The College Baseball Recruiting Process

The college baseball recruiting landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years, primarily driven by the NCAA's new rules and the increasing impact of the transfer portal.

These changes have reshaped the way college coaches evaluate and recruit players.

In this blog post, we'll delve into the critical aspects of the new recruiting process, provide insights into what coaches are looking for, and offer strategies to maximize your chances of player college baseball. 

Understanding the New Rules

The NCAA has implemented several rule changes that have impacted the college baseball recruiting process:

• Reduced Roster Sizes: In 2025, Division I rosters will shrink from 40 to 34 players, making competition for spots even fiercer.

• Initial Contact Timeline:
  • Division I: Coaches can contact players starting August 1st of their junior year.
  • Division II: Coaches can contact players beginning June 15th of their junior year.
  • Division III, NAIA, and JUCO: Don't have any restrictions. 

Note: As mentioned above D1 rosters are shrinking down to 34 starting in 2025. However, the NCAA still hasn't informed D1 coaches when their roster needs to be down to 34. They don't know if it's the first day of fall or the first day of the season.

This confusion has caused several D1 college coaches to pull offers for their 2025 commits.

The College Recruiting Timeline: A Division-by-Division Breakdown

The recruiting timeline varies depending on the division level:

(Note there's going to be exceptions for each level)

• Power 5/Top Mid-Major: Starts sophomore spring and ends junior Fall 
• Low Mid-Major: Starts late summer, entering junior year and ends in early summer, entering senior year.
• Division II: Recruiting often begins in the spring of a player's junior year and concludes in the fall of their senior year.
• Division III, NAIA, and JUCO: Recruiting typically starts in the summer before a player's senior year and may continue into the spring of senior year.

What College Coaches Are Looking For

College coaches evaluate players based on a variety of factors, including:

• Positional Value: Coaches tend to prioritize pitchers and up-the-middle positional players.
• Power and Consistency: Both pitchers and hitters who demonstrate in game power and consistency, are held in higher regard.
• Physical Attributes: Coaches often favor players who look the part.
• Baseball IQ: A strong understanding of the game. This is what some might call "baseball instincts." 
• Teamwork and Leadership: Coaches seek players who are good teammates and lead by example, and do so even when they're not playing well.

The biggest difference that separates college baseball players:

1. Power 

2. Consistency 

I know everyone wants specific numbers, but the truth is that it's not that simple.

 Here's why:

Metrics.

Metrics are like a job resume. They'll get you noticed, and you might get an interview, but you have to produce in the game to get the job or, in this case, the offer. 

Here are a few things metrics don't equate for:

Recency Bias

Maybe a coach had a player built like you, and it didn't work out for them.

There's nothing you can do about that. 

Timing

A coach sees you when you have the best game of your life or on the opposite end when you don't have your best stuff.

You can only do your best that day, everything else is out of your control. 

Dating

View the recruiting process just like you would dating.

There's no science behind dating; it's subjective. 

Sure, you want someone who may look a certain way or be at least a certain height, but you can't quantify a connection with someone.

It's the same way in recruiting.

Ideally, a coach may want someone who runs the 60 under a 7.2, but how do they look in the box?

1. Do they play hard?
2. What type of teammate are they?
3. Can they communicate?

All of these things go through a coach's head during the process, and you can quantify those, just like you can't quantify a connection with someone. 

Maximizing Your Options

To increase your chances of landing a college baseball scholarship, consider the following strategies:

• Showcase Strategically: Focus on quality over quantity. Participate in key showcases and camps aligning with your goals and skill set.
• Research Schools: Identify schools that fit your academic and athletic aspirations.
• Leverage Social Media: Use social media to showcase your skills and connect with coaches.
• Build Relationships: Network with coaches, travel ball coaches, and other influential figures in the baseball community.

The Role of a College Baseball Recruiting Advisor

A college baseball recruiting advisor like myself can provide valuable guidance and support throughout your recruiting process.

I can help you:

• Evaluate Your Skills: Assess your strengths and weaknesses to determine your best fit at the college level.
• Develop a Recruiting Plan: Create a personalized plan to maximize your exposure to college coaches.
• Connect with Coaches: Build relationships with college coaches and facilitate communication.
• Navigate the Recruiting Process: Provide guidance on the rules, timelines, and expectations.
• Improve Your Performance: Offer training, nutrition, and mental preparation advice.

If you want 1-1 help in your recruiting process, consider signing up for a time to talk to me to see if you would be a good fit for my recruiting service. 

Click this link below:

patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting