Son is a 2011, 16 year old, just staring the college search. He's a RHP, 6'3" 190 with 76 mph fastball. Pitches in competitive MIAA and was wondering how this all projects to the D3 level. Thanks in advance.
Posts: 23 | Location: Baltimore | Registered: August 16, 2009
I would think by senior year he would be throwing somewhere in the 80's making him a D3 prospect. Your son has good size. Has he ever done anything to strengthen his arm?
* Everyone prefers to win. Do you have the passion and work ethic to do what it takes to win? *
Posts: 3686 | Location: Mid-Atlantic | Registered: October 29, 2007
He attended a camp this past summer at Fordham and received good instruction for arm strengthening including long toss and weighted balls. Works out regularly with HS facility and long tosses twice per week. Any suggestions beyond what he's doing?
Posts: 23 | Location: Baltimore | Registered: August 16, 2009
There will be home for your son somewhere; believe it. I have seen several skinny freshman that were not stand out prospects turn into big time pitchers.
Now is the time to first spend the time in the classroom; grades and test scores will take you farther than a fastball. From a basebll prospective; he needs to compete. This may mean locally, it may mean more; you will decide as a family.
I just got back from my son's "fall world series," at his D3 in Texas. There was one kid there that I remember from his freshman year; he threw maybe 80; three years of hard work and competition and he sits at 87-89 with great movement. There were three pro scouts each was taking dilligent notes as he pitched. I highly doubt that he and his parents thought that he would be a legitimate pro prospect when he arrived on campus 3-years ago.
Now is the time to start introducing your son to what it means to be a college student. Explore the world of colleges; this does not mean taking him to your local school. Hit the road; go to admissions offices, take campus tours, visit baseball coaches, ask questions.
It is time to open your mind to the posibilities that do exist for your son.
We've started to visit colleges in the mid atlantic ranging from D1 to D3 just to get a perspective of size and fit. Based on academic performance, we're looking at strong academic institutions which often steers us to D3.
One concern which I've read in many threads is the "no commitment" to roster spot so we are definitely searching for a school he'd attend regardless of baseball.
Thanks for sharing the story of your son's team and I wish him the best in the future.
Posts: 23 | Location: Baltimore | Registered: August 16, 2009
I do not have an answer to your questions, but do have a couple of DIII observations.
Every school (at all levels) is always on the lookout for pitchers.
DIII is a balancing act between talent & academics & admissions. Solid academics boost weaker talent and vice versa, coupled with financial need or not.
Junior year, probably want to attend a showcase(s) and put together a short video, and hit the road to schools you are interested in.
Good luck
Posts: 176 | Location: va | Registered: April 20, 2004
We are a year ahead of you in the same area of the country. If you want to chat, PM me. My son is being looked at by several DIII and some DII schools in surrounding states. I can share what we have learned through the process. And some DIII coaches have committed a roster spot to my son.
Posts: 21 | Location: Central Maryland | Registered: May 05, 2009
I am a sophomore at a D3 school that has been nationally ranked in the past and is consistently ranked regionally. Here is our pitching staff:
Junior RHP, 6'5" 225 lbs. 93-96 mph
Senior RHP, 6'0" 205 lbs. 87-90 mph
Junior RHP, 5'11" 175 lbs. 85-89 mph
Soph RHP, 6'0" 185 lbs. 84-88 mph
^ This should be our consistent starting rotation. Here's what rounds out our bullpen and midweek starters (no particular order):
Soph RHP, 6'0" 185 lbs. 82-85 mph
Soph RHP, 6'3" 200 lbs. 86-89 mph
Junior LHP, 5'10" 190 lbs. 82-85 mph
Soph LHP, 6'3" 205 lbs. 81-84 mph
Soph LHP, 6'0" 185 lbs. 81-84 mph
Soph LHP, 5'11" 165 lbs. 84-87 mph
Hope this helps you get a gauge. These numbers are accurate according to the pitch charts we filled out throughout the fall season. We also have a junior LHP who was in the upper 80's last spring, but he is out with Tommy John Surgery.
"Man, this is baseball, you gotta stop thinking! Just have fun." ~The Sandlot
Posts: 511 | Location: A field somewhere | Registered: May 28, 2005
JH, those are very unusual, and very, very good, for DIII, in our experience, provided they throw strikes with those velocities listed and have other pitches. With the way you describe your program rankings, they have to know how to pitch. Our son's roommate was a 1st team DIII All-American a few years back and he was 82-85, right hander, and about 6'3". 85-89 isn't too unusual at the DIII level. 93-96 is quite rare. I tend to think most starting staffs are in the 82-86mph range even for the better programs nationally, with the 82 guy usually being a lefty.
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2407 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
infielddad- We do have several guys that throw very well, and generally have harder throwers than some of our opponents. Our team ERA led the conference last year, and we had more than a strikeout an inning as a staff. It is very common to see a quality mid-80's guy who knows how to pitch at our level. We saw three other guys that threw 90+ consistently last year, and hit all three pretty well.
Our 93-96 guy came in as a catcher and grew 3 inches and was converted to the mound as a freshman. Last year, he had an average of nearly 15 K's per 9 innings, which we were told was second nationally in all Divisions to Stephen Strasburg.
While the velocities listed are our averages, they are not necessities for success, as infielddad said. Some of the best pitchers we faced last year were low-80's lefties and mid-80's righties who knew how to pitch.
"Man, this is baseball, you gotta stop thinking! Just have fun." ~The Sandlot
Posts: 511 | Location: A field somewhere | Registered: May 28, 2005
I don't know if this will come out legible, but I copied and pasted last year's pitching statistics below. I substituted the player's names with their grade (as of last year), throwing arm and velocities (as of this year).
Player era w-l app-gs cg sho sv ip h r er bb so 2b 3b hr ab b/avg wp hbp bk sfa sha
Usually the hardest throwing D3 pitchers develop a lot while in college. My son's pitching coach attended a D3. He threw 83 his senior year of high school and 94 his senior year of college. He signed. It wasn't even a goal heading into college.
* Everyone prefers to win. Do you have the passion and work ethic to do what it takes to win? *
Posts: 3686 | Location: Mid-Atlantic | Registered: October 29, 2007
Originally posted by J H: I don't know if this will come out legible, but I copied and pasted last year's pitching statistics below. I substituted the player's names with their grade (as of last year), throwing arm and velocities (as of this year).
Player era w-l app-gs cg sho sv ip h r er bb so 2b 3b hr ab b/avg wp hbp bk sfa sha
If my Son's throwing 76 entering his Junior HS year, what's a reasonable expectation on increase in velocity by freshman year of college?
He's 6'3" 190 so I'd think he'll fill out in next 2 years.
The thing people can't see on a chat board is if your son has physically peaked, or what is seen as possible physical upside. Some kids hit a certain velocity and hit a wall on improvement. The best thing to do is find a quality training program.
* Everyone prefers to win. Do you have the passion and work ethic to do what it takes to win? *
Posts: 3686 | Location: Mid-Atlantic | Registered: October 29, 2007
