Don't Leave Your Recruitment to "Chance"

College baseball recruiting can overwhelm families. Your student-athlete has one opportunity to find the right fit, and you want to make it count. Yet social media is filled with anecdotal—and sometimes troubling—advice. Most people genuinely want to help, but their guidance may not serve your son. Joining too many groups only increases the risk of receiving conflicting or inaccurate information. Today’s recruiting process leaves little room for mistakes, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every player has different goals, needs, and circumstances.

One of the hardest things to see in a group chat is someone offering advice because their son was recruited by a Division I program. That may be true, but with the spring season still six months away, no one knows whether he will remain on the team. Many families also do not realize that fall rosters can include 60 to 100 players, making the fall essentially another tryout. Many players may end up on a JV team, if one exists; others may be cut or transfer. Of those who remain, most may not see meaningful playing time until their junior year—if the coach does not recruit elite players at their position. When that happens, a player may face two difficult choices: leave the game he once loved or use his one permitted transfer.

In my 24 years of recruiting experience, I have seen far too many players start the process too late—and it is often avoidable. I am not suggesting that freshmen should be recruited. I am referring to the preparation that should happen before a player begins the journey as a junior. A player may still be recruited during junior or senior year, but poor or anecdotal advice can cause him to miss valuable opportunities and the early steps needed to find the right fit. Too often, the outcome could have been better. Consider today’s college baseball transfer rate and the 12,000 to 15,000 players reportedly in the portal. I believe high school players have faced a deeply flawed recruiting model since COVID, with little improvement likely in the next several years. Last year, I followed up with 16 families whose sons showed promise but chose not to join my organization—something no family is obligated to do. As of July 26, 2026, 14 of those student-athletes had not been recruited, and five became so discouraged that they did not attend college. That breaks my heart. I approach recruiting with the same passion I brought to the game. Even if your family misses the ideal starting window, my network can help ensure your child’s dreams are not left to chance.