Holden Branch

Onsted Varsity Baseball Coach. Former Pitcher at Adrian College. #35. Fitness Addict. Triathlete.

[Zak Blair @coachzblair10]

Players: Before you worry about getting recruited by colleges, make sure you make your varsity high school team. Not only make the team, but you should be owning the high school game. Don't be delusional & think you will get looks if you aren't tearing it up in high school. High school guys that make waves as soon as they step on campus as a frosh are usually hitting .450 plus with multiple homers in high school & have the tools to go with the stats.

[Xavier Gibbs @64xavierr]

Blessed to receive an offer from Albion College #GoBrits

[Xavier Gibbs @64xavierr]

Blessed to receive an offer from Earlham College #GoQuakers

[Xavier Gibbs @64xavierr]

Blessed to receive an offer from Adrian College #GoDawgs

[Baseball Dudes Inc. 🇺🇸⚾️ @BaseballDudes48]

Bat weight suggestions by grade level:

• High School = -3 BBCOR (required)
• 8th grade = -3 (give them a whole season to prepare for the bat weight required in HS.
• 7th grade = -5
• 6th grade = -8
• 5th and lower = -10

Obviously every kid is different and these are just suggestions. I personally think this becomes most important in those 7th and 8th grade seasons. The transition to a -3 as a freshman can be quite a shock if they’ve only been swinging a -10. Also, if a player is strong enough at the younger ages to go to a heavier bat, no need to hold them back. Heavier bats can be good for encouraging proper swing mechanics too.

**There are some states who have middle school (7th & 8th grade) baseball programs that require -3 BBCOR bats. If this is in their future, get a -3 bat in their hands sooner than later. That can be a huge adjustment those late bloomers at those ages.

[Holden Branch @HBranch35]

@kzoobaseball getting some animals! @_jthill_ @luk3manders excited to see you two at the next level. Let’s hoist some more trophies in HS first though 😉

[Holden Branch @HBranch35]

Proud of you @luk3manders keep grinding kid!

[Luke Manders @luk3manders]

Next 4🐝 @kzoobaseball

[Onsted Baseball @onstedbaseball]

Another view of @luk3manders grand slam.
Absolutely crushed.

[Holden Branch @HBranch35]

@BaseballDudes48 Baserunning and small ball! Too many kids coming into HS who stab at the ball trying to bunt.

[Holden Branch @HBranch35]

@kzoobaseball just got a STUD! Congratulations JT! Proud of you kid!

[Onsted Baseball @onstedbaseball]

Congratulations JT! Can’t wait to see you roaming CF at the next level!

[Onsted Baseball @onstedbaseball]

Going to be a big time addition to a lineup at the next level!

[Luke Manders @luk3manders]

Sitting back recognizing curve and sending it pull side for a knock off a mid 80s arm @onstedbaseball @HBranch35 @mchdscout_17 @coachott7 @CoachBezel @coachCrainey

[Josh Nashed @j_nashed]

Players & parents... if you need a reality check on the current recruiting landscape in college baseball, here it is. Hint: it isn't getting any easier.

Impending D1 baseball roster changes will cut the current 40-man spring roster down to a 34-man yearly roster with no scholarship limit. That's around 1,800 spring roster spots in D1 baseball that will no longer be available.

Then you have to factor in the fact that the fall roster is often higher than the spring roster cap. Redshirts, guys that are cut, etc. Let's assume the average D1 program is bringing in 45 guys (just an estimate... some schools have fall rosters below 40 and others are above 55). That is another approx. 1,500 guys that will no longer have a spot in the fall at a Division 1 program.

That's plus or minus 3,300 spots that will no longer be available in D1 baseball. That's an almost 25% decrease in D1 opportunities.

Then we look at the trickle down effect from level to level. The 35th-50th+ guy on the roster at the Power 4 school will now be making his way to a mid-major school. The 35th-50th+ guy at the mid-major school will make his way to a different school, and so on...

There is a consolidation of talent that has already occurred in the past few years with shortened MLB Draft, NIL money, & the transfer portal. And an even greater constriction is on its way with these new roster changes.

College baseball at every level will be more competitive than ever. With smaller rosters, coaches will be less likely to "gamble" on young players, players with bad track record, and players that aren't physical enough. Coaches won't have the luxury of recruiting 8-20 non-scholarship guys to be ready for depth purposes, redshirt spots, etc.

If I could give one piece of advice to families going through the recruiting process right now... take the ego out of it, go find a place that you will enjoy being on campus & have an opportunity to develop and play. An opportunity at any level is an opportunity to develop, produce, and prove yourself.

Mid-major D1, D2, D3, JC, NAIA.... you name it. There is good baseball being played everywhere. Guys at every level of college baseball are getting opportunities at high level programs.

Production is the name of the game. Get better, produce, prove that you are deserving, and don't expect any handouts along the way.

@KendallRogers
@aaronfitt
@Mike_Rooney

[Onsted Baseball @onstedbaseball]

Kid can do it all! JT will be a contributor at the next level. Always a tough out!

[Holden Branch @HBranch35]

@CoachWobrock the only spike ball the team is allowed to play now 😂 core work without even knowing they are doing it.

[108 Performance @108_Performance]

One of the best warmups to get the body moving and to add some competitiveness with RFD💪

Rules:
About the same as regular spike ball
-One pass
-Server must be 5 feet away
-if it hits the trampoline twice the other team gets a point
-If you have 8+ players you can go king of the court with teams of 2 first to 3 points

S/O @xtremessp / @michael_zweifel_

#the108way

[ChampionshipTourneys @championstourn]

@64xavierr goes the distance against Elite Baseball 17u.
7IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 7 K.
@adrianlookouts win 3-1 over Elite Baseball 17u.

[Baseball IQ @BaseballIQ_App]

🚨 MLB Defense: Bucket Tagging Drill

• Let the ball travel - Don't reach for it
• Catch the ball over the base & drop the tag down
• Smother all picks right into the tag

⭐️ Catch the ball first. Most mistakes happen when we try to initiate the tag too soon.

[Holden Branch @HBranch35]

Say this to my guys all the time! Make the lead off guy feel rushed every inning. When he gets finished putting his batting gloves on, the umpire should be telling him to get in the box.

[Baseball Dudes Inc. 🇺🇸⚾️ @BaseballDudes48]

Pitchers, set the tone early. Little trick I used “back in the day.”

Try this:

Be the first one out of the dugout.
Get to the mound before their outfielders are off the field. Get your warmup pitches done in 60-90 seconds. Make the first batter feel rushed. Put pressure on them right away. Added bonus, umpires like it too.

**This may not work for all but will definitely help some get a little advantage over that first batter.

[Jerry Weinstein @JWonCATCHING]

Red Sox Triston Casas making a physical adjustment with 2 K’s by widening his base. Something worth experimenting with in BP. We are in 2 K counts in 50% or more of our at bats. What % of the time do you practice hitting with 2 K’s? Do you make a physical or mental adjustment?

[Holden Branch @HBranch35]

🙌🏼

[Coach Swit @CoachSwit]

Dear Parents, Playing time is not PERSONAL, All the High School Coaches I know are just trying to put their best team out there to win baseball games. Sometimes that means your son might not be in the line up, again it's just coaches trying to win baseball games.