One of the best opportunities to impress a college coach...
...is between innings.
Especially if you're an infielder.
That routine ground ball from the first baseman before the inning?
A college coach may be evaluating:
Your footwork.
Your arm action.
How easily the ball comes out of your hand.
Your athleticism.
How you move.
It may be the only defensive throw they see from you all game.
Never assume a coach is only watching when the ball is in play.
They're evaluating you the entire time you're on the field.
None of the freshmen pitching for Oklahoma or North Carolina were even in the top 200 of the Perfect Game rankings, nor were they in the MLB Pipeline draft top 250.
Not regarded by scouting services, not wanted by pro teams...but they're on the verge of a championship
2029 1B Ryan Smith (IL) catches this out front & deposits it over the LF wall for a 2-run 💣.
96 EV/354ft.
Gets the front foot down with real strength in the lower half while staying compact & present feel for the barrel.
@PrepBaseballIL || @WindyCityHitDog#15uNat26
Impressive look at 2029 MIF Mason Leiterman (IL) at #15uNat26.
Works short-to-long with adv. zone awareness & feel to use the entire field.
Swing decisions stand out with minimal chase & strong glove up the middle.
@PrepBaseballIL || @WindyCityHitDog
I've played professional baseball.
I've coached collegiate baseball.
I've evaluated thousands of high school players over the last 12 years.
Here are a few baseball truths I've learned:
• Failure is inevitable. How you respond to it is a choice.
• The game rewards resilience far more than talent gives it credit for.
• Body language is visibly LOUD.
• You never know who's watching.
• Talent gets you noticed. Consistency gets you recruited.
• Nobody cares how good you were last week.
• The players who blame others rarely improve.
• Confidence comes from preparation, not motivation.
• The game owes you nothing.
• Coaches trust competitors before they trust tools.
• Your teammates know if you're real.
• Baseball has a funny way of exposing excuses.
• The best players are usually obsessed with improvement, not attention.
• Nobody remembers your excuses. They remember your actions.
Build your floor. Chase your ceiling. ⚾️