Where to start? Potential?

First of all. WELCOME to the baseball family. I will try to put my thoughts in here. I am sure you will get the information you need along the way. There's many here with great advise. Now 5'11" LHP sophomore 75 MPH now?. 80-83 is very attainable. The NCSA talk about now is the time to be proactive is so true. Especially now days. Get yourself a video put together and put it on youtube. Look around at other videos to get an idea what type you want to show. Front views pitching and catcher views pitching. keep it short. Only show a couple of each pitches that he throws. Get him fielding at 1B no more than 2 minutes long. Try not to edit the videos. They like to see control with consecutive pitches and fielding. You may have to try the routine a couple times to get the consistancy needed. You can go to some of these sites for ideas.

http://www.skillshow.com/Skill...archathletes=16257Zw

http://youtube.com

http://www.perfectgame.org/

http://ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connec...+recruiting+calendar

http://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/

http://maxpreps.com/

http://www.azdiamondreport.com/smfforum/

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/

http://www.baseballfactory.com/

http://www.njcaa.org/index.cfm

http://recruit-match.ncsasports.org

http://rise.espn.go.com/commun.../Austin%20Zwart.aspx

These are some things I have done and other ideas. You can also go to this sites main page to the left tab of recruiting and find plenty there that will help. Being a Lefty will give him plenty of looks as his talent and strength grows. Along the way throw in a couple of quality tournaments like PG,AZ Fall Classic, Jupiter and try to get him in with a scout team. Look up the Area Code games in your area and try to do some homework on that. One of the best things you have going for you is his Academics and top 10% of his class!!! Major!! when it comes to recruiting. Join the collegeboard and the NCAA Eligibility Center. Find a list of emails to the list of colleges he would like to attend to send a link and a brief profile of your son to the schools recruiting coach or head coach. Log all responses,replys in an email file to follow up on as you go. This information is alot to take in. But search it out, be proactive as most high school coaches don't allways have the time now to help him in the recruiting process. I see a great future that your son and your family will have as you all progress through your baseball journey together. Just enjoy it!!!It's in the journey not the destination that you find ,who, where and what you want all in this life. Take care and again welcome to the site!!!!

quote:

Any advice would be very helpful.

You will get plenty of advice. I've seen this recruitment thing handled in a variety of ways. It is all available to you with finances and time possibly being the only limiting factors. I think advice is best given like medicine, one small dose at a time. My dose will be this.

Whatever path you choose, don't make your son a project. If he becomes a college baseball player great. If not, be willing to allow that to happen. It is a worthy thing to be dedicated but don't let it become a quest for the holy grail.

Why would you make a video if he doesn't have the skills to show off?

As suggested it is time to become a bit pro active, I agree don't make it a project, he has time, so be pro active by working on mechanics, begin a program for better core conditioning and a good toss program. Keep plugging away in the classroom.

JUCO is a great option for lefties that need to mature.

Thanks for the replies so far.

TPM - you mention why make a video if he doesn't have skills to show off.

That is my question I guess I am referring to at this point. Is he just "average," "slightly above average" at this point. Or, "below average" for a lefty 2013 player?

He is lucky enough to start working with a former triple A pitcher that is in his 50's this year which should help. He is just becoming interested in the core work so he has room for improvement.

Azallan: thx for all of that information. I am assuming he really isn't ready for a PG event yet? It looks like that is for players that are more advanced at this point. I don't even know what a "scout" team is - lol.

thx

trs

trstrstrs,

Welcome aboard. I don't know much about the recruiting landscape in Wisconsin, but your son has a few things going for him....

1. He's still young.

He's not ready for a PG Showcase yet. However, it doesn't mean that you can't find one or two smaller showcase venues to get his feet wet between now and the beginning of his Junior season. I'm a big proponent of PG, but I had my son attend one showcase before I had him attend a PG Event. I would work on getting him stronger (core work, plyometrics, long toss program, etc...) over the next year. Once he's ready, there's no doubt you should get him to a regional PG Event. Get him on a Summer/Fall team that receives college exposure in your area.

2. He's a LHP.

If he works on his command, pounds the strike zone, and can get his velocity up to sitting in the 78-83 range, he will find a home. The college that my son will be attending next year has a Frosh Lefty that sits 80-82, and thus far has received significant time on the bump as a middle reliever that comes in and throws strikes. He can throw his fastball, change, and breaking ball anytime in the count...with Very Good Command. Keep working on his mechanics, and on his core and arm strength...he'll be on his way.

3. He's a Good Student

Keep stressing the importance of good grades. The first thing a college coach/recruiter will ask your son once he's interested is...How's your grades son? If he keeps his grades up, he'll have one less thing to worry about...and can possibly open some doors to schools that may not be on the radar without the combination of his grades and baseball ability.

This summer/fall is the time to get his feet wet. Don't stress out, let him work hard and enjoy himself. Good luck to him and enjoy the ride, it goes by FAST.

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
Why would you make a video if he doesn't have the skills to show off?

As suggested it is time to become a bit pro active, I agree don't make it a project, he has time, so be pro active by working on mechanics, begin a program for better core conditioning and a good toss program. Keep plugging away in the classroom.

JUCO is a great option for lefties that need to mature.

trstrstrs - welcome to HSBBWeb. I tend to agree with TPM here. There is still time. Get him on the best possible summer team where he will play consistantly, work on his baseball skills and keep his grades up.

Check out the recruiting timeline in the box on the upper left edge of this page. Follow it, really it does work. Anything a group like NCSA will do for you, you can get accomplished yourself. It just takes some effort!

Thx again for the replys. This year will still be a little of a let down as our high school plays summer ball - i.e. it means it runs concurrently with legion ball. Although he is only a sophomore, he is the only starter coming back from last year's senior dominated team.

We finally get to play spring ball in Wisconsin in 2012 which will open up options for some good legion teams.

It is good to know we have some time - and, that I can emphasize to him if he truly is serious, this summer and fall is the time for him to make a big jump.

What is a realistic goal he should set for his fastball over the next year? He is at 74-75 now. Is 80 mph realistic for next season?

Also, I like the fact that his pitching mentor is stressing location, the change up,ball movement and mixing speeds over the speed of the fastball at this point. He is confident he will have him in the 80's during his senior year just by focusing on mechanics. He has a nasty slider when he trusts it.

So, it looks like core strength and command are in the works for this year? I.E. tell him to make some big strides and maybe a few smaller showcase camps after the summer season?

We have a fall ball league here that is subpar in my opinion, but they are going to have a showcase day for "stats" and then pick the best to play in a tournmament. It will at least get his feet wet.

Love the advice, keep it coming.

Thx,

trs

trstrstrs

My son is a smaller version of your son. Right now he is about 5'11" 150-155. He's a 16 year old Junior during last off season his pitching Coach worked him hard on his core strength and improving his mechanics. Between that and a growth spurt he improved from 72-73 mph over the summer to 79-80 now. It was fun to watch because as he went to different showcase in the Fall and Winter he would regularly see a 1-2 mph improvement. We are hoping that he can continue to improve to 83-85 by his Senior year. So yes it can be done but it takes an awful lot of hard work, sometimes he would be so exhausted after his workouts he barely made it back to the car!!! and desire. But as my son has heard from many Coaches being a Lefty makes all the difference in the world.

Good Luck.

You may be able to leverage the academics to go to a very good D3 experience.

Our son is an RHP a year behind yours. He will come in at either 3.5 or 3.75 at the end of this year. Look on College Board website for D3's that have SAT ranges between 500 and 600 (Math OR English) and large endowments per head. Although the scholarship may be an academic one, it will probably be larger than many kids get for baseball. The rosters will be smaller; he'll get playing time; and in the end, he'll probably have a heck of a lot of fun.

I'm not saying stop working at what he's working at now. It's a good back-up plan though. In one case, having talked to a Head Coach of a D3, it is very attractive (a 3.5 taking a $40K year down to a $10K year).

>= to 3.5 is a significant number to some D1 schools
as well. It doesn't impact their 11.7 number if they can bring you in on an academic. The 3.5 has to be strong relative to the incoming classes - thus the reason I mention the 500-600 numbers (it would be tough in a 600-700 school).

I only made my suggestion because I feel that too many people are too quick to post video, along with sending out to coaches too soon (as told to me by a D1 coach). Yes there is a suggested timeline, but a player may not be ready yet, it's just like everything else in life, sometimes it's better to wait. You can begin the academic search process, that might include geographic area, divisions, course of study, large vs small, public vs private and comparing costs.

For some people the filming process, the contacts before too soon, often makes them feel better, that they are doing something. That's why I go along with not making it a project until he's ready. At this point and time there is no way anyone could project what he will be throwing next year, it's pretty unpredictable, and even then it could be years until he reaches his peak or not. Just keep working hard.

My pitcher was pretty tall, pretty big and threw pertty hard but we waited until we felt it was the right time for him to show off his skills, which began the process.

BTW, welcome to the HSBBW.

Scenario: 2013 LHP throwing 80, or 2013 RHP throwing 85

Should they showcase now? Or wait for the possibility of an extra 3-4 mph next year?

Let's say its a PG event and they're going to come out of it with a rating... that sticks up on the wall forever...

Maybe the LHP 80 should because he could really ramp his rating by 2013. Maybe the RHP 85 throws 86 in his 2012 Showcase next summer - now you might have done damage.

