Ivy League

Athletic Recruits
1

<p>I just finished my freshman year (I'm a 2017), and I am starting to gather information about playing at the next level. I'm a primary LHP throwing low 70's (projected to be at 75 by fall) with a knuckle curve as my out pitch. I received my report card yesterday, and I received a final average of 94.071 and a 4.0 according to the NCAA, and my school is ranked in the top 2% of challenging schools in the country. I will also have 9 AP's by graduation. </p>

<p>This upcoming weekend I will be at a tournament in Connecticut and will be visiting Yale (thinking about setting up an unofficial visit). </p>

<p>I'm am just seeking general information about if I'm on track to pitch in the Ivies, what camps/showcases I should be attending, and who I should be contacting.</p>

<p>Thank You.</p>

2

<p>MAXWUZERE,</p>

<p>I like that you are thinking ahead. It sounds to me like you are a lefty off speed pitcher. While neither of us can predict what you’ll be throwing in 2-3 years, I can tell you what is going on with Ivy pitching. My son was a 4 year RHP starter who just graduated. </p>

<p>First, the Ivy League is littered with many good pitchers who had additional D1 recruiting options other than the Ivy League. Most pitchers that I know selected the Ivy League for the education and alumni network. They did not select it for the baseball level. Second, it is a pitcher heavy league. Every team will have 4 starters, 3-4 relievers and 3 setup or closer types on a pitching staff of 17 to 18 players. It is very competitive to win positions to get on the field. So, as you can see not everybody gets to play. Ivy League pitching has gotten better every year since I’ve been following it, and the pitching velocity has gone up quite a bit. There are starters throwing consistently in the low 90s. We had three starters throwing low 90’s and a lefty off speed pitcher throwing mid 80s when he wanted to. By no stretch of the imagination is it easy to find your way to the mound. It is a lot of hard work to get there, stay there and stay healthy.</p>

<p>If there is one piece of advice I could offer. Get on a long toss program, hit the weight room to build legs and core, and work with bands to increase flexibility and durability. This will help with velocity and endurance. Continue your advanced educational path and nail the SATs. Depending where you live, your exposure plan should include HeadFirst, Stanford Camp, Perfect Game Academic and a few others along with specific college camps. If you can do all of these things, and do them well you will have options and possibly a chance to play at an Ivy or other academic school. Good luck… </p>

3

<p>Max, my son is a LHP. After his freshman HS year, he was 5’ 5" 115 lbs. throwing low 70s. Like you, he was a very good student.</p>

<p>There are two hurdles to becoming an Ivy League recruited baseball pitcher: velo and grades/scores. Work on both with equal diligence.</p>

<p>After my son’s freshman year we turned to a pitching coach whose focus was velo (to max out potential velo, great mechanics are a prerequisite) and who threw all the previous coaching about throwing strikes out the window. It was always mechanics and velo, mechanics and velo; no one cared where the ball went so long as the mechanics were sound and the ball came out of your hand well. For the moment, I’d forget your off speed stuff and focus on velo.</p>

<p>Over the remaining HS years, S grew to 5’ 11" and 145 lbs. he embarked on conditioning programs and proper nutrition. I will note that the conditioning programs in college were quite a bit more strenuous but you need to start somewhere. </p>

<p>The combination of growth, conditioning, velo concentration, and dedication increased his velo to 90 by the end of his senior year- he was 85 at the Stanford camp and 87 at Headfirst (summer before senior year). Those are two camps to look into - very expensive, but great exposure if you throw hard enough with good clean mechanics.</p>

<p>That got him recruited. Now, he had a spectacularly unsuccessful first three college years on the hill; way too much self-induced pressure (cause he wanted to go pro). By the end of his junior year, all he wanted to do was play out the string with his teammates and head to NY city to work in finance. (I might add that ivy schools are well oiled job machines - especially in finance and consulting. And that well oiled machine worked very well for him)</p>

<p>The removal of the pressure; returning to what basball is (a fun game where you stand around a lot chit chatting with your teammates), somehow turned his game around. He’s never made it to NYcity.</p>

<p>For the baseball side of your equation, check out this website: <a href=“http://community.hsbaseballweb.com”>http://community.hsbaseballweb.com</a></p>

<p>Take a look at the schools with visits - take the info tours; digest the differences. Your interests may change between now and two years (city, rural, north south, etc.); cast a wide net. For example, Davidson is D1 and has better weather then Dartmouth. Keep an open mind; but never lose sight that academics gets you over one hurdle and velo will get the coaches attention.</p>

4

<p>Should I try to set up an unofficial visit with the Yale coach or just tour the campus?</p>

5

<p>In my opinion, it’s too early to take up the coaches time. You have no scores, and only ninth grade grades. Moreover, you’re not throwing hard enough to pique a coaches interest. </p>

<p>But, it’s not too late to embark on the process of learning about each school - that way you will be able to sort out which components make a difference to you. </p>

<p>One other suggestion, the earlier you get the ACT/SAT out of the way the better. When my son spoke to the Harvard coach when they had a west coast swing years ago, the first thing the coach asked: “what are your scores and what are your grades.” Until you have both in hand (and over the bar), you are simply one of 100,000 HS baseball players.</p>