📅 College Baseball Recruiting Roadmap

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⚾ 8th Grade – Building the Foundation

• Start Strength & Conditioning (S&C):

  • Develop basic strength, mobility, and injury prevention habits.

  • Focus on bodyweight exercises, flexibility, core strength, and speed work.

  • Introduce lifting technique under supervision, not heavy maxing.

• Begin Video Player Profile:

  • Create a personal YouTube channel dedicated to baseball.

  • Post simple training clips (hitting drills, throwing mechanics, fielding reps).

  • Keep everything organized—this becomes a long-term video library.

• Mindset & Habits:

  • Treat training, nutrition, and recovery as part of your lifestyle.

  • Learn to balance academics, athletics, and personal discipline.

 

⚾ 9th Grade – Early High School Years

• Strength & Conditioning:

  • Transition to a structured S&C program with consistent lifting, sprint work, and arm-care routines.

  • Build strength gradually—foundation lifts (squats, deadlifts, presses) plus agility and conditioning.

• Player Profile Updates:

  • Add game footage (at-bats, defensive plays, pitching highlights).

  • Continue uploading training progress (weight room milestones, velocity jumps, exit velocity improvements).

• Recruiting Awareness:

  • Research the recruiting process—learn NCAA rules, timelines, and contact restrictions.

  • Start following college programs of interest.

  • Attend local camps only if they are on campuses of schools you might realistically attend.

 

⚾ 10th Grade – Exposure & Development

• Strength & Conditioning:

  • Increase training intensity—periodized programs focused on strength, power, and speed.

  • Arm-care routines become non-negotiable.

  • Track measurable data (60-yard dash, exit velocity, pop times, pitching velocity).

• Player Profile Growth:

  • Upload skills video (2–3 minutes max, highlight reel style).

  • Coaches want to see clean reps of hitting, fielding, throwing, pitching, and running.

• Showcases & Camps:

  • Be selective. Avoid paying thousands for national showcases unless you’re already drawing interest.

  • Most showcases are money-makers for organizers, not exposure for players.

  • Instead, focus on individual college prospect camps at schools on your target list.

 

⚾ 11th Grade – Recruiting Prime Time

• Strength & Conditioning:

  • Optimize performance—explosiveness, top-end speed, and functional strength.

  • Prioritize recovery, nutrition, and maintaining durability during long seasons.

• Player Profile Enhancements:

  • Consistently update game highlights during HS/travel seasons.

  • Upload showcase metrics (verified 60 times, throwing velocity, mound velocity, exit velo).

  • Make your YouTube channel a college coach’s one-stop shop.

• Communication with Colleges:

  • Begin emailing college coaches with your profile link and schedule.

  • Tailor emails—introduce yourself, include GPA/test scores, and highlight your video link.

  • Follow up respectfully, but don’t over-spam.

• Showcases:

  • Only attend events where your target schools are attending.

  • Be wary of mass showcases that promise exposure but rarely deliver meaningful recruiting results.

 

⚾ 12th Grade – Senior Year Push

• Strength & Conditioning:

  • Stay consistent—this is when many players plateau or burn out.

  • Keep training heavy enough to maintain gains, but balanced with in-season play.

  • Injury prevention is critical.

• Final Recruiting Efforts:

  • Continue sending updated videos and schedules to interested programs.

  • Be realistic about levels (D1, D2, D3, JUCO, NAIA). There’s a place for nearly every player.

  • If not committed by early senior year, expand your search and consider schools you may have overlooked.

• Video Profile Importance:

  • Your YouTube library now shows 4–5 years of development, proving work ethic and steady improvement.

  • This can separate you from players who only post a single late highlight reel.

 

🚨 Key Takeaways

• Start in 8th grade so that strength training, video updates, and discipline become habits—not afterthoughts.

• Strength & conditioning is the foundation. It boosts performance, reduces injury risk, and shows commitment.

• Video profiles on YouTube are essential—organized, long-term, and free for coaches to access anytime.

• Be cautious with showcases—they often benefit organizers more than athletes. Only attend if it fits your recruiting goals.

• Consistency matters—academics, training, and communication all add up.