Baseball recruiting is more position-specific than most sports. A 6’4” right-handed pitcher and a 5’10” middle infielder have entirely different recruiting timelines and markets. Understanding that before you start building a plan matters.

How the process works by division. Division I coaches can begin contacting players on June 15 after their sophomore year of high school. Some high-profile programs track pitchers and position players with elite measurables as early as freshman year. But this applies to a small number of players at the top of the market.

Most Division I recruits are found and contacted in their junior year. Division II and III coaches can contact players earlier and do so regularly, often by email and phone as early as a player’s sophomore year.

What coaches are evaluating. Velocity and arm strength are first filters for pitchers. A right-handed pitcher at 87+ mph is in a different conversation than one at 80 mph, regardless of other tools. Position players get evaluated on bat speed, exit velocity, arm strength for their position, and athleticism.

Beyond raw tools, coaches want players who compete, have clean mechanics they can develop further, and will stay academically eligible.

Where players get found. Perfect Game and WWBA showcases are the premier exposure events for D1 recruiting. Area Code Games and similar invitation-only events attract the elite. But the players who get recruited at D2, D3, and NAIA levels are often found through direct outreach, film submissions, and summer travel ball.

A junior who sends a recruiting video, transcript, and thoughtful email to coaches at schools that fit academically and athletically gets responses.

Showcase events. The industry around baseball showcases is substantial. Events vary widely in who actually attends to evaluate players. Before paying $300 to $600 for a showcase entry, confirm which coaches have historically attended and whether those schools match what you’re targeting.

Big-name events with broad marketing don’t always deliver the right coaches for a given player’s realistic market.

Scholarship math. Division I baseball is an equivalency sport with 11.7 scholarships per program split among 27 players. Full rides are rare. Most players piece together athletic money, academic aid, and institutional grants.

Division III offers no athletic scholarships. The total financial aid package at a D3 school can match or exceed a partial athletic scholarship at a mid-level D2, especially with merit aid factored in.

The MLB Draft. It exists and it’s relevant for a small number of high school players. Most players who have draft potential know it before they start senior year. If your kid isn’t getting D1 interest by junior year, draft planning is probably not the relevant conversation.

What families do wrong most often. Waiting until senior year to start outreach. Targeting only D1 programs. Not accounting for academics in the fit equation.

A junior who has done the research, built a realistic list, and sent professional outreach emails is months ahead of most of the competition.