speed

Question
i am in tenth grade and it is january. i was clocked at 81 mph and i have an above average curve ball and knucle ball and also throw a pretty good change up and two seam. i was wonddering if you think there is a possibility of playing at an elite baseball college after my high school career.

Answer
Kevin:  Thank you for your question.  There is always a possibility for what you would like to do.  You have taken the first step in the journey, you have put it out there that it is something you want to do.

The process of achieving that stated goal is much like planning a road trip.  If you wanted to travel across the US, you would sit down and plan out how you are going to get there, listing all the steps and materials it will take to end up where you want.

Your baseball goal is the same process.  I would start by writing that goal down and putting it up someplace where you will see it every day.  Right under that goal, I would write,"What can I do today that will take me one step closer to my goal?"

Things to consider as you plan:


1.  Academics.  Your grades are one of the first things college coaches ask about potential recruits.  Their job and their families security is interconnected to the players they recruit.  You need to be someone they can count on to be academically eligible.  Scholarships are at a premium, as are spots on a roster.  If they get to the season and a player is ineligible, it creates a hardship for the team and coaches.

2.  They always ask what type of individual a recruit is, such as coachability, attitude, work ethic, dedication, responsibility.

3.  Work to become the best athlete you can be.  Be able to do more than one thing.  Become as complete as you can make yourself.  The more things you are able to do within a team structure, the better your chances are of winning a spot on a roster, at any level.

**We have a major league player who comes out and works out with our players before he goes to spring training.  He is a middle infielder by trade, has been a starter on and off, more time spent as a utility player.  Last winter he was attempting to catch on with a new team, so over the winter he worked on becoming a catcher, getting good enough that he could be a team's emergency catcher, not their #1 or 2.  He already could play all infield positions, left and right field.  He didn't have enough speed to play center field, nor could he pitch.

When that new team broke spring training, he had a roster spot.  It works at the top level and it works the same on all baseball teams.  Coaches and teams need players who are able to do more than one thing.  Versatility is essential for teams, an asset for players.

4. No matter how much work and effort you put into baseball, it will always give you back more than you put in!

5. Realize that some of the hardest moments of this journey are the on your own, off season workouts.  When no one is around to see, it is sometimes hard to get out there every day and keep going; but these are the hours where you make the most gains.  There is always a tendency to work on what you already do well.  Spend the majority of these hours working on the things that need improvement.

6.  Spend time working on the mental portion of your game.  It is an area all too often neglected by players and coaches.

7.  By making the decision that this is something you would like to do, at this point in your career, you have a good block of time to get yourself ready.  It is a fun journey and one well worth your time and effort.  

Good luck as you move forward!

Should you have questions as you go along, or would like to update me on how things are progressing, you can contact me on my website at www.theoleballgame.com.  I would like to hear from you.

Yours in baseball,

Rick