HOW TO GET RECRUITED FOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

These Recruiting Guidelines have been compiled using direct feedback from college coaches, NCSA's experience
of evaluating and helping thousands of baseball recruits find the right college fit, and analyzing college rosters at all
levels of competition. Please keep in mind that there are many factors used while evaluating student-athletes. Also,
keep in mind that each level of college baseball (Division One through Junior College) includes high levels of competition.
Baseball players are evaluated by five tools:
1 Arm Strength / Throwing Ability (Arm Speed, Exchange, Release, Throwing Accuracy, etc.)
2 Range / Fielding Ability (Body Control, Double Play Skills, Footwork, Quickness, etc.)
3 Speed / Base Running Ability (Footwork, Overall Speed, Quickness, etc.)
4 Hitting for Power (Balance, Bat Speed, Explosion, Hitting to All Fields, Length of Swing, Power, etc.)
5 Hitting for Average (Balance, Bat Speed, Explosion, Hitting to All Fields, Length of Swing, Power, etc.)
On the mound here are common fundamentals evaluated:
Arm Speed, Balance, Each Pitch thrown for Consistent Strikes, Movement of Pitches, Overall Mechanics, Velocity.
Here are additional factors evaluated by college coaches and NCSA throughout the recruiting process:
ATHLETICALLY ACADEMICALLY
Accolades and Awards Actual Grades in Individual Classes (Transcript Overview)
Athletic Data (60 Time, Velocity, Pop Times, etc.) Class Load (AP and Honors courses)
Athletic History in High School and College (if applicable) Class Rank
Feedback/Interest from coaches & contact thus far with college coaches Extracurriculars
Height and Weight GPA
Recruiting Guidelines (See Below per Division) SAT / ACT scores
Statistics Subject Test Scores
Travel Team
Video (mainly area in which your five tools are evaluated)

Here is additional information broken down by division level to read through to help understand the
evaluation process and additional guidelines to how each level recruits student-athletes:
The typical Division I baseball player is ‘polished’ and seems to already have all the tools necessary to be successful as
a freshman. As opposed to the Division II baseball player, the typical DI player needs far less development, if any. The
position players possess at least 4 of the 5 measurable tools. The pitchers display a command of at least 3 pitches with
high velocities. On average, they have the ability to throw many innings, and most often they are only used on the
mound and rarely as position players. Most DI players come from large high schools. Many of these programs are
considered the best in their area or in the state. In addition, most DI players have been awarded accolades such as
All-Area, All-County, or All-State early in their high school career. Lastly, most DI programs identify prospects their
freshman and sophomore years, many of these recruits verbally commit junior year, and these programs mainly wrap
up recruiting by the early signing period senior year.

Division I Statistics to Keep in Mind: There are over 500,000 student-athletes across the country that play high
school baseball and less than 2% of them will play at the Division I level. If a student-athlete has not been in
communication back and forth with Division I level programs at the start of junior year, they must be open to attending
a college at the Division II, Division III, NAIA, or Junior College levels.
 HOW TO GET RECRUITED FOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

For some colleges, especially those in the southern states and out on the west coast, DII Baseball is an extension of DI.
There are very few differences between the typical west coast or southern DII player and the average DI player. For the
DII schools up north, the athletes may be a notch below the average DI and perhaps a little less polished. They may not
throw as hard, play for the top high schools programs, or possess at least 4 of the 5 measurable tools. This is not always
the case, as there are some very solid DII baseball programs up north. However, it is no secret that overall, the better
baseball schools are those located in warmer climates. Student-athletes should be meeting the guidelines below by the
summer before their senior year as many division two programs recruit student-athletes who may not have been picked
up by division one programs after the early signing period.
Division II Statistics to Keep in Mind: There are only 16 Division II colleges in the states of Arizona, California,
Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Student-athletes who want to compete at this level on the West Coast have a very
limited number of opportunities to consider. Many junior college student-athletes transfer to the Division II programs
creating even less opportunities at this level. (There are close to 90 junior college programs in California alone.)

Some DIII programs are stronger than others, but there seems to be more continuity with the physical characteristics of
DIII players than there are for DII or NAIA. Certain DIII programs, such as Wisconsin Whitewater or George Fox recruit
student-athletes who miss out on opportunities with the least selective DI programs. Student-athletes should be meeting
the criteria below by the beginning of senior year when most division three programs start heavily recruiting players.
Division III Statistics to Keep in Mind: There are no Division III colleges that offer baseball in Florida and only eight
in the Southeast states of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. This is one of the most saturated areas of
baseball talent and this means there is even more competition for programs at other division levels.

The discrepancies in characteristics are very severe when it comes to NAIA baseball. Most compete at a division two
level. The most selective NAIA programs are best compared to a low DI level program. The least selective are competing
at a low DIII level.
NAIA Statistics to Keep in Mind: There are only five NAIA programs located in the Northeast and New England area.

Similar to the NAIA level there are many discrepancies in characteristics between the top level programs and the least
selective programs. The most selective junior colleges in the country recruit mid to upper level DI student-athletes. Lower
level JUCO programs recruit low level DIII players. Also, unlike the NAIA, junior colleges do have 3 divisions for the
purpose of separating stronger JUCO programs from the weaker ones. While there may be somewhat of a drop off in
talent between Division III junior college and Division I and Division II junior colleges, there is little difference between
DI and DII junior colleges. Many of the junior college players lack the ‘polish’ to be considered DI players coming out of
HS, but they already possess the necessary physical tools to be successful at high levels. Many times, these recruits
need to harness and polish those tools. At times, the GPA’s of some junior college athletes are lower than those
attending four year schools, suggesting that these athletes need to two years to mature academically.

JUCO Statistics to Keep in Mind: There are 88 junior colleges located in California alone. 175 players were selected
from the NJCAA in the MLB Draft in June, 2010.
HOW TO GET RECRUITED FOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

DIVISION I DIVISION II
DI - PITCHERS DII - PITCHERS

Over 1 strikeout per Inning Pitched Averaging about 1K per inning pitched
PITCHERS

ERA below 2.50 ERA below 3.00

Velocity: As low at 84 MPH consistently and ranging to 95+ Velocity: As low at 82 MPH consistently
(Verified by a neutral source) 1 Additional pitch thrown to spots consistently
2 Additional pitches thrown to spots consistently

DI - CATCHERS DII - CATCHERS

Height: 6'1” Height: 6'0’’

Weight: 200 lbs. Weight: 180 lbs.
CATCHERS

Pop Time: 1.95 and below consistently Pop Time: 2.0 or below
(Verified by a neutral source)

DI - MIDDLE INFIELDERS DII - MIDDLE INFIELDERS

MIDDLE INFIELDERS

Height: 6'1” Height: 6’0’’

Weight: 190 lbs. Weight: 180 lbs.
60 Yard Dash: 6.8 or below (Verified by a neutral source) 60 Yard Dash: 6.9 or below
Home to 1st: Right-Handed Hitter: 4.2 or below Home to 1st: Right-Handed Hitter: 4.3 or below
Home to 1st: Left-Handed Hitter: 4.1 Home to 1st: Left-Handed Hitter: 4.2
Velocity from the INF: 85+ MPH (Verified by a neutral source) Velocity from the INF: Low 80’s MPH from SS

DI - CORNER INFIELDERS DII - CORNER INFIELDERS

CORNER INFIELDERS

Height: 6’2” Height: 6’0”

Weight: 200 lbs. Weight: 180 lbs.
Power Numbers: 8+ HR, 30+RBI Power Numbers: 4+ HR, 20+RBI

DI - OUTFIELDERS DII - OUTFIELDERS

Height: 6'1" Height: 5'11’’
OUFIELDERS

Weight: 190 lbs. Weight: 180 lbs.

60 Yard Dash: 6.6 (Verified by a neutral source) 60 Yard Dash: 6.8 or below
Home to 1st: Right-Handed Hitter: 4.1 or below Home to 1st: Right-Handed Hitter: 4.2 or below
Home to 1st: Left-Handed Hitter: 4.0 Home to 1st: Left-Handed Hitter: 4.1
Velocity from the OF: 87+ MPH (Verified by a neutral source) Velocity from the OF: 82-86 MPH
HOW TO GET RECRUITED FOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

DIVISION III BASEBALL BY THE NUMBERS

DIII - PITCHERS Schools Offering Baseball
NCAA Division I 298
1 or less than 1 K per Inning Pitched
NCAA Division II 259
PITCHERS

ERA below 4.00

Velocity: As low at 80 MPH consistently NCAA Division III 374
1 Additional pitch thrown for strikes consistently NAIA 212
Junior College 511
TOTAL 1,653

DIII - CATCHERS Athletic Scholarship Opportunities

Height: 5’10” NCAA Division I (per school) 11.7

Weight: 170 lbs. NCAA Division II (per school) 9

CATCHERS

Pop Time: 2.1 or below NAIA (per school) 12

NJCAA (*varies per school) 24

Student-Athlete Participation (Approx.)

DIII - MIDDLE INFIELDERS NCAA Division I 10,400
MIDDLE INFIELDERS

Height: 5’10” NCAA Division II 9,000

Weight: 165 lbs. NCAA Division III 11,200

60 Yard Dash: 7.1 or below NAIA 6,300
Home to 1st: Right-Handed Hitter: 4.4 or below Junior College 15,300
Home to 1st: Left-Handed Hitter: 4.3 HS Student-Athletes* 473,503
Velocity from the INF: Upper 70’s MPH from SS

DIII - CORNER INFIELDERS

CORNER INFIELDERS

Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Power Numbers: 2+ HR, 20+RBI

DIII - OUTFIELDERS
Height: 5’10”
OUFIELDERS

Weight: 170 lbs.

60 Yard Dash: 7.0 or below
Home to 1st: Right-Handed Hitter: 4.3 or below
Home to 1st: Left-Handed Hitter: 4.2
Velocity from the OF: 78+ MPH