COLLEGE BASEBALL RECRUITING SPECIAL EDITION Special Edition | Page 10

The recruiting process for a high school player should be an educational experience, but it should also be a process that is enjoyable with a realistic approach to what the future holds. To navigate the recruiting process, I believe high school players and their families need to do their research while familiarizing themselves with what it takes to play at the next level. Watch games not only on television, but in person to understand the speed of the game at the level you are considering. The more games you see, the better feel you will have for where you will fit. The second step in this process is being honest with yourself as to what level you are capable of playing at. Not every player is capable of playing at the Division I level and the sooner the player is able to identify where he fits best, the easier and more enjoyable the process will be. Most often, the process will tell you where you will fit. If a recruit is being pursued by several Division I schools, then he is probably a Division I type of player. If not, then he probably isn’t capable of playing at that level, and that is ok! I believe there are very few “misses” during the process because of how early schools are looking at players and all the information available to schools throughout the process. Once a player identifies the level to which he can play, I think he needs to make a list of what is important to him during the selection process. Things like: early playing time, distance from home, available majors and career path, roster spots available at your position, scholarship money available, academic money available, number of players leaving a program, etc. are all important questions to ask, in no particular order. Motivation for each recruit is different and the process is different for each player, so this needs to be a personal list of importance. The next step, in my opinion, would be to select a small number of schools you are interested in and start to narrow the list to a manageable one where you are able to make visits and dig deeper into what each school has to offer. Many times recruits cast too broad of a net and the process becomes overwhelming. Do your research first and your list of schools will be very manageable. The easy answer to the question we always get about “How do I get seen by schools?” is: Be a good player. Again, I don’t believe many recruits slip through the cracks. Much like selecting schools, I think players need to make a list of importance as to what “recruiting events” he needs to attend, if any! It’s all about getting information out there and getting yourself seen, and there are multiple ways to accomplish that, and many dollars to be spent if you choose. Showcase events are fine to attend, but it’s my opinion that you need to be selective in what you attend for a few reasons: 1) the cost adds up quickly, 2) showcases are just that, a showcase of your tools. We prefer to see a player multiple times in a game setting to get a true sense of not only his talents, but his ability to play the game! If you are looking to take control of the process, make a brief video of your abilities and include some game footage, and send it to the schools that you are interested in. It’s cost effective and it gets you in front of the coaches you want to be seen by. Mass emails and blanket emails usually end up in the trash, so personalize your note and show a GENUINE interest in the school you are pursuing. Wanting to play at a certain place can go a long way in the process. Again, the recruiting process should be educational and enjoyable. Certainly there are stressful decisions to be made that will impact your future, but the more research you do, the better equipped you will be to make a wise decision based on what is best for you.