were all above 90 and had great secondary pitches. If a HC could get those, life gets easier but I think those guys are primarily at the top-level programs in the country.
Mid majors or lower are more likely in the OP's range depending on the program and success.
There is more emphasis on velocity now than I can ever remember. As a result there are way too many young players (and coaches) that are only focused on trying to throw hard. There is not enough focus on learning how to command the baseball - or on good throwing mechanics. All of which is bad for the game. Nobody wants to watch a bunch of walks with a strikeout mixed in every now and then.
Son plays on #4 team in nation. He has thrown 38.1 innings and has hit 90 a dozen times and 91 1 time that I know of in a game. Can be 92-93 but doesn't. He has 2.5 era with 35K's and 2 walks with one being intentional four pitch hope he swings at it walk. We have probably 4 of our top 7 that do not get above 90 consistently. I have preached on here before that you do not have to be able to throw 95 to pitch in P5 you just have to have good stuff and THROW STRIKES. People do not understand why some of our big arms don't get more innings and it is because our coaching staff is adamant that pitchers throw strikes with very limited walks.
But there are also coaches that won't consider you unless you throw 95. I could name the ones who told my son that he could not compete in SEC with his speed, even from the left side. He has had very good success against the ones he has faced so far. Know what the coaching staff is looking for and don't beat your head against the wall. You can prove them wrong when you are wearing the other jersey and beating them.
I’d go for a high academic D3. If you Google search their pitching rosters, you’ll see most of them are mid 80s on perfect game and PBR. He could attend a great academic college and still play baseball. A 3.8 and a 33ACT is in the wheelhouse for those recruits. Good luck!
Hey, my 2021 son has a similar profile. He played for a big travel program with great connections, which was a huge help in finding him a landing spot. He pitched great at 16U and 17U WWBA last year, but no one saw him due to COVID, all they had were a HA camp metrics that were so-so. Some sniffs from D2 schools, nothing at all from DI. Wound up with a great fit with HA DIII. DI isn't the be-all-end-all and neither is throwing 90. I think kids like my son need to understand who they are, keep lifting and working hard, and if that velo comes, it comes, and they'll be the better pitcher for it. I think the travel program GM and pitching coach were huge for him. They could've sat on their hands with all the big DI guys they have, but they went the extra mile and I think that was a big difference maker finding the right place. It was one of the few times I felt that the travel ball money was really worth it. And size also plays a big factor, as mentioned. My son is maybe 6'1, 175 lbs. If he was 6'3 maybe a different story. Good luck and wishing your son continued good health! It'll work out for him in the end. Just don't get wrapped up in the DI or bust mentality.
Sounds like a kid who could have his choice of many excellent D3 schools, with a better than average chance of getting playing time as an underclassman.
Or, he might be able to squeeze his way into a D2 in the upper midwest and sit in the bullpen most of the time.
My son was on the team that RJM posted. Call Dave Smith at Trinity...as good as any D1 pitching coach in the country. He will have him low to mid 90's by his Soph season and more importantly he will have a great four year experience....if he can compete.
Best of luck!
@BOF posted:My son was on the team that RJM posted. Call Dave Smith at Trinity...as good as any D1 pitching coach in the country. He will have him low to mid 90's by his Soph season and more importantly he will have a great four year experience....if he can compete.
Best of luck!
I was at the Trinity-Tufts DHer in Medford. It was the day Casey (Tufts) had some issues with the first baseman. I was shocked when told a walk by the star pitcher was the first non intentional walk of the season. I know the second baseman’s father well. I chatted with a bunch of Trinity parents. The catcher’s dad was a character.
Ironically I got to know the dad of the WS tournament MVP from Hopkins. I don’t know how many times he told me “We struck that #$&@ out twice!” I was watching on a laptop. It was too hard for me to tell. At least that’s what I told him.
