You want to play college baseball but aren’t sure how your skill set measures up. What level of college baseball should you set your sights on? Are you a D1 prospect? JUCO? D3? Some other level? The solution is simple. Get out to college baseball games this spring and watch with intent.
Go see different levels and divisions. Go see different caliber programs in the same divisions. Power 5 versus mid-majors. Ranked versus unranked. Perennial losers versus perennial contenders. College baseball at all levels is competitive. Watching it on TV is great, but there’s no substitute for getting out to a game in person and seeing the speed and pace of play with your own eyes.
Right now, college baseball is in full swing, with teams playing multiple games every week. If you want to be a D1 player, go to a D1 game in your area. Want to see how you compare to DII ballplayers? Go check them out. Go to a level you think you are too good for. Do you still think that? Be objective and honest with yourself. Can you compete against that caliber of player you are watching? With enough hard work and time, could you be successful at that level?
Beyond seeing how you fit in, notice the speed of the game. What changes do you see in the jump from high school to college? What about the size and speed of the individual players? What do they do well? Make your trip a learning experience. College ball is great to watch in person because in most parks, you can get up close and personal with the game.
Take advantage of one or more of the thousands of college games each week. If you live in a remote area and can afford it, make a weekend trip before your season starts to see a few games at once or tune in to a steaming or televised game. College baseball is more accessible than ever before and using it to take an objective look at your skills is one of the best things you can do. Like your recruiting process, take advantage of every opportunity you get and be proactive. There are a ton of opportunities out there, go get ‘em!
