| What is the most important factor other then | | | | recruiting decision. I will also speak to his other |
| athletic ability that will determine your interest in a | | | | team mates. I want to find out what kind of |
| high school baseball player? | | | | reputation this person has because I am |
| First of all, I am looking for a player who wants | | | | concerned about how his character will affect the |
| to play for my team at my school. The student | | | | overall quality of my team. Trust is a major |
| should show a clear interest in playing here, | | | | factor. I have to know that this person will be |
| specifically, at my college. They have to want to | | | | trustworthy. There are three red flags that will |
| come to this institution. And the reason for this is | | | | immediately disqualify someone from being |
| that I don't want my players to transfer to | | | | recruited to my team: lying, stealing and drugs. I |
| another school after playing only one season. Yes, | | | | will not tolerate either of those three things. Trust |
| we do lose some players every year to the | | | | is major issue. Our players spend a lot of time in |
| professional draft but that comes with the | | | | dug outs and traveling to other cities where we |
| territory. The ability to qualify for the professional | | | | simply can't have someone is might be stealing |
| draft at any time is one of the main reasons that | | | | from other players in those situations. |
| we are able to attract the high level of talented | | | | What is one, often overlooked, piece of advice |
| players that we do. | | | | that you could give to a high school students who |
| What is something that you have seen high school | | | | are narrowing their search for a college baseball |
| players overlook in the past when trying to get | | | | program? |
| recruited at college baseball teams? | | | | Take a look at the junior colleges and smaller |
| One very important thing that I see too many | | | | schools. If you are really serious about continuing |
| high school students not doing is the proper | | | | your baseball career then you need to be |
| research. And by research I mean that the | | | | considering the junior colleges. All too many times |
| students need to research the team rosters of | | | | I see talented players get recruited at the big |
| the schools they are applying to very carefully. | | | | division I schools and then spend the next two |
| Because the bottom line is that if a coach already | | | | years on the bench. When you are sitting on the |
| has a great freshman and sophomore shortstop, | | | | bench you are not playing and you are not |
| for example, and you are shortstop trying to get | | | | improving. Unfortunately, I have seen situations |
| recruited to his team your chances of success of | | | | where a player will see very little game time |
| greatly diminished. You may be a great shortstop | | | | during their first two years and then get |
| but if my team doesn't need a shortstop you will | | | | "recruited over" by a new recruit who spent the |
| be overlooked for another player who fits into | | | | last two years playing and practicing at a junior |
| our roster. The one position on the team that is | | | | college. Many people don't realize that the top 5 or |
| an exception, of course, is the pitcher. We are | | | | 6 junior college baseball teams in the country can |
| always recruiting pitchers. We have ten to twelve | | | | compete with any division I program. At a junior |
| pitchers on the roster. High school players need to | | | | college you are going to get more play time, you |
| be thinking about finding a college team that will | | | | can get recruited every year and you generally |
| be a good fit for them and think less about the | | | | receive the same education for the first two |
| prestige of the team. They need to research the | | | | years as any other college or university. If you |
| team and the school very closely. | | | | want to play professional ball but are playing for a |
| What are some other factors outside of pure | | | | division I school you won't be allowed to be |
| athletic ability that you look for in new recruits for | | | | recruited for three years. If you are playing at a |
| your team? | | | | junior college, in those same three years, you |
| I look for good character. I actually ask around. I | | | | have three separate opportunities to get |
| will call a student's high school and ask him about | | | | recruited. |
| the character of the player before I make my | | | | |