Wow, what a great board and great things to read.

I do want to make it clear that my son wants to have a "great" college experience playing baseball.

Both he and I are pretty realistic that D1 would be a pipedream. He asked me what I thought about smaller schools and I told him - education is the key and I would rather play frequently at a smaller level, than sit at a higher level. A neighbor's kid of ours experienced the thrill of making a D2 team, but hardly playing over 4 years.

I want my son to get noticed so he can play somewhere and it would be great to use the "academic" awards to take a $40k school down to $10k if that is indeed possible.

Again, I have no plans to use NCSA, but I give the speaker credit for opening my eyes to what possibilities there are for baseball/academics.

Does anyone have any experience here with their kids getting great opportunities at smaller privates giving great financial aid offers?

For example, let's just say my son hits 80-82mph his senior year, but more importantly gets command of his pitches - does someone (although prob. impossible to compare) have experience with a kid like that?

Obviously, I think being in Wisconsin has some disadvantages with weather and reputation as well. We don't have a lot of advanced camps and such readily available. Do many colleges outside of the Midwest look at northern climate kids?

Sorry for all of the questions, just a lot was thrown my way after this first mini showcase he attended.

Thanks again for the responses and being very friendly to a newbie's questions.

trs

Go to top and hit find and type in rz1, then send a private message to him. He is from WI, he may be more helpful with your question as more familiar with recruiting in your state and what direction to take.

Hope that this helps.

quote:

Does anyone have any experience here with their kids getting great opportunities at smaller privates giving great financial aid offers?

trstrstrs,
I would encourage you to pop over into the general forum and read the post this morning from BOF and the journey to a choice of attending Trinity University in San Antonio.
Options of the type BOF is discussing and you are asking about absolutely exist.
Also read the post from JH about the "Realities of the College game."
Check out the posts from JPontiac and his choice to attend Rhodes College and the competitive experience of his first year.
From what you have posted about your son and the goals for the future, I would strongly encourage you to support your son in nurturing his love and passion to play, compete and get better, and to realize this isn't a sprint.
Enjoy your son and his baseball in the present.
Temper the concept of seeing his current play as a "vehicle" for the future. Stay present.
If he improves in both his velocity and ability, there are schools for his academics and baseball ability. If it is DIII, most are not urgent to find him right now. In fact, most won't even start to look at players in the 2013, like your son, for at least one more year.
To provide some reassurance, Trinity,as an illustration, has had players, top players for them, who came from Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, CA,. NY, Massachusetts, Florida, and even Canada.
Similar type player information exists in the SCIAC conference at Pomona-Pitzer. Rhodes and Hendrix both recruit nationally in the SCAC and certainly schools like JHU, Emory, Williams, Amherst and the like do also. Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and the mid West are filled with very good academic DIII's with equally solid baseball...or much better than solid baseball.
Help support your son to get better over the next 52 weeks.

Thx again for all replies.

We had our NCSA "consult" last night and he is "qualified" to sign with them. Not going to sign with them, but it was still a beneficial meeting to have a 3rd party source to encourage him to set some goals. As with many small towns, as a freshman starter on varsity, he is the "big fish in a really, really small pond."

Even the first small local showcase I sent him too last weekend showed him the advantage the spring ball players had on him and that there were at least 3 kids his age touching 80 mph.

The NCSA guy really stressed the academic advantage my son has and the fact that he will be a 4 year varsity player, regardless of our school size.

In regards to academics, I think I'll post another thread as not to confuse the two topics.

Thanks again for all the help so far.

trs

Good advice Notlongtilicantcatchim

trstrstrs,

The advise everyone is giving you is excellent. My son was a late bloomer and like your son was pitching in the high 70's low 80's his sophomore year. We were advised to wait and do showcases (although he already had three pitches) until he got his velocity up. His big improvement came the summer after his junior year when he jumped from 82-87. Like your son, he wanted to play and also wanted an academic school so he decided that D3 was the right route for him and went to the Headfirst Showcase (it was the best fit of schools for him). One of the things that gave him more opportunities was the fact that he was willing to go to any geographic area as long as the academics and the baseball opportunity were a good fit. He was offered substantial money as merit and or grant money from several of these schools to make it affordable for us. There were also some of the schools where he got no grant or merit money at all. That is one of the reasons you must be patient, ask the right questions, and always have a list of what will work for your family. I hope this helps.

That is good to know Laura. Is he a RHP or LHP? I'd love to see my kid get to 87 mph, but realistically thinking low 80's - but who knows, eh?

I am not sure if he wants to leave the midwest yet, but I'd sure like him to explore opportunities if he gets them.

thx for the encouragement.

t

My son is a RHP. Hard work, good grades, ability and patience are all the keys.