How college baseball recruiting actually works

Most families learn how recruiting works the hard way, usually the summer before senior year. Here's the short version, from people who sit on the coaching side of it.

There's more than one level

College baseball isn't just Division 1. There are five main paths, and good players come out of all of them:

Junior college is a real path, not a consolation prize. Plenty of players develop there and move on to four year programs or the draft.

How coaches find players

• Showcases and tournaments where coaches can see a lot of players in one place
• Camps run by the college itself, often the best way to get in front of a specific staff
• Video and data that players send directly, like velo, exit velo, and game footage
• Referrals from high school, travel and private coaches they trust

A word on scholarships

Baseball scholarships are often partial, and the rules have been changing. Ask each program directly how they handle aid and roster spots. D3 schools don't give athletic scholarships, but many offer strong academic and need based aid.

Fit beats the logo

The best school is the one where you'll play, develop and graduate. Sitting four years at a big name usually helps a player less than starting at a smaller one. Be honest about your current numbers, and target schools where you'd compete for a spot now.

When to start

Start building a target list and highlight video early in high school, and start contacting coaches once you have real numbers and film to show. Each level has its own rules on when coaches can contact players, so check the current calendar for the levels you're targeting